Problems · by component
1999 Ford Expedition power train problems
69 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1999 Ford Expedition cite power train, 7% of all 970 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
69
7% of all complaints
Crashes
4
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
1
Reported by owners
What owners say about the power train
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“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.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE GEAR INDICATED IT WAS IN REVERSE AND WHEN PLACED INTO DRIVE, THE GEAR INDICATED IT WAS IN PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHO STATED THAT THE SHIFT CABLE DETACHED FROM THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL DROPPED AND CAUSED HIM TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SWERVED AND THEN FLIPPED OVER. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DISCOVERED THAT THE REAR SUSPENSION WAS COMPLETELY CORRODED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 225,000.”
“HERE IS MY PROBLEM: ABOUT A MONTH AGO, MY 99 EXPEDITION BEGAN TO MAKE A "CLUNKING" NOISE WHILE MAKING SHARP TURNS (LIKE INTO PARKING SPACES). IT IS NOT JUST A NOISE - YOU CAN FEEL IT THROUGH THE STEERING WHEEL AND IT MAKES THE WHOLE TRUCK JERK AROUND. IT IS ALMOST LIKE MY FRONT WHEELS ARE DRIVING OVER GOLF BALL-SIZED ROCKS. THE PROBLEM STARTED VERY SUDDENLY, AND IT IS SOMEWHAT INTERMITTENT - BUT IT IS BECOMING MORE FREQUENT AS TIME GOES ON. I HAD IT IN TO THE FORD GARAGE TWICE NOW, AND IT JUST DOES NOT WANT TO ACT UP WHEN A TECHNICIAN IN THE VEHICLE. SINCE I CAN'T ALWAYS MAKE IT HAPPEN, I AM INCLINED TO BELIEVE THAT IT IS NOT A MECHANICAL PROBLEM (LIKE A U-JOINT OR CV JOINT). IT IS EITHER REALLY BAD OR NON-EXISTENT. ALSO, I DO NOT NOTICE ANY MAJOR SYMPTOMS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE, ALTHOUGH I SOMETIMES DO HEAR A HIGH-PITCHED WHINE FROM THE FRONT END WHILE TRAVELING ABOVE 40 MPH. THIS NOISE IS ALSO INTERMITTENT, AND IT SOUNDS SOMEWHAT LIKE A WHEEL BEARING GOING OUT (THEY CHECKED OUT OK). WHEN I FIRST EXPERIENCED THE JUMPY FRONT END WHILE TAKING CORNERS, I IMMEDIATELY THOUGHT THAT THE TRUCK HAD BEEN SWITCHED INTO 4WD. THE JERKY, CLUNKY BEHAVIOR OF THE…”
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE STRAPS THAT SUPPORTED THE FUEL TANK WERE CORRODED AND FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO REPLACED BOTH FUEL TANK STRAPS AT A COST OF $278 TO THE CONTACT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 66,000. THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL COVER WAS LEAKING AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 06/27/11”
“I PURCHASED A 1999 FORD WINSTAR IN 2005 AND MY TRANSMISSION STARTED TO GO 3 MONTHS AFTER PURCHASE MY WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED AND HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED FOR 1500.00 WHILE SEARCHING YOUR SITE I DISCOVERED MANY DEFECTS AND RECALLS TO MY VAN WHICH I PLAN TO TAKE TO A FORD DEALER. I WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE IS A RECALL FOR 1999 FORD WINDSTAR TRANSMISSIONS. *TR”
Showing 6 of 69 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.