Problems · NHTSA complaints
1999 Ford Expedition problems
Owners filed 970 complaints about the 1999 Ford Expedition with NHTSA between Jan 1999 and Sep 2022. The most-cited component is engine and engine cooling (253).
Complaints
970
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
54
Reported by owners
Fires
80
Reported by owners
Injuries
63
People reported injured
Deaths
5
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Engine and engine cooling253
- Tires185
- Visibility125
- Electrical system121
- Power train69
- Vehicle speed control60
- Suspension57
- Steering33
- Service brakes, hydraulic29
- Engine26
- Structure20
- Air bags19
- Equipment19
- Fuel system, gasoline18
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
72
189
94
75
92
87
105
59
32
32
31
31
18
6
12
10
12
8
0
2
2
0
0
1
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 72 |
| 2000 | 189 |
| 2001 | 94 |
| 2002 | 75 |
| 2003 | 92 |
| 2004 | 87 |
| 2005 | 105 |
| 2006 | 59 |
| 2007 | 32 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 31 |
| 2010 | 31 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 12 |
| 2014 | 10 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 8 |
| 2017 | 0 |
| 2018 | 2 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2020 | 0 |
| 2021 | 0 |
| 2022 | 1 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
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”
Tires
185 reports9 crashes1 related recall
“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.”
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”
Electrical system
121 reports1 crash29 fires
“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.”
Power train
69 reports4 crashes
“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.”
Vehicle speed control
60 reports11 crashes28 fires1 related recall
“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.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.