FORD EXPEDITION · model year

1999 FORD EXPEDITION

1137 NHTSA complaints, 64 crash reports for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 1999FORDEXPEDITION carries 1137 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 64 crashes, 95 fires, 78 injuries, and 12 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 1999 EXPEDITION is engine and engine cooling:engine with 115 filings, followed by tires (109) and tires:tread/belt (77). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability.

NHTSA currently has 4 investigation files overlapping the 1999 EXPEDITION. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

1137
Complaints
64
Crashes
95
Fires
78
Injuries
12
Deaths

Total Complaints

1137 filings

Crashes Reported

64 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

Above median complaint volume — review patterns below.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE115
TIRES109
TIRES:TREAD/BELT77
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM72
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING67
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE48
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR47
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION37
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER33
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL32
ENGINE26
UNKNOWN OR OTHER19
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL19
VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES14
SUSPENSION:REAR13

Recent Complaints

20220924POWER TRAIN

After I put it in park and turned the engine off the truck started to roll back and it didn't stop until it hit the curb across the street.

20191005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

MY CAR HAS BEEN OVER HEATING AND HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP FIXING IT AFTER I JUST BOUGHT IT. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO CHECK IF IT HAD A RECALL AND SURE ENOUGH IT DOES! I CHECKED ON THE DMV WEBSITE TODAY.

20191005FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

MY CAR HAS BEEN OVER HEATING AND HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP FIXING IT AFTER I JUST BOUGHT IT. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO CHECK IF IT HAD A RECALL AND SURE ENOUGH IT DOES! I CHECKED ON THE DMV WEBSITE TODAY.

20191005VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

MY CAR HAS BEEN OVER HEATING AND HAVING PROBLEMS SINCE I FIRST BOUGHT IT. I COULD NOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAVE TO CONTINUE TO KEEP FIXING IT AFTER I JUST BOUGHT IT. SOMEONE TOLD ME TO CHECK IF IT HAD A RECALL AND SURE ENOUGH IT DOES! I CHECKED ON THE DMV WEBSITE TODAY.

20190514POWER TRAIN

THE SHIFT LINKAGE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT WORK DUE TO SEVERAL KINKS IN THE CABLE. I CANT GET THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION DUE TO THIS NOR CAN I EVEN DRIVE MY VEHICLES BECAUSE IT WONT HO INTO GEAR. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME STOPPING AT A STORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD TO LEAVE MY TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS ATUUCK IN OT.

Mileage: 220,200

20190514STEERING

THE SHIFT LINKAGE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN TO THE TRANSMISSION WILL NOT WORK DUE TO SEVERAL KINKS IN THE CABLE. I CANT GET THE KEYS OUT OF THE IGNITION DUE TO THIS NOR CAN I EVEN DRIVE MY VEHICLES BECAUSE IT WONT HO INTO GEAR. I WAS ON MY WAY HOME STOPPING AT A STORE WHEN THIS OCCURRED. HAD TO LEAVE MY TRUCK IN THE PARKING LOT WITH THE KEYS ATUUCK IN OT.

Mileage: 220,200

20180724ENGINE

SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING

Mileage: 150,000

20180130ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

BOUGHT A 99 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 4X4 ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO. TODAY 1/30/18 WAS DRIVING AND STARTED TO HEAR CLICKING NOISE UNDER DASH THE WINDSHIELD FLUID LIGHT AND 4X4 LIGHT STARTED TO FLASH AS THE SAME TIME AS IT FLASHED I HARD THE CLICKING NOISE THE RADIO THEN TURNED OFF AND THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW STOPPED WORKING ALSO FAN BLOWER WILL WORK WITH THE TRUCK IS SHUT OFF. LAST WEEK I HAD SHUT MY FORD EXPO OFF I WENT TO RESTART IT ABOUT A HALF HOUR LATER AND WOULD NOT START BACK UP. THE TRUCK FINILY STARTED ABOUT A HOUR LATER.

Mileage: 145,386

20160930FireENGINE

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.

Mileage: 200,000

20160930FireVEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

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.

Mileage: 200,000

20160902FireELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE NEAR THE CONTACT'S GARAGE, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED TO THE FAILURE DUE TO THE ALARM SOUNDING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 98V312000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

20160902FireENGINE

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE NEAR THE CONTACT'S GARAGE, A FIRE ERUPTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ALERTED TO THE FAILURE DUE TO THE ALARM SOUNDING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND REMAINED PARKED AT THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBERS: 06E056000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) AND 98V312000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE NOT AVAILABLE.

20160809FireENGINE

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.

Mileage: 199,000

20160704ENGINE

I WAS SITTING AT MC DONALDS GETTING FOOD FOR MY SON, WHEN A LOUD POP COME FROM UNDER MY HOOD THEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO SMELL FUNNY. SOME CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME SO THEY LET ME OUT. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALLED A FEW PEOPLE THAT COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS GOIN ON. A MAN COME AND LOOKED AT IT THAT WORKED ON CARS A CROSSED THE STREET TOLD ME THAT IT BLOWED A SPARK PLUG I NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT HAD COME COMPLETELY OUT. THERE WAS OIL ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REDONE SO ANOTHER SPARK PLUG COULD BE PUT IN THERE AND NOW IT HAS DON IT AGAIN. THE SAME ONE NUMBER 2. SPARK PLUG. THIS IS CRAZY I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP FIXIN THIS TRUCK OVER AND OVER. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHEN IT BLEW THE SPARK PLUG AND I DONO WANT TO GO THOUGH THIS AGAIN. YALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT IN THESES VEHICLES BUT UR NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TO USE MY TRUCK TO GO TO THE DOCTORS. AND I CAN'T GO IF IT STAYS BROKE DOWN. YALL NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM ....

20160414ENGINE

I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN AND HAD A HELI COIL INSTALLED. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE SECOND INSTANCE YET. THERE WAS A 2 YEAR TIME SPAN BETWEEN THE EVENTS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT LOW SPEED GOING THROUGH TOWN. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY.

Mileage: 138,000

20160217ENGINE

A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED A DORMAN KIT TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAR FROM HOME FOR CONCERN THAT ANOTHER SPARK PLUG MAY BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS NOT HAVING THICK ENOUGH MATERIAL TO HOLD SPARK PLUGS IN THE THREADS A RECALL.

Mileage: 200,000

20160131ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

DOME LIGHTS, RUNNING LIGHTS, DOOR AJAR LAMP, ODOMETER LAMP, DOOR AJAR AUDIBLE ACTIVATING INTERMITTENTLY WHILE IN MOTION ON A STREET OR HIGHWAY. SOMETIMES STAYING ON AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. COMING ON AT ANYTIME AFTER VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF AND STATIONARY, CAUSING A DEAD BATTERY LEAVING DRIVER, FAMILY AND OCCUPANTS STRANDED.

Mileage: 144,000

20160106WHEELS

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.

Mileage: 169,000

20151202ENGINE

THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I HAS JUST PULLED OUT ACCELERATING UP A SMALL INCLINE. I WAS GOING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION WITH MY SON. THERE WAS A STUTTER, THEN KNOCKING SOUND, LESS POWER, AND STRANGE ODOR.

Mileage: 187,000

20151126ENGINE

#8 CYLINDER BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HOLE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED

Mileage: 350,000

Compare 1999FORDEXPEDITION to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 1999 FORD EXPEDITION have?
The 1999 FORD EXPEDITION has 1137 NHTSA complaints, 64 crashes, 95 fires, 78 injuries, and 12 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 1999 FORD EXPEDITION?
The most-complained component for the 1999 FORD EXPEDITION is ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE with 115 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include TIRES and TIRES:TREAD/BELT.
Is the 1999 FORD EXPEDITION safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.