1999 Ford Expedition Engine
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
SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE ENGINE REPEATEDLY WHILE DRIVING
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE POLICE BELIEVED THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE HOOD. A POLICE AND A FIRE REPORT WERE FILED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH TWO FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AND A HOSE BEFORE THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED. A PASSENGER WHO WAS SEATED IN AN UNKNOWN LOCATION SUSTAINED A FRACTURED RIGHT KNEE, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 199,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I HAVE HAD 2 DIFFERENT SPARK PLUGS EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE ON 2 SEPARATE OCCASIONS. THE FIRST TIME I TOOK IT IN AND HAD A HELI COIL INSTALLED. I HAVE NOT REPAIRED THE SECOND INSTANCE YET. THERE WAS A 2 YEAR TIME SPAN BETWEEN THE EVENTS. THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED I WAS AT LOW SPEED GOING THROUGH TOWN. THE SECOND TIME I WAS ON THE FREEWAY.
I WAS SITTING AT MC DONALDS GETTING FOOD FOR MY SON, WHEN A LOUD POP COME FROM UNDER MY HOOD THEN MY TRUCK STARTED TO SMELL FUNNY. SOME CARS WERE IN FRONT OF ME SO THEY LET ME OUT. I PULLED OFF TO THE SIDE AND CALLED A FEW PEOPLE THAT COULD TELL ME WHAT WAS GOIN ON. A MAN COME AND LOOKED AT IT THAT WORKED ON CARS A CROSSED THE STREET TOLD ME THAT IT BLOWED A SPARK PLUG I NEVER HEARD OF ANYTHING LIKE THAT. IT HAD COME COMPLETELY OUT. THERE WAS OIL ON IT. I HAD TO HAVE IT REDONE SO ANOTHER SPARK PLUG COULD BE PUT IN THERE AND NOW IT HAS DON IT AGAIN. THE SAME ONE NUMBER 2. SPARK PLUG. THIS IS CRAZY I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY TO KEEP FIXIN THIS TRUCK OVER AND OVER. I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED TO MY HOUSE WHEN IT BLEW THE SPARK PLUG AND I DONO WANT TO GO THOUGH THIS AGAIN. YALL KNOW THAT THIS IS A DEFAULT IN THESES VEHICLES BUT UR NOT DOING ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I HAVE TO USE MY TRUCK TO GO TO THE DOCTORS. AND I CAN'T GO IF IT STAYS BROKE DOWN. YALL NEED TO TAKE CARE OF THIS PROBLEM ....
A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE. I PURCHASED A DORMAN KIT TO REPAIR AND REPLACE THE SPARK PLUG. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT DRIVING THE VEHICLE FAR FROM HOME FOR CONCERN THAT ANOTHER SPARK PLUG MAY BLOW OUT OF THE ENGINE. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE MADE THE ISSUE WITH THE ENGINE CYLINDER HEADS NOT HAVING THICK ENOUGH MATERIAL TO HOLD SPARK PLUGS IN THE THREADS A RECALL.
#8 CYLINDER BLEW THE SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HOLE WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED
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
AFTER PICKING UP LAUNDRY, ON MY WAY TO STAPLES ALL OF THE SUDDEN I HEARD A LOUD POP, THEN A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. I PULLED OVER, TURNED OFF TRUCK. TURNED IT BACK ON THEN HEARD A LOUD POPPING SOUND. GOT THE TRUCK HOME OPENED THE HOOD AND NOTICED SPARK PLUG OUT OF ENGINE ATTACHED TO A DAMAGED COIL. I TRIED TO PUT IN NEW SPARK PLUG BUT IT WOULD NOT SCREW IN, THE THREADS IN CYLINDER HEAD WERE STRIPPED. FOUND OUT IT WOULD COST A LOT OF MONEY TO GET CYLINDER HEAD RETHREADED. WROTE TO FORD CORPORATE THEY ASKED ME FOR VIN NAME AND BASIC INFO. I FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS COMMON IN TRITON ENGINES. IT IS A DESIGNER FLAW IN FORD. FORD KNEW ABOUT IT FOR YEARS NOW. SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT FOR NO REASON. AFTER SPARK PLUG POPS OUT A STRONG SMELL OF GAS COMES OUT. THIS COULD CAUSE ENGINE TO EXPLODE. THIS HAPPENS IN FORD TRITON ENGINES. THIS IS UNSAFE.
AFTER PICKING UP MY LAUNDRY, I HEADED TO STAPLES WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH I HEARD A LOUD BOOM AND VERY STRONG SMELL OF GAS SO I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF TRUCK. I STARTED AGAIN AND IT WAS A LOUD POPPING SOUND. I GOT HOME CHECKED TRUCK ENGINE. I NOTICED MY COIL PACK OUT AND SPARK PLUG ATTACHED TO IT. I TRIED TO PUT SPARK PLUG BUT THE THREADS WERE ALL STRIPED. I CHECKED THE INSIDE OF CYLINDER HEAD COULD NOT SEE TRIED TO PUT IN A NEW SPARK PLUG BUT I CAN TURN AND TURN AND THE SPARK PLUG WOULD NOT SCREW IN. THIS IS DANGEROUS BECAUSE WHEN SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT YOU HAVE ALL THE ODOR OF GAS COMING OUT AND THAT ONE SPARK CAN CAUSE ENGINE TO BLOW UP. I CONTACTED FORD ALL THEY TOOK WAS MY VIN NUMBER AND NAME NEVER HEARD FROM THEM AGAIN.
AS I WAS ON THE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A LOUD BLOW OUT AS I WAS GOING 60 MILES PER HOUR. THIS IS THE 4TH TIME THAT I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE COILS IN THIS TRUCK AND THIS TIME THE ACTUAL SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE LEAVING A OPEN HOLE THAT COULD IGNITE A FIRE. I HAVE NOW SPENT OVER $3600 ON REPAIRS JUST TO FIND OUT WITH DOING SOME ONLINE RESEARCH THAT FORD KNEW OF THIS PROBLEM FOR YEARS AND HAS BEEN BLAMING THE CONSUMER FOR TIGHTENING THE SPARK PLUGS TO TIGHT AND OTHER BULL THAT THEY COME UP WITH AND NOT TAKING RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE CHEAP ALUMINUM PLUGS AND PLUG WIRES IN THEIR VEHICLE. THIS EFFECT CARS AND TRUCK WITH THIS ENGINE SINCE 1999 AND GOES THROUGH VEHICLES OF 2008. A 9 YEAR PROBLEM AND THE FORD CORPORATION DID NOT DO A RECALL. THIS WILL EFFECT IF I WILL BE BUYING ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE FOR SURE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, THE BOLTS FROM THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD RELEASED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND BOLTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.
THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD WHILE I HAS JUST PULLED OUT ACCELERATING UP A SMALL INCLINE. I WAS GOING THROUGH A MAJOR INTERSECTION WITH MY SON. THERE WAS A STUTTER, THEN KNOCKING SOUND, LESS POWER, AND STRANGE ODOR.
I HAVE HAD SPARK PLUGS BLOW TWICE IN THIS ENGINE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE LAST TIME IN JANUARY 2014 THAT I HAVEN'T HAD THE MONEY TO FIX THIS TIME. AFTER RESEARCHING ON THE INTERNET, I HAVE FOUND THAT THIS IS AN EXTREMELY COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE AND FORD HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT EVEN THOUGH THEY KNOW IT IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEIR DESIGN. IT IS A WONDER THAT MORE PEOPLE HAVEN'T GOTTEN HURT FROM THIS PROBLEM WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A FIRE ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FLAMES SPREAD RAPIDLY AND BURNED A PORTION OF THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CONTACTED 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 240,000.
PULLING OUT OF A CONVENIENCE STORE WE HEARD A FUNNY SOUND AND MADE IT TO A PARKING LOT OF A RESTAURANT. HAD TO CALL THE INSURANCE COMPANY TO BE TOWED HOME. FOUND OUT IT WAS SPARK PLUG THAT HAD BLOWN OUT. IT STRIPPED THE THREADS AND IS NOW GOING TO COST A LOT TO GET IT FIXED, NOT TO MENTION THE TOWING. *TR
SPARK PLUG EJECTED RESULTING IN FIRE. INJURED HAND PUTTING OUT SAID FIRE. *TR
VEHICLE RAN PERFECT DURING THE DAY. STOPPED FOR ABOUT 1 HOUR AROUND 9 PM, WENT TO RESTART THE ENGINE AROUND 10 PM, HEARD A LOUD "POP" FOLLOWED BY VERY LOUD FLAPPING NOISE FROM UNDER THE HOOD AS THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN BUT VERY ROUGH (SOUNDED LIKE "BLAP, BLAP, BLAP......"). ON INVESTIGATION, FOUND #6 SPARK PLUG HAD BEEN BLOWN COMPLETELY OUT LAYING ON THE TOP OF THE MANIFOLD AND THE COIL BROKEN OFF ITS MOUNT. THE SPARK PLUG WAS NOT BROKEN, BUT THE THREADS LOOKED A LITTLE ROUNDED, BUT OTHERWISE OK. TRIED TO REINSTALL THE PLUG, BUT IT NEVER WOULD SEAT AND WHEN PULLED OUT VERTICALLY IT FELT LIKE THE THREADS WERE STRIPPED IN THE HEAD. HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO A LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP IN WICHITA. *TR
THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK BY THE DEALER FOREMAN MOTORS INC. IN MELBOURNE, FL. THE VEHICLE WAS LISTED FOR SALE BY THEM FOR $3995. CARFAX.COM HAS THE LAST REPORTED MILEAGE AT 241,000 ON JUNE 15, 2012. THE ODOMETER WAS ROLLED BACK TO 212,000. NOW THE ENGINE IS GONE AFTER ONLY DRIVING IT FOR 200 MILES. *TR
I BOUGHT THIS USED 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L AND NOTICED A KNOCKING FIRST TIME AND SAW THAT THE #3 SPARK PLUG HAD COME UNSCREWED FROM INSIDE, THEN AS I REPLACED IT THE #4 CAME UNSCREWED, RE SCREWED IT BACK IN AND NOW THE OBD II CODES CAME UP THE SPARK PLUG WAS NO LONGER GOOD, AS I HAVE WANTED TO CHANGE THE SPARK PLUGS ALL NEW I AM UNABLE TO SCREW BACK IN A NEW SPARK PLUG IN #4 SPARK PLUG HOLE. I DIDN'T KNOW THAT SPARK PLUGS COULD UNSCREW ON THEIR OWN TILL NOW. I BELIEVE FORD IF THEY KNEW ABOUT THIS PROBLEM IN THE FIRST PLACE THEY SHOULD REPAIR AT THEIR OWN COST FOR SOMETHING THEY KNEW WOULD HAPPEN. *TR
PARKED VEHICLE NOT RUNNING NO RECENT WORK DONE TRUCK JUST STARTED ON FIRE,UNDER THE HOOD AROUND THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER AREA.VEHICLE HAD THE FORD SAFETY RECALL FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *TR
CRANKED THE TRUCK TO DRIVE AND MOTOR BEGAN TO KNOCK AND WHITE SMOKE BEGAN TO POUR OUT. ENGINE LOCKED UP. *TR
WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD MAINTAIN STEADY SPEED ON LEVEL ROAD NUMBER 3 SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT BREAKING COIL AND DROPPING SPARKPLUG ON THE ROAD. ORIGINAL SPARKPLUGS HAD NEVER BEEN CHANGED. *TR
I JUST PURCHASED THIS EXPEDITION AND THE NUMBER 2 SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE DESTROYING THE COIL PACK AND STRIPPING THE THREADS. I HAVE READ ALOT ABOUT THIS AND FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD DO SOMETHING ON THIS ISSUE. SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE SPENT SO MUCH MONEY ON A DESIGN FAILURE THAT FORD DOES NOT WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR. I HAVE OWNED NUMEROUS FORDS AND I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THIS VEHICLE. SINCE I JUST GOT IT I HOPE THIS DON'T HAPPEN AGAIN. IT SHOULD BE RECALLED. *TR
THE SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM BLOCK BREAKING ELECTRONIC COIL. TWO WEEKS LATER HAPPENED AGAIN THEN AFTER A HEILCOIL WAS INSTALLED AND ON 10/15/2011 SAME HAPPENS FOR THE THIRD TIME. *TR
WHILE MOVING ACROSS COUNTRY MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION EJECTED THE NUMBER 3 SPARK PLUG. THIS SITUATION PLACED MY FAMILY IN HARM'S WAY AS IT OCCURRED ON THE INTERSTATE AND WAS QUITE STARTLING. THE SERVICE REP WAS ABLE TO TELL ME WHAT WAS WRONG WITH MY VEHICLE AS SOON AS TOLD HIM THE MAKE AND MODEL. THE REPAIR COST IS SIGNIFICANT, BUT THE POTENTIAL FOR AN UNDER HOOD FIRE CAUSED BY THE FUEL VAPORS BEING IGNITED BY THE EJECTED PLUG IS OF GRAVE CONCERN. FORD IS KEENLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM AND HAS DESIGNED A REPLACEMENT HEAD FOR THE VEHICLE, BUT REFUSES TO DO THE HONORABLE THING AND REPLACE IT AT THEIR EXPENSE. THEY INSTEAD CHOOSE TO PROFIT FROM THEIR CUSTOMERS BY CHARGING THEM FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THE CYLINDER HEADS. I FIND IT PREDATORIAL THAT A CAR COMPANY WOULD MAKE A FAULTY PRODUCT AND THEN PROFIT FROM THE REPAIR OF SAID PRODUCT. THIS COULD START A NEW PRECEDENT BY SIGNALING TO OTHER CAR COMPANIES THAT IF YOU SELL A DEFECTIVE VEHICLE, YOU CAN MAKE MONEY ON THE BACKSIDE BY CHARGING FOR THE REPAIR OR REPLACEMENT OF THAT PART. THE SAFETY CONCERNS THAT ARE ASSOCIATED WITH THIS FAILURE ARE RELATED TO THE LOUD AND SUDDEN POPPING SOUND WHEN THE PLUG EJECTS, THIS COULD EASILY DISTRACT A DRIVER AND COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A FATAL ACCIDENT. THE FUEL VAPORS COULD BE IGNITED SHORTLY AFTER THE PLUG EJECTS AND COULD ALSO CAUSE THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. CONSIDERING THE EXPEDITION CARRIES UP TO 9 PEOPLE THE RISK OF A TRAFFIC FATALITY IS INCREASED GREATLY. PLEASE HOLD FORD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR ERROR AND LETS HOPE NO ONE GETS HURT OR KILLED UNTIL THEN. *TR
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Quick Summary
The 1999 Ford Expedition has 234 Engine complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.