1997 Ford Expedition complaints

THERE WAS NO FORE-WARNING OF THIS BREAK IN SUSPENSION. WITHOUT A DOUBT IF I HAD NOT JUST GOTTEN OFF THE HIGHWAY MY SISTER AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN KILLED IN A ROLLOVER!!! THE DEALER WOULD NOT TAKE A COMPLAINT TO FORD AND GAVE ME A HARD TIME ABOUT FIXING IT SINCE I DID NOT PURCHASE THE CAR IN CONNECTICUT AT THEIR DEALERSHIP. I PAID IN CASH, THEY WOULD NOT USE MY WARRANTY. *AK

I NOTICED NHTSA NEWS RELEASE OF 9/4/01 REGARDING 1997 FORD EXPEDITION STABILIZER FAILURES AND I THOUGHT I WOULD SUBMIT MY FAILURE. BOTH FRONT STABILIZER LINKS WERE REPLACED BY DEALER, THE DAY BEFORE I BEGAN A 3000 MILE TRIP IN WINTER FROM MICHIGAN TO IDAHO AND BACK. DEALER SAID STABILIZER ARM BROKE. THEY REPLACED BOTH TO BE SAFE. MY COST WAS $104.52.*AK

I READ AN ARTICLE IN THE SALT LAKE TRIBUNE NEWSPAPER A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO ABOUT THE FAILURE OF THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR SUPPORTS. WHEN I GOT HOME TODAY, I LOOKED AT MINE AND NOTICED THAT BOTH THE FRONT BAR SUPPORTS ARE BROKEN AWAY FROM THE BAR. I DO NOT KNOW HOW LONG THIS HAS BEEN LIKE THIS, BUT I ASSUME THAT IT HAS BEEN AWHILE. I ALSO EXPECT THAT THE MANUFACTURER WILL REPLACE IT AT NO CHARGE SINCE THIS SEEMS TO BE A CANDIDATE FOR A RECALL.*AK

BOLTS IN STABALIZER BAR AND LOWER CONTROL ARM BROKE WHEN VEHICLE WENT OVER A POTHOLE AT 20MPH. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REPAIRED AT CONSUMERS EXPENSE BY AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC.*AK

LUGS: NUTS KEEP LOOSENING AND CAUSING WHEELS TO ALMOST FALL OFF. STUDS: LUGS: NUTS LOOSEN UP JUST BY DRIVING VEHICLE. THIS WILL BE THE SECOND TIME FOR THE SAME REPAIR.*AK

VEHICLE WAS EXAMINED BY THE DEALERSHIP FOR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND NOISES. DEALERS DETERMINED THAT PITMAN ARM AND STABILIZER BAR HAD CRACKED. REPAIRS HAVE YET TO BE MADE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK

STABILIZER BAR END LINKS WERE BROKEN IN HALF AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. IN ADDITION AT APPROX. 60,000 MILES DURING 2000 C.Y. ALL BALL JOINTS AND TIE ROD ENDS HAD FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT THE COST OF OVER $1600.00. THE "LUBE-FOR-LIFE" DESIGN FOR THESE COMPONENTS IS A FARCE. THEY WERE RUSTED AND WARN OUT AND CREATED AN UNSTABLE FRONT SUSPENSION AND STEERING SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE HAS SEEN NO OFF-ROAD DRIVING. *AK

AFTER READING THE NEWS ABOUT NHTSA INVESTIGATING STABALIZER BAR LINKS ON 1997-1998 FORD EXPEDITIONS I JACKED MINE UP AND FOUND THE PASSENGER SIDE LINK CONNECTOR COMPLETELY MISSING. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE FORD DEALER AND SHOWED THEM THE ARTICLE. THEY SAID THE VEHICLE IS NOT UNDER A RECALL AND I WOULD HAVE TO SCEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED AND PAY FOR IT MYSELF. I WENT TO THE PARTS DEPARTMENT AND BOUGHT THE REQUIRED PIECES FOR $53. NOTE THAT THESE ARE AN "UPGRADED" ITEM FROM THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT.*AK

HEAVY VIBRATION WHILE DRIVING AT SPEEDS OVER 55 MPH, VEHICLE PULLS TO THE LEFT STRONGLY EVEN AFTER ALIGNMENT SERVICE.*AK

BOLT ON FRONT END SWAY BAR DISENGAGED. *AK

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 HEARD FUNNY NOISE ON THE BOTTOM. PULLED OVER AND SAW THAT DRIVER'S SIDE STABLIZER BAR WAS GONE. VEHICLE SHOOK ALOT BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. CONSUMER HAS YET TO CONTACT FORD. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER FOR A ROUTINE CHECK. WHILE UP ON LIFT, CONSUMER NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE LINKS ON LEFT SIDE WAS BROKEN, AND OTHER SIDE WAS JUST HANGING DOWN. WHEN PUTTING ON BRAKES FRONT OF VEHICLE WOULD GO DOWN. THERE WAS AN OPEN INVESTIGATION BY NHTSA ON THIS PROBLEM. *AK THE FRONT STABLIZER BAR WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER, BUT THE CONSUMER WAS SEEKING REFUND BECAUSE THE PART WAS DEFECTIVE. *YH

STABLIZER LINKAGE WHICH WAS CONNECTED TO CONTROL ARM FELL DOWN. CONSUMER SAW LINKAGE HANGING DOWN UNDER CHASSIS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER REPLACED STABILIZER LINKAGE. *AK

WHEN MAKING LEFT OR RIGHT TURNS THERE IS A CLICKING TINGING NOISE LIKE METAL HITTING AGAINST SOMETHING UNDERNEATH VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOV EVEHICLE. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE REPLACING BRAKE PADS, NOTICED THE STABILIZER BARS ON BOTH SIDES WERE NOT ATTACHED TO THE FRAME ON TOP OF THE BARS. LINK BOLTS ON BOTH SIDES ARE GONE.VERY DANGEROUS. *AK

MY FRONT SUPENSION WAS MAKING BAD SQUEAKING NOISE BUT THEIR IS NO GREASE FITTING ON THE DRIVER SIDE SO THAT YOU CAN GREASE IT. SO I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO WILLOBY FORD AND THEY TOLD ME THAT THE SUPENSION ARM OR SOMETHING NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. I HAVEN'T HAD IT REPLACED YET. WOULD IT BE IN MY BEST INTREST TO WAIT AND SEE WHAT THE GOV'T FIND OUT FIRST?*AK

WHILE MAKING A LEFT TURN THE STEERING STARTED FEELING ODD AND I STARTED TO HEAR SOME NOISES COMING FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FORD REPAIR SHOP SAID THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK HAD FALLEN OFF SOMEHOW.*AK

EXPEDITION FAILED INSPECTION DUE TO BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS BROKEN. CHECKED WITH FORD AND THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON EXPEDITION FOR THIS PROBLEM.*AK

BOTH SWAY BAR END LINKS FAILED-- RIGHT IN 3/01 AND THE LEFT JUST FAILED IN 8/01. HANDLING GOES BAD WITH EXCESS FRONT BODY ROLL. DESIGN IS POOR WITH A SINGLE LONG BOLT THAT IS OVER STRESSED AND CORRODES, THEN FAILS. IT IS NOT EASY FOR THE AVERAGE CONSUMER TO EVEN DETECT THAT IT HAPPENED UNLESS YOU GET UNDER THE CAR AND LOOK.

DEALER REFUSED TO CORRECT RECALL 97V171000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CABLE ASSEMBLY. DEALER INSISTED THAT RECALL REPAIRS WERE ALRERADY DONE. CONSUMER STATED THAT PROBLEM MENTIONED IN RECALL WAS THE SAME THAT CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS EXPIERENCING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFOMATION.*AK

WHILE DRIVING AND WITHOUT WARNING STEERING GEAR BOX COMPLETELY MALFUNCTIONED, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SWAY OR PULL TO LEFT OR RIGHT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHILE DRIVING ATTEMPTED TO SLOW DOWN TO MAKE A TURN, AND FOUND OUT THAT VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE ANY BRAKES. TOOK AUTOMOBILE TO REPAIR SHOP, AND FOUND OUT THAT ABS UNIT WAS NOT PREFORMING.*AK CONSUMER STATES THERE WAS NEVER ANY KIND OF WARNING PRIOR OR AFTER INCIDENT. *SLC

VEHICKLES STUCK IN 4X4 LOW RANGE, WITH NO DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES SORED IN TH GEM MODULE. *AK

WHILE LEAVING A BALLGAME ON 7/8/01 - SPEED APPROX. 10-20 MPH WE HIT A HOLE IN THE ROAD AND THE DRIVERS SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED. LUCKILY THE SPEED WAS SLOW AND MY HUSBAND WHO WAS DRIVING ONLY SUSTAINED SOME PAINFUL BRUISING ON HIS ARM. WE CONTACTED THE FORD CONSUMER DEPARTMENT AND WERE TOLD IT HAD TO BE TAKEN TO A DEALER TO DETERMINE IF SOMETHING WAS DEFECTIVE. THEY DETERMINED SOME PARTS TO BE DEFECTIVE RESULTING IN SHORTS WHICH SUPPOSEDLY CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY BUT AFTER SEVERAL CALLS AND EMAILS WE WERE INFORMED BY FORD THAT THEY DO NOT COVER THESE TYPES OF SAFETY FAILURES. IF WE HAD BEEN DRIVING ON A FREEWAY OR HIGHWAY OR EVEN AT A FASTER SPEED WHEN THE AIRBAG DEPLOYED IT VERY WELL COULD HAVE RESULTED IN INJURY OR DEATH TO US OR OTHERS. BECAUSE NO ONE WAS SERIOUSLY HURT AND THERE WAS NO "ACCIDENT" AS A RESULT OF THE DEPLOYMENT FORD REPRESENTATIVES WERE UNINTERESTED IN ASSISTING IN CORRECTING THE EQUIPMENT FAILURE.*AK

THEY HAVE NOT FIX MY TRUCK AND I'M HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS CONTACT THEM I'M IN THE MILITARY AND DUE TO TRANSFER TO JAX, FL AND MY TRUCK STILL IS NOT FIX, THEY WANT ME TO HAVE A EXPERT LOOK AT THE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AND EXPERT SO THEY TOLD ME I HAVE 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DROP MY FILE. HELP. *AK

THE CABLE HOLDING THE SPARE TIRE SNAPPED AND THE TIRE FELL. THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING SLOWLY IN A PASTURE BUT I MAKE MANY TRIPS THRU CHICAGO ON THE INTERSTATE. I WONDER IF THIS IS A FLAWED DESIGN OR IF THERE IS SOMETHING I CAN DO TO INSURE THIS WON'T HAPPEN AGAIN IN TRAFFIC. I DON'T KNOW HOW TO FIND OUT IF THIS IS A FREQUENT OCCURRENCE.*AK

THE VEHICLE CAN'T BE DRIVE FORWARD OR REVERSE BECAUSE THE LEFT INNER TIE ROD END HAD FALLEN OFF, IPON EXAMINATION OF THE TIE ROD END THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT THERE WAS NO BOLT OR ANY OTHER MECHANISM TO HOLD THE TWO PARTS TOGETHER, THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN.

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS WINDSHEILD WASHERS AND WIPERS HAS FAILED 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE IS THE INABILITY TO ACTIVATE THE WASHER SYSTEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF THE WINDSHEILD BECOMES FOULED, I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT OR IF MY VISION WILL BE SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED.*AK

WHILE WIFE WAS DRIVING ON ROAD NOTICED SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OF VEHICLE. THEN, FOUND OUT THAT STEEL CABLE BROKE WITHOUT ANY SIGNS OF RUST.*AK

CONSUMER WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH SWAY BAR. SWAY BAR HAS BOLTS ON EACH SIDE BROKE. NOTHING WAS HOLDING SWAY BAR IN PLACE. CONTACTED DEALER, AND DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOUND THE FRONT END HIGH SPEED ANTI SWAY BAR LINKS WERE COMPLETELY MISSING. *SLC

WHEN MAKING RIGHT HAND TURNS VEHICLE INTERMITTENTLY ACTS LIKE BACK IS INDEPENDENT FROM FRONT. WHEN COMING TO A STOP, VEHICLE BUCKS AND DRAGS. DEALER INFORMED CONSUMER THAT MOTOR, REAR SWAY BAR LINK, FORWARD DRIVE SHAFT AND SPEED SENSOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

TIRE FAILURE, CAUSING IMMEDIATE DEFLATION WHILE TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEED. TIRES ROTATED AND SERVICED 3 DAYS BEFORE FAILURE. SUSPECT POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH TIRES. ALL FOUR TIRES SUBSEQUENTLY REPLACED AND STILL IN POSSESSION, IF NEEDED. *AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)

CONSUMER WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN SPARE TIRE WAS ROLLING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE UNDER THE VEHICLE HAD SNAPPED. *AK

REAR ENDED WHILE SITTNG STILL AND WAS HIT AT 45 MPH. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE RAN ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SHOVED MY BUMP[ER UNDER 3 INCHES. ALSO THE FRONT SEAT BROKE BACKWARD ON IMPACT THIS WAS SECOND TIME.

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND REMAINS ON. THIS CAUSES VEHICLE TO ACT AS IF IT'S GOING TO STALL OUT WHEN ITS IDLING TOO LONG AT STOP LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. HAS HAPPENED SO FAR 5 TIMES. HAD TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP 4 TIMES, EACH TIME MECHANIC REPLACED A COIL PACK. LIGHT WOULD GO OUT, BUT AFTER 2 WEEKS WOULD RETURN AGAIN. *AK *SLC

WHILE DRIVING FRONT DIFFERENTIAL CRANK CASE STARTED TO LEAK FLUID. WHEEL WELL WAS BEING COATED WITH FLUID. HAD CONTACTED MANUFACTURER AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT HE KNEW THE PROBLEM. HAD A FIX FOR PROBLEM, BUT NO RECALL ISSUED. *AK THE CRANKCASE BLEED VALVE WAS MOVED FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DIFFERNTIAL TO THE TOP. *SLC

FOIL BACKING OF MIRROR I PEELING, BUBBLING. THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE A REFLECTION FOR VIEWING. ALL MAKES FROM 1997-1999 FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE FLASHER BUILT IN THE MIRROR ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AND FORD ONLY REPLACES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

INTERMITTENTLY VEHICLE WILL STALL OUT AND DIE WHEN COMING TO A STOP DUE TO TRANSMISSION SENSOR. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN.*AK

THE LEFT REAR AND RIGHT FRONT TIRES EXPERIENCED TREAD SEPARATION (FIRESTONE WILDERNESS AT P265/70R17). NLM

CABLE THAT BINDS UP SPARE TIRE FAILS TO RELEASE SPARE TIRE FOR USE. DESIGN WAS VERY FLAWED.*AK CONSUMER STATES HE BOUGHT DESIGN FLAW TO THE ATTENTION OF FORD, THEY PULLED THE PART FROM THE PARTS BIN FOR THE 2001 EXPEDITION AND IT WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS CONSUMER'S VEHICLE.*JB

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT COMES ON AND BLINKS WHEN VEHICLE IS FIRST STARTED UP AND GOES ABOVE A CERTAIN MILEAGE. VEHICLE DOESN'T ACCELERATE AS BEFORE, IT FEELS SLUGGISH. FORD HAD NO SUGGESTIONS,AND THERE IS NO RECALL FOR PROBLEM.*AK *JB

CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING ABOUT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY AND NOTICED THAT REAR DRIVING SIDE WHEEL AND RIM CAME OFF. HE WAS ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED. DEALERSHIP MECHANIC ASKED CONSUMER IF A RECALL WAS DONE ON THIS VEHICLE. DEFECT STILL THERE.*AK

I'VE HAD TWO TIE ROD BREAK SINCE I'VE OWNED THIS VEHICLE. (I WASN'T SURE OF THE DATE, SO I MADE ONE UP ON THE QUESTIONAIRE. I CAN FIND OUT IF NEEDED. IT WAS IN 1999 BUT I DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DATE THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED)THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENED, WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED. WE WERE DRIVING AROUND 60MPH DOWN THE ROAD, WITH LOTS OF CURVES, WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR STARTED GOING OUT OF CONTROL. LIKE WHEN YOU GET A BLOWOUT. I'VE CONTACTED CUSTOMER SEVICE FOR FORD AND SHE WAS NO HELP. I'M GOING TO BRING THE PART THAT BROKE TO MY LOCAL FORD DEALER AND SEE WHAT HE CAN DO. ALTHOUGH WHEN I SPOKE TO HIM ON THE PHONE, HE TOLD ME THERE PROBABLY WOULD BE NOTHING THAT COULD BE DONE. I DON'T USE THIS VEHICLE HARSHLY AND DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE TYRODS ARE BREAKING. THAT PUTS ANYONE IN A LIFE-THREATENING POSITION AND I FEEL SOMETHING SHOULD BE DONE ABOUT THIS. THE FORD DEALER THAT I PUT ON THE QUESTIONAIRE MIGHT BE OUT OF BUSINESS NOW SO THE PHONE NUMBER AND ADDRESS MIGHT BE INCORRECT. MY LOCAL FORD DEALER IS COPPER COUNTRY FORD LOCATED IN HOUGHTON MI.

ODOMETER FAILED. *AK

VEHICLE IS DRIVEN ON DIRT ROAD 30%. CABLE FRAYS AND BREAKS NEAR GROMMET, ORIGINALLY AT 55,000 MILES AND AGAIN AT 75,000. TIRE SIZE WAS 245-75-R16.*AK

EXPERIENCED A LOSS OF POWER ASSIST AND STEERING WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH DUE TO FAILURE OF POWER STEERING PUMP. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

WHEN KEY IS BETWEEN OFF AND ON SHIFT LEVER CAN BE MOVED OUT OF PARK AND EMERGENCY BRAKE CANNOT STOP VEHICLE FROM ROLLING BACKWARDS. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

BOTH DOOR REARVIEW MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO BACKING PEELING OFF, MAKING MIRRORS USELESS. AT THIS TIME, BACKING WAS PEELING AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE THESE MIRRORS REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS.*AK *SLC