1997 Ford Expedition complaints

CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ALL 4 TIRES' TREAD WAS CRACKING, AND STEEL WIRES WERE SHOWING. FIRESTONE PRORATED WITH SAME TYPE WILDERNESS AT. 3 OF THE TIRES HAD 8 30 SECONDS, AND 1 HAD 4 30 SECONDS. TIRES SIZE 255/70R16 ON 1997, FORD, EXPEDITION. *AK

CABLE AND HOUSING BROKE JUST FORWARD OF FIRE WALL. POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT.*AK

VEHICLE EXPERIENCED TOTAL STEERING LOSS WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. DEALER INSPECTED VEHICLE, AND SAID THAT STEERING SHAFT HAD SHEARED. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK THE VEHICLE HAD A DESIGN DEFECT. IT COST THE CONSUMER OVER A THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR REPAIER, WHICH THE MANUFACTURER DECLINED TO REIMBURSE. *YH

WHILE DRIVING 20-30 MPH STEERING FROZE. CONSUMER HAD A VERY HARD TIME GETTING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC. MECHANIC COULD NOT FIND CAUSE, STATED TO TAKE VEHICLE TO A FORD DEALER.*AK

BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE NOT USABLE. THESE ARE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRST SET FAILED AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF. IT SEEMS THAT THE MIRRORS DESIGNED FOR MY MODEL EXPEDITION HAVE A MAXIMUM TWO YEAR LIFE. FORD SAYS NO DEFECT, COME TAKE A LOOK AT MY SECOND SET OF MIRRORS ON A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE.*AK

ABS KICKS IN ON DRY PAVEMENT, AND VEHICLE WON'T STOP ON ICE OR SNOW. CONSUMER ONCE ALMOST REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. *AK

THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR 1 HOUR+ AND THE RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS ALSO STAY ON. BEEN BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES AND STILL NO SOLUTIONS.*AK

THIS VEHICLE HAS HAD "NO BRAKES" ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. WHEN WE TOOK IT IN TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIRST TIME ON 10-7-98, WE WERE TOLD BECAUSE THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM, WE HAVE NO PROBLEM. WHEN IT WAS TAKEN IN ON 1-27-99 TO OUR LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP THEY CALLED THE MANUFACTURE THIS TIME TO FIND OUT IF ANY OTHER EXPEDITIONS MIGHT OF HAD THIS SAME SORT OF PROBLEM AND WAS ADVISED "NO". THEY DECIDED BECAUSE IT HAD THE SAME BRAKE SYSTEM AS ANOTHER FORD VEHICLE TO CHANGE THE FRONT SENSORS. WHEN I WENT TO PICK THE VEHICLE UP FROM THEM, I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT I SHOULD DRIVE WITH THE ANTICIPATION THAT THE BRAKES COULD GO OUT AT ANY GIVEN TIME. THEY WERE NOT SURE THAT THIS FIXED THE PROBLEM. WELL LOW AND BEHOLD THE BRAKES WENT OUT AGAIN, THIS TIME A SOLO ACCIDENT WITH THIS VEHICLE WITH "NO BRAKES". WE WERE VERY LUCKY NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE INVOLVED AS SOMEONE WOULD DEFINITELY HAVE GOTTEN KILLED. THIS VEHICLE DEFINITELY POSES A HIGH SAFETY RISK TO THE ROADS AND HIGHWAYS IT IS DRIVEN ON.*AK

FROM A PARKING SPACE AT A STRIP MALL I BACKED INTO A 3' CONCRETE POLE, WHEN I APPLIED MY FOOT TO THE BRAKE AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE , THE VEHICLE SPED OFF AS IF I HAD FLOORED THE ACCELERATOR. NO AMOUNT OF PUMPING THE BRAKES DID ANY GOOD. I HIT TWO OTHER CARS, TOOK OUT A BRICK COLUMN AND DIDN'T STOP UNTIL I HIT A SECOND BRICK COLUMN. WITNESSES SAY THAT THEY DID SEE BRAKE LIGHTS ON MY VEHICLE. *AK

INDEPENDENT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED WHILE TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 5 TO 10 MPH OVER A SPEED BUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL NFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH HEARD A SNAP AND VEHICLE FRONT END SUNK DOWN. TOOK TO MECHANIC, AND THEY SAID IT WAS TORSION BAR. *AK

A HIGH-END AFTER MARKET WHEEL SPLIT OPEN -WITH NO ABUSE. CO. SAYS NOT COVERED BY 2ND OWNER/SEEK KNOWLEDGE OF OTHER FAILURES OF THIS MFGR. TOO IMPORTANT OF A PIECE OF EQUIP. TO IGNORE. HOW MANY OTHER DEFECTS?*AK

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING 55MPH IN MIDDLE LANE AND MOVED TO RIGHT AFTER HEARING SOMETHING BUCKLING FROM PASSENGER'S FRONT TIRE. CONSUMER WAS TURNING ON TO EXIT RAMP AND TIRE CAME OFF. VEHICLE WAS TOWED, AND THEY FOUND THAT NUTS: BOLTS HAD BROKEN OFF. CONSUMER'S INSURANCE ADJUSTER HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE IT. CONSUMER WILL CHECK TO SEE IF THE RECALL ID# 98V095000 MANUFACTRER RECALL 98S14 WILL APPLY.*AK

THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED A FUEL DELIVERY PROBLEM WHICH AFFECTED THE ENGINE AND CAUSED IT TO SHIFT ERRATICALLY AND HESITATE. NLM

DUE TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD, IMPACTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AT A POINT BETWEEN THE FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DOOR. A FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AT POINT OF IMPACT, UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE, ONLY TO NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. SHE REACHED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY AND ENVELOPED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, DESTROYING IT COMPLETELY. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THE VEHICLE'S INERTIA SWITCH SHOULD HAVE SHUT OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM, KILLING THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THE INERTIA SWITCH DID NOT WORK BECAUSE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER IMPACT. THE DRIVER WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BURNED TO DEATH HAD SHE BEEN RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS BY THE IMPACT, AS THERE WAS NO ONE PRESENT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A WOODED SECTION OF STATE ROUTE 271, CAMBRIA COUNTY, PA.*AK

THE BOLTS THAT HOLD THE SWAY BAR IN PLACE ON THE FRONT OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION BROKE OFF COMPLETELY. HAD I BEEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR AROUND A CORNER I FEEL THAT I WOULD HAVE LOST CONTROL OF MY VEHICLE. I HAVE CONTACTED MY FORD DEALER FOR REPAIRS.*AK

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES PEDAL PULSATES AND THEN GOES TO FLOOR, CAUSING EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD LOUD NOISE AND NOTICED LACK OF STEERING CONTROL. DELAER FOUND PITMAN ARM HAD TO BE REPLACED. FORD WAS NOT CONCERNED THAT THIS WAS A SAFETY ISSUE, CLAIMED THAT THIS PART WAS ROUTINE MAINTENANCE.*AK

SWAY BAR LINK HAD BROKEN AND WAS JUST HANGING FROM VEHICLE.*AK

THE FIREWALL HEATER HOSE CONNECTORS IN THE AREA OF THE #4 COIL PACK ON MANY EXPEDITION WITH THE 5.4L V-8 WILL LEAK HOT COOLANT ON THE #4 CYLINDER COIL PACK. THIS WILL LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THIS COIL PACK. FAILURE OF THIS COIL PACK CAUSES A SEVERVE ENGINE MISS AND LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. FAILURE ON HIGHWAY CAN MAKE VEHICLE UNSAFE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT PROVDING A PERMANENT FIX.

COIL PACK DEFECTIVE. THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM OF THESE VEHICLES. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP AT LOW SPEED FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED IN TWO PIECES, CAUSING T SUPENSION TO COLLAPSE. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

BOLTS FOR FRONT SUSPENSION SWAY BAR KEEP SHREADING OFF WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. *AK

CHILD SAFETY LOCK WOULD ENGAGE BY ITSELF AND CAUSE DOORS NOT TO OPEN FROM EITHER SIDE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND MADE REPAIRS. *AK THE CONSUMER STATES THAT NOT TO BE ABLE TO OPEN BOTH REAR DOORS FROM INSIDE IS A BIG SAFETY ISSUE. *YH

RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING. DEALER HAS INSPECTED AND REPAIRED VEHICLE AT CUSTOMER EXPENSE. *AK

TREAD SEPARATED. CAP CAME COMPLETELY OFF FROM THE SIDEWALLS.*AK (TIRESIZE: P255/70R16)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P255/70R16 )

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 55 MPH TRIED TO CHANGE TO FREEWAY AND RIGHT FRONT TIRE SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. CONSUMER HAD FOUND OUT THAT BOLTS WERE RUSTED IN BACK OF IT, AND REST OF TIRES WERE IN SAME CONDITION.*AK

CONSUMER HEARD NOISE FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE, WENT TO DEALER WHO FOUND THAT TIE ROD END WAS BREAKING, REPLACED AT OWNER'S EXPENSE. *AK

WHILE TRAVELING WITH CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED CRUISE CONTROL UNIT WOULD NOT DISENGAGE TO SLOW DOWN FOR AN EXIT. CONSUMER HAS REPLACED MOTOR THREE TIMES.*AK

CONSUMER WAS STAYING IN BELOW FREEZING WEATHER CONDITIONS AND PART OF ENGINE FAILED. ENGINE SKIPS/SHAKES, AND RUNS HARD. VEHICLE IS DRIVEABLE. FORD SAYS IT'S BECAUSE VEHICLE HAS 4.5 TECTRON ENGINE, ALL EXPEDITIONS HAVE THIS MODEL. *AK

CONSUMER NOTICED 2 FOUR INCH LONG CREVICES IN THE TREAD OF THE TIRE, 1 SIXTEEN INCH LONG CREVICES ACROSS AND ALONG THE TIRE TREAD (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P225/70R16). NLM

FRONT SWAY BAR LINKS HAVE FALLEN OUT , CAUSING STEERING TO BE MISCALCULATED. FORD HAS BEEN CONTACTED.*AK

ENGINE BEGAN MAKING NOISE; SLOWED TO PULL OFF ROAD; ENGINE STOPPED AND WAS ABLE TO COAST TO SIDE OF ROAD. OIL PRESSURE WENT TO ZERO DESPITE RECENT OIL CHANGE AND FULL READING ON THE OIL. DEALER SAID ENGINE SEIZED AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. UNKNOWN ORGIN OR CAUSE OF SEIZURE. ALL MILEAGE ON VEHICLE IS HIGHWAY.*AK

MECHANIC SAID FORD CHANGED DESIGN BECAUSE OF FAULTING PLACEMENT OF THE VENT. FORD SAID THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IF MILEAGE WAS UNDER 50K AND I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER. *AK

STABILIZER BAR PIN HAS BROKEN ON BOTH DRIVER'S AND PASSENER'S SIDES. ALSO, PROBLEM WAS SIMILAR TO PROBLEM THAT WAS RECALLED FOR FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

SOMETIMES THE SYSTEM FLUTTERS BETWEEN ON AND OFF. *AK

WHILE DRIVING OUTER TIE ROD BROKE AND CAUSED TIRE TO TOW, AND OTHER TIRE IS JUST GOING STRIAGHT. *AK

HAD TAKEN VEHICLE AT LEAST 3 DIFFERENT TIMES TO DEALER FOR NON WORKING RADIO. AFTER 3RD TIME DASHBOARD STARTED SMOKING. COULD SMELL RUBBER & PLASTIC. WENT BACK TO DEALERSHIP. MECHANIC INDICATED WOULD NEED TO REWIRE & THEN REGROUND THE WIRES. HAD ALSO CLAIMED PENNY IN RADIO CAUSED ELECTRICAL SHORT. DUE TO ALARM GOING OFF, KEY COULD NOT BE USED. VEHICLE COULD NOT BE STARTED. MECHANIC COULD NOT RESOLVE ISSUE OF ELECTRICAL SYSTEM & INDICATED IT WAS DRIVER'S 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

REAR DOOR CHILD LOCKS ON BOTH SIDES SET THEMSELVES TO LOCK POSITION, THE DOORS CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE. *SLC

FRONT END BEGAN MAKING A POPPING NOISE WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THIS WAS DUE TO A BAD FRONT SWAY BAR. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

CONSUMER HAS NOTICED THAT DIFFERENTIAL VENT IS BUILDING UP PRESSURE, AND CAUSING OIL TO SPILL INTO ENGINE COMPARTMENT WHICH IS CAUSING A FIRE HAZARD. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. DEALER WAS PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FROM MANUFACTURER FOR CORRECTING PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

FROM DATE OF PURCHASE THERE WERE PROBLEMS WITH ABS. ABS BRAKE SYSTEM REPLACED 4 TIMES. WHEN DRIVING 30 MPH OR LESS AND APPLYING BRAKES, LOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING POWER STEERING WENT OUT. CONSUMER SAID IT TOOK ALL HIS/HER STRENGTH TO TURN WHEEL. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED.

REAR DOORS KEEP GOING INTO CHILD'S LOCK MODE. *AK THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR LOCKS IN AUTOMATICALY AND PAUSES DANGER DURING EMERGENCY. *YH

VEHICLE HAD BEEN VIBRATING AT SPEEDS OVER 60 MPH, LEFT FRONT BOLT IN STABILIZER BAR WAS BROKEN. REPLACED BOLT, AND VIBRATING STOPPED. ALSO, VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE MORE STABLE WHEN WINDY. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 65-70 MPH VEHICLE SUDDENLY STALLED, AND ALL LIGHT ON DASHBOARD WERE ON/OFF. DRIVING OFF THE ROAD HAD TO TURN OFF IGNITION SWITCH. THEN TURN IT BACK ON, AND IT WORKED AS NORMAL. TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALER THREE TIMES. *AK

TIRE WAS ONLY ON THE VEHICLE FOR 2 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE "BLOWOUT". TIRE HAD LESS THAN 2,000 MILES IN SERVICE. TIRE DISINTIGRATED WITH NO WARNING. NO HAZARDS OBSERVED IN ROAD. BELIEVE IT WAS A CLASSIC TREAD SEPARATION. DEFECTIVE PRODUCT. GOOD NEWS WAS THAT NO ONE WAS INJURED.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)( DOT NUMBER: TIRE SIZE: P265/70R17 )

I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS AN INQUIRY CONCERNING THE SAFETY OF THE ABOVE MENTIONED TIRES. ON 11/03/00 I HAD PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE COMPLETED ON MY VEHICLE (OIL CHANGE/TIRE ROTATION). THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE ADVISED ME THAT MY TIRES WERE BECOMING "CHOPPY". HE SHOWED ME BY RUNNING MY HAND OVER THE SURFACE OF THE TIRE. THE TIRE WAS NOT SMOOTH, BUT IN CERTAIN AREAS IT APPEARED THAT THE TIRE WAS RAISED. I FELT THAT THIS CONDITION WAS ODD SINCE I WOULD BELIEVE THAT THE TREAD WOULD WEAR SMOOTHLY DURING CONTINUED OPERATION. UNDERSTANDING THE CONCERN ABOUT TREAD SEPERATION, AND NOT BEING AN EXPERT, I SUSPECTED THAT THIS MAY BE OCCURRING. I SENT A MESAGE TO THE CUSTOMER SERVICE SECTION OF GOODYEAR AND WAS ADVISED THAT 39,000 WAS THE LIFE EXPECTIANCY OF THOSE TIRES. I DISAGREE AND FELT THEIR EXPLANTATION WAS UNACCEPTABLE. I ADVISED GOODYEAR THAT IT WAS INTENT TO FILE A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR ORGANIZATION. MY CONCERN IS FOR THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY AND THAT OF THE OTHER MOTORIST. THANK YOU ALL FOR YOUR ASSISTANCE. JOHN WILLIAMS. *AK (DOT NUMBER: LOAD E TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)

FORD EXPLORERS JUST RECALLED FOR SAME FAILURE. *AK