1997 Ford Expedition complaints

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

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

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

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

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

WHEN I TAKE OFF THE GAS IS STICKY AND TAKES ALOT TO GET IT GOING, WHEN TURNING FROM STOP MY REAR END VIBRATES LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. AREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY THE DEALER SHIP I GOT THE CAR FROM. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CLUNKS WHEN ROLLING DOWN, MOTOR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN COLD. I JUST DON'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS WHEN YOU PAY ALOT OF MONEY FOR A NICE CAR.*AK

THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO HONOR THE RECALL FOR THE STEERING ASSEMBLY 03 V 196 000. *JB

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

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

THE VEHICLE EMITS A RUBBING NOISE WHILE STEERING. *NLM

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

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

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT.*JB

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

TORSION BAR

WHILE DRIVING THE SWAY BAR BROKE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO PULL TO THE RIGHT. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION. PH

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

DEFECTIVE STABILIZER BAR, IT COULD BREAK. *AK

CONSUMER STATED THE FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO SWERVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*JB

REPLACED FRONT SWAY BAR AND STABILIZER. FRONT END SQUEALS WHEN HOLDING STEERING WHEEL. *AK

WHILE DRIVING, SPEEDOMETER STAYED AT ZERO. CONSUMER STATES ALL THE CONSOLE LIGHTS STARTED TO FLASH ON AND OFF. THE NEXT DAY VEHICLE WOULD NOT START TOOK TO DEALER. DEALER STATES' THERE A CRACK IN FRONT WINDOW THAT ALLOWED WATER GO INTO FUSE BOX AND SHORT CIRCUIT WIRES. RESULTING IN SPEEDOMETER BEING INOPERATIVE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOCKS IN VEHICLE ARE DEFECTED SAYS DEALER. CONSUMER STATES' THE ONLY WAY THE REAR PASSENGER CAN EXIT VEHICLE IS TO STICK HAND OUT OF THE WINDOW AND UNLOCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

COLD ENGINE KNOCK CONTINUES AFTER TEN MINUTE WARM UP AND TEN MINUTE DRIVE TIME. CONTACTED FORD, NO HELP. DT

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

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH STEERING ASSEMBLY ALSO STATED THAT WHILE HE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE STEERING ASSEMBLY BROKE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND STATED THAT THE STEERING ASSEMBLY TEAR OFF. CONSUMER ALSO STATED THAT HIS HORN, THE AIR BAG, CRUISE CONTROL AND THE AIR BAG ON THE PANEL IS ON. TS

I HAVE A VERY NICE LETTER FOR YOU, BUT HOW DO I ATTACH IT. THERE ISN'T ENOUGH SPACE HERE! *PH *JB **DIMSII IVOQ ENTRY POSTED AFTER 12/12/02 CUT OVER TO ARTEMIS**769768

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

WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, BRAKE LINE CRACKED AND STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. IT WAS HARD TO STOP VEHICLE. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT THE FLUID SPRAYED INTO THE CYLINDER, CONSUMER HAD TO REPLACE SPARK PLUGS AND WIRES. *SLC

WHILE DRIVING, VEHICLE WILL BOUNCE. CONTACTED DEALER. THIS WAS A RESULT OF THE TIE ROD HAVING TOO MUCH PLAY. *AK *SCC

DURING A VEHICLE STATE INSPECTION CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT LOWER BALL JOINT HAD WORN OUT.*AK

WHILE TRAVELING ABOUT 35MPH ON HIGHWAY RIGHT FRONT STEERING ROD FELL OFF UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WILL JUMP OUT OF GEAR. PUT VEHICLE IN PARK, UNABLE TO GET IT OUT OF PARK ,AND WOULDN'T START.*AK

BOTH BOLTS ON SWAY BAR SUPPORT BRACKET WERE STRIPPED. MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

DOOR AJAR AND OVERHEAD LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES AFTER VEHICLE HAS STARTED WITHOUT ANY DOORS BEING OPENED.*AK THE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED ALL THE TIME AND CONSUMERS DAUGHTER NEARLY FELL OUT OF THE CAR WHEN THE DOOR WASN'T SHUT. THE LIGHT WAS IGNORED BECAUSE IT IS ON ALL THE TIME. *JG

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT IN GEAR, DOOR SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, BUT IT DOESN'T. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. *JG

CHILD PROTECTION SAFETY LOCK ON THE DOOR WOULD SLIP DOWN INSIDE, AFTER THE DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED SEVERAL TIMES A DAY. THIS WOULD CAUSE THE PASSENGER IN THE REAR NOT TO BE ABLE TO EXIT UNLESS THE DOOR WAS OPENED FROM THE OUTSIDE. DEALERSHIP INFORMED OWNERS THAT NOTHING COULD BE DONE.*AKJLG

PE 01 022/FRONT STABILIZER LINK: WHILE GETTING AN ALIGNMENT, TECHNICIAN INFORMED CONSUMER THAT RIGHT FRONT STABILIZER BAR WAS BROKEN. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED AND THE PARTS WERE AVAILABLE FOR ANALYSIS. *AK *SLC

DRIVING WITH FAMILY IN CAR ,DOING 35 MPH WHEN I LOST TOTAL CONTROL OF THE STEERING.YOU COULD SPIN THE STEERING WHEEL COMPLETELY AROUND WITH NO CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE WHAT SO EVER. I WAS ABLE TO GRADUALLY STOP THE CAR , BUT IT STILL ROLL UP A CURB TO A COMPLETE STOP. NO ONE WAS HURT,I HAD TO HAVE IT TOWED IN TO THE LOCAL DEALER. DEALER REPORTED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN HAD SLIPPED OUT OF THE GEAR BOX ,THUS STRIPPING THE GEAR ITSELF. I ASK THE DEALER IF IT SHOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRENTY ,HE SAID IT SHOULDN'T BE.I SENT A LETTER TO FORD ,THEY SAID IF THE DEALER DOESN'T THINK IT SHOULD BE COVERED ,THAN IT SHOULDN'T BE COVERED. I FEEL THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE ,WHAT IF MY WIFE WERE DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY LIKE SHE DOES EVERY DAY TO WORK OR IF MY SON WERE DRIVING IT ,HE IS A NEW DRIVER.I JUST GLAD NO ONE WAS HURT. FORD DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.COULD YOU PLEASE HELP.*AK

TIE ROD END SEPARATED AT THE KNUCKLE, CAUSING VIBRATION AND LEFT FRONT TIRE AND WHEEL TURNING IN AND MAKING THE VEHICLE UNDRIVEABLE. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE STEERING WHEEL VIBRATES WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED SEVERAL TIMES, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. *SLC

FOUND STABILIZER BAR LINK MISSING ON RIGHT FRONT. UNKNOWN AS TO WHEN OR HOW IT FAILED EXCEPT THAT FRONT STARTED PULLING TO THE RIGHT CONTINUOUSLY SEVERAL MONTHS AGO.*AK

AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN OFF A MAJOR PARKWAY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY NY, WHERE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, I MADE A RIGHT TURN AT EXIT . AFTER PROCEEDING 25 FEET, A HORRIFIC NOISE WAS HEARD, THE CAR LOST STEERING ABILITY AND SHOOK AND BUCKED WILDLY. HIT A TREE ON ROADSIDE AND CAME TO REST. FOUND THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND THE LEFT WHEEL HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. THE INCIDENT WOULD HAVE KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAD IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. PRIOR TO THIS, LAST YEAR, BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS FRACTURED, ALSO RESULTING IN A NEAR CRASH SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. IT IS A DEATH MACHINE ON WHEELS!!!!*AK

CONSUMER HAS REPLACED ROTORS 7 TIMES SINCE PURCHASE OF VEHICLE, THE DEALER CONTINUES TO EVADE THE PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE ROTORS EVERY 6 TO 8 THOUSAND MILES. SEVERE VIBRATION OCCURS WHEN BRAKING AT SPEEDS FROM 60 MPH DOWN TO 50 MPH. *AK THE DEALER CAN NOT FIND A REMEDY FOR THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO STATES THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE SUSPENSION. *SLC

CONSUMER STATES THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON REAR DOORS OF VEHICLE LOCKS BY THEMSELVES WHERE NO ONE GET OUT. DEALER CONTACTED PLEASE ADD VIN.*JB

I WAS DRIVING WHEN MY SPARE TIRE FELL OFF AND I FEEL THAT THE MATTER COULD HAVE BEEN MUCH WORSE IF I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN IT HAPPEND. I ALSO HAVE A 9 MONTH OLD BABY THAT WAS IN THE TRUCK WHEN IT HAPPENED. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN NOTHING BUT PROBLEMS FOR US AND IT SEEMS LIKE IT JUST KEEPS GETTING WORSE.*AK

AROUND 60 MPH VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT'S SHIFTING/ JERKS, THEN STALLS. DEALER CANNOT FIND PROBLEM, STATED THAT WATER WAS GETTING IN THE ENGINE. *AK

VEHICLE WILL START ON ITS OWN, WITHOUT KEY BEING IN IGNITION. CONSUMER HAS DISCONNECTED BATTERY. VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY DEALERSHIP.*AK

INNER TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. FIVE MONTH AGO, OUT TIE ROD HAD TO BE REPLACED. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO NO GREASE FITTING. DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. FEEL FREE TO PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

LEFT AND RIGHT TIE RODS BROKE OFF WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND CONSUMER COULD NOT CONTROL THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER FIXED THE PROBLEM.*AKBOTH TIE RODS BROKE OFF BETWEEN 75 AND 85 K MILES. VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN OFF RAOD OR IN AN ACCIDENT, THERE WAS NO INDICATION OF FAILURE PRIOR TO BOTH INCIDENTS. *JG