1997 Ford Expedition Complaint Log

WE WERE INFORMED BY RITAR FORD THAT THE REASON THE ENGINE" CHECK LIGHT CAME ON ,WAS CAUSED BY WATER DRIPPING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER LINE ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR. WE WERE ALSO INFORMED THAT T.S.B.# 00-1-7 WOULD ALLEVIATE THE PROBLEM BY RE-ROUTING THE LINE SO THE WATER WOULD NOT DRIP ON THE OXYGEN SENSOR . HOWEVER EVEN THOUGH WE PURCHASED E.S.P. (EXTENDED WARRANTY PROTECTION) THIS REPAIR WAS NOT COVERED BECAUSE WE EXCEEDED 36,000 MILES. I FEEL AS WE WERE "RIPPED-OFF BEING ASKED TO PAY FOR A OBVIOUS ENGINEERING SHORTFALL BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY . ASIDE FROM THE ENGINEERING PROBLEM, A PONTENTAL ENVIROMENTAL PROBLEM IS POSSIBLE DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE OXYGEN SENSOR. *AK

WHENEVER VEHICLE AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON IT CAUSES THE INTERIOR COURTESY LIGHT TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE POWER WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF TO GET THE COURTESY LIGHT TO TURN OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

TORSION BAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE BROKE IN TWO. LEFT FRONT SIDE OF VEHICLE DROPPED. *AK

TINT WINDOWS REFLECT ALL LIGHTS COMING IN, AND THIS IMPAIRS DRIVERS VISIBILITY OF ANYTHING THAT LIGHTS UP ITEMS, EVEN A SHINY BOOK IN THE SEAT. SMOKE TINT IS FINE, BUT REFLECTIVE TYPE TINT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM. *AK

FRONT AND REAR SWAY BARS KEEP BREAKING AND DISAPPEARING. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT NOT COVERED BY WARRANTY , AND ANY REPAIRS WOULD BE DONE AT CONSUMER'S COST. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR STUCK IN THE DOWN POSITION. THE EXPEDITION CONTINUED TO PICK-UP SPEED UNTIL I PUT THE TRANSMISSION IN NEUTRAL AND WAS ABLE TO PULL TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE ENGINE AT THIS POINT WAS RACING. WITH THE VEHICLE STOPPED, IT TOOK ME ABOUT 30 SECONDS TO PULL THE ACCELERATOR BACK UP WITH MY HAND. AT THIS POINT THE ACCELERATOR "POPPED" BACK INTO PLACE AND THE ENGINE STOPPED RACING. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED AND I HAVE ASKED THE MECHANIC TO SAVE ANY PARTS WHICH NEED TO BE REPLACED. I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT A VEHICLE OF THIS PRICE RANGE WOULD DO THIS AND I AM QUITE CONCERNED OVER THIS INCIDENT. COULD YOU E-MAIL OR CALL ME OR BOTH CONCERNING MY COMPLAINT AND HOW YOU PROCEED FROM THIS POINT? I AM VERY INTERESTED IN TRACKING THIS ISSUE. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT ANY VEHICLE COULD FAIL IN THIS MANNER. FORD MOTOR COMPANY WILL BE HEARING FROM ME AS SOON AS I AM DONE WITH THIS MESSAGE TO YOU. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME. *AK

THE INDICATOR LIGHT WILL TURN OFF AND ON INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE WILL ALSO MAKE THE SAME CLICKING NOISE THAT IT MAKES WHEN SWITCHING TO 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

WENT TO BRAKE AND BRAKES FAILED. PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. HAD TO PUMP SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE STOPPING. *AK

ON MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, THE CHILD LOCKS ON BOTH REAR DOORS ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. THIS STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON ONE DOOR, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SUCH THAT 70-80 PERCENT OF THE TIME THE CHILD LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WILL ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING AND PEOPLE CANNOT EXIT THE SECOND SEAT WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ONCE THE DOOR IS OPENED, THE CHILD LOCK LEVER CAN BE SET TO THE NON-LOCK POSITION, BUT UPON DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN, THE LOCKS ACTIVATE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM, AND BY REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND TALKING TO OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS, IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. *NLM

THROTTLE CABLE BINDING. *AK

THROTTLE LINKAGE BINDING. *AK

1997 FORD EXPEDITION. REAR CHILD DOOR LOCKS. ONE SIDE EVENTUALLY LOCKS BY ITSELF. REAR OCCUPANTS CANNOT GET OUT,MUST OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND NO RECALL. AFTER 8 YEARS MY KIDS DID NOT REQUIRE THEM AND I TIED THEM OPEN WITH WIRE. *TR

TOTAOL TREAD SEPARATION, NUMBER ON TIRE ARE PDCUC5WR117, I HAVE TIRE, RIM AND ALL PAPERWORK RELATED TO CLAIM WITH GOODYEAR WHICH REFLECTS THEY DENIED CLAIM EVEN PRIOR TO INSPECTION AND DID NOT PROVIDE ME WITH INSPECTION REPORT (DOT NUMBER: 109S TIRESIZE: P25570R16)

TOTAL TREAD SEPERATION/ GOODYEAR CONTACTED NEG ACTION. I HAVE TIRE , RIM AND ALL PAPERWORK RELATING TO CLAIM WITH GOODYEAR. (DOT NUMBER: PDCUC5WR11 TIRESIZE: P25570R16)

CONSUMER NOTICED A "SQUEAL/RUBBING" NOISE FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE, DEALERS TECH DETERMINED IT WAS A BAD PITMAN ARM BUSHING, UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION DURING THE REMOVAL AND REPLACEMENT, TECH NOTICED THE STEERING SHAFT WAS ALSO CRACKED IN SEVEN PLACES.*ET

THE DOOR JAM SWITCH FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE SWITCH SENSORS THINKS DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT'S NOT. ALSO, DOME LIGHT IN FRONT WOULD REMAIN ON & WOULD RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRABLE, BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH AND BRAKING HAD A FRONTAL IMPACT, AND DRIVER'S/PASSENGER'S AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, WHICH DID NOT PROTECT THE OCCUPANT IN THIS CRASH. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

IN IDLE THE ENGINE CAN NOT HOLD A SMOOTH IDLE AT 1400 RPM. THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. CLAIMS IT'S THE EGR VALVE OPENING AND CLOSING. WHEN DRIVING, THIS PROBLEM DOES NOT ALLOW THE ENGINE TO RUN SMOOTH AND AFFECTS POWER AT A RANGE OF 1400-1700 RPM DEPENDING ON LOADING ON THE ENGINE (I.E. TOWING A TRAILER, DRIVING UP HILL...). THIS IS OCCURS CONSTANTLY AND AFFECTS THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE IN ALL DRIVING CONDITIONS. THE DEALER HAS ATTEMPTED SIX TIMES TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WITHOUT SUCCESS. THE KORUM FORD SERVICE MANAGER MIKE POWERS ADMITTED IT BEING A DEFECT SINCE THEY WEREN'T ABLE TO CORRECT IT. FORD HAS CHOSEN NOT TO TAKE ANY ACTION TO COMMIT TO FIXING IT OR PROVIDING A FAIR REPLACEMENT OF THE VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND ONE OTHER DOCUMENTED CASE OF THIS PROBLEM ON THE WEB.*AK

THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 28169 MILES(1/19/99 - 18 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY), AND THE REAR AT 42407 MILES(11/19/99 - 28 MONTHS AFTER DELIVERY). IN MY 41 YEARS OF DRIVING, I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS KIND OF FAILURES THAT FAST. USUALLY THESE FAILURES OCCUR AFTER 10 OR 15 YEARS. I SUGGEST IT WAS A PART FAILURE, BUT FORD WILL NOT HONOR THE REPAIRS, BECAUSE I HAVE GONE BEYOND THE 36,000 WARRENTY. I THINK FORD SHOULD SHOULDER SOME OF THE $1700.00 COST, AS A GOOD WILL GESTURE. THEY HAVE DECLINED.

THE HEAD GASKET FAILED, DEALERSHIP COMPLETED REPAIR WITHOUT CHARGE. *MJS

AUTOMOBILE CAUGHT ON FIRE. WAS TOLD THAT THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS FAULTY WIRING. *AK

AXLE-FRONT- LUBRICANT LEAKING FROM FRONT AXLE TUBE VENT HOSE--ISSUE OIL IS FORCED OUT THE VENT TUBE AND SPRAYED OIL ALL OVER RIGHT/FRONT TIRE AND DISC BRAKE AND ROTOR. I PAID TO REPAIRED IT. FORD HAD NO CONCERN ABOUT THE SAFETY PROBLEM. FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM. THERE IS A TSB (97-10-10). OIL ON THE BRAKE PADS ROTOR AND TIRE WOULD CAUSE A STOPPING PROBLEM . ALSO OIL BASED LUBRICANTS CAUSE RUBBER PARTS (SEALS) TO SWELL UP ON ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM. FORD WOULD NOT PAY TO REPAIR THE FACTORY BUILT- IN DEFECT AND WOULD NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY SAFETY PROBLEM. A NEW DESIGN AXLE TUBE IS NEEDED TO CORRECT THE ORIGIONAL DESIGN FLAW. OIL COATED TIRES AND BRAKES DO NOT STOP WELL, AND SHOULD BE LOOKED INTO BEFORE SOMEONE GETS INTO AN AUTO WRECK. *AK

WHEN I GET UP TO 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE STARTS TO VIBRATE. I HAVE HAD NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS WITH THE VEHICLE SINCE I BOUGHT IT. I TOOK IT TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERSHIPS AND THEY COULD NEVER FIND OUT WHAT THE PROBLEM WAS. BY ME SPENDING THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS TRYING TO GET OTHER THINGS FIXED WHICH WASN'T EVEN THE PROBLEM, I NOW FIND OUT THAT IT IS THE TRANSFER CASE, WHICH IS ABOUT $1300 JUST FOR THE PART. I WILL NEVER BUY A FORD AGAIN. *AK

THE CABLE THAT SUPPORTS THE SPARE TIRE BROKE CAUSING TIRE TO FALL OFF . *YC

WHEN DRIVER RELEASED ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO BEGIN BRAKING AND IT BECAME STUCK DOWN CAUSING BRAKES TO BE INEFFECTIVE DUE TO THE MOMENTUM OF THE VEHICLE. NLM

FIRST OCCURANCE: VEHICLED STOPPED IN LEFT TURNING LANE, AT IDLE, WITH FOOT ON BRAKE, THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. NOT JUST A LITTLE, BUT AS IF BEING SIGNIFICANTLY THROTTLED. SECOND OCCURANCE: VEHICLE SLOWING FOR SCHOOL CROSSING WITH CHILDREN CROSSING IN FRONT OF VEHICLE. SPEED LESS THAN 5MPH, BUT NOT STOPPED, VEHICLE ONCE AGAIN TRIED TO THROTTLE UP ON ITS OWN. I MANAGED TO HOLD THE BRAKES LONG ENOUGH TO SHUT ENGINE OFF. BOTH OCCURANCES: ONCE ENGINE WAS SHUT OFF, IT APPEARED TO RESET THE PROBLEM, AND I PROCEEDED AS NORMAL. BOTH TIMES I COULD FEEL SOMETHING ENGAGE AND ATTEMPT TO DRASTICALLY ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE, MUCH LIKE CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGING AND ACCELERATING. BUT, NEITHER TIME DO I BELIEVE THE CRUISE CONTROL TO BE ON, LET ALONE BEING USED. DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR A FULL DAY AND COULD NOT DETECT A PROBLEM

FRONT PASSANGER SIDE MIRROR HAS MYLAR BACKING DETACHING ITSELF FROM THE GLASS CAUSING DISTORTION AND 'A SCRATCHING' EFFECT ON THE MIRROR'S SURFACE.

WHILE TRVELING AND WITHOUT ANY INDICATION SPARE TIRE CABLE SNAPPED, CAUSING TIRE TO FALL INTO HIGHWAY. *AK

WHILE MAKING A TURN VEHICLE STALLS UNEXPECTEDLY WHICH MAY CAUSE A CRASH. DEALER REPLACED 2 IAC VALVES. THERE IS A BACK ORDER ON THIS PART. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND TURNED OFF,WITHIN 5 MIN OF PARKING AND EXITING VEHICLE A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ,THERE WERE 2 ABC TYPE FIRE EXTINGUISHERS USED ON THE FIRE BUT IT COULD NOT BE SUPRESSED UNTIL A FIRE TRUCK ARRIVED ON THE SCENE. I LISTED ELECTRICAL BUT IT COULD HAVE INVOLVED THE FUEL SYSTEM ALSO, THE TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE STATE FARM CLAIM # IS 53-C431-317 AND THEIR REP IS CATHRINE ISMERT @281-587-6608

REPORTING VEHICLE BEEN EXPERIENCING PROBLEM WITH TRANSMISSION SLIPPING OUT OF GEAR UNTIL IT BECOMES NON- OPERATIONAL. BELIEVED THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AT 59,000 MILE OF WEARS. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER.

BROUGHT VEHICHLE TO DEALER 5 TIMES EVERYTIME MORE THINGS WENT WRONG PROBLEM,S NEVER CORRECTED NOW VEHICHLE ATTEMTING TO START ITSELF WITH NOBODY IN IT VEHICHLE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE. NO SAFETY DEFECT LISTED IN SUMMARY. *AK

EXCESSIVE EFFORT HAS TO BE PUT ON GAS PEDAL IN ORDER TO TAKE OFF FROM A STOP, WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO JUMP FORWARD. DEALER HAS SEEN VEHICLE AND SAID THAT IT NEEDED THROTTLE LINKAGE REPLACED. *AK

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MULTIPLE FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS SHORT CIRCUIT. *AK

THE STEERING BOX WAS COMPLETELY LOOSE WHICH RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING. *YC

PITMAN ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED ON TWO OCCASIONS WITH 15,000 MILE OF WEAR DUE TO NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

INTERMITTENT PROBLEM OF SOMETHING BURNING FROM THE DASH AREA; DEALER NOTIFIED AND INSPECTED AND SOME REPAIRS WAS MADE BY REPLACING HEATING COIL; BUT CONDITION STILL REOCCURRING. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

TORQUE CONVERTER VANE SEPARATED DESTROYING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION 5.4LTR ENGINE

WHILE BRAKING AT INTERSECTION & AT ALMOST A COMPLETE STOP, VEHICLE STUDDENLY ACCELERATED. DRIVER HAD TO STAND ON BRAKE PETAL AND PUT TRANS IN PARK.

ON MANY OCCASIONS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED VIBRATION WHICH RESULTED IN LOSS OF IDLE STRENGTH, CAUSING FAILURE. *YC

ABS LIGHT ILLUMINATED. BRAKE OPERATION SPORATIC. DEALER FOUND FAILED SPEED SENSOR.

WHILE DRIVING THE REAR WINDOW SHATTERED AND COLLAPSED INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *YC

FAILURE CAUSED THE TRUCK TO SHAKE OUT OF CONTROL AT HIGHWAY SPEED

WHILE TRAVELING AT LOW SPEED, A LOSS OF THE POWER BRAKES OCCURRED A NUMBER OF TIMES, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK *ADJ

COMPUTER SYSTEM THAT CONTROLS THE AIRBAGS IS DEFECTIVE AND MUST BE REPLACED AT MY EXPENSE DUE TO WARRANTY...WE WERE WARNED THAT THE AIRBAG WON'T DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT OR MAY DEPLOY AT ANYTIME. UPON CALLING FORD MOTOR COMPANY THEY TOLD ME THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY WOULD DO. I FEEL THAT THIS PART SHOULD NOT HAVE GONE BAD THIS FAST, AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO ABSORB THE WHOLE COST OF THE REPAIR, WHICH WAS ESTIMATED AT $350.00. IF I WANTED THE PART SHIPPED OVERNIGHT IT WOULD COST ANOTHER 15% EXTRA. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN PROVIDE. THE AIRBAG LIGHT FLASHED OFF AND ON AND THEN STAYED ON. WHEN I TOOK IT IN TO THE DEALER THEY CHARGED ME $60 FOR AN ANALYSIS AND THEN SAID THE COMPUTER PART WAS BAD. THANK YOU. *AK

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICHLE THE TORSION BAR BROKE. THE TRUCK DROPPED IN THE RIGHT FRONT AND I WAS FORCE TO PULL OVER. I WORK WITH TWO OTHERS THAT HAVE EXPEDITIONS (1997 AND 1998) BOTH HAVE BROKE THE SAME TORSION BAR ON THE SAME SIDE. THEY ARE JOE WITTIG AND GARY MORSE. *AK

BOLTS WHIH HOLD THE STEERING GEAR TO FRAME BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED AND REPAIRS WERE DONE UNDER WARRANTY. FOR NHTSA INFORMATION FILE. *AK

PANHARD BAR BRACKET HAS LARGE CRACK ON DRIVERS SIDE. I HAVE TALKED TO MANY OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS AND MANY HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. HOWEVER, I SEE NOTHING ON YOUR WEBSITE ABOUT A RECALL ON THIS FROM FORD. IF THIS BRACKET WOULD FAIL, SAY, IN A CORNER, IT COULD CERTAINLY CAUSE A LOSS OF CONTROL, AS THE PANHARD BAR HELPS LOCATE THE REAR AXLE ASSEMBLY UNDER THE TRUCK IN CORNERING. IS THERE A RECALL ON THIS BY FORD? IF NOT, THERE SHOULD BE AS THIS APPEARS TO NOT BE AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THANK YOU FOR ANY HELP YOU CAN GIVE ME IN GETTING FORD TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. *AK

BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE BECOMING DISTORTED IN CERTAIN LIGHTS WHICH REFLECT. DEALER CONTACTED AND NO RECALL ESTABLISHED. PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *YC