1997 Ford Expedition complaints

I AM UNDER 5'. THE ABILITY TO SEE USING THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, I WEAVE MY HEAD BACK AND FORTH, LOOKING THROUGH THE HIGH SEATS. HOWEVER, NIGHT DRIVING IS A TERROR! THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS--REGARDLESS OF POSITIONING, DO NOT GIVE A CLEAR VIEW OF VEHICLES OR HEADLIGHTS. FURTHER, SINCE IT IS DARK, IF A CAR IS A DARK COLOR IT CAN NOT BE SEEN! MY HUSBAND, WHO IS 5'8" DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

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

BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY AND FELT SPONGY, ADDRESSED TWICE, ROTORS WERE OUT BY -0.05. ENGINE EXIHIBIT 'PISTON SLAP' DOCUMENTED FROM DAY ONE, DEALER STATED IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO OCTANE LEVEL, INFORMED BY SECOND DEALER TO DOWNSHIFT, THAT IT WILL NOT HARM ENGINE, ROAD TEST BY TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PCM WAS ADJUSTING TO LOAD!!NOWHERE TO SECURE CHILD SEAT IN THIRD ROW.HEATER REPLACED TWICE WITH WINDOWS FOGGING CREATING POOR VISIBILITY.SECOND ROW SINGLE SEAT FELL BACK UPON ACCELERATION,KNOCKING PASSENGER'S HEAD BACK, WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RESET UNTIL PUSHED VERY, VERY HARD. INTERIOR DASH AND HEADLINER SQUEAKS, HORSESHOE MOLDING TABS AROUND STEREO WORE THROUGH AND RATTLES

TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT SHIFT UP OR DOWN, REPAIRED AS PER TSB 980920, THEN REPLACED.GEAR SHIFTER WOULD NOT RELEASE FROM PARK, RE-STARTED MANY TIMES AND EVENTUALL ABLE TO SHIFT.ESSENTIALLY OVER THE COURSE OF 6 VISITS THE ENTIRE COMPONENT HAS BEEN REPLACED AND IS NOW RETURNED.FRONT FENDERS WERE CURLED IN, PAINT DEFECTS WITH RUST SPOTS AND PAINT CLUMPS.

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, ALIGNED REPEATEDLY AND RE-CHECKED, CONTINUES TO DRIFT, CREATED OUTSIDE WEAR ON DRIVE TIRES. REAR WIPER FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. POWER MIRROR WORKS INTERMITTENLY. POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN KEY IS OUT MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AS PER RECALL. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT 'CLUNKS' WITH MEDIUM TO HARD STOP OR ACCELERATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER.

REAR SWAY BAR FELL OUT OF BUSHING, MAKING DIFFICULT TO CONTROL. ENGINE HAS ROUGH IDLE.ROOF RACK FELL OFF DUE TO SCREWS THAT HOLD RACK TO ROOF WERE NOT INSTALLED.EXTERIOR MOLDINGS AND GLASS TRIM DISCOLORED.PASSENGER POWER WINDOW STICKS AND SQUEAKS.SERPENTINE BELT NOISY UPON COLD MORNING STARTS.

HOOD LIGHT CONNECTION FAULTY.'CLUNK' GOING OVER MODERATE BUMPS DUE TO SUSPENSION CONCERN-DEALER SAID IT WAS BECAUSE MY GAS TANK WAS 3/4 FULL AND IT WAS 'SLOSHING' AROUND.TECHNICIAN DESCRIBED A 'TRANSMISSION CHATTER' BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE CAUSE.STEERING WHEEL HAS 1/2 INCH OF PLAY.***OUR VEHICLE HAS HAD 42 REPAIRS, 38 REPAIR DAYS, 36 PAGES OF WARRANTY WORK AND OVER $10,000(CDN) IN WARRANTY COSTS. IT HAS 6 WARRANTY REPAIRS PENDING (PLUS A REPEATED REQUEST TO ADDRESS THE DOCUMENTED 'PISTON SLAP'). WE ARE CURRENTLY SLATED FOR ARBITRATION WITH CAMVAP OCTOBER 27, 1999. FEEL FREE TO CONTACT US. WE ARE SIMPLY FED UP! REGARDING THE SIGNATURE CARD, IF IT IS APPLICABLE FOR CANADA PLEASE FORWARD US A CARD. IF WE CAN BE OF ANY ASSISTANCE PLEASE LET ME KNOW.

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

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.

WHEN INSTALLING CSS ON THE LEFT SIDE OF SECOND ROW THE MIDDLE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL QUIT WORKING DUE TO PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SEAT. IT IS A DESIGN FLAW. *AK

TORQUE CONVERTER VANE SEPARATED DESTROYING ENTIRE TRANSMISSION 5.4LTR ENGINE

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

WHILE DRIVING BRAKING SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE POWER BRAKE BOOSTER WHICH MAY RESULT IN A CRASH. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION AND VIN#. *AK

THE VEHICLE VIBRATES UNCONTROLLABLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS . THE DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. *AK

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.

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

OIL SEAL/GREASE RETAINER--OIL LEAKED.

THE ABS SENSORS WERE REPLACED WITH DIFFERENT SENSORS DUE TO CANCELLING OUT OF ABS SYSTEM. ENGINEERS INFORMED MECHANIC SENSORS NOT BEING MOUNTED IN HOUSING CORRECTLY. BEEN TO DEALER 6 TIMES FOR THIS ABS SYSTEM PROBLEM. HAVE NO BRAKES WHEN APPLIED. *AK

BUZZING OR VIBRATING NOISE AT IDLE IN EXHAUST SYSTEM EMMINATING FROM UNDERNEATH FRONT SEAT AREA. I'VE BEEN TO TWO DEALERSHIPS MULTIPLE TIMES AND HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO GET THE PROBLEM CORRECTED.

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

THE TAIL PIPE SEPARATED FROM THE MUFFLER & FELL OFF. DEALER REFERRED OWNER TO MUFFLER SHOP. THEY WELDED PIPE ON & IT FELL OFF SOMETIMES LATER AGAIN. *AK

THE SUNROOF LEAK HAS CAUSED WATER TO ENTER ABOVE THE HEADLINER AND SHORT OUT THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE/INTERIOR LIGHTS

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

THE BOLTS THAT ATTACH THE FACTORY INSTALLED HITCHED WORKED LOOSE WITH 2 OF THE 6 BOLTS FALLING OUT AND THE REMAINING 4 BOLTS WERE VERY LOOSE. THE HITCH WAS CLOSE TO SEPARATING FROM THE VEHICLE. THIS ALSO HAPPENED TO MY NEW 1999 LINCOLN NAVIGATOR THIS WEEK WHERE 4 OF THE 6 BOLTS WERE LOST AND THE OTHER 2 WERE VERY LOOSE. FORTUNATELY, I NOTICED THE PROBLEM WHEN PARKED AND THE HITCH DID NOT SEPARATE ONTHE HIGHWAY.

POWER STEERING SHAFT FELL OUT, CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL. *AK COMSUMER STATES HE REPLACED THE POWERING STEERING PUMP HIMSELF. *JB

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

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

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.

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

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

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

VEHICLE HAD TWO SETS OF FRONT TIE ROD REPLACEMENTS SINCE NOVEMBER, 1998, AND BELIEVED THAT THIS CONDITION WAS DUE TO A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT (ANTI-SWAY BAR LINK ARMS). DELAER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE 98 VEHICLE WAS CORRECTED FOR THAT SAME PROBLEM, BUT NOTHING WAS DONE FOR OWNER OF 1997 VEHICLE. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION OR HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ABOUT 60 MPH DRIVER HEARD A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR END OF VEHICLE. RIGHT AFTERWARDS THE LEFT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS:NUTS: BOLTS SHEARING OFF. THE PROBLEM WAS CORRECTED BY DEALERSHIP. ON APRIL 24TH, WHILE DRIVING RIGHT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF, SENDING VEHICLE INTO A GUARDRAIL AND DITCH. THE LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS SHEARED OFF. *AK THERE WAS A RECALL, 98V095, HOWEVER CONSUMER'S FAILURES HAPPENED PRIOR TO THIS RECALL, ON THE SECOND INCIDENT THERE WERE 2 INJURED PEOPLE, DEALER PAID FOR THE FIRST INCIDENT'S REPAIRS. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING AT ANY SPEED IT SUDDENLY BECAME HARD TO CONTROL VEHICLE. IT STARTED TO VEER ALL OVER THE ROAD AND JERKED FURTHER THAN THE TURN THAT WAS BEING MADE AT THE TIME. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

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

CRUISE CONTROL WOULD NOT DISENGAGE. MJS

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

EMERGENCY BRAKE IN FOR REPAIRS ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS DUE TO FAILURE, HOWEVER NOT ABLE TO BE RECTIFIED. MJS

TWO CRACKS IN CAST ALLOY WHEEL CAUSED THE TIRE TO LOSE AIR . *AK

THE CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE TIRE TO FALL, ALMOST RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT.*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

WHILE DRIVING 65MPH DASHBOARD CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE. *AK

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WITH CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH ON. THEN THERE WAS SLIGHT VIBRATION. CONSUMER LOOKED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF HIM, AND NOTICED THAT LEFT SIDE TIRE CAME OFF DUE TO LUGS: NUTS AND BOLTS SHEARING OFF. *AK

UNABLE TO REMOVE WHEELS. *AK

FUEL PUMP AND SENDER FAILED CAUSING THE NOZZLE TO SHUT OFF AND THE VEHICLE NOT TO COMPLETELY FILL UP. NLM

WHENEVER THE VEHICLE IS ATTACHED TO TRAILER THE REAR WHEEL WOULD VIBRATE AND SHAKE. DEALER/MANUFACTURER NOTIFIED AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THEY ARE AWARE AND NOTHING CAN BE DONE UNTIL THEY FOUND THE PROBLEM. MEANTIME, CONSUMER IS UNABLE TO USE VEHICLE FOR THE PURPOSE FOR WHICH HE IS PAYING FOR. CAN NHTSA HELP IN THIS MATTER. *AK

WHILE DRIVING PASSENGER'S SIDE TORSION BAR COLLASPED. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK