1997 Ford Expedition Complaint Log

TORSON BAR BROKE IN HALF AND FELL OFF AFTER GOING OVER A MODERATE SPEED BUMP AT 5-8MPH. METAL WAS SHEARED IN HALF. VEHICLE LEANED SEVERELY TO THE RIGHT. COULD HAVE BEEN TRAGIC - 8 OCCUPANTS WERE IN THE VEHICLE.

I OWN 1997 FORD EXPEDITION 4.6L 2WD AND HAVE HAD A FEW INSTANCES WHERE I THINK WATER HAS LEAKED THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD. THE WATER IS LEAKING SOMEWHERE ON THE DRIVER SIDE. IT IS CAUSING THE RADIO TO TURN ON AND STAY ON WITHOUT THE KEYS IN THE IGNITION. IT ALSO CAUSES THE AIRBAG LIGHT TO COME ON SO I DO NOT KNOW IF THERE IS A REAL PROBLEM OR NOT. THE WINDSHIELD WASHER FLUID LIGHT COMES ON ALSO. I AM AFRAID THIS MIGHT TRIGGER SOME EXTREMELY DANGEROUS REACTION WHILE DRIVING IF THE WRONG THING GETS WET. I WOULD HAVE IT FIXED BUT I DO NOT KNOW WHAT IS WRONG WITH IT. I TOLD THE DEALER BUT THEY COULD NOT FIGURE IT OUT BECAUSE IT DRIED AND STOPPED. THIS HAS HAPPENED A FEW TIMES IN THE LAST TWELVE MONTHS. I HAVE READ ON THIS SITE I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE WITH THIS PROBLEM. I DO NOT HAVE THE MONEY TO REPLACE ALL THE MOLDING AND GLASS. PLEASE HELP. *AK

THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL FAILED. THE CONSUMER HEARD A HISSING NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE MECHANIC AT THE FORD DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THAT THE DIFFERENTIAL WAS DEFECTIVE. *AK THE BRAKES MADE NOISE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION. *SC *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 FORD EXPADITION, I ONLY PUT 3000 MILES ON IT AND ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. I CALLED FORD AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESERCH ON THE INTERNET F150ONLINE.COM I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I CANT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE HEAD, FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO AKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. DAVE

CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON BOTH REAR DOORS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE AFTER THE DOOR IS SHUT, OR THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES. SOMETIMES THE SWITCH IS HARD TO FLIP BACK TO UNLOCK WITHOUT JIGGLING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE MADE SURE BOTH SWITCHES WERE SECURE IN THE UNLOCK POSITION BEFORE PASSENGERS RODE IN THE BACK, ONLY TO HAVE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE ON OUR WAY TO OUR DESTINATION. VERY HAZARDOUS IN AN EMERGENCY. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FINISH ON THE REAR OF BOTH EXTERIOR SIDE MIRRORS IS PEELING. HE CAN SEE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE MIRRORS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,034. UPDATED 09/26/07 *TR

THE TRUCK ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT RESULTED IN THE TRUCK HITTING A CURB AND DAMAGING THE TIRE AND RIM. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS COULD OF BEEN CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE SWAY BAR. *JB

THE CONSUMER WENTTO WARM THE VEHICLE, HE SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, THEN LOOKED AROUND AND SAW THAT THE FUSE BOX MELTED AND WIRES WERE HANGING. *SC *JB

1997 EXPEDITION 5.L TRITON. BLEW #3 PLUG 18000 MILES AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THOUGH FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DESIGN FLAW. *AK

THROTTLE REMAINS STUCK DOWN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND APPARENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *LA

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION (EDDIE BAUER) WITH 5.4L ENGINE WITH UNDER 60000 MILES AND WITH ALL REGULAR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP "BLEW" A SPARK PLUG OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD. PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED. PLEASE SEE "CONSUMER AFFAIRS.COM WEBSITE. WHILE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PLUGS ON FORDS 96-2000 ARE BLOWING OUT ALL OVER COUNTRY. THE FIX IS $2-3K. PLEASE CONSIDER RECAL INVESTIGATION. *AK

#3 SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH RESULTED IN SIGNIFICANT POWER LOSS. I NEARLY WAS REAR-ENDED BY A GAS TRUCK, BUT WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY. THE SPARK PLUG THREADS WERE STRIPPED FROM THE HEAD, THE SPARK PLUG BOOT WAS SPLIT AND THE COIL MOUNT WAS BROKEN OFF. *NM

INTERIOR AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, FROM 10 MINUTES TO OVER 1 HOUR. VARIES. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN WET WEATHER. A REAL HAZARD AS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS ON IS DANGEROUS. THEY MIGHT TIME OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR OR MORE, YOU NEVER KNOW. FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY AS IT IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *JB

PROBLEM WITH GEAR SHIFT ON 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE PROBLEM IS A "STICKING" SHIFTER THAT WON'T ALLOW THE VEHICLE TO PLACED IN PARK. THEREFORE, THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE PROPERLY SECURED AND/OR RESTARTED SINCE THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE SHIFTED TO THE START POSTION. THE INDICATOR INDICATES "P" FOR PARK BUT THE TRANSMISSION IS STILL IN REVERSE. VEHICLE MUST BE SHIFTED TO NEUTRAL FOR STARTING GIVING THE OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIAL ROLL OFFS. COULD BE RELATED TO NHTSA CAMPAIGN # 97V-171NSA-111 ALTHOUGH LOCAL DEALER STATES MY VEHICLE ID DOESN'T FALL UNDER THIS RECALL. LOCAL CERTIFED MECHANIC STATES THE PROBLEM IS IN THE ACTUAL CABLE THAT BE THE RESULT OF VEHICLE RECALL DEFECT. HE HAS PERSONNALLY FIXED 3-5 OF THESE DEFECTS WITHIN THE LAST 3 MONTHS IN A SMALL RURAL SHOP.*AK

WAS DRIVING SUV DOWN HIGHWAY AND IT JUST SHUT DOWN. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE TRANSPONDER ON THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM BURNT UP. I FELT THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DESIGNED THAT WAY. *LA

CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING MADE A CLICKING SOUND,AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, HIGH BEAM LIGHTS DID NOT WORK UNLESS CONSUMER HELD THEM . CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR IT TO BE CHECKED OUT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING STEERING WHEEL BECAME LOOSE. WAS HARD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF VEHICLE. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR HAD SNAPPED AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED.*AK

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT REAR AIR SUSPENSION AT TIMES WILL "LOWER" TO AN EXTREMELY SHALLOW HEIGHT. THIS IS MOST LIKELY TO OCCUR OVERNIGHT; ALTHOUGH IT DOES NOT ALWAYS HAPPEN. IN FACT, IT HAS BEEN KNOWN TO OCCUR AFTER THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN SITTING FOR AS LITTLE AS AN HOUR AND A HALF. ON OTHER OCCASIONS, THE VEHICLE DOES NOT APPEAR TO LOWER AT ALL, EVEN AFTER SITTING OVERNIGHT. THE DEALERSHIP CANNOT SEEM TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM. ANOTHER MECHANIC BELIEVES THAT THE PROBLEM IS WITH EITHER THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER SYSTEM, WHICH APPEARS TO BE SIGNALING THE VALVES ON THE AIR BAGS TO RELEASE AIR BUT NOT SIGNALING THE VALVES TO CLOSE AT THE PROPER POINT. HE FURTHER SUGGESTED (EITHER ALTERNATIVELY OR PERHAPS ADDITIONALLY) THAT THE PROBLEM MIGHT LIE WITH THE AIR COMPRESSOR WHICH IS NOT PROPERLY REGULATING THE RELEASE OF AIR FROM THESE VALVES. HE DISCOUNTED ANY SUSPICION THAT THIS WAS ANY TYPE OF A LEAK IN EITHER THE AIR BAGS OR AIR LINES, SINCE NO LEAK HAD BEEN DETECTED BY THE DEALERSHIP AND SINCE THE VEHICLE DID NOT REGULARLY LOWER AFTER EXTENDED PERIODS OF IDLE TIME. *LA

VEHICLE WAS IDLING IN PARK ON A SLIGHT INCLINE WHEN SUDDENLY VEHICLE JUMPED IN DRIVE AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT. THE VEHICLE COLLIDED WITH SEVERAL TREES, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BE TOTALED. PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT ON AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT, NOR WAS THERE ANY ONE IN THE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. *AK

WHILE APPROACHING A UTILITY CREW FLAMAN I APPLIED THE BRAKES. IT SLOWED AND THEN ALMOST IMMEDIATELY THEREAFTER THE BRAKES WERE NO LONGER AVAILABLE. I RAN PAST THE FLAGMAN FLASHING MY LIGHTS, PUMPING THE BRAKES AS WELL AS THE EMERGENCY BRAKES AND HONKING THE HORN. AFTER RUNNING THREE CARS OFF THE ROAD AND CHECKING ON MY FOUR YEAR OLD IN THE BACKSEAT WE CAME TO A STOP. THE DRIVERS SIDE BRAKE LINE HAD RUSTED IN TWO AT THE METAL/RUBBER HOSE JUNCTION. I REPLACED BOTH LEFT AND RIGHT HOSES. THE PASSENGER SIDE ON VISUAL INSPECTION LOOKED O.K. DID I MENTION WE WERE PULLING A FLAT BED TRAILER AND GOING DOWN HILL WITH NO SHOULDERS, ONLY DROP OFFS!

I HAVE HAD A TOTAL OF THREE BOLTS BACK OUT THAT SECURE THE PASSENGER SIDE FRONT BRAKE ASSEMBLY. THIS HAS OCCURRED ON TWO DIFFERENT OCCASIONS. ONE BOLT ON ONE OCCASION WAS SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED. THE SECOND OCCASION RESULTED IN TWO BOLTS BACKING OUT AND ALLOWING THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY TO FALL AGAINST THE INSIDE OF THE WHEEL. THIS RESULTED IN THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY BINDING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND FRACTURING THE WHEEL. ONCE THE WHEEL WAS CRACKED THE TIRE WHENT FLAT INSTANTLY, THUS RUINING THE TIRE AS WELL. I HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 75 MPH SHORTLY BEFORE THE FAILURE OCCURRED. HAD I NOT HEARD THE BRAKE ASSEMBLY SCRATCHING AGAINST THE WHEEL AND STOPPED, THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A VERY SERIOUS ACCIDENT. I FEEL LIKE IF IT IS HAPPENING TO MINE, IT IS PROBABLY HAPPENING WITH OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS AND TRUCKS AS WELL. IF THIS IS NOT CORRECTED I BELIEVE FATALITIES MAY RESULT. BY THE WAY, I'M OUT ABOUT $700 FOR TOWING, RENTAL CAR, TIRE AND WHEEL REPLACEMENT. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE HIGHWAY AND WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING A KNOCKING NOISE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THERE WAS VIBRATIONS COMING THOUGH THE STEERING COLUMN. *AK

I AM ORIGINAL OWNER OF MY 1997 EXPEDITION, WHICH JUST TURNED 60000. DRIVING AT NIGHT, THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS FLICKERED. STOPPED THE TRUCK AND IT STALLED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART, BATTERY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH JOICE TO TURN ENGINE. WHEN HOOKING UP JUMPER CABLES, THE STARTER ENGAGED BY ITSELF, WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION, ENGINE STARTED, BUT STARTER REMAINED ENGAGED FOR A FEW MINUTES. ENGINE IDLED, BUT WHEN HEADLIGHTS WERE TURNED ON ENGINE STALLED. WHEN TRYING TO RESTART, NOTHING HAPPENED WHEN TURNING KEY, EVEN WITH JUMPER CABLES CONNECTED TO A GOOD BATTERY. HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED. MECHANIC HAD TO REPLACE GROUND WIRE, STARTER, STARTER SOLENIOD, STARTER CABLE, ALTERNATOR, BATTERY, AND LOCKOUT SENSOR. MECHANIC SAID HE HAS REPLACED MANY GROUND WIRES ON THESE TRUCKS, BUT TYPICALLY ONLY GROUND WIRE, STARTER SOLENOID, & BATTERY. MY TRUCK WAS THE WORST EFFECTED. HOW CAN I FIND OUT IF THERE IS ANY ACTION THAT CAN BE TAKEN AGAINST FORD FOR THIS VERY EXPENSIVE FAULT ?*AK

PROBLEMS WITH RUBBER HOSE, RUST AND CORROSION TO THE METALLIC BRAKE LINES.*MR *CB

WHILE DRIVING AT 65 MPH VEHICLE LOST ENGINE COMPRESSION. DEALER NOTIFIED.

WHILE PARKED AND IDLING, THE VEHICLE WAS IMPACTED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS EXPLODED UPON IMPACT. AS A RESULT, THE DRIVER SUSTAINED NECK BURNS, COLLAR BONE/ RIB INJURIES.*AK *CB *JB

SPARK-PLUG BLEW OUT OF ALUMINUM HEAD ON A 97' FORD EXPEDITION WITH 155,000 MI. PAID $4500.00 FOR A NEW "IMPROVED"RE-BUILT ENGINE. SPARK-PLUG BLEW OUT AGAIN WITH 1,000 MI. ON NEW ENGINE. FORD WILL NOT TALK TO US; WE WOULD LIKE SOME ANSWERS AS WE WERE TOLD THE "IMPROVED" DESIGN ADDRESSED THE PROBLEM OF THE SPARK-PLUGS ONLY HAVING THREE(3) THREADS HOLDING IT ONTO THE ALUMINUM HEAD. *NLM

SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT OF ALUMINUM HEAD. THIS CAR HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE SERVICE RECORDS PASO ROBLES FORD HAS ON RECORD; THESE ARE THEIR WORDS. IN OTHER WORDS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY VERY WELL AND TO HAVE THE PLUG BLOW OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE IS UNCALLED FOR. SECONDLY WE PAID TO HAVE A REMANUFACTERED ENGINE INSTALLED AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE PLUG BLOWS OUT AGAIN. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON WHAT FORD CALLS A REVISED PART TO TAKE CARE OF PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD. FORD WILL NOT GIVE US A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON WHAT THE REVISION IS; THIS COULD BE ANYTHING-POSSIBLY NOT EVEN RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY THREE THREADS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM HEAD. APPARENTLY THE REVISION DOES NOT TAKE THIS PROBLEM INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE IT ONLY TOOK A FEW WEEKS FOR THE EXACT SAME THING TO HAPPEN.

WHEN THE CONSUMER ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE IT WOULD NOT START. THIS OCCURRED FOUR TIMES. AFTER AN HOUR THE KEY WAS INSERTED INTO THE IGNITION AND THE VEHICLE STARTED UP AS IF NOTHING HAPPENED. *AK

5.4L FORD ENGINE IN 1997 EXPEDITION. SPARK PLUG BLOW-OUT IN 3 POSITION. EXPEDITION HAS 64,000 MILES ON IT!! ALSO , THIS VEHICLE WAS SOLD TO ME AS A DEMO MODEL THAT WAS NEVER TITLED, WARRANTY SHOULD HAVE STARTED WHEN I PURCHASED IT. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING SPARK PLUG FELL OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO HAVE NO POWER. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK

BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. *AK

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ONE HOUR WHEN THE NEIGHBOR ALERTED CONSUMER THAT THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DPEARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, HOWEVER, TWO VEHICLES AND PART OF THE HOME WERE DESTROYED. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS HIT ON THE FRONT LEFT SIDE YET THE VEHICLES AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND CAUSED MINOR INJURIES TO THE CONSUMER. *NLM

THE VEHICLE EMITS A RUBBING NOISE WHILE STEERING. *NLM

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM

THE FRONT SUSPENSION WORE AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO BE HARD TO CONTROL. DEALER NOTIFIED. *NLM

CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGE LOCKING PASSENGER INTO VEHICLE. PASSENGER IS NOT ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR. LOCKS ARE SET MANUALLY HOWEVER EVEN IF THEY ARE SET TO OFF, ONCE THE DOOR IS CLOSED IT LOCKS ITSELF. IT HAPPENED ON BOTH DOORS EQUIPTED WITH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. FIRST ON ONE SIDE, THEN ON THE OTHER. *AK

PURCHASED USED EXPEDITION IN LATE FEB, 2003. I IMMEDIATELY NOTICED EXTREMELY SENSITIVE STEERING. SLIGHT INPUT, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEED IN RAIN OR WIND, CAUSED LARGE CHANGES IN VEHICLE DIRECTION. LOWER FRONT TIRE PRESSURE, NECONNECTING REAR STAB BAR, FE ALIGNMENT, AND NEW SHOCKS HAVE HELPED THE PROBLEM BUT IT IS STILL WAY TOUCHIER THAN IT SHOULD BE. FORD DEFINITELY HAS A PROBLEM BUILT INTO THIS VEHICLE MODEL. I HAVE OVER 40 YEARS DRIVING EXPERIENCE IN ALL TYPES OF VEHICLES AND HAVE SEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS. I ASSUME IT IS INHERENT IN THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING. *NLM

WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO DRIVE, THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED IN REVERSE, WHICH CAUSED A MINOR ACCIDENT. *JB

TORSION BAR

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING SPARE TIRE FELL OFF FROM BACK OF VEHICLE. *AK *TT

DEFECTIVE STABILIZER BAR, IT COULD BREAK. *AK

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. THE SPARE IS SUSPENDED BY A CABLE UNDER THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED. HOWEVER, THE CAR FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE COULD NOT AVOID THE FALLEN TIRE AND DROVE OVER THE TOP. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE SUSPENSION CABLE WAS REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, BY A LOCAL DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE AT THE GEAR BOX , THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO CONTACT AND WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE IT HOME SAYING IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND WAS ABOUT TO COME UNDONE AT ANY TIME. THE WHEEL COULD BE TURNED 1/3 AROUND AND THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE DEGREE OF SEPARATION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GROUP THAT WAS RECALLED IN RECALL NUMBER 03S02 DATED MAY 2003, THEREFORE I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RECALL MINE. THERE COULD ALSO BE OTHERS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED. I HAVE THE RECEIPT TOTALING ABOUT $340. THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP READS: FOUND STEERING SHAFT LOOSE AT BOX. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR WHAT OTHER OWNERS GOT FREE BECAUSE IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

PULLING THROUGH A PARKING LOT I FELT A BUMP. AFTER PASSING OVER THE "BUMP" I LOOKED BACK TO SEE MY SPARE TIRE SITTING IN THE PARKING LOT. THE END OF THE CABLE THAT HOLDS THE BRACKET FOR THE TIRE TO BE HELD IN PLACE WAS FRAYED. THE PEICE WHICH HOLDS THE BRACKET WAS GONE. AFTER CALLING MY LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP I WAS ADVISED THIS WOULD COST ME $200.00 TO REPLACE THE CABLE. A FIVE YEAR OLD CAR SHOULD NOT HAVE A CABLE FRAY UNDER IT. IF I HAD BEEN GOING 70 MPH THIS WOULD HAVE CAUSED A HORRIFIC ACCIDENT. DT

ENGINE REPLACEMENT/ I HAVE BEEN A FIRM BELIEVER IN FORD PRODUCTS AND STILL BELIEVE THAT FORD MAKES A GOOD PRODUCT...I AM VERY DISAPPOINTED IN THE POSITION I WAS PLACED IN LAST WEEK...I HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED MY FORD TRUCK THE BEST THAT I COULD AND NEVER HAD A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH IT FOR THE 6 YRS I HAVE OWNED MY TRUCK...I HAVE EXPERIENCED A FEW STALL OUTS A FEW TIMES BUT NOTHING THAT I TOOK TO SERIOUS, I FIGURED MAYBE A SPARK PLUG PROBLEM...THE FACT THAT MY ENGINE WOULD NEED REPLACEMENT AT 86000 IS BEYOND ME. LOOKING INTO THE COMPLAIANCE INVETIGATIONS SUMMARY I REALIZED THAT I AM IN COMPANY WITH MANY OTHER CONSUMERS WITH THE SAME COMPLAINT...I FEEL THAT THIS A DEFECT IN THE MANUFACTURES ENGINE AND THAT I SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR A DEFECT ENGINE. MR

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE LOCKED UP ON FOUR WHEEL DRIVE, WHICH RESULTS IN THE VEHICLE NOT DRIVING AT FASTER THEN 10-15 MPH. CONTACTED DEALER

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE REAR AXLE TRAC BAR BRACKET SEPARATED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. *MR