1999 Ford E-150: problems, recalls and reliability
5 recalls and 83 owner complaints on record; the weakest area is fuel system, gasoline (16% of complaints); the 2001 model year looks more trouble-free.
Data updated weekly · latest recall Oct 2009
All counts are reports filed with NHTSA in the United States - US market only, not worldwide totals.
Common problems
Computed from 83 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
“My mark iii conversion van has a fuel leaking from the mid-ship tank. I noticed that there is a recall from ford, but when I went to my local dealer enfield ford in enfield ct they ran the VIN and stated my van was excluded. The only time it leaks is when I am pumping gas, if I pump slowly there is less fuel spilling on the ground”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Sep 2015
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel due to a hole in the fuel tank. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 01v114000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150. The contact stated that the vehicle was leaking fuel due to a hole in the fuel tank. The VIN was excluded from NHTSA campaign number: 01v114000 (fuel system, gasoline). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 135,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Aug 2014
Show 7 more owner reports
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150 . The contact stated that while refueling, fuel started to spew out of the top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 132,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Feb 2014
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150. The contact stated that after refueling, he noticed fuel leaking from the top of the fuel tank as a result of possible rust corrosion. The contact planned to remove the fuel tank to further investigate the defect. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 120,300.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Nov 2013
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150. While driving approximately 45 mph, the vehicle vibrated. The contact discovered that the fuel strap beneath the fuel tank on the rear axle was rusted and fractured. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the welding on the tail pipe was also rusted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 128,000.”Owner report · Fuel/Propulsion System · Jun 2013
“I would like to report a finding on my 1997 f-150. After reading about the prob into the gas tank straps in the detroit news. I found that one of my straps has completely rusted off and I would like to be notified as soon as a recall is made as this is a serious hazard , [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6). *tr”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · May 2011
“Tl* the contact owns a 1999 ford e-150. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, he noticed that fuel was leaking from the top of the fuel tank. The vehicle was taken to an automotive shop where the contact was advised that there could have been a fracture in the tank which caused the leakage. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who offered no assistance. The current and failure mileage was 139,790.”Owner report · Fuel System, Gasoline · Apr 2011
“The 3 mounting bolts attaching the steering box to the frame broke/sheared off as the vehicle was being parked in the driveway. 1999 ford e150 van. A loud popping noise or bang was heard and total loss of steering was the result of the steering box dangling from the frame. The vehicle was being repositioned on a flat driveway, no incline at all. No injuries resulted , but if the failure had occurred during operation, steering would have been inoperable leading to an accident which easily could have led to serious injury to the driver, passengers, and other vehicles and their occupants. *tr”Owner report · Steering · Apr 2011
“1999, ford f-150 gas strap failure. Tuesday september 14, 2010 while driving on interstate 94 I could hear a clinking noise beneath the body of the truck. When I pulled over and looked under the truck, one of the support straps for the gas tank was broken and hanging below the vehicle. This strap failed without any known extraordinary cause such as a collision, or any other such incident. *tr”Owner report · Structure · Sep 2010
When filing, owners marked a crash in 8 of these complaints and injuries in 3 - self-reported to NHTSA, not verified accident statistics.
Recalls - 5 campaigns
FORD IS RECALLING MODEL YEARS 1995-2003 WINDSTAR, 2000-2003 EXCURSION DIESEL, 1993-1997 AND 1999-2003 F-250 SD THROUGH F-550 SD DIESEL, 1992-2003 E-150 THROUGH E-550, 1995-2002 EXPLORER, 1997 AND 2002 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER, 1995-1997 AND 2001-2003 RANGER, AND 1994 F53 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH THE TEXAS INSTRUMENTS SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH (SCDS). THE SCDS MAY LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: FORD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS THAT DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS IN LINE WITH THE SCDS. ON 1999-2003 WINDSTAR VEHICLES WITH A LEAKING SCDS, DEALERS WILL ALSO INSPECT THE ABS CONTROL MODULE CONNECTOR AND REPAIR AS NECESSARY. REPAIRS WILL BE COMPLETED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 27, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: UTILITY VANS EQUIPPED WITH THE "60/40" HINGED SIDE CARGO DOORS. THE STRIKERS FOR THE 60/40 DOOR SINGLE LATCH SYSTEM WERE FOUND TO CONTAIN STRESS CRACKS AT THE STRIKER WIRE LOWER STAKE JOINT. STRIKERS WITH STRESS CRACKS MAY NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 206, "DOOR LOCKS AND DOOR RETENTION COMPONENTS."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DOOR STRIKER.
FORD IS RECALLING 225,000 MY 1992-2003 ECONOLINE, MY 1993-1995 TAURUS SHO, MY 1992-1998 CROWN VICTORIA, MY 1993 BRONCO, F-SERIES, MY 1995-1997 F-SERIES SUPER DUTY STRIPPED CHASSIS, MY 1992-1998 MERCURY GRAND MARQUIS, AND MY 1992-1995 LINCOLN TOWN CAR VEHICLES. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES WERE PREVIOUSLY REPAIRED USING A WIRING HARNESS THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE VEHICLE CIRCUIT POLARITY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW WIRING HARNESS, OR REPLACE THE MATING ELECTRICAL COMPONENT. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS, PASSENGER VEHICLES, SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, AND MOTOR HOMES CHASSIS, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY, UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, LEAK INTERNALLY AND THEN OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. OWNERS OF THE PASSENGER CARS INCLUDED IN THIS CAMPAIGN WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED AS AN INTERIM REPAIR. AS SOON AS REPAIR PARTS ARE AVAILABLE (EXPECTED OCTOBER 2007), OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN TO THE DEALERS FOR INSTALLATION OF A FUSED WIRING HARNESS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 13, 2007, AND MAILING COMPLETED BY SEPTEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-888-222-2751.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: ON CERTAIN VANS WITH AMBULANCE PREP PACKAGES OR OTHER SEVERE-DUTY APPLICATIONS INVOLVING OPERATION AT OR NEAR THE GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT WITH FREQUENT TWISTING OF THE VEHICLE BODY, SUCH AS OFF-ROAD, ROUGH ROAD OR SPEED BUMP EVENTS, THE 35 GALLON MID-SHIP FUEL TANK COULD DEVELOP A CRACK WHERE IT CONTACTS THE FRAME CROSS MEMBER. IF THE FUEL TANK CRACKS, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FUEL TANK AND, IF CRACKED, WILL REPLACE THE TANK. INSULATOR PADS WILL BE INSTALLED ON ALL VEHICLES TO REDUCE THE STRESS LEVELS IN THE FUEL TANK. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 19, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.
Specifications
Factory options offered for the 1999 model year, decoded from the NHTSA vPIC database. Individual vehicles have one of each.
How other years compare
Check your exact E-150 by VIN
Recalls and equipment differ between individual vehicles. Decode your VIN to see what applies to yours.
Open VIN decoderFrequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford E-150 reliable?
NHTSA has 83 owner complaints and 5 recall campaigns on record for the 1999 Ford E-150. The most complained-about area is fuel system, gasoline (16% of complaints).
At what mileage do 1999 Ford E-150 problems usually appear?
Half of the complaints that mention mileage were filed at 96,000 miles or less.
Does the 1999 Ford E-150 have open recalls?
5 recall campaigns have been issued, the latest concerning vehicle speed control. Check your specific vehicle by VIN - recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints (public domain). Counts reflect reports on file and are not a defect rate.