Most common 1999 Ford Expedition problems
Share of the 946 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Expedition complaints by model year
Best Expedition years: 2014, 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017, 2018. Compare all years →
1999 Ford Expedition recalls (5)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated September 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
Trailer hitches
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
Wheels › Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with four-wheel-drive (4x4), 17" chrome steel wheels. The clamp load can be lost on the wheel lugs due to insufficient wheel contact area with the hub. In some cases, the contact area can deform, resulting in a loss of lug nut torque.
Remedy: Dealers will re-torque the wheel lugs to proper specifications and also install a label that specifies that the wheel lugs be torqued to 110 lb-ft any time the wheel is removed.
Fuel system, gasoline › Delivery › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The fuel line assemblies May have been damaged by the supplier during manufacturing, allowing leakage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the front and rear fuel line assemblies.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Pedals and linkages
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles May have a missing or partially installed retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles to see if the retainer clip was installed, and repair, if necessary.
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into 5 possible defects involving the 1999 Ford Expedition:
Factory installed towing hitch separatio
This investigation was opened on September 27, 1999 based on five consumer reports alleging that some of the eight hitch mounting bolts either became loose or came completely out of its retaining plate.one of the complaints indicated that while towig a trailer the hitch actually separated from the frame on the passenger's side of the vehicle when the four mounting bolts on that side came completely out.
Electrical system failure
Odi has received 39 reports alleging that water leaks around the windshield causing electrical failures, including but not limited to the windshield wipers and the headlamps.Ford reports that water entering the vehicle can wet the power distribution box (pdb) and the generic electronic module (gem).these components control various electrical systems in the vehicle.this investigation has been upgraded to an…
Windshield leak causes electric failures
Consumers alleged that when it rained or snowed, water leaked into the vehicle around the windshield.moisture flowing through the seal that surrounds the front windshield follows a path through the seal into the generic electronic module (gem) and fuse box, and May cause the electrical components in the vehicle to malfunction.overall, the number of reports alleging wiper failures and lighting failures is relatively…
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head
On September 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 Ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or…
What 1999 Ford Expedition owners say
Engine & cooling all 274 →
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle caught fire while parked in the driveway. The police believed that the fire originated on the driver side under the hood. A police and a fire report were filed. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with two fire extinguishers and a hose before the fire department arrived. A passenger who was seated in an unknown location sustained a fractured right knee, which required medical attention. The vehicle was destroyed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 199,000. The VIN was not available.
Tl* the contact owned a 1999 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle was included in NHTSA campaign number: 05V388000 (vehicle speed control). The vehicle was repaired. After the repair, while the vehicle was parked, it caught fire underneath the hood. The fire department extinguished the fire and a police report was filed. There were no injuries. The VIN was unknown. The approximate failure mileage was 200,000.
Wheels & tires all 201 →
Spare tire fell off. The tiny (1/8") steel cable that held spare in place under the truck body failed allowing huge spare tire to drop to road. Fortunately, this happen as I was pulling into driveway after a 2000 mile trip. Had this occurred on i95 in 75mph / bumper-to-bumper traffic, it would have been a disaster for the following vehicles. A web search shows that this is not uncommon and should the subject of a safety recall.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition equipped with Firestone wilderness p265/70/r16 dot8x72 tires. The contact stated that the drivers side rear tire blew out while driving 65 MPH, causing the vehicle to crash into a cement divider. The contact suffered injuries to the face and mouth. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileages were 127,000.
Windows, wipers & sunroof all 119 →
Events leading up to failure: (1) started with fog light switch not working. (3) took it in for service and was told the windshield was leaking and shorted the switch. Service attempted to correct leak by leaving windshield in place and providing more sealant. (1) leak in windshield discovered to persist after battery drained due to radio and various electrical functions would continue even without the key in the ignition. Most recently, the starter would repeatedly attempt to start the engine randomly after the engine was started and even while the key was out of the ignition! (2) with this uncontrolled electrical activity battery drain was causing stranding and the most recent occurrence the smell of an electrical fire was noted. …
I purchased a 1999 Ford Expedition eddie bauer 1 year ago last week. I have had nothing but problems with this vehicle. The latest problem is the one that concerns me the most. A few weeks ago the driver's side door lock would not operate. I could hear the motor trying to open the lock but nothing happened. A week after that I could not open my windows and the turn signals did not work. A week later my windshield wipers stopped working. We attributed the problem to a blown fuse which we replaced. The problem seemed to be fixed. The next day it rained and the fuse blew again, and again and again. The problem got worse as the brake lights went out. I brought the car into the dealership where I had purchased it. They discovered a leak in the windshield that seeped into the fuse box. …
1999 Ford Expedition engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 12 / 17 / 14 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | RWD | 11 / 16 / 13 |
| 4.6L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 13 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 4-speed automatic | 4WD/AWD | 11 / 15 / 12 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 1999 Ford Expedition a good car?
Based on 946 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 1999 Expedition rates avoid: 4.1× as many complaints as a typical year of the Expedition at the same age. It is one of the Expedition years we suggest avoiding. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 1999 Ford Expedition?
The engine & cooling — 274 complaints, 29% of all complaints for this model year, most often about engine. Next are the wheels & tires (201) and windows, wipers & sunroof (119).
How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Expedition have?
There are 5 recalls for the 1999 Ford Expedition, the most recent from September 7, 2005 (vehicle speed control). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Expedition?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017 and 2018. See the full Ford Expedition years comparison.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Expedition problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 99,000 miles; 12% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.