Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power windows, windshield, wipers, mirrors, sunroof).
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).
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. …
Driver side signal mirror's reflective surface has deteriorated - developing dark spots due to chrome plating delamination. Ford doesn't want to fix it - however, this presents a significant safety issue. Mirrors are not wearable items like brake pads. Having a mirrors surface deteriorate on it's own is a manufacturing/design failure. Ford has noted this problem in their technical service bulletin list (noted below) so they are aware of the problem, yet refuse to replace the mirror - instead wanting to charge $310 for the part + installation. Mirrors are a safety device, especially in a large vehicle like the the Ford Expedition - using defective parts - acknowledging said parts and than refusing to replace them is inexcusable. …
Dt: the vehicle does not start when there it rains, snows or any water relating issues. Also, causes other electrical problems. Dealer keeps replacing the computer, which never last. Dealership replaced the windshield, and that did not fix the problem. Ford has been contacted by the owner. Ford recommended that the owner try another dealership. The owner has been to more than one dealership to try to fix the problem, and they could not figure out the problem either. The vehicle has been in the shop over these issues between 6-12 times, and now the dealership will not even give the owner an invoice. Owner has spent about $4,000.00 over 8 months on trying to fix this problem. This owner is not satisfied with the dealership or Ford. The water problems have been going on for two years. The wheel came off last year in July. …
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. …
The outside mirrors on my 1999 Ford Expedition are turning black from the inside. The right mirror is almost totally unusable due to the discoloration. The left mirror is almost to that point and is becoming worse each day. I have been to two separate dealerships and while they agree that they have seen other expeditions with the same problem, Ford does not have a recall for this. I contacted Ford and they said they will not replace them since there is no current recall. The cost for replacing both mirrors is in excess of $600. Even though the vehicle is no longer in warranty, mirrors are something that should last longer than 4-5 years. This is definitely a safety hazard and should be addressed by Ford. The condition started occurring in the fall of 2002 when the vehicle had approximately 75,000 miles on the odometer. Since that time, the mirrors have gotten progressively worse.
It started off with a beeping, that happened once and a while. I also noticed when the defroster was turned on black dust like stuff would blow out. Then one day my husband and I heard the Expedition trying to start. No keys in the ignition, no one in the truck! My husband had to disable the battery to get it to stop. We were going to take it to the Ford dealer,but when we started it, it continued to try and turn over. Therefore my husband had to disconnect the battery again and we had to pay for a truck hauler to take it to the Ford dealer. While at the dealer we told them it couldn't be started, because of it trying to turn over, but apparently they did let it run and now we have starter problems. Also they had the windshield seal replaced, but it still leaks. We will be taking it back to them to have their repairs repaired. …
1999 Ford Expedition. Both exterior mirrors (with integrated red turn signal chevron) delaminated lost reflective coating on back of mirror. Have contacted Ford dealer on two occasions, and contacted Ford consumer services. Ford acknowledges several service bulletins on the issue but would not tell me what it contained. The vehicle had 55,000 miles and now has 65,000 miles. Quoted $169 per mirror to replace mirror glass or $400 per mirror for complete replacement. The mirror was manufactured by muth and I contacted them. They acknowledged a manufacturing defect and had a upgrade kit to provide new mirrors glass for $216 delivered to my door. I paid a body shop $65 for repairs. I am happy with the results. This is a safety issue like seat belts, air bags, etc. I will ship the old mirrors to you at my expense for your investigation.
I have a 1999 Ford Expedition eddie bauer 4x4 that has all the symptoms of your investigation #ea05015. I took my vehicle in while it was still under warranty and I was denied a claim for them to fix it at my local dealer because they said that the cause was due to moisture and it was not covered by under warranty. This sounded to me to be a manufacturing defect and felt it should have been fixed by them. During that time I had to replace my transmission and transfer case which are controlled in some way by the gem module so I am told. I have not been able to fix the gem and fuse box to this date due to the high cost that was presented to me. I am not certain of the actual date this took place but it was identified while the vehicle was still under warranty.
Vehicle: 1999 Ford Expedition. Roblem nearly caused serious accident: loss of reflective surface (silver) on both exterior rear-view mirrors. This vehicle purchased in aug 1999 has defective safety equipment. The rear view mirrors are losing the reflective surfaces, developing cracjs in the silver backing and are becoming unsafe. The vehicle has not experienced any unusal environmental exposure, in fact unlike my other cars (all older than 1999) the Ford Expedition has been garage-kept. While the local Ford dealer indicated my experience was unique, I would be quite surprised if this condition is not affecting other vehicles of this type and wished to file a formal submission on the problem with you. Thank you. Charles mcbrearty
Window & Wiper complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are window & wiper problems on the 1999 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 119 complaints about the windows, wipers & sunroof of the 1999 Ford Expedition, 13% of the model year's 946 complaints. The component named most often is rearview mirrors/devices › exterior (47 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1999 Ford Expedition window & wiper problems?
No. NHTSA lists no windows, wipers & sunroof 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 window & wiper problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 58,000 miles, and 11% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 0 crashes, 2 fires and 0 injuries to windows, wipers & sunroof 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.