1999 Ford Expedition Electrical System
Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.
Complaint Timeline
Chronological view of owner reports
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.
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.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HORN ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. AFTER INSPECTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO A FIRE UNDER THE HOOD TOWARD THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE EMITTING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED. HOWEVER, THE FIRE DID NOT EXTINGUISH RESULTING IN THE VEHICLE EXPLODING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 163,000.
APPEARS WHEN IT RAINS, THE VEHICLE WILL NOT START. TOOK SAME TO A LOCAL SHOP THAT SPECIALIZE IN ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND ADVISED THEY WERE AWARE OF WINDSHIELD LEAKAGE. THEY ADVISED THEY DID NOT SEE ANY EVIDENCE OF LEAKAGE. VEHICLE CAN BE DRIVEN SEVERAL MONTHS WITH NO ISSUES, BUT APPEARS TO OCCUR WHEN THERE IS A HEAVY RAIN. UPON REVIEWING OTHER POST, IT APPEARS THIS IS A LONGER EXISTING PROBLEM WITH THE YEAR AND MAKE VEHICLE. *TR
I HAVE THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM. WHILE VEHICLE IS OFF THE HEATER BLOWERS WILL TURN ON AND RUN BATTERY DOWN. WHILE DRIVING 4X4, WASHER LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL TURN OFF AND ON. RADIO WORKS WHILE IN PARK BUT, POWERS DOWN WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR. HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH WATER GETTING IN AND RUNNING DOWN DRIVERS SIDE. APPEARS ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2008 JUST STARTED HAVING THESE ISSUES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR STARTED OUT SLOW BUT ARE GETTING WORST AND MORE FREQUENT. NOW MY VEHICLE AFTER JUMP STARTING IT I HEAR A ELECTRICAL NOISE COMING FROM MY STARTER, IT SHUTS THE CAR OFF AND KILLS THE BATTERY. THE CAR WILL ONLY RUN FOR TEN SECONDS OR SO BEFORE IT REPEATS. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, THE REAR BRAKE LIGHTS AND INSTRUMENT PANEL BEGAN TO ILLUMINATE. THE CONTACT DISENGAGED THE BATTERY CABLE TO PREVENT THE MALFUNCTION FROM CONTINUING. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 155,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION, THE STARTER TRIES TO START THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD THE INTERIOR LIGHTS FLICKER AND THE HEADLIGHTS WILL TURN ON AND OFF RANDOMLY. AUTOMATIC DOOR LOCKS WILL NOT ALWAYS WORK. *TR
MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WENT UP IN FLAMES LAST NIGHT (JUNE 26) IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD DRIVEN THE TRUCK HOME, TURNED IT OFF AND WALKED INSIDE TO GO TO BED. APPROXIMATELY FIFTEEN MINUTES LATER, I WAS AWOKEN TO MY CAR HAVING SEVEN FOOT FLAMES COMING FROM THE HOOD. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED AND WE BEGAN TRYING TO FIGHT THE FIRE. THE TRUCK IS A TOTAL LOSS. I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE IN MAY OF 2008 AND I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE. I WAS NEVER NOTIFIED OF ANY RECALL. *TR
WHEN IT RAINS MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION TURNED ON THE LIGHTS ALL BY ITSELF , AND THEN PROCEEDED TO TRY AND CRANK ITSELF WITH NO KEY. RADIO AND AIR COMES ON BY THEMSELVES, CLICKING NOISE UNDER DASH , FOUND SEVERAL COMPLAINTS SAYING THAT IT IS A LEAK IN THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE COMPUTER TO GET WET. *TR
UNUSUAL CIRCUMSTANCES SUCH AS WINDOW SWITCH WORKING THE WIPERS, DIGITAL ODOMETER GOING OFF AND ON, BRAKES WORKING THE INTERIOR DOME LIGHTS,BLOWER MOTOR FOR HEATER COMING ON WITHOUT A KEY EVEN IN THE IGNITION,DOOR LOCKS DON'T ENGAGE UNTIL MOVING FOR A MINUTE OR TWO,AFTER BLOWER MOTOR KICKED ON WITHOUT A KEY, TOOK TO SHOP AND THEY SAID WATER HAD GOTTEN IN THE POWER DIST. BOX AND FLOORBOARD HAD MOISTURE ALSO. WILL COST ME OVER 700.00 BUT I CANT AFFORD TO FIX ON MY 600.00 DISABILITY CHECK I GET A MONTH. THANKS FORD!!! *TR
1999 FORD EXPEDITION. SUV HAS BEEN RANDOM ELECTRICAL ANOMALIES OVER THE PAST MONTH FROM TODAY. GAUGES, INTERIOR FANS, AND LIGHTS WOULD STAY ON WHEN THE IGNITION WOULD BEE IN THE OFF POSITION AND KEY REMOVED. UPON INSPECTION FROM A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP SERVICE DEPARTMENT, IT HAS BEEN NOTED FROM THEM THAT CORROSION OF THE GENERAL ELECTRICAL MODULE AND FUSE BOX ARE THE CAUSE, MOST LIKELY FROM A WATER LEAK FROM THE FRONT WINDSHIELD. IMPROPER INFORMATION FROM DASH CONSOLES CAN LEAD TO STALLS ON ROADWAYS OR IMPROPER DRIVING DUE TO IMPROPER INFORMATION RECEIVED FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. IN MY CASE, IT IS LIMITED TO BATTERY DRAIN, IMPROPER FUEL READINGS, WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, AND FAILURE TO START. IN THE END IT IS MAINLY A RESEMBLANCE TO ODI COMPLAINT EA05-015. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING ON 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. LIGHTS, DOOR LOCK, WINDOWS, AIR CONDITIONING, RADIO, FLASHERS, LIGHTS, GAUGES. *TR
WATER LEAKS IN THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING BLOWER MOTOR TO STAY ON AFTER IGNITION IS ON, RANDOMLY TRIES TO START WHEN KEY IS NOT EVEN IN IGNITION, LIGHTS BLINK, COULD CAUSE FIRE. *TR
VEHICLE FIRE OF FORD EXPEDITION - TOTAL LOSS. *TR
CAR ON BOARD COMPUTER HAD TO BE REPLACED. *TR
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM HAD INTERMITTENT FAILURES, LIGHTS GOING ON AND OFF, DASH LIGHTS FLASHING, RADIO GOING ON AND OFF, AMMETER FLUCTUATING. *TR
UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY THAT CAN RESULT IN FIRES. RADIO, WIPERS AND HVAC BLOWER TURN ON SPONTANEOUSLY WHEN VEHICLE IGNITION IS OFF. BURNING RUBBER SMELL SOMETIMES. *TR
MY FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE ON 4TH OF JUNE 2007. IN MY DRIVEWAY AT 5 AM - MY GARAGE WAS BURNED AND THE CAR WAS A CRISP. *TR
AFTER GOING THROUGH A CAR WASH ELECTRICAL SYSTEM ON MY 99' FORD EXPEDITION STARTED TO MALFUNCTION. ALL GAUGES GOING BACK AND FORTH VIOLENTLY MANY WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATING LOUD CLICKING AND POPPING NOISES LIKE SHORTING OUT NOISES IN FUSE BOX AREA. BATTERY DIED SHORTLY AFTER WHILE IN TRAFFIC HEADING HOME LEAVING ME STRANDED COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT. REPLACED OLD BATTERY WITH NEW ONE AND STILL EXPERIENCING ELECTRICAL FAILURES. VEHICLE IS STILL SITTING TO THIS DAY! *TR
I OWN A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION TRUCK, THIS TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BLEW UP TUESDAY OCTOBER 2, 2007 AT APPROXIMATELY 7:02 PM. I HAD JUST FINISHED PARKING THE TRUCK 7 MINUTES PRIOR TO IT CATCHING ON FIRE AND BLOWING UP. THE VEHICLE IS NOW OF NO USE. *TR THE CONSUMER STATED WROTE FORD TWICE ABOUT THE DEFECT BUT FORD INFORMED HIM THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE ON THE VEHICLE. NEW JERSEY INCIDENT REPORT. UPDATED 11/06/07 *TR
EVERY TIME IT RAINS. WHEN SUV IS PARKED AND TURNED OFF THE WIPERS COME ON. HEADLAMPS AND FLASHERS GO ON AND OFF. RADIO TURNS ON AND OFF. VEHICLE TRIES TO START ITSELF WITHOUT KEY IN THE IGNITION. BATTERY DISCHARGES. *TR
I SENT YOU AN E-MAIL ABOUT A WEEK AGO BRINGING TO YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS SAFETY ISSUE WITH FORD TRUCKS. WHAT HAPPENS IS IN A HARD RAIN WATER COMES INTO THE FUSE PANEL, IT SHORTS OUT, THE GEM SHORTS OUT, THE PCM SHORTS OUT, > > YOU SMELL AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL, ALL GAUGES START GOING CRAZY AND TRUCK CUTS OUT INSTANTLY! THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OUR FAMILY -ONCE PULLING OUT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC (DURING A HARD RAIN) THE TRUCK STOPPED RUNNING INSTANTLY. GOT SOMEONE TO JUMP START THE VEHICLE. THE SECOND TIME AT LEAST SIX MONTHS LATER, AGAIN IN HARD RAIN - SAME SITUATION THIS TIME MY HUSBAND WAS 170 MILES AWAY. THIS TIME HE SMELLED AN ELECTRICAL BURNING SMELL. AFTER SMELLING THIS HE GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK AND PULLED OUT THE BATTERY IN FEAR OF WHAT WAS NEXT. LATER PUT THE BATTERY BACK IN HOWEVER, THIS TIME A JUMP WOULDN'T WORK . HE GOT A "NEW" BATTERY AND THAT DIDN'T WORK EITHER. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN TOWED TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALER LAKE FORD IN LEWISTOWN, PA. HERE'S WHAT THEY SAY. THE FUSE PANEL HAS TO BE REPLACED IT WAS SHORTED OUT ALONG WITH THE GEM, AND THE PCM. WITH ALL THAT TOTALING OVER $800.00. AND JUST YESTERDAY I TALKED TO LAKE FORD AND THEY INFORMED ME THEIR GOING TO PUT IN A NEW ALTERNATOR AND IT ALSO NEEDS A NEW INSTRUMENT PANEL DUE TO IT WAS BURNED OUT ALSO. (APPROX $700.00) AND THEY TELL US THAT EVEN AFTER ALL OF THE ABOVE IS FIXED THE TRUCKS RADIO AND AIR BAGS! WILL NOT WORK THEY TOO WERE SHORTED INTERNALLY. SO WHEN WE GET OUR TRUCK BACK AND PAYING OVER $1,500 WE WILL HAVE NO AIRBAGS! ALL DUE TO A FORD MANUFACTURING ERROR.(WINDSHIELDS NOT SEALED PROPERLY). EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE DOLLARS WE WILL HAVE TO PAY. WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO THE NEXT PERSON WILL THEY BE ABLE AS LUCKY AS US AND AVOID A SERIOUS ACCIDENT? I HAVE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE FORD MOTOR VEHICLE COMPANY SEVERAL TIMES AND THEY ARE FAILING TO ADDRESS IT. THERE SHOULD BE A SAFETY RECALL PUT IN ON THESE FORD TRUCKS RIGHT AWAY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WERE ALSO ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE; AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. *AK
DURING DRIVING OF VEHICLE ALL GAUGES WENT TO ZERO, LIGHTS WOULDN'T WORK, RADIO WENT OUT, AC WENT OUT, WINDOWS, ETC. REPLACED THE BATTERY AND IT WORKED FINE FOR 1 DAY. PUT IN A NEW BATTERY AND ALL OF THE LIGHTS STARTED FLASHING ON AND OFF WITH A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FUSE BOX. REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR AND TRIED TO HOOK UP BATTERY. VEHICLE STARTED DOING THE SAME THING. NOW WE ARE LOOKING AT HAVING TO REPLACE THE GEM AND FUSE BOX DUE TO WATER/MOISTURE. ISN'T THERE SOMETHING WE CAN DO ABOUT THIS? IT IS OBVIOUSLY A PROBLEM AS YOU CAN SEE FROM OTHER COMPLAINTS. *NM
1999 FORD EXPEDITION, EDDIE BAUER WITH 67,000 MILES. DURING/AFTER RAIN CERTAIN ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MALFUNCTION (I.E. FOUR WHEEL DRIVE SYSTEM, LIGHTING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS (FRONT AND REAR), RADIO, CLIMATE CONTROL (IMPORTANT IN ALASKA). PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT AND OCCURS WITHOUT WARNING. AT THE SUGGESTION OF THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE ($350.00) BUT THIS FAILED TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. THE TECHNICIANS STATED THEY DID NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO OR WHY THE PROBLEM IS OCCURRING. *JB
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The 1999 Ford Expedition has 81 Electrical System complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.