Research · Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD

1999 Ford ExpeditionRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 970 owner complaints for the 1999 Ford Expedition. Most complaints involve engine and engine cooling (253) and tires (185). The EPA rates it 12–14 mpg combined.

Combined MPG
12–14mpg
EPA · 4 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
9campaigns
Latest Aug 2006
Owner complaints
970
Top: engine and engine cooling
Fuel cost / yr
$4,600est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

9 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Exterior lighting: headlights

Free remedy

CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 331-1129L-ASN AND 331-1129R-ASN, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Exterior lightingReported Aug 1, 2006NHTSA 06E067000

Exterior lighting

Free remedy

CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Exterior lightingReported Jun 29, 2006NHTSA 06E060000

Fuel system, gasoline

Free remedy

CERTAIN AFTERMARKET FUEL FILTERS SOLD UNDER THE PUROLATOR BRAND NAME, P/N F65277, SHIPPED FROM JANUARY 16 THROUGH JUNE 2, 2006, FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. DUE TO INCORRECT DESIGN, THE QUICK CONNECTORS MAY NOT FULLY SEAT WITH THE TUBE INTERFACE, EVEN THOUGH THE PERSON MAKING THE CONNECTION MAY BELIEVE THAT THE QUICK CONNECTOR IS FULLY ATTACHED.

Fuel system, gasolineReported Jun 13, 2006NHTSA 06E056000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

970 complaints filed with NHTSA · Jan 1999 – Sep 2022
  1. Engine and engine cooling253
  2. Tires185
  3. Visibility125
  4. Electrical system121
  5. Power train69
  6. Vehicle speed control60
  7. Suspension57
  8. Steering33
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic29

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Expedition model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
1997868
1998851
1999970
2000942
2001609
2002383
2003655
2004297
2005315
2006299
2007215
2008146
200928
201058
201171
2012118
201392
201472
2015164
2016217
2017358
2018383
2019521
2020426
2021241
2022116
202365
202479
202538
202610
Crashes reported
54
Fires reported
80
Injuries reported
63
Deaths reported
5
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Engine and engine cooling

253 reports15 fires
“1999 FORD EXPEDITION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BLOWN SPARK PLUGS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHILE DRIVING, THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT THE CYLINDER#8. *JB UPDATED 09/21/15*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AND EVENTUALLY STALLED. UPDATED 09/24/15*JB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 8, 2015Engine and engine coolingODI 10732116

Tires

185 reports9 crashes
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WITH COOPER DISCOVER LFX TIRES WITH DOT NUMBER 4909. THE CONTACT STATED THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE CONTACT HAD A REAR ALIGNMENT PERFORMED ON THE TIRE, BUT THE SIDE WALLS BURST ON EACH TIRE. THE CONTACT HAD THE SAME TIRE PLACED ON THE VEHICLE BY THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THE ORIGINAL ONE SPLIT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 250,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 1, 2011TiresODI 10416536

Visibility

125 reports2 fires
“CHANGED HEATER CORE IN THE FRONT ALONG WITH THE BLEND DOOR HEAT LASTED FOR UP TO 3 DAYS AND GOT NOTHING BUT COLD AIR IN THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK BLOWING OUT STILL HAVE HEAT IN THE BACK THIS IS CRAZY IT IS TO COLD FOR THIS AND I SPENT MY LAST ON FIXING MY HEAT TO ONLY RESULT IN IT GOING BACK OUT THREE DAYS LATER PEOPLE ARE TELLING ME IT MIGHT BE THE HEATER BOX MOTOR I JUST WANT HEAT I'M TIRED OF SHIVERING WHILE I DRIVE . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 2, 2015Electrical system, VisibilityODI 10669579
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

4 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD, Sport Utility Vehicle - 4WD
Engines
4.6L 8-cyl · 5.4L 8-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic 4-spd
Drive
Rear-Wheel Drive · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Expedition 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
121714$4,600635
Expedition 2WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · Rear-Wheel Drive
111613$4,950684
Expedition 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111513$4,950684
Expedition 4WD
Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L · 4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive
111512$5,350741
  • Expedition 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    12 city · 17 hwy · $4,600/yr
    14
    mpg comb.
  • Expedition 2WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    11 city · 16 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • Expedition 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 4.6 L
    11 city · 15 hwy · $4,950/yr
    13
    mpg comb.
  • Expedition 4WD
    Auto 4-spd, 8 cyl, 5.4 L
    11 city · 15 hwy · $5,350/yr
    12
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 1999 Ford Expedition as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 3979
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

1999 Expedition questions

How many recalls does the 1999 Ford Expedition have?

9 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 1999 Ford Expedition problems?

Owners filed 970 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are engine and engine cooling (253), tires (185), visibility (125). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 1999 Ford Expedition get?

The EPA rates the 1999 Ford Expedition at 12–14 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026