1998 Ford Expedition complaints

GAS CAP WOULD NOT CLOSE/LOCK CAUSING THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT TO COME ON. *YC

CD CHANGER FAILED. YH

REAR WINDOW WIPER INOPERABLE. YH

TIRES (255/70 R16 GOODYEAR) FAILED. YH

LUG NUTS FAILED.

WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER FAILED. YH

POSSIBLE SUSPENSION FAILED CAUSED VEHICLE TO VIBRATE. YH

LEFT FRONT SHOCK ABSORBER AND STRUT FAILED. YH

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

GAS CAP FAILED. YH

ABS SENSOR FAILED CAUSING THE ABS LIGHT TO ILLUMINATE. NLM

ALL WHEEL BOLTS FAILED. NLM

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FAILED. NLM

VEHICLE ELECTRONICS SYSTEM FAILED TO THE 4-WHEEL DRIVE TRANSMISSION UNIT. YH

VEHICLE REQUIRES WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCING.

A/C COIL BACTERIA GROWTH.YH

AIR COMPRESSOR FOR SUSPENSION FAILED. YH

TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER BECAUSE ELECTRONIC FOUR WHEEL DRIVE HIGH SYSTEM WHOULD RANDOMLY JUST DISENGAGE WHILE DRIVING. CONTINUES TO DO SO TODAY, AND DEALER SAYS FORD IS AWARE OF THIS PROBLEM AND MIGHT BE WORKING ON A FIX FOR THIS MODEL YEAR. SUPPOSEDLY A PROBLEM FOR MANY PEOPLE. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WITH NO PRIOR SUSPENSION ABNORMALITIES. *AK

TORSION BAR FRACTURE CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LIMP FORWARD AND TO THE LEFT. (APPROX. 6 INCH DROP). *AK

TWO FRONT TORSION BARS FAILED BY SHEARING, APPROXIMATELY 2" FORWARD OF THE REAR FRAME SOCKET MOUNTING. BARS FAILED AT DIFFERENT TIMES, ONE WEEK APART. LEFT SIDE FAILED FIRST. DEALER FIRST ADVISED THAT VEHICLE COULD BE DRIVEN WITH CARE, LATER ADVISED THAT VEHICLE SHOULD NOT BE DRIVEN. BROKEN RH SIDE TORSION BAR OBSERVED DURING REPLACEMENT OF LH SIDE TORSION BAR. VEHICLE NOW OUT OF SERVICE 11 DAYS CONTINUOUSLY, DEALER STILL HAS NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO REPLACE LH SIDE TORSION BAR.

SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING: AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE PULLED RIGHT. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED A PROBLEM I CALL STEERING BURST OR HANG. WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONTINUED PRESSURE COULD ONLY BE STOPED BY JERKING HARD, BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ANOTHER ISSUE EXPERIENCED IS WHEN ACCELERATING HARD FROM A STOP OR PASSING ETC. THE VEHICLE MOVES TO THE RIGHT OF THE LANE OF TRAVEL. THIS OCCURS IN A SURPRISINGLY QUICK AND UNUSUAL MANNER AS IF THE VEHICLE WHERE DOG TRACKING TO THE RIGHT.?. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED BY THE DEARLER 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST WEAK OF OWNERSHIP. ALSO THE FRAME AND THE TIRES WERE CHECKED. AFTER THE FORTH ALIGNMENT I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WONDERING LEFT & RIGHT ON THE ROAD. SUSPECTING SOMTHING FISHY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC THER POINTED OUT VISUALLY THE CASTER AND CAMBER ADJUSTMENT SLOTS AND HOW THEY WERE MAXED OUT. THE CASTER AND CAMBER HAD BEEN INTENTIONALLY SET TO 3 DEGREES AND 6 DEGREES OUT OF MANUFACTORS SPECIFICATIONS SO AS TO PULL LEFT. LEFT SO AS TO BURY THE PULL RIGHT PROBLEM. THIS STEERING SYSTEM IS EITHER MAL-ENGINEERED, MAL-ASSEMBLED OR HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS. A PROBLEM WHICH THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER CAN RESOLVE OR DON'T WANT TO RESOLVE IT. FORD HAD TWO OF THIER REPS LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THEY STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATES AS PER DESIGN. THE LAST TIME THEY (FORD & DEALER) HAD

PROBLEM WAS FIXED BY DEALER WITH NO QUESTIONS ASKED. WHILE AT DEALERSHIP WAS TOLD THAT 2-F150 CAME IN WITH SAME PROBLEM, WHETHER THAT WAS TRUE I DO NOT KNOW

ON 1/11/99 I WENT INTO OUR GARAGE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT LEFT OF OUR EXPEDITION WAS NOTICEBLY LOWER THAN NORMAL. I LOOKED UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SAW A BAR BROKEN AND HANGING THERE.

RUNNING BOARDS ON EARLY 1998 EXPEDITIONS DO NOT EXTEND OUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE SAFE. ESPECIALLY IN ICY/SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE NARROW AREA TO PLACE YOUR FEET CAN CAUSE YOU TO SLIP OFF. THE NEWER 1998 EXPEDITIONS APPEAR TO HAVE THE RUNNING BOARDS MOVED OUT APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES.

WHILE DRIVING IN SNOW AND SLEET THE WINDSHIELD COULD NOT BE CLEARED. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS 20 DEGREES, THE DEFROSTER WAS SET TO MAXIMUM SPEED AND TEMPERATURE. ICE FORMED ON THE WINDSHIELD VERY QUICKLY, AND THE WIPERS AND DEFROSTER WERE TOTALLY INE

DEALER HAD TO TIGHTEN AND REGLUE THE JAM NUT TO THE FRONT LEFT TIE ROD END AND ADJUST THE SLEEVE, WHICH MAY CAUSE LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL. *AK.ET.

I HAVE HAD THE DRIVE TRAIN FROM THE TRANSMISSION BACK REPLACED AND STILL HAVE A VIBRATION THRUOUGHOUT THE VEHICLE. ALONG WITH THIS IT IS DIFFICULT TO STAY IN YOUR LANE WHILE DRIVING. THE FIX FROM FORD WAS TO HANG A TWENTY OR SO POUND WIEGHT OFF THE DIFFERENTIAL. THROUGH THE TSB ON THE VEICHLE PRINT OUT I WAS ALSO INFORMED TO WATCH OUT FOR THE TIRES SPINNING ON THE WHEEL FORM 45 - 80 MPH (FORD TSB - SPECIAL SERVICE MESSAGE 11276 UNDER VIBRATIONS CONCERNS)

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WILL WORK INTERMITTENTLY, AT TIMES CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO HAVE VISIBILITY PROBLEMS. DEALER CAN'T DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JUNE CONCERNING THE LUGS:NUTS AND BOLTS. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO HAS NOT RECEIVED SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURER. RECALL NUMBER 98V095000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

TIE ROD BROKE CAUSING TIRE TO COLLASPE INWARD RESULTING IN DAMAGE AND LOSS OF CONTROL.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. DEALER HAS SEEN FOUR TIMES, AND REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, BUT STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE HESITATES WHICH MAY CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. BEEN TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND PUT A RECORDER TO HELP DETERMINE THE PROBLEM. DEALER CANNOT DETERMINE PROBLEM. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

FORD MOTOR COMPANY CONTACTED--THEY DENY LIABILITY--DEALER CONTACTED-IGNORED EYE WITNESS STATEMENT. TIRE SNAPPED OFF TIE ROD ASSEMBLY AND CAUSED VEHICLE TO GO OFF ROAD-- NO HELP FROM THE DEALERSHIP-- ACCIDENT OCCURED AS RESULT OF TIRE SNAPPING OFF THE TIE ROAD RIGHT AT THE LOCK NUT JOINT. THERE IS NO EVIDNECE OF STEEL BENDING. IT JUST SHATTERED.

CONSUMER COMPLAINED THAT MFR./DEALER NOT HONORING MFR. RECALL NOTICE #98S-14/ NHTSA #98V-095 000 CONCERNING LUGS: NUTS MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD, ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE. *AK

CONSUMER COMPLAINED OF DEALER / MANUFACTURER NOT HONORING RECALL NOTICE CONCERNING LUGS: NUTS. RECALL NOTICE INFOMED CONSUMER THAT A SECOND NOTICE WOULD BE SENT AS OF THIRD QUARTER. IT IS ALRESADY THE FOURTH QUARTER AND NO NOTICE WAS RECEIVED. DEALER IS UNABLE TO GET PARTS. *AK

MY WIFE AND I WERE HIT FROM A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE INTO OUR FORD EXPEDITON ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1998. ONE EYE WITNESS SAID THAT WE ROLLED OVER 2 1/2 TIMES AND SLID OVER 150 FT. UPSIDE DOWN. WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE. MOST OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONEL BELIEVED THAT WE WERE TO BE DEAD FROM THIS ACCIDENT. SINCE OUR ACCIDENT, WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS ROLLING DURING SIDE IMPACTS. JUST ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I SAW AN EXPEDITION UPSIDE DOWN. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE ACCIDENT. DURING OUR STAY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THE STATE PATROLMAN TOLD US THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPEDITIONS THAT HAD TURNED OVER DURING CRASHES. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT. IT IS MY CONCERN THAT YOU MAY USE MY REPORT THAT MAY ASSIST IN YOUR RESEARCH TO HELP SAVE OTHER LIVES.

LUG NUTS FELL OFF CAUSING WHEEL TO DETACH AND VEHICLE COLLISION.

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CABLE IS RUBBING AGAINST THE SUSPENSION THAT GOES UP AND DOWN IN THE BACK, WEARING A HOLE IN THE CABLE. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND IS NOT AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. *AK

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

AFTER MAKING A TURN THE WHEELS NEVER STRAIGHTENED UP. THEN THE WHEELS CAME OFF, AND THE VEHICLE HIT A BRICK EMBANKMENT. DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

HORN IS DIFFICULT TO HONK AND CAN ONLY BE ACTIVATED IN TWO SPOTS DUE TO DESIGN.

THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THE FAILURE OF THE TIRES. WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING A RIGHT TURN, THE TIRE FELL OFF OF THE VEHICLE, CAUSING THE CONSUMER TO RUN INTO A CONCRETE STRUCTURE. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

WHEN FUEL GAUGE READS AT 1/8TH OR LESS VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS WHILE TURNING LEFT.

RECALL PARTS NOT AVAILABLE FOR THE LUG NUTS.

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, FRONT AND REAR.

TURN SIGNALS FAILED.

THIS IS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM THAT OCCURS WHEN GOING AROUND A CURVE, THE TENSIONER ON THE WHEELS GIVES WAY, AND THE TRUCK WILL SWERVE ACROSS THE ROAD. *AK

THIS HAPPENS PERIODICALLY WHEN CONSUMER IS AT A STOP LIGHT THE TRUCK BEGINS TO ROAR AND PULL FORWARD WHILE FOOT IS ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. ALSO, THE RPM GOES OVER 7,OOO, HAVE TO PUT THE TRUCK IN NEUTRAL AND THE CUT THE TRUCK OFF, AND THEN CUT IT BACK ON.

LEFT FRONT CONTROL ARM SEPARATED FROM KNUCKLE CAUSING WHEEL TO COLLAPSE DUE TO FAILURE OF A NUT.