Owners have filed 10 complaints
about the 1999 Ford Excursion with NHTSA between 2002 and 2006.
The largest single group is the engine & cooling.
Across this model's run it ranks 6 of 7 worst.
The letter says how bad. This says what kind — whether this year drew
an unusual number of complaints, unusually dangerous
ones, or failures that arrived unusually early.
The dashed ring is 50 — the national norm. Further out is worse.
Complaint volume — 3
Against the median year of the Ford Excursion. 50 means typical for this
model; 100 means roughly double.
Severity — 52
10% of these complaints
involved a crash, fire, injury or death, against a national rate of
9.7%.
Early failure — 57
33% of failures with a mileage on record happened under
36,000 miles, against a national rate of
29%.
Complaints filed with NHTSA, by model year. Bar colour is the FaultScore grade:
A
B
C
D
F
ungraded
What breaks on a 1999 Ford Excursion
Every complaint is filed against a part. Follow any row for the complaints about that part alone.
Engine & Cooling
330.0%
Median failure at 130,000 miles
Suspension
220.0%
Median failure at 96,200 miles
Electrical System
220.0%
0 crashes, 1 fires · median 82,500 mi
Fuel & Propulsion
110.0%
Median failure at 5,000 miles
Acceleration & Cruise Control
110.0%
Median failure at 5,000 miles
Brakes
110.0%
Median failure at 5,000 miles
When it fails
Odometer readings owners gave when they filed. About half of all
complaints include one.
1,000 – 9,999 miles
333.3%
50,000 – 74,999 miles
111.1%
75,000 – 99,999 miles
333.3%
100,000 – 149,999 miles
222.2%
When owners complained
A spike years after the car went on sale usually means a part wearing
out on schedule across the whole fleet — the kind of pattern no single
owner can see from inside their own car.
Oct 2002peak 4Aug 2006
NHTSA investigations into the 1999 Ford Excursion
An investigation is the step before a recall: the agency has seen enough
complaints to look into a pattern itself. An open one means it thinks
something may be wrong and nothing has been fixed yet.
DP05005Opened 22 Sep 2005Closed 4 Jan 2006ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN A...
Complaints that involved harm
Reports where the owner recorded a crash, a fire, an injury or a death.
at 85,000 milesOvid, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING/IDLING, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHTS COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE NOR LOOK INTO WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE TRUNK AND SAW SMOKE AND FIRE AROUND THE LOCK AREA. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE WIRES AND PLASTIC INSERT AND BULB THAT LIGHTS UP LICENSE PLATE WAS THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10108547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The most recent complaints
In the owners' own words, exactly as filed with NHTSA.
at 96,200 milesMarion, IN
SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER BALL JOINT
WHILE BACKING UP AND TURNING, THE LOWER BALL JOINT ON MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION FAILED. THE PIN ACTUALLY SHEARED OFF THE BALL. THE VEHICLE HAD ABOUT 96200 MILES ON IT.
NHTSA complaint #10165090 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesOceanside, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
I OWN A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION AND HAVE NOW HAD 2 SPARK PLUGS EJECT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD DUE DESTROYING THE COILS OF EACH SPARK PLUG IN THE PROCESS. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOW ISSUE WITH 1997-2000 FORDS, BUT FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I CALL THE DEALER IN CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA AND WAS QUOTED ALMOST $3000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS FAILURE AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FOUND A COMPANY NAMED TIMESERT THAT SELLS A "FORD TRITON SPARK PLUG STEEL INSER KIT" AND PAID OVER $400 FOR THE KIT AND DID THE REPAIRS MYSELF....WHEN A COMPANY LIKE TIMESERT MAKES A KIT SPECIFICALLY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH FORDS IT'S HARD NOT TO BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #10154355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 130,000 milesOceanside, CA
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE
I OWN A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION AND HAVE NOW HAD 2 SPARK PLUGS EJECT OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD DUE DESTROYING THE COILS OF EACH SPARK PLUG IN THE PROCESS. THIS IS A WIDELY KNOW ISSUE WITH 1997-2000 FORDS, BUT FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I CALL THE DEALER IN CARLSBAD CALIFORNIA AND WAS QUOTED ALMOST $3000 TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THERE IS NO RECALL ON THIS FAILURE AND FORD IS DOING NOTHING ABOUT IT. I FOUND A COMPANY NAMED TIMESERT THAT SELLS A "FORD TRITON SPARK PLUG STEEL INSER KIT" AND PAID OVER $400 FOR THE KIT AND DID THE REPAIRS MYSELF....WHEN A COMPANY LIKE TIMESERT MAKES A KIT SPECIFICALLY TO FIX THIS PROBLEM WITH FORDS IT'S HARD NOT TO BELIEVE THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM HERE THAT FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT.
NHTSA complaint #10154355 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 73,000 milesDavidson, NC
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE
99 EXPEDITION WITH 5.4 L TRITON V-8 FORCIBLE EJECTED SPARK PLUG FROM CYLINDER HEAD LEADING TO ENGINE FAILURE.
NHTSA complaint #10146122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 80,000 milesBennettsville, SC
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
I HAVE A 99 FORD EXPEDITION. TAIL LIGHTS, BRAKE LIGHTS, HAZARD LIGHTS, AND REAR WIPER WORKS WHEN THEY WANT TO WORK. TAKEN IT TO SERVICE SHOP, CANNOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. TAKE IT BAKE WHEN IT DOES IT AGAIN, SHOP REPLACES JUNCTION BOX (FUSE BOX). IT IS HAPPENING AGAIN AS I WRITE THIS, AND IS NOT WORKING AGAIN. SHOP DOESN'T SEEM TO KNOW THE PROBLEM.
NHTSA complaint #10132745 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesTracy, CA
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE CAR JUMPED. THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10108800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesTracy, CA
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:ROTOR
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE CAR JUMPED. THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10108800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 5,000 milesTracy, CA
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATED AND THE CAR JUMPED. THE FRONT AND REAR ROTORS WERE REPLACED. THE FUEL LINE WAS REPLACED TWICE. THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN.
NHTSA complaint #10108800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
at 85,000 milesOvid, MIFire
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHILE DRIVING/IDLING, SMOKE WOULD COME OUT FROM THE DRIVER SIDE TAILLIGHTS COMPARTMENT. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE CAUSE WAS NOT DETERMINED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DEALERSHIP DID NOT OFFER TO REPAIR THE DAMAGE NOR LOOK INTO WHAT CAUSED THE PROBLEM. THE CONSUMER OPENED THE TRUNK AND SAW SMOKE AND FIRE AROUND THE LOCK AREA. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT. THE WIRES AND PLASTIC INSERT AND BULB THAT LIGHTS UP LICENSE PLATE WAS THE CAUSE.
NHTSA complaint #10108547 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
Buchann, MI
SUSPENSION:REAR
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY SHE HEARD A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH. THE DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE BOLT THAT HOLDS THE SWAYBAR BROKE. TS
NHTSA complaint #8021619 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.