1998 Ford Expedition complaints

CONSUMER IS CONCERNED BECAUSE THE CHILD PULLED GEAR SHIFT AND VEHICLE STARTED ROLLING BACK. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK *YD

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY LIGHT CAN'T SEE VEHICLE IN REAR OUT OF SIDE MIRRORS. CAN ONLY SEE INSIDE OF MIRROR. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

THE TRUCK BEGAN TO PULL TO THE RIGHT, THEN THE TIE ROD BROKE FROM THE WHEEL.*AK

WHILE AT IDLE THE #3 SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER STRIPPING THE THREADS. THE REPAIR FACILITY ESTIMATES $2000 TO REPAIR. THIS IS EXACTLY LIKE ODI #743868. THERE IS A DEFECT IN THE HEADS. THIS ENGINE WAS REPLACED TWICE AT ABOUT 30,000 MILES BECAUSE OF LEAKS IN THE HEADGASKET. THE CURRENT ENGINE ONLY HAS 34000 MILES. WHEN THE SPAKPLUG BLEW OUT IT SPEWED GAS OVER THE ENGINE CREATING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A NOISE UNDER THE TRUCK AS IF VEHICLE RAN OVER SOMETHING. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP, MECHANIC STATED IT WAS SWAY BAR LINK THAT BROKE OFF. *AK CHECK ENGINE LIGHT IS ILLUMINATED; DEALER FOUND HEGO SENSORS WERE NOT RESPONDING; BANK 1 AND 2 HEGO SENSORS WERE REPLACED. *TT

WHILE PARKED LEFT FRONT TORSION BAR SNAPPED. THIS ITEM NOT COVERED UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY.*AK

STABILIZER BAR BROKE WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE AT ABOUT 35-40 MPH.*AK

HEAD GASKETS ARE LEAKING COOLANT ONTO THE GROUND. A RECALL HAS BEEN ISSUED ON VEHICLE'S MAKE AND MODEL; HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED DUE TO VIN. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD ROCK AT ANY SPEED DUE TO STABILIZER BAR BOLTS MISSING, AND ALLOWING BAR TO HANG FROM VEHICLE. MECHANIC HAD BOLTS REPLACED. THIS PROBLEM ALSO CAUSED TIRES TO WEAR UNEVEN. *AK

WHILE BACKING OUT CONSUMER HEARD A DRAGGING SOUND, TIE ROD END BROKE. *AK

SWAY BAR LINKS BROKEN. VEHICLE DIFFICULT TO CONTROL, ESPECIALLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND IN STRONG WINDS. THIS VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN OFF-ROAD, NOR HAS IT BEEN SUBJECTED TO ANY UNUSUAL IMPACTS. THERE ARE OTHER SIMILAR INCIDENT REPORTS ON THIS SITE, AND MANY REPORTS OF THE SAME PROBLEM ON WEB FORUMS ON THE INTERNET. GIVEN MILEAGE AND USE, THIS DOES NOT SEEM LIKE A NORMAL FAILURE, AND THE NUMBER OF INCIDENTS SEEMS TO BE GROWING. *AK

DEALERSHIP SAYS OIL LEAK DUE TO ENGINE BLOCK BEING MIS-CAST. DEALERSHIP RECOMMENDS NEW ENGINE TO FIX THE PROBLEM. HEADS COULD BE REPLACED BUT PROBLEM WOULD REOCCUR AGAIN. THIS PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN MANY ENGINES AND FORD IS AWARE OF THIS BUT IS OFFERING NO HELP WITH THE COST OF REPLACEMENT OR RECALL ON THE ENGINE TO ANYONE BUT THOSE WHO HAVE FORD EXTENDED WARRANTIES. THIS IS THE ORIGINAL ENGINE THAT WAS PUT IN THE TRUCK. THE DEFECT HAS ALWAYS BEEN THERE AND IS NOT SOMETHING THAT HAS OCCURRED OVER TIME. COST OF NEW ENGINE APPROXIMATELY $4,500.*AK

WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE IT WOULD SHUT OFF AND COULD NOT BE RESTARTED, THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER BUT THE PROBLEM COULD NOT BE FOUND. NLM

CONSUMER STATES THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD ENGAGE IT SELF EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE CLOSE SHUT, DEALER NOTIFED. NLM *YH

FRONT SWAY BAR LINK ON LEFT SIDE OF VEHICLE BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER WAS NOT WILLING TO DO ANYTHING.*AK

WHILE DRIVING, CONSUMER STATES THAT THE VEHICLE BEGAN DRIFTING, CONSUMER THEN MADE A CORRECTION AND LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, ONE PERSON WAS INJURED IN THE ACCIDENT, SHORTLY AFTER THE ACCIDENT THE DEALER FOUND SOME ALIGNMENT PROBLEMS. *SLC

REAR WIPER HAS NEVER PERFORMED AS EXPECTED, IT HAS BEEN REPLACED ONCE AND REPAIRED TWICE. IT DOESNT WORK AT ALL CURRENTLY. *AK

I CALLED FORD CONSUMER RELATIONS AND THEY PLAYED DUMB LIKE THEY HAVE NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM. I WAS STEAMED. AT LEAST ADMIT YOU HAVE A PROBLEM I TOLD THEM. AFTER FIRST TALKING TO SOME LACKIE, I GOT A "SUPERVISOR" WHO WAS VERY ARROGANT. HE TRIED TO BLAME IT ON A LACK OF "FORD CERTIFIED" MAINTENANCE. IF THEY WOULD HAVE JUST ADMITTED THE PROBLEM AND CHARGED ME COST FOR THE REPLACEMENT INSTEAD OF MAKING EVEN MORE MONEY ON THEIR OWN DESIGN FLAW, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HAPPY. THEY EVEN CHARGED ME $30 TO DIAGNOSE THE PROBLEM! I MENTIONED THE TSB, BUT AGAIN, HE PLAYED DUMB AND SAID HE WOULD HAVE TO LOOK INTO IT. *AK

I UNDERSTAND THIS PROBLEM IS UNDER INVESTIGATION AS OF SEPT. 2001. AS STATED 14 INCIDENTS REPORTED. I HAVE A VERY HARD TIME BELIEVING THAT I AM NUMBER 15. THIS IS LUDICROUS. THIS IS A FORD DEFECT, JUST LIKE THE EXPLORER AND SHOULD BE IMMEDIATELY RECALLED. I WAS EXTREMELY LUCKY, AS IT SEEMS THE OTHERS WERE ALSO. I GUESS THE NHTSA ONLY REALLY CARES IF THERE ARE FATALITIES INVOLVED. PEOPLE SAVING PEOPLE, WHO ARE THEY KIDDING. THEY PROBABLY HAVE THE FORD MOTOR CO. IN THEIR POCKETS. PLEASE NOTE THAT WE LEASED THIS VEHICLE BRAND NEW AND JUST RECENTLY PURCHASED IT.*AK

VEHICLE WOULD PULL TO THE RIGHT. CONTACTED DEALER, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT ALIGNMENT MIGHT BE OFF. PROBLEM WAS DUE TO BREAKING OF LINKS ON STABLIZER BAR.*AK

CONSUMER STATED THE SWAY BAR LINKS FAILED ON HIS VEHICLE. *JG

WHILE KEY WAS IN IGNITION, BUT ENGINE WAS NOT RUNNING, A CHILD KNOCKED GEAR SHIFT LEVER OUT OF THE PARK GEAR WHICH ALLOWED VEHICLE TO START ROLLING IN REVERSE. VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS APPROXIMATELY 30 FEET, AND THEN STARTED MOVING FORWARD FOR AN APPROXIMATE DISTANCE OF 150 FEET. VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A TREE, CAUSING BOTH FRONTAL AIR BAGS TO DEPLOY FROM WHICH CHILD SUSTAINED MINOR INJURIES. DEALERSHIP HAS NOT EXAMINED VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

REAR WIPER MOTOR (RWM) HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN 36K MILES, 39 MOS FROM PURCHASE AS NEW. PURCHASED TRUCK ON 9/12/98; RWM REPLACEMENT #1 ON 6/3/99 AT 8530 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #2 ON 9/25/99 AT 11965 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #3 ON 7/13/00 AT 20413 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #4 ON 12/12/01 AT 35419 MI. WHY HAS THIS COMPONENT FAILED SO OFTEN? DEFECTIVE DESIGN? DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS? IMPROPER INSTALLATION? ALSO SEE RWM FAILURE COMPLAINTS MADE BY OTHER CONSUMERS TO NHTSA. PLEASE REFER TO THOSE ODI #'S: 540834; 608809; 608715; 607562; 609271; 609531; 544197. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF RWM FAILURE. CONSIDER HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION NEEDED. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS TO HAVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CORRECT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILURE PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD POP IN VEHCILE, AND THEN VEHICLE STARTED TO SHAKE. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO THE DEALER, AND DEALER NOTED THAT HEAD GASKET HAD BLOWEN OUT. *AK

SWAY BAR CONNECTORS WERE BROKEN ON BOTH SIDES. *AK

FRONT STABILIZER BAR FELL AND BOLTS FELL OFF. DEALER HAD TO REPLACE STABILIZER BAR LINK KIT.*AK

FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARM SHEARED OFF. CONSUMER NOTICED A RATTLE. THIS HOOKS SWAY BAR TO LOWER CONTROL ARM. CONTACTED DEALER WHO STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. FORD STATED WARRANTY EXPIRED.*AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE OVERDRIVE SWITCH FOR MY VEHICLE IS LOCATED AT THE END OF THE SHIFTING LEVER, WHICH IS LOCATED ON THE STEERING COLUMN. THE WIRING FOR THE OD SWITCH RUNS THROUGH THE SHIFTING LEVER AND EXITS AT THE BASE OF THE STEERING COLUMN, THEN DOWN INTO SOME WIRING HARNESSES. THE STEERING COLUMN IS COVERED BY A PLASTIC HOUSING. THIS PLASTIC HOUSING HAS WORN THROUGH THIS WIRE, WHICH HAS CAUSED THE OD SYSTEM TO SWITCH ON AND OFF WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN OPERATION. THIS HAS CREATED A DANGEROUS SITUATION, ESPECIALLY WHEN OPERATING VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY. I HAVE ENCOUNTERED PROBLEMS WHEN PASSING VEHICLES ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE OD SYSTEM FAILS BECAUSE OF THIS SHORT IN THE WIRE SYSTEM. IN MY OPINION, THIS IS A DESIGN DEFECT. THERE'S NO CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE PLASTIC HOUSING AND THE WIRE THAT EXITS THE SHIFTING LEVER. I BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY BECAUSE THE WARRANTY PERIOD IS OVER. THEY ESTIMATED THE REPAIRS AT $300. I ALSO NOTIFIED FORD AT (800) 392-3673 AND THEY REFUSED TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY.*AK

VEHICLE WAS GOING 55MPH ON A STARIGHT LINE WITH NO WHERE TO PULL OVER WHEN GAS PEDAL GOT STUCK. CONSUMER PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL TO STOP IT. CRUISE CONTROL WAS NOT ENGAGED. *AK

DON'T KNOW WHEN THE STABILIZER BARS ACTUALLY SNAPPED, HAVE BEEN HAVING SHAKING PROBLEMS FOR MONTHS. HAD READ A NEWS ARTICLE THAT THE NHTSA WAS INVESTIGATING OTHER FORD EXPEDITION STABILIZER BAR PROBLEMS. FELT YOU SHOULD KNOW OF THIS FAILURE IN SUSPENSION FOR YOUR RECORDS AND HOPEFULLY FOR A FUTURE FORD RECALL. *AK

CLAMP ON HEATER HOSE IS NOT STRONG AND IT BROKE, CAUSING FLUIDS TO LEAK INTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND IT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE ADD VIN #. *AK

HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM FRONT END OF VEHICLE AFTER STRAIGHTENING OUT FROM A RIGHT HAND TURN. INVESTIGATED AND FOUND THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR HAD A BROKEN BOLT ON THE RIGHT END LINK. COULD POSSIBLY BE A HAZARD IF SWERVING AT HIGH SPEEDS.*AK

EARLIER IN THE MONTH LEFT SIDE OF FRONT STABILIZER BROKE WHILE CONSUMER WAS DRIVING, AND RECENTLY RIGHT SIDE OF STABILIZER BAR BROKE. CONTACTED DEALER. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *AK

ABS WARNING LIGHT ON INSTRUMENT PANEL CAME ON AND STAYED ILLUMINATED UPON STARTING UP OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP EXAMINED VEHICLE, AND DETERMINED ABS CONTROL MODULE HAD FAILED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT CONSUMER'S EXPENSE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION / DOCUMENTATION. *AK

THE ENGINE CONSISTENTLY CUTS OUT WHEN PLACING THE TRANSMISSION INTO REVERSE. ITS BEEN BACK TWICE, BUT NO TROUBLE FOUND. IT HAPPENS WHEN IN TRAFFIC AND HAS NEARLY CAUSED REAR END COLLISIONS. NO PARTICULAR ACTION CAUSES THIS, JUST COME TO A STOP AND PUT IT IN REVERSE.*AK

SIDE MIRRORS DETERIORATION .HARD TO LOOK FOR TRAFFIC.UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

I THINK THAT FORD SHOULD PAY FOR THE COST OF REPLACING STABILIZER BAR LINKS,SINCE NO OTHER VEHICLE THAT I KNOW OF HAS HAD THIS PROBLEM. I WOULD THINK THAT IF FORD CHECKED THEIR REPAIR RECORD DATABASE THEY OR YOU WOULD FIND THAT A LOT OF THESE PARTS HAVE BEEN REPLACED BUT NEVER REPORTED TO YOU PEOPLE.*AK

HOW CAN THEY PUT A PLASTIC PIN TO HOLD STABILIZER BAR?*AK

WHEN VEHICLE IS PARKED DOWN HILL AFTER STARTING AND LETTING THE VEHICLE WARM UP ENGINE COMPLETELY SHUTSDOWN, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WHILE DRIVING 30-35 MPH AND MAKING LEFT TURN, VEHICLE FELT LIKE IT WAS GOING TO FLIP OVER. THIS HAPPENED AGAIN AT 20 MPH WHILE TURNING RIGHT. DEALER TOWED VEHICLE AND WAS CHECKING VEHICLE AT THIS TIME.*AK CONSUMER STATED THE DEALER REPLACED ALL THE TIRES.*SLC

DURING INSPECTING OF VEHICLE, NOTICED THAT RIGHT STABILIZER BAR LINK WAS BROKEN, VEHICLE TAKEN TO INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP. DEALER/MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. *AK *YH

CAUSED LOSS OF CONTROLL OF SUV. *AK

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD WAS HAVING WITH FUEL PUMP. CONSUMER STATED THAT 56000 MILES LATER PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FONT WIPER HAVE QUIT WORKING AND HAVE BEEN FIXED ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITH NEW SWITCHES, THE REAR WIPERS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND HAS HAD 3 MOTORS REPLACED, THE REAR WIPER IS CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE, THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

COST FOR REPAIR $366.83 EXCLUDING TAX. NO SAFETY DEFEC TLISTED. *AK

NO SUMMARY LISTED FOR ABOVE VEHICLE. *AK

THE BLACK BACKING INSIDE THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE MELTING EXPOSING ALL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE MIRROR. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THA IT IS CAUSED BY THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS IN THE MIRROR. MY TRUCK HAS THE DOUBLE BAND LIGHTS AND THEY NEED TO BE SINGLE BAND.

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A NEWS ARTICLE I SAW REGARDING NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPEDITIONS, IN PARTICULAR FAILURES OF THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS. I AM CREATING THIS DEFECT REPORT BECAUSE I BELIEVE MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION MAY ALSO SUFFER FROM A DEFECT WITH THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK. THE STABILIZER BAR CONNECTS THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARMS AND IS SUPPOSED TO HELP IN CONTROLLING THE PITCH OF THE VEHICLE IN TURNS. WHEN DRIVING, IF I DRIVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST OF IMPERFECTIONS IN A PAVED ROAD, THE FRONT WHEELS START TO VIBRATE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TO MAKE THE WHEELS RIDE CORRECTLY. ALSO WHEN EXITING OFF A RAMP FROM A HIGHWAY (MEANING A VERY GRADUALLY RIGHT EXIT, NOT A SHARP RIGHT TURN), THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEELS AGAIN SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START TO VIBRATE. LIKEWISE, WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEEL SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START VIBRATING. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A MATTER OF GETTING MY 'ALIGNMENT FIXED.' PLEASE NOTE: I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA. THIS BEHAVIOR STARTED ABOUT APRIL 2001. THIS HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS FORD EXPEDITION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE, YET I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE MODE O