Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1999 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
On Sunday windshield wipers started goinig crazy.they started to go on and off for 5 minutes after several attempts to shut them off.finally my husband pulled over and turned the car off, and the wipers shut off.the dealer was not notified .on Tuesday at about 7:56 am I was driving to go to a gas station and as I was turning to the left I heard a loud sound that sounded like an explosion and the truck turned off.I tried tunring the car on since I have had problems with the car turning off before and I realized that the car was smoking fron the inside.I tried to open the door from outside they did not open. So in fear that the car would blow up that I tried to start the car and it started. …
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that water penetrated the vehicle causing the general electrical module, and fuse box, to corrode. The vehicle started on its own and caused the radio, heater, and all other electrical functions to fail. The vehicle was taken to the dealer numerous times for the failure. The dealer replaced the electrical module and the fuse box several times. The windshield was replaced, but the dealer wasn't able to locate determine where the water penetrated the vehicle. The manufacturer took a report 0478403130 and advised the contact to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The failure mileage was 30,000. The current mileage was 135,000. Updated 3/8/11 updated 11/28/11
Whenever there is a heavy rain or snow, several of the electrical systems in my 1999 Ford Expedition began to function irregularly. The components function whether the vehicle is turned on or off. Examples of the irregular activity include the radio turning on and off by itself, windshield wipers turning on and off by themselves, heat and air unit turning on and off by itself, interior lights turning on and off by themselves, and the running board lights turning on and off by themselves. Several times I have been driving in the rain and the windshield wipers will stop working for 1-2 minutes.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 15 MPH, he heard a loud noise from under the vehicle. The contact pulled over and noticed that the trailing arms which held the rear wheels had rusted and broke. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The dealer, when called, stated that they had never heard of such a failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The current and failure mileages were approximately 130,000.
Tl contact owns a 1999 Ford Expedition. The vehicle has Firestone wilderness at tires. While driving 70 MPH, the spare tire blew out. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to a repair shop and had the tire changed. It was also discovered that the fender was folded under the vehicle near the fuel line. The tire size and dot number were unknown. The failure mileage was 200,000. Updated 8/10/09 updated 08/13/09.
1999 Ford Expedition collided head-on with another vehicle. Both were travelling at highway speeds. The Expedition immediately caught fire, including the passenger compartment.the fire wall failed and fuel apparently fed the fire.
While driving approximately 20 MPH on a rural road the spare tire fell out from under the vehicle, onto the road. I discovered the cable that holds the spare tire in place under the vehicle had broken.
The flared portion of the terminator fob on the retaining/retracting cable for the spare tire fractured and separated on my 1999 Ford Expedition eddie bauer (I am the original owner). As a result, the spare tire and the metal crosspiece retainer dropped onto the street pavement, and in front of oncoming vehicles, which swerved and avoided colliding with the loose spare tire. I am just glad, and fortunate, that the spare tire did not bounce into the air, or end up crashing through the windshield of an oncoming vehicle. There are numerous reports of similar, if not identical incidents of this spare tire cable breakage posted on the internet. According to the owners manual, the crank mechanism is driven using the jack handle, and it is supposed to "ratchet" when the spare tire becomes snug against the vehicle undercarriage, preventing over tension on the crank mechanism and cable. …
The consumer would hear a popping/rumbling noise whenever the vehicle was reversed or if the steering wheel was turned to the left or right. Consumer had taken the vehicle to the dealer and they thought they had fixed the problem, the consumer continued to hear a noise and noticed that the front tires were rapidly wearing down. The consumer had gone to several Ford dealers and received different conflicting diagnoses from the several service areas of different Ford dealers, consumer feels there is a possible defect with the vehicle, also there was a noise coming from the rear, dealer replaced the clutches in the rear, there was a popping noise when backing up and making a turn, dealer lubed the steering, consumer was alos informed that lower ball joints were needed.
Interior lights malfunctioning, daytime running lights not working correctly, heating/cooling system not working properly; stays on even when key is not in ignition. When ignition is turned on or off, the woofer makes a loud thumping sound. Woofer inoperable. Right sign wing never worked properly/ will not open or close. Braking system is doubtful, it squeaks, and when gas is released engine and braking are not coordinated smoothly . Constant squeaking when in motion. Dealerships service repair personal neglect and refuse to find the causes, even though vehicle is still under warranty.
Body complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1999 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 20 complaints about the body & structure of the 1999 Ford Expedition, 2% of the model year's 946 complaints. The component named most often is body › door (3 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Expedition body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1999 Ford Expedition, though it has 5 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1999 Ford Expedition body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 102,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 2 injuries and 2 deaths to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
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.