1999 Ford Expedition Electrical System

1999 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 LITER V8 EDDIE BAUER - VEHICLE ODOMETER BEGAN TO FAIL INTERMITTENTLY, THEN RADIO, THEN RANDOM DASH LIGHTS, I.E. 4X4 - EVEN AFTER CAR TURNED OFF. ALL OF THE ABOVE AND THEN SOME WENT HAYWIRE AND CAR STALLED OUT. GOT TO SAFE PLACE W/OUT POWER STEERING, BRAKES, ETC. TOOK TO MECHANIC AND HAD ALTERNATOR REPLACED. AFTER 3 DAYS SAME EVENT OCCURRED. MECHANIC REPLACED ALTERNATOR AGAIN AND BATTERY - SAID BATTERY WAS PROBLEM NOW. AFTER 3 DAYS EVENT HAS BEGUN TO RECUR. CO-WORKER HAS 2000 MODEL AND IS EXPERIENCING SAME PROBLEMS. NO INFO ON RECALL BUT INTERNET REVEALS SEVERAL SIMILAR COMPLAINTS. *NM

IT STARTED A YEAR AND A HALF AGO. THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD COME ON FOR NO REASON. IT DIDN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN AT THE TIME I TOOK IT IN TO EVALUATE THE PROBLEM. THE DEALER TOLD ME THEY COULD NOT FIX A PROBLEM THEY DIDN'T SEE. SLOWLY THE PROBLEM GOT WORST, ESPECIALLY IN WET WEATHER. ABOUT EIGHT MONTHS AGO, THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD GO OUT IF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS LOWERED. I CAN NO LONGER RAISE OR LOWER THE COLUMN ANYMORE FOR FEAR THE WIPERS, LOCKS AND HEADLAMPS WILL NOT WORK. AT TIMES, THE LOCKS TO THE BACK SEAT WOULD NOT RESPOND TO THE POWER LOCK BUTTONS. THE REAR WIPER DOES NOT WORK ANYMORE, YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR RUN AT TIMES, BUT NO MOVEMENT. THE ODOMETER BLINKS ON AND OFF AT TIMES. THERE HAVE BEEN TIMES IT DOESN'T COME ON AT ALL. THAT NORMALLY HAPPENS WHEN I'M ON THE ROAD FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME. WITH ALL OF THAT GOING ON, THE WORST THING IS TO DRIVE THE CAR IN THE RAIN AND SNOW AND NOT KNOW IF THE WIPERS WILL WORK AT ALL. *JB

SEVERAL TIMES THIS HAPPENED. AFTER RAIN OR SNOW THE ELECTRONICS IN MY 1999 EXPEDITION GOES CRAZY. SUCH AS VEHICLES FAN RUNS AFTER TRUCK IS TURNED OFF, WHEN IN DRIVE RADIO GOES OUT, BEEPING NOISES ETC ETC. THIS IS KNOWN TO BE CAUSED BY A LEAK IN THE VEHICLES WINDSHIELD WHICH IS UNDETECTABLE BY THE OWNER. WATER LEAKS BEHIND THE FUSE PANEL AND THE GEM MODULE AND CAUSES ELECTRICAL HAVOC. CAR WILL EVEN TRY STARTING ON ITS OWN W/O KEYS IN IT. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS WINDSHIELD DEFECT AND WILL DO NOTHING TO RECTIFY IT. THIS STARTED THIS YEAR SEVERAL TIMES. THE DEALER IS REPLACING THE WINDSHIELD BECAUSE TO RESEAL IT HAS TO BE REMOVED AND IN THE PROCESS THEY CRACK. THE FUSE BOX AND GEM MODULE ALSO HAS TO BE REPLACED DUE TO CORROSION OVER TIME CAUSED BY THE UNKNOWN LEAK. THE WATER LEAKS DOWN THE FRONT PILLAR AND THEN BEHIND THE DASHBOARD. ALL THE WHILE THE OWNER IS UNAWARE OF THIS HAPPENING OVER TIME. FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THE DEFECTIVE SEAL ON THE WINDSHIELDS OF SEVERAL YEAR MODELS OF EXPEDITIONS. THIS IS ALSO A DEFINITE FIRE HAZARD AND A DEFINITE DANGER ESP. THOSE WHO PARK IN THERE ATTACHED GARAGES. REPAIRS COST THE OWNERS BETWEEN $600.00 TO WELL OVER $1000.00. THIS ISN'T FAIR WHEN A DEFECT LIKE THIS IS COMMON KNOWLEDGE TO ALL DEALERS AND OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES. MY VEHICLE IS A TOP OF THE LINE EDDIE BAUER MODEL AND THE PRICE NEW WAS IN THE $40,000 RANGE. THE NHTSA SHOULD FULLY INVESTIGATE THIS AND DEMAND A RECALL AND REIMBURSEMENT TO THOSE WHO PAID DEARLY FOR THIS DEFECT THAT CAME STRAIGHT FROM THE ASSEMBLY LINE TO US. *JB

VEHICLE FIRE - POSSIBLE ENGINE FIRE WITH EXTENSIVE PROPERTY DAMAGE. *AK

THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD FLICKER ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE WINDSHEILD WIPERS WOULD TURN ON AND OFF INTERMITTENTLY. THE RADIO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WITHOUT ANYBODY TOUCHING THE CONTROLS. TRUCK SWITCHES INTO 4X4 MODE WHEN DRIVEN THRU CAR WASH. I COULD HAVE NEGLECTED TO FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT, DECIDED TO HAVE NECESSARY REPAIRS DONE TO THE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION AT A COST OF ALMOST $2000 TO ME..... MY EXTENDED WARRANTY DID NOT COVER THE NECESSARY REPAIRS.......AND FORD (THE MANUFACTURER), WOULD NOT HELP EITHER. I HAD 2" GEM MODULES" REPLACED IN THIS VEHICLE WITHIN 1 AND 2 YEARS. THE SECOND TIME FORD/FORD DEALER REPLACED THE GEM MODULE. THE VEHICLE STILL SWITCHES INTO 4X4 AFTER GOING THROUGH A "DRIVE THRU" CAR WASH......WATER MUST BE CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM SOMEWHERE UNDERNEATH THE TRUCK??????? THE FIRST GEM MODULE IS AVAILABLE----I PAID FOR IT, SO I KEPT IT.....BROOKDALKE FORD (DEALERSHIP), SAID THERE WAS WATER DAMAGE TO THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD WHICH IS WHAT THE GEM MODULE IS MADE UP OF.......THERE IS NO VISIBLE WATER DAMAGE TO THIS PART. I WORK FOR AN ELECTRONICS MANUFACTURER......AND A FEW OF OUR TECHNICIANS AGREED ---NO WATER DAMAGE.......IT'S A DESIGN PROBLEM BY THE MANUFACTURER OR THE DESIGNER....... THANK YOU, DELANO MAUDAL 3082 HIGHCREST ROAD ROSEVILLE, MN 55113

THE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED THE ENTIRE CAR AND GARAGE IT WAS STORED IN. THE FIRE INVESTIGATION REPORTS THE FIRE STARTED IN THE FUSE PANEL. *JB *SC

I HAVE A '99 FORD EXPEDITION AND I DEVELOPED A PROBLEM WHERE I LOST THE BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL LIGHTS IN MY CAR. I REPLACED THE FUSED AND IT IMMEDIATELY POPPED AGAIN. SO I TOOK IT TO MY MECHANIC, AND HE LOOKED AT IT. THERE WAS BRAKE FLUID UP IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, ALL THE WAY UP IN THE CABLE HARNESS (IN THE WIRES), AND IN THE CONNECTOR AT THE JUNCTION/FUSE BOX. WHEN HE REMOVED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH, HE DISCOVERED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WAS THE NEW SWITCH AND IT SPARKED AND IT CAUGHT FIRE. LUCKILY THE FLAME WAS CONTAINED TO JUST THE SWITCH AND THE MECHANIC WAS ABLE TO CUT THE SWITCH OUT OF THE CAR AND BLOW IT OUT BEFORE THE FIRE SPREAD. HE TOLD ME THE CAR HAD TO GO TO FORD AND HE SUGGESTED THAT I NOT DRIVE IT, AS IT WAS A FIRE HAZARD. SO IT WAS TOWED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP GOT IN AND INVESTIGATED AND THEY DETERMINED THAT I NEEDED A WHOLE NEW CABLING HARNESS BECAUSE OF MELTED WIRES AND BRAKE FLUID CONTAMINATION AND THAT THE PRICE WAS GOING TO BE $500 AND A NEW CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND FUSES. I INSTRUCTED FORD TO GO AHEAD WITH THE REPAIRS AND TO SAVE ALL OF THE OLD PARTS. FORD SAID THAT BECAUSE THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH HAD ALREADY BEEN REPLACED, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECT TO THE RECALL DESPITE THE ENTIRE LIST OF OTHER COINCIDENTAL FAILURES THAT COULD HAVE LED TO A FIRE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF LIFE. I HAVE NO DOUBT THAT HAD THE OLD SWITCH STILL BEEN IN PLACE, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN A FIRE ALREADY. AS THINGS WERE, MY MECHANIC JOE TAYLOR, AT TAYLOR'S AUTOMOTIVE SAID IT WAS JUST A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE THIS ONE WOULD GO UP.

HI. I HAVE A 99 FORD EXPEDITION AND READ ON CNN YOU ARE CONDUCTING AN INVESTIGATION. I HAVE HAD SO MANY ISSUES WITH THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD, AND SPENT OVER 2200 DOLLARS WITH NO RESOLUTION. IN THE END, I FOUND YOU COULD DRILL HOLES IN PARTS OF THE FUSE BOX. THE REALLY FRUSTRATING THING IS I WENT INTO MANY DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS WITH DOCUMENTATION IN HAND REGARDING OTHERS WITH THE SAME ISSUE, AND THEY ALL ACTED LIKE THEY HAD NEVER HEARD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE. IT'S VERY UPSETTING. CAN YOU PLEASE TELL ME WHAT ELSE I NEED TO DO TO ENSURE MY COMPLAINTS ARE CONSIDERED AS PART OF YOUR INVESTIGATION?

MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION HAS HAD TO HAVE THE IGNITION COIL PACKS REPLACED AT LEAST 4 TIMES. THE SYMPTOMS ARE MISFIRE AND A RESULTING SEVERE ENGINE VIBRATION UPON ACCELERATION. ONCE THE VEHICLE REACHES A CRUISING SPEED, THE PROBLEM APPEARS TO GO AWAY, BUT ONLY UNTIL YOU ACCELERATE AGAIN. FORD MOTOR COMPANY KNOWS THERE IS IS DESIGN FLAW IN THESE VEHICLES WHICH CAUSES WATER DRIPPING FROM SOME SOURCE (THE AIR CONDITIONER OR A WINDSHIELD THAT IS NOT SEALED) TO SHORT OUT THE IGNITION COIL PACKS. THEY HAVE A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN OUT ON THE PROBLEM, BUT THE PROBLEM IS NOT ALWAYS REPORTED AS A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THEY FAIL TO DIAGNOSE THIS PROPERLY IN SOME CASES. THE FIRST 2 TIMES THIS HAPPENED, I TOOK THE CAR TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS. BOTH TRIPS COST ME CLOSE TO $400 EACH TIME. THE THIRD TIME IT HAPPENED, WE WENT TO OUR LOCAL GARAGE AND THE GUY SAID THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM, WELL KNOWN TO AUTO MECHANICS, BUT THAT THE INDIVIDUAL FAILING CYLINDER COULD NOT BE READILY DIAGNOSED BY THE COMPUTER CODES, SO IT WAS AN EXPENSIVE REPAIR BECAUSE THEY MIGHT HAVE TO TRY ALL 8 COIL PACKS TO LOCATE AND IDENTIFY THE OFFENDER. THE LAST COIL PACK THAT FAILED WAS REPLACED BY MY HUSBAND AT A COST OF $45.00 AS THE FAILING UNIT WAS EASILY ACCESSIBLE. YOU CAN SEE THE GREAT DIFFERENCE IN COST OF DOING IT YOURSELF VS. BOTH OF MY TRIPS TO THE DEALERSHIP. MY TRUCK IS FAILING AGAIN NOW AND OF COURSE, IT IS EXHIBITING THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF A COIL PACK FAILURE. THIS TIME, HOWEVER, THE COIL PACK IN QUESTION IS NOT EASILY ACCESSIBLE FOR THE HOME MECHANIC AND WE WILL BE FORCED TO TAKE IT IN FOR REPAIR.

MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION HAS A RECURRING PROBLEM WITH A SUPPOSES SAFETY FEATURE. THE "DOOR AJAR" WARNING LIGHT COMES ON EVEN WHEN THERE IS NO DOOR OPEN. PART OF THIS SYSTEM TURNS ON THE DOME LIGHT AT SPEEDS BETWEEN 5 AND 18 MPH. THIS LIGHT MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO SEE OUT THE WINDOWS. IMAGINE YOURSELF BACKING OUT OF AN UNLIT DRIVEWAY AT NIGHT AND NOT BEING ABLE TO SEE IF THERE IS A CHILD APPROACHING THE REAR OF YOUR CAR. THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN OFF OR OVER-RIDE THE DOME LIGHT SHORT OF REMOVING THE BULBS. FORD TRIED TO FIX THE PROBLEM ONCE AND IT WORKED PROPERLY FOR A WHILE, BUT THE PROBLEM RETURNED. IT IS FRIGHTENING WHEN YOU HAVE YOUR SIGHT IMPAIRED. I WOULD RATHER HAVE THE DOME LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM DISABLED THAT HAVE IT MALFUNCTION. THE ODDS OF AN INCIDENT HAPPENING DUE TO IMPAIRED VISION ARE SURELY GREATER THAN OF AN OPEN DOOR NOT BEING NOTICED AND SUBSEQUENTLY CAUSING AN INCIDENT. *NM

WATER LEAKING UNDER DASH AROUND WINDSHIELD DEALER TRIED TWICE TO FIX PROBLEM AND TO DATE IT LEAKS WHEN SUBJECTED TO RAIN.

IN RAIN, WIPERS FAIL, DASH LIGHTS FAIL, RADIO FAILS, HVAC FAILS, 4X4 ENGAGES

HAD TO HAVE ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS AND FUSE BOX REPLACED DUE TO WINDSHIELD LEAKING WATER INTO 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. ALSO REPLACED WINSHIELD.

BACK WIPER FAILURE ODOMETER FAILURE RUNNING BOARD LIGHT FAILURE RADIO FAILURE REAR DOOR LOCK FAILURE. *NM

WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING AND COMING TO A STOP SIGN THERE WAS A LOUD NOISE. CONSUMER PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AND THE VEHICLE CUT OFF. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE TOWED, IT WAS DISCOVERED THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED 90 MINS, NOTICED SMOKE FROM HOOD, RAISED HOOD FLAMES 12-14 " HIGH, CC DID NOT WORK 6 MOS PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE

SPOUSE WOKE UP TO GLASS POPPING, RAN OUT OF HOUSE, AND SAW GARAGE COMPLETELY ENGULFED IN FLAMES - ONE WEEK PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE TURN SIGNALS AND HAZARD LIGHTS WOULD NOT WORK - BLOWN FUSE AND REPLACED IT. CRUISE CONTROL WOULD JERK WHILE ACTIVATED. *AK

1) NOTICED IN MID MAY THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL ON MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION STOPPED WORKING. NO OTHER PERFORMANCE ISSUES WERE NOTICED AND SINCE IT WAS NOT CRITICAL IT WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. 2) ON JULY 27, 2005 THE 1999 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED. THE FIRE CHIEF ON SITE INDICATED THAT THE FIRE STARTED IN THE AREA OF THE MASTER CYLINDER, WHERE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH IS LOCATED. 3) MY INSURANCE COMPANY, USAA IS IN THE PROCESS OF INVESTIGATING THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE AND I AM AWAITING INFORMATION FROM THEM. I HAVE NOT CONTACTED FORD AT THIS TIME. *NM

UPON STARTING VEHICLE CONSUMER SMELT SMOKE FROM WITHIN THE CABIN. CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF, AND LIFTED THE HOOD. ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED, AND VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER. AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEM CAUSED THE FIRE. COMPONENT THAT FAILED UNKNOWN. VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, AND RETURNED TO THE CONSUMER. *AK

EVERY TIME IT RAINS OR SNOWS, SEVERAL FUNCTIONS CONTROLLED BY MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM BEGIN TO FUNCTION IRRATICALLY. AS AN EXAMPLE, WHILE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS DO NOT FUNCTION CONTINUOUSLY. IN ADDITION, IF THE VEHICLE IS SITTING IN THE RAIN, SEVERAL FUNCTIONS COME ON AUTOMATICALLY AND THE BATTERY INEVITABLY DIES. I'VE HAD TO REPLACE A BATTERY AND I WOULD LIKE FOR FORD TO ACKNOWLEDGE AND REPAIR THE PROBLEM BEFORE I SINK ANYMORE MONEY INTO IT. IT APPEARS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM AND IT HAS BEEN LINKED TO A LEAKY WINDSHIELD AND THE GEM MODULE OF THE VEHICLE. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED FOR EXPLORERS AND MOUNTAINEERS WITH THIS PROBLEM, BUT TO DATE, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT THE EXPEDITION.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE BEEPING NOISE LIKE AN ALARM STARTED TO SOUND. THEN THE RADIO, THE LIGHT SAYING THE WASHER FLUID AND THE 4X4 START FLASHING ON AND OFF WHEN CAR IS SHIFTED INTO PARK IT STOPS. ALSO ON AN OCCASION THE HEATER WAS RUNNING THE CAR WAS TURNED OFF KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. HAD TO RESTART THE CAR TO GET THE HEATER TO STOP.

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 1 HOUR A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

(1) 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WOULD NOT START, DEAD BATTERY. REPLACED BATTERY, DETERMINED ALL ELECTONIC COMPONENTS SHORTING OUT AND INOPERABLE: HEADLIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS GOES ON AND OFF, WIPERS WORK ONLY INTERMITTENTLY.*AK (2) VEHICLE TAKEN TO LOCAL FORD REPAIR FACILITY. DEALERSHIP WAS IMMEDIETLY FAMILLIAR WITH PROBLEM. FAILURE ATTRIBUITED TO LEAKING WINDSHIED AND SUBSEQUENT WATER LEAKAGE ON VEHICLE GEM (GENERAL ELECRONIC MODULE) AND FUSEBLOCK (3) REPAIRS CONSISTED OF REPLACING WINSHIELD, REPACING GEM MODULE WITH IMPROVED WATER RESISTANT VARIATION (RESULT OF TSB), REPLACED FUSEBLOCK, REPLACED STARTER MOTOR. PROBLEMS WITH SOME ELECTRONIC SYSTEMS PERSIST AFTER REPAIR. (4) RESULING $1,650.00 REPAIR BILL FOR 5 YEAR OLD, 70K MILE GARAGE KEPT VEHICLE DUE TO BEING LEFT IN THE RAIN FOR TWO DAYS.

AFTER VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR 3 HOURS A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

DT: 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. CONSUMER HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. THE SPARK PLUG CAME OUT WHEN CONSUMER'S WIFE WAS DRIVING. THE PLUG WAS STILL ATTACHED, AND THERE WERE SPARKS COMING FROM THIS. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF. CONSUMER HEARD A FUNNY NOISE. A LOCAL MECHANIC STATED THEY CAN FIX IT WITH A THREAD INSERT. WHEN CONSUMER CALLED FORD, THEY STATED THEY WOULD NOT FIX THE PROBLEM, BUT THEY WOULD CHANGE THE HEAD. THIS HAPPENED ON AUGUST 1, 2005, AT 100,000 MILES. THE OWNER'S MANUAL STATED THERE SHOULD BE NO SPARK PLUG MAINTENANCE UNTIL 100,000 MILES. THESE WERE THE ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS. CONSUMER STATES VEHICLE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK