1997 Ford Expedition complaints

THE GOODYEAR WRANGLER RT-S TIRE EXPERIENCED SEPARATION AND BLOW OUT WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER LOST TEMPORARY CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *MJS

BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT EXTERNAL REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY UNUSABLE AT THIS POINT. THE MIRRORS ARE NOT USABLE AT NIGHT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD HASN'T REPLACED THE MIRRORS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU. *AK

VEHICLE HAS NO BRAKES AT LOW SPEEDS DURING FAILURE. IT CAN BE INTERMITTENT. THE SYSTEM THINKS THE WHEELS ARE LOCKED AND WILL NOT ALLOW BRAKES TO APPLY. I USED TO WORK FOR FORD. THIS IS KNOWN WITHIN THE COMPANY, BUT IS KEPT VERY QUIET. DEALERS MUST CALL AND SPEAK TO SOMEONE TO GET HELP. THE PROBLEM IS NOT DOCUMENTED WITH TSB'S OR OTHER SERVICE INFORMATION SYSTEMS.*AK

UPON IMPACT, REAR THIRD SEAT DISLOGGED IN THE AIR, HITTING THE ROOF AND THRUSTED FOWARD. IF MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE, WHICH THE THIRD SEAT IS USED MOSTLY BY CHILDREN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, AS THIS IS CLEARLY UNSAFE. *AK

FIRST TIME I HEARD A LOAD NOISE ABOUT 4 MONTHS AGO TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER TO BE FIXED THEY SAID IT WAS THE TIE ROD AND REPLACED IT. NOW ITS MONTHS LATER AND I HAD TO HAVE MY STEERING GEAR ASSEMBLY UPPER AND LOWER COLUMN UPPER SHAFT AND LOWER BEARINGS AND IN LOOKING UNDER CAR FIND THAT STEERING SHAFTS AND ASSEMBLY ARE STILL LOOSE AND WOBBLE AND WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MAKE OF VEHICLE. *AK

FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT TIRES, SIZE P255/70R16, CAUSE STEERING WHEEL TO VIBRATE AND SHAKE ESPECIALLY WHILE TRAVELLING BETWEEN 60 AND 70 MPH, VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT OF THE ROAD, THESE PROBLEMS OCCURRED FOR THE FIRST 30000 MILES, AIR WAS LEAKING THROUGH THE SIDEWALL CAUSING TIRES TO GO FLAT, CONSUMER NOTICED CRACKS IN SIDEWALLS, CONSUMER REPLACED TIRES WITH MICHELINS AND HAS NOT EXPERIENCED ANY MORE PROBLEMS, 12 TIRES CAUSED VIBRATION AND 5 OF THOSE DEVELOPED CRACKS ON THE SIDEWALL. *SLC

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

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

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

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)

TWO TRANSMISSION OIL LINE FITTINGS THAT ARE LOCATED ON THE RADIATOR WORKED LOOSE, CAUSING THE LOWER RADIATOR HOSE TO SWELL AND POTENTIALLY RUPTURE. TRANSMISSION IS BURNING ON THE ENGINE FROM GETTING THROWN BACK BY RADIATOR FAN. *AK

ALUMINUM HEAD FAILURE, AGAIN (DOT NUMBER: 0 TIRESIZE: 0)

INTERIOR DOME AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF AFTER ALL THE DOORS ARE SHUT TIGHTLY, POSSIBLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. *ET

IF VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE IN A NOSE-DOWN POSITION, EITHER IDLING OR TURNED OFF, IT RUNS OUT OF GAS EVEN IF THE TANK IS MORE THAN 1/4 FULL. IT APPEARS THAT THE DESIGN OF THE FUEL TANK / FUEL INTAKE SYSTEM IS FLAWED. GAS CANNOT MOVE FROM THE TANK TO THE ENGINE IF VEHICLE IS ON AN INCLINE. VEHICLE HAS STALLED IN TRAFFIC ON HILLS, AND HAS FAILED TO START IF LEFT PARKED NOSE-DOWN ON AN INCLINE. AGAIN THIS HAPPENS WITH MORE THAN 1/4 TANK OF GAS IN TANK.

I HAVE HAD SEVERAL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS IN THE PAST 9 MONTHS. FIRST STARTING MAY 2000, CLICKING NOISES UNDER DASH, DASH LIGHTS BLINKING ON AND OFF SEEMS LOW WASHER FLUID LIGHT IS EFFECTED MOST. BEEPING NOISES FROM BEHIND GLOVE BOX. A/C COMES ON WITHOUT KEY IN IGNITION. TOOK IT TO FORD IMEDIATLY THEY COULDN'T FIND A PROBLEM. NEXT INCIDENT, WAS DURING A WEEKEND AND IT SEEMED TO CORRECT ITSELF. SECOND TIME TO THE SHOP, SAME PROBLEM AS FIRST. THEY COULD NOT FIND WHAT WAS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. THIS PROBLEM HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES EITHER AT NIGHT OR ON WEEKEND AS THIS IS THE ONLY TIME THE CAR IS DRIVEN. BY MONDAY AM PROBLEM IS GONE. IN JUNE ANOTHER INCIDENT THIS TIME WINDOWS AND DOOR LOCKS AFFECTED. WINDOWS ROLLED UP AND DOWN BY SELVES, THEN WOULD NOT PERFORM AT ALL. DOOR LOCKS CAME UP ON THEIR OWN. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT FIND PROBLEM. OCT. 5, 2000 DRIVING AND CLICKING NOISES START UNDER DASH, WINDOW ROLLS DOWN BY SELF, BEEPING NOISES START UNDER DASH, CIGERETTE LIGHTERS MALFUNCTION(CELL PHONE STOPS WORKING), SPEEDOMETER, ODOMERTER, TACKOMETER, QUIT WORKING WHILE I'M DRIVING. WINDSHEILD WIPERS MALFUNCTION. CAR BEGINS SHIFTING HARD. THIS IS SCARY WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING IN THE RAIN, ON DARK WINDY ROADS WITH 3 CHILDREN IN THE CAR. I JUST KEPT THINKING , WHAT IF THE ENGINE DIES AND THE STEERING LOCKS UP. I FEEL THIS TO BE A HUGE PROBLEM AND COULD BE LIFE THREATENING. AGAIN I TOOK THE CAR TO FORD WHO ONCE AGAIN COULD NOT FIND A PROBLEM. FOUND THE TROTTEL TO NEED ADJUSTING. DROVE CAR HO

WHILE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN STEERING WHEEL LOCKED UP AND BECAME INOPERABLE DUE TO A MALFUNCTION WITHIN POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THE LEFT TIE ROD DISCONNECTED FROM THE STEERING CONTROL MECHANISM ON A STRAIGHT CITY ROADWAY AT A SPEED OF 25 MPH. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO VIBRATE SEVERELY (AS ONLY ONE WHEEL HAD STEERING CONTROL), BUT I WAS ABLE TO STOP WITHOUT INCIDENT. IF THIS HAD HAPPENED AT 65 MPH, A ROLLOVER WOULD HAVE PROBABLY OCCURRED. THIS VEHICLE IS MOSTLY DRIVEN BY MY WIFE, AND HAS NEVER BEEN OFF-ROAD. THE STABILIZER LINKS WERE SEVERELY WORN, AND ONE OF THEM WAS MISSING ENTIRELY. THE INNER AND OUTER LEFT TIE RODS AND THE TWO STABILIZER LINKS WERE REPLACED BY AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP (COON'S REPAIR OF HOUGHTON, MI) AT A COST OF $186. PLUS $40 TOWING. I DID NOT TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER.

GEAR SHIFT CABLE BROKE WHEN SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. CAR WAS STOPPED ON A FLAT SURFACE. NO EXCESSIVE FORCE. NO BINDING. CABLE SHOWED NO EVIDENCE OF DEFORMATION. CABLE STRANDS SEPARATED UNEVENLY BUT STAYED TOGETHER. APPEARED TO BE A MATERIAL DEFECT COMBINED WITH PROBABLE IMPROPER FACTORY INSTALLATION (TORQUE). SHIFT CABLE PART NUMBER IS XL3Z7E395AB. LOCAL FORD SERVICE DEPARTMENT ACKNOWLEDGED THIS HAS OCCURRED ON OTHER FORD VEHICLES BROUGHT IN FOR SERVICE.

TO FULLY ENGAGE THE BRAKE, THE CONSUMER HAS TO PRESS IT BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR, IF CONSUMERS FOOT IS PARTIALLY HANGING OVER THE ACCELERATOR WOULD BECOME ENGAGED BEFORE THE BRAKE WAS FULLY ENGAGED, DEALER SAID VEHICLE MET FACTORY SPECS. NLM

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, I SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO DRIVE WAS TO HOLD THE WIPER, HEADLIGHT DIMMER ARM FULLY TO THE REAR. THIS ITEM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER IT DEFECTED ONCE BEFORE. *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

ON OUTSIDE MIRROR REFLECTION MATERIAL IS COMING OFF, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VISION. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED THE MIRRORS 3 TIMES. *YH

VEHICLE ACCELERATED SUDDENLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY WHEN BRAKES WERE APPLIED. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS LEANING ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE. TOOK TO DEALER WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, DEALER SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG WITH SUSPENSION. TWO MONTHS LATER, OUT OF WARRANTY, PUT VEHICLE ON DIANOSTIC MACHINE AND THEY SAID IT WAS A PROBLEM. THEY COULD HAVE PUT IT ON THE MACHINE THE FIRST TIME WHEN CONSUMER FIRST PURCHASED VEHICLE. *AK

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING OTHER FORD 'S WHERE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

WHILE BACKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF A PARKING SPOT I BEGAN TO TURN THE WHEEL TO THE LEFT, AND HEARD/FELT A GRINDING, THEN OBSERVED A 6" 3/8IN BOLT SHOOT OUT FROM THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WELL. AFTER THAT THE STEERING WOULD NOT RESPOND. UPON EXAMINATION OF THE FRONT LEFT WHEEL WELL I FOUND ON THE GROUND THE 3 MOUNT BOLTS THAT HOLD THE STEERING BOX TO THE FRAME MEMBER. THE STEERING BOX WAS HANGING 4" FORWARD AND LOWER THEN IT'S NORMAL MOUNTING POSITION. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT SKYLINE FORD IN SALEM, OREGON AND SCHEDULED TO BE LOOKED AT FIRST THING MONDAY MORNING.

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 75MPH ON HIGHWAY AND HEARD A HUMMING NOISE. RIGHT REAR TIRE TREAD SEPARATED. TIRE PEELED LIKE A DOWNUT. TIRE WAS A FIRESTONE WILDERNESS #ATX 2657/5R16114S N/S. CONSUMER WILL CALL THE MAUFACTURER IN THE MORNING. *AK

PASSENGER'S SIDE FRONT TIRE WENT FLAT, AND WITHIN A 24 HOUR PERIOD, REAR SIDE PASSENGER'S SIDE BUBBLED. THE FLAT TIRE WAS REPAIRED BY A TIRE DEALERSHIP, BUT HAS GONE FLAT AGAIN. ORGINAL TIRE EQUIPMENT, PURCHASED ON A 1997, FORD EXPEDITION. PLEASE LIST TIRE SIZE AND DOT #. *AK GOODYEAR 255/70/R16 *MW

PE00020, AFTERMARKET TIRE WITH 30 MILES ON THEM, ALL TIRES IN TOTAL OF 13 HAD FLATS WHICH NEEDED TO BE PATCHED UP. IT SEEMED THAT HOLE WAS GETTING BIGGER. GOODYEAR DEALER SAID IT WAS DUE TO THE HEAT WHICH WAS CAUSING RUBBER TO GET SOFT, AND EASILY GETTING A HOLE IN IT. *AK FIRESTONE REIMBURSED THE CUSTOMER FOR THE TIRES THAT HAD FLATS. TIRE SIZE 255/70R16. *YH

WOULD BE DRIVING VEHICLE & APPLYING BRAKES (ABS) & PEDAL WOULD PULSATE. VEHICLE WOULD FAIL TO STOP. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. ABS LIGHT KEPT COMING ON AND STAYING. WOULD ONLY GO OFF WHEN VEHICLE IS NOT ON. TOOK TO DEALERSHIP & WAS INFORMED TSB ON VEHICLE & IT WAS OUT OF WARRANTY, BY 5 WEEKS WITH ONLY 4163 MILES. *AK THE VEHICLE IS USED TO PULL BOAT, AND HAS EXTREMELY POOR FUEL MILEAGE .THIS VEHICLE HAD TWO BRAKE FAILURES DUE TO BAD SENSORS. THE MANUFACTURER INSTALLED DEFECTIVE SINSORS WHICH ARE SAFETY HAZARD BUT REFUSES ADMIT. *YH

THE VEHICLES FRONT SUSPENSION STABILIZER ANCHOR LINE ASSEMBLIES WERE BROKEN THE BOLTS RUSTED,THE RIGHT SIDE ASSEMBLY TOTALLY MISSING. *ET

THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE UNDER THE CHASIS APARRENTLY SNAPPED, THEREBY RELEASING THE SPARE ONTO THE ROADWAY. THE TIRE CROSSED TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND ENDED UP ON THE SIDEWALK. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN CATOSTROPHIC HAD IT HIT ANOTHER VEHICLE OR A PEDESTRIAN!!*AK

WHEN MAKING A RIGHT TURN, VEHICLE STARTED PULLING TO THE LEFT. DRIVER HAD NO CONTROL OF TRUCK. IT SWIPED A TELEPHONE POLE, WHICH TOOK OFF THE SIDE MIRROR AND JAMMED THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR. AFTERING EXITING TRUCK ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE, DRIVER SAW THAT THE ENTIRE LEFT WHEEL WAS OFF. TRUCK WAS TOWED TO DEALERSHIP. PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CORRECTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE SEATBELT HOLDING THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT IN PLACE HAS DISCONNECTED WITHOUT IT BEING INTENTIONALLY RELEASED, CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS MAY BE OCCURING BECAUSE OF THE PROLONGED SIDE-WAYS TENSION ON THE SEAT BELT RECEPTOR. NLM

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 62MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHILE PULLING A CARGO VAN WITH FURNITURE INSIDE OF THE HITCH THAT THEY WERE MOVING. TRAILER STARTED TO FISHTAIL, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. TRAILER DISCONNECTED FROM VEHICLE AND REMAINED ON STREET LEVEL. THEN, VEHICLE VEERED INTO A GUARDRAIL AND INTO A DITCH. AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE AIR CONDITIONING DRAIN TUBE LEAKED ONTO THE OXYGEN SENSOR CAUSING FAILURE, DEALERSHIP REPLACED TUBE WITH EXTENSION AND REPLACED OXYGEN SENSOR. *MJS

TURNING RT AFTER A STOP, I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. INSTANTLY THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO LISP TO THE LEFT AND TRAVEL ACROSS THE CENTER LANE. APPLYING THE BRAKES I COULD NOT TURN BACK INTO THE RT LANE. THE LEFT DRIVERS MIRROW WAS RIPPED OFF AS IT CLIPPED A NEIGHBORS LAWN POLE. STANDING I STILL COULD NOT TURN THE VEHICLE. IT STOPPED. NOT ABLE TO EXIT THE DRIVERS DOOR, I DID THE PASSENGERS. INSPECTING, THE LEFT FRONT WHEEL WAS GONE. TOWED TO BEAUDRT FORD THE VEHICLE HAD TWICE THE DAMAGE AS AT THE SCENE. ( PICTURES WERE TAKEN AT BOTH PLACES). ASK IF THERE WERE ANY RECALLS, I WAS TOLD NO, 4 TIMES. THIS IS UNTRUE. I HAVE BEEN FORCED TO ALLOW BEAUDRY TO FIX MY VEHICLE AS THEY TELL ME THEY CANNOT GET ANY FORD ENGINEERS TO INSPECT THE CAR. THIS SUV FELL APART. 152,000 OF THE SAME YEAR 4X4S WERE RECALLED. *AK

WAS DRIVING VEHICLE & APPLIED BRAKES TO SLOWDOWN. BRAKES FAIL TO CATCH & HIT A MOPED. WAS PLENTY OF DISTANCE FOR STOPPING. WAS THIRD SET OF BRAKES ON VEHICLE. WINDSHIELD WIPERS ARE NOT WORKING LIKE THEY SHOULD. PROBLEM IS INTERMITTEN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER & MECHANIC INDICATED THE ABS BRAKES ARE OKAY. WIPERS CAN BE REPAIRED.*AK

AT SLOW SPEED IN 4 WHEEL DRIVE GOING THROUGH A MUD PUDDLE, THE FLANGE THAT EXTENDS FROM THE REAR AXLE SHAFT ON WHICH THE DISC BRAKE CALIPER IS MOUNTED, BROKE IN SUCH A FASHION THAT THREE OF THE BOLTS FELL OFF RELEASING THE CALIPER TO FALL AGAINST THE TIRE. IN ADDITION, THE BRAKE LINE SEPARATED AND THE BRAKE FLUID RESERVOIR EMPTIED. THE PARKING BRAKE CABLE WAS ALSO SEVERED AND NONFUNCTIONAL. NO OBJECT WAS HIT TO CREATE THE PROBLEM AND WAS CONFIRMED BY THE FACT THAT THERE IS NO OTHER DAMAGE OTHER THAN THIS FLANGE. IT APPEARS, FOR NOW, THAT THE FLANGE CRACKED RELEASING THE DISC CALIPER ASSEMBLY WHICH THEN MUST HAVE ROTATED AROUND UNTIL THE BRAKELINE SEVERED. THE FAILURE OF THE FLANGE WOULD THEREFORE APPEAR TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE QUALITY OF THE MATERIAL THAT MAKES UP THE FLANGE (WEAK STEEL?). WHAT MAY BE OF CONCERN IS A SIMILAR OCCURENCE AT HIGH SPEEDS

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

PULLED OUT OF MY DRIVEWAY INTO TRAFFIC WITH FAMILY IN VEHICLE AND ALMOST IMMEDIATELY LOST ALL STEERING CONTROL. TIE ROD END SNAPPED OUT (FAULTY DESIGN), REPLACED WITH MOOG BRAND PROPERLY DESIGNED OUTER TIE ROD. ALSO THE SWAY BAR SEPARATED FROM THE TRUCK. THIS VEHICLE IS NOT USED FOR ANY TYPE OF "OFF ROAD" DRIVING, THERE WAS NO WARNING BEFORE THE TIE ROD WENT. MORE THAN ONE AUTO MECHANIC HAS TOLD ME THAT FORD IS THE ONLY AUTO COMPANY THAT MAKE THEIR TIE RODS IN THIS MANNER. THERE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE ANY "SAFETY" FEATURE TO THE TIE ROD END TO KEEP IT FROM FALLING OUT. I HAD JUST BEEN TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 65 MPH TWO MINUTES PRIOR TO THE TOTAL LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL. WE ARE CERTAINLY AWARE THAT THE MILEAGE ON OUR VEHICLE WARRANTS SOME WEAR AND TEAR, HOWEVER, THESE TIE RODS ARE JUST NOT MADE PROPERLY. PLEASE RESEARCH THE DESIGN USED AND COMPARE TO THE MORE APPROPRIATELY DESIGNED MOOG BRAND REPLACEMENTS. ALSO THE SWAY BAR IS COMPLETELY UNATTACHED FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE LEFT FRONT SIDE. *AK

ON 4-12-2000 I WAS DRIVING TO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WITH MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER. WE WERE N/B ON I-5, AT 60 MPH IN THE SEATTLE. I ATTEMPTED TURN ON THE RADIO AND PUSHED THE BUTTON. NOTHING HAPPENED FOR A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THEN SMOKE CAME OUT OF THE RADIO. THE SMOKE STARTED TO FILL THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT . I WAS AFRAID THE DASHBOARD AREA WAS ABOUT TO CATCH FIRE. I MANAGED TO FIND A EXIT TO GET OFF THE FREEWAY, STOPPED THE CAR AND GET MY FAMILY OUT. I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION HOWEVER THE SMOKE WAS STILL COMING OUT OF THE RADIO. THE SMOKE STOPPED ABOUT 1 OR 2 MINUTES LATER. I CALLED BOWEN SCARFF FORD IN KENT AND WAS REFERRED TO SOUND ON WHEELS FOR RADIO REPAIR. THE MANAGER AT SOUND ON WHEELS PULLED THE RADIO FROM THE DASH AND SHOWED ME THE WATER DAMAGE ON THE RADIO AND COXIAL ANTENNA WIRE LEADING FROM THE ANTENNA TO THE BACK OF THE RADIO. WHEN THE WATER GOT INTO THE BACK OF THE RADIO A SHORT WAS CAUSED AND THE SMOKE STARTED. I WAS TOLD THIS WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE 97 FORD EXPEDITION. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO BOWEN SCARFF FORD AND WAS INFORMED A TECH MEMO HAD BEEN PUT OUT TO FORD MECHANIC BUT NOTHING HAD BEEN SENT TO FORD OWNERS OF EXPEDITION. WHAT I EXPERIENCE WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. I COULD HAVE PANIC AND CAUSE A MAJOR ACCIDENT ON A FREEWAY AT HIGH SPEEDS. I BELIEVE THIS TYPE OF SHORT COULD CAUSE A MAJOR MALFUNCTION OF THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. COULD THE DOORS LOCK, TRAPPING PEOPLE INSIDE? MOST DEATHS RELATED TO FIRE OCCURE FROM INHALING SMOKE. THESE WERE SOME TO THE THINGS GOING THROUGH

AT LOW SPEEDS THE BRAKES FAIL, THE PEDAL GOES TO THE FLOOR, MAKES A STRANGE NOISE AND PULSATES. NLM

HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION. TOLD MECHANIC CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

LOST CONTROL WHILE TURNING INTO AN INTERSECTION AT 5 MPH DUE TO DRIVER'S SIDE INNER TIE ROD DISCONNECTING. ALSO, BOTH SIDE SWAY BAR LINKS FELL OFF. DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. *AK *ML

IN DECEMBER 1998, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME OFF THE VEHICLE. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH THE LUGS: NUTS NOT BEING TIGHTENED PROPERLY BY MARINA FORD (MARINA DEL REY, CALIFORNIA). THE CAR WAS TAKEN TO MAGIC FORD FOR REPAIR. IN APRIL/MAY OF 2000, THE DRIVER SIDE REAR TIRE PEELED LIKE AN ONION AND DID EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE REAR PANEL OF THE TRUCK. AT THAT TIME, THE AAA TOWING SERVICE SAID THAT THE STEMS AND LUG NUTS WERE STRIPPED. WE TOOK THE CAR TO MANHATTAN BEACH FORD FOR REPAIR AND INVESTIGATION. THEY WERE TO INVESTIGATE WHETHER THE WHEELS, TIRES AND LUG NUTS WERE PROPER FOR THIS VEHICLE. THEY FIXED IT AND ASSURED ME THAT EVERYTHING WAS FINE. ON JUNE 2, 2000, WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IN THE CARPOOL LANE, THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL CAME COMPLETELTY OFF THE VEHICLE (YES - FOR THE 2ND TIME - DIFFERENT WHEEL). I HAVE REPORTED THIS PROBLEM TO FORD AS OF THIS MORNING. THE PROBLEM IS THAT APPARENTLY, THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE (FORD OF UPLAND) HAD PUT ON AFTERMARKET WHEELS, TIRES, AND LUG NUTS ON THE VEHICLE BEFORE THEY SOLD IT TO ME. FORD IS CLAIMING THAT THEY DO NOT APPROVE OF SUCH AFTERMARKET ASSEMBLIES. MY CONCERN IS THAT WE HAVE NOW PUT OUR LIFE IN FORD'S HANDS IN WHICH WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THREE LIFE THREATENING INCIDENTS ON THE FREEWAYS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. NO ONE APPEARS TO WANT TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND EVERYONE IS POINTING A FINGER AT SOMEONE ELSE. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM. I BOUGHT A FORD PRODUCT AND EXPECT THE WHEELS AND

CHARCOAL CANNISTER ON FUEL TANK CLOGS W/ DIRT FROM GRAVEL ROAD, CAUSES ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. I PAID TO REPLACED IT WITH A RE-DESIGNED PART & DEALER STILL REPEATEDLY HAS TO CLEAN NEW 1 OUT. HE SAYS THIS HAPPENS TO 97S & 98S. THIS IS A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE. NOW I'M TOLD TO BUY ANOTHER NEW ONE WITH NO GUARANTEE IT WON'T CLOG. I'M DRIVING WITH IT CLOGGED. WHO KNOWS IF PRESSURE WILL BUILD IN THE TANK. COMPLAINTS TO FORD HAVE BEEN USELESS. I LIVE IN THE COUNTRY. CANNOT AVOID GRAVEL ROAD. THIS SUV IS ADVERTISED TO HANDLE THIS KIND OF DRIVING. OUR FORD PICKUP AND JEEP CHEROKEE DON'T DO THIS. I WANT FORD TO COME UP A PART THAT WORKS.*AK

THE ACCELERATOR STICKS, CONSUMER HAD THE THROTTLE FIXED, HOWEVER THE ACCELERATOR WAS STICKING AGAIN.*ET

THROTTLE LINKAGE BINDING. *AK