1998 Ford Expedition complaints

A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE RIGHT FRONT COLLAPSED ONTO THE GROUND. VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE MOVED. DRIVER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE FRONT SPRINGS TORSION BAR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

I ARRIVED AT HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE ~5:15PM. MY WIFE WALKED ON THE TREADMILL (WHICH IS IN THE GARAGE) FROM 7:15 ? 7:45PM AND DID NOT SMELL OR NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. AT 10:00 PM I LOOKED THROUGH GARAGE DOOR TO MAKE SURE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND GARAGE DOORS SHUT. I NOTICED A SMALL RED LIGHT BELOW THE TRUCK. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND IT WAS A FLAME. I CAME BACK IN THE HOUSE TOLD MY WIFE TO NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPT. I USED A HOSE AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO EXHAUST FLAME AS THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE IT MELTED THE GARAGE LIGHT LENS ABOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL DUE TO DAMAGE, SO I USED MY NEIGHBOR?S TRUCK TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE DEFECTIVE CRUISE SWITCH ACCORDING TO A FIRE INVESTIGATOR. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS OBVIOUS I CAN EMAIL PHOTOS (EXCEPT I DID NOT PHOTO DAMAGED WINDSHIELD). WE ALSO HAVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD ORIGINALLY THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 5 DAYS UNTIL THEY CONTACT ME, NOW THEY SAY IT COULD BE 10 DAYS. I ASKED THEM TO EXPEDITE, SINCE I AM CURRENTLY WITHOUT A VEHICLE. FORD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT TO REVIEW OR RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AK

WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL VEHICLE WOULD MAKE A NOISE. CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS BROKE.*AK

RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL FIRE. VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WHEN THE NEIGHBORS INFORMED CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK *TT

THE TRUCK WAS PARKED INSIDE OF A PARKING LOT AND IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. NO INJURIES REPORTED. VEHICLE WAS TOWED. *AK FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *TT

THE WINDOWS OF THE CONSUMER'S 1998 FORD EXPEDITION LEAKED DAMAGING THE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE. *NM *NM

THE CONSUMER'S 1998 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. *NM

ENGINE FAILURE. IN MY RESEARCH OF THE TYPE OF ENGINE IN MY VEHICLE, A 4.6L MADE IN THE ROMEO PLANT, HAVE FOUND THAT THERE HAS BEEN NUMEROUS PEOPLE THAT HAD THEIR MOTORS FAIL(BLOWN). I HAVE A FORD EXPEDITION 1998 WITH A 4.6L ENGINE AND THE 8TH DIGIT OF THE VIN # BEING A W FOR ROMEO PLANT. WHEN I CALLED IN EXCESS OF 20+ AUTO SALVAGE YARDS, I HAD GOTTEN THE SAME RESPONSE. THAT PARTICULAR ENGINE FROM THAT PARTICULAR PLANT WAS A PROBLEM. I WAS ALSO TOLD 1997 WAS THE SAME OCCURRENCE. UNFORTUNATELY, I OWE ALMOST $7000.00 ON THIS VEHICLE THAT I NOW CAN NOT DRIVE WITH OUT REPLACING OR REBUILDING THE ENGINE, WHICH WILL BE MORE THAN A COUPLE THOUSAND. I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY THESE MANY SALVAGE YARDS AND MY LOCAL FORD DEALER THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN ANTIFREEZE MAKES ITS WAY INTO THE OIL AND BURNS OUT THE MAIN BEARINGS. *JB

NHTSA CAMPAIGN 98V095000; FORD ISSUED A WHEEL LUG NUT RECALL. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL, BUT HAD SOME OF THE LUG NUTS COME OFF. THE VIN IS OUTSIDE THE REMEDY SCOPE. *NM

THE ENGINE SHUT OFF WHILE BEING DRIVE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ISC VALVE WAS DEFECTIVE. *JB

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT WHILE THE CONSUMER WAS AT WORK. THE COWORKER ALERTED THE CONSUMER THAT THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT, HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE CRUISE CONTROL NHTSA RECALL 05V017000. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, AND UPON ARRIVING NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON FIRE AND SMOLDERED OUT. *AK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. AAA TOWED VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRING BURNED, ALONG WITH FUSE AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *AK

AFTER PARKING IN THE DRIVEWAY, WENT TO A NEIGHBORS HOUSE, AND CONSUMER HEARD THE ALARM GOING OFF. RUSHED TO SEE WHAT WAS GOING ON . CONSUMER NOTICED THE VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE COMPLETELY CONSUMED THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE HOUSE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE FIRE INVESTIGATORS REPORT DETERMINED PART FAILURE IN THE ENGINE DEPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE RESIDENCE. LATER THAT EVENING, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. THE ENTIRE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED. THE CAUSE WAS UNDETERMINED. *AK

OUR 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WAS DESTROYED BY A ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT DAMAGED OUR HOME.THE TRUCK WAS LAST DRIVEN AT 9:30PM AND AT 11:30PM IT STARTED ON FIRE.THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANNC COMPANY.*AK

WHILE MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED IN DRIVE WAY, IT CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER THE HOOD WITHOUT ANY TYPE OF WARNING. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT BY MY HUSBAND AND OUR NEIGHBORS, ONLY TO REIGN NIGHT AGAIN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND WAS ABLE TO PUT IT OUT FOR GOOD.*AK

FRONT WINDSHIELD/WIPER FLUID DISPENSER: CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP - FAILURE TO DISPENSE WIPER FLUID. SPORADIC DISPENSING OF WIPER FLUID ON ROAD TRIP AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. PUSHING BUTTON HARD & AT DIFFERENT ANGLES SOMETIMES WORKS. *JB

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4L V8 ENGINE. I HAVE IT SERVICED AT DIERS FORD IN FREMONT, NE. THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN DRIVEN 2 HOURS AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS WHEN A LOUD POP WAS HEARD FOLLOWED BY ROUGH ENGINE OPERATION. UPON INSPECTION, ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD STRIPPING THE THREADS OUT OF THE HEAD AS IT WENT. UPON TOWING THE VEHICLE TO MY DEALER, I WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $3,000 TO REPLACE THE HEAD. I HAVE GIVEN THE DEALER PERMISSION TO HAVE THE HEAD REPLACED BUT HAVE BEEN TOLD IT WILL NOT BE UNTIL LATE FEBRUARY UNTIL THEY CAN EVEN GET A HEAD TO REPLACE THE DAMAGED ONE. TO THIS POINT THEY HAVE LET ME USE A LOANER VEHICLE BUT HAVE NOW TOLD ME THEY WILL NO LONGER PROVIDE ME ONE. THUS, I AM OUT OF A VEHICLE FOR AT LEAST 8 WEEKS. *JB

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. OWNER CONTACTED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. OWNER SAYS THAT THERE WAS NO MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THE ENGINE. VEHICLE WAS PERFECTLY FINE PRIOR TO THE FIRE. PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *NM

THE VEHICLES THE MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH (COMBINATION TURN SIGNAL, WINDSHIELD WASHER/WIPER) HAD A DESIGN OR ASSEMBLY FLAW. *BF THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO CORROSION IN THE WASHER . A FEW MONTHS LATER THE REPLACEMENT FAILED. *NM

VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BEING PARKED. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONTAL COLLISION OF 35 MPH AND NEITHER FRONTAL AIR BAG DEPLOY. NO INJURIES WAS REPORTED AT THIS TIME AND THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *NM THE CONSUMER STATED THAT SHE IS EXPERIENCING SOME ON GOING LIGAMENT AND NERVE DAMAGE IN HER BACK AND NECK. *TC

SPARK PLUG BLEW-OUT. *AK

NEVADA TRAFFIC ACCIDENT REPORT. *NM THE CONSUMER WAS INVOLVED IN A ACCIDENT IN WHICH THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. *NM

DRIVING FROM VA TO MI, HIT SNOW IN OH. HIT PATCH OF 'BLACK ICE', SPUN OUT, HIT TRACTOR TRAILER THAT WAS ON THE RIGHTS SIDE OF US WITH THE FRONT OF MY TRUCK(1998 FORD EXPEDITION), ROLLED 3-4 TIMES. SLIDE ABOUT 20 FEET. NO AIRBAG DEPLOYED THROUGH ALL OF THIS.*AK

ON MAY 24, 2003, I (MELODY) BACKED IN MY 1998 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPEDITION INTO MY GARAGE AROUND 8:15 PM FOR THE NIGHT. AROUND 8:30 PM, MY SON AND I LEFT WITH A NEIGHBOR TO A HOUSEWARMING PARTY 2 BLOCKS AWAY WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS ASLEEP IN THE HOUSE. WE RETURNED TO OUR HOME AROUND 10 PM AND DID EVEYTHING AS USUAL (SHOWER, BED). MY SON AND I FELL ASLEEP IN THE LIVING ROOM AREA WATCHING TELEVISION AROUND 11 PM. AROUND 1:15PM I HEARD THE GARAGE DOOR SOUND LIKE IT WAS OPENED AND I PROCEEDED OUT THE FRONT DOOR AS MY HUSBAND WAS RIGHT BEHIND ME; HE HAD HEARD THE SOUND ALSO IN THE BEDROOM. AS I CREPT DOWN A FEW STEPS, WE HAD SEEN SMOKE COMING FROM THE GARAGE AREA AND I YELLED "THE HOUSE IS ON FIRE, RUN!" WE BOTH RAN BACK INTO THE HOUSE, I GRABBED MY SON SLEEPING BY THE WINDOWS AND MY HUSBAND GRABBED THE KEYS TO HIS TRUCK AND HIS CELL PHONE. MY SON AND I RAN TO NEIGHBORS HOUSES TO CALL THE FIRE DEPT. AND MY HUSBAND OPENED THE FRONT SIDE ENTRANCE INTO THE GARAGE AND MOVED HIS TRUCK THAT WAS PULLED INTO THE DRIVEWAY OF THE HOUSE. WE STOOD ACROSS THE STREET WATCHING OUR HOUSE BURN WHILE THE FIRE DEPT. EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES. AS MY HUSBAND AND I SAT OUTSIDE OUR BURNED HOME THAT EARLY MORNING, WE CONTACTED STATE FARM TO MAKE A CLAIM AND FIND OUT WHAT TO DO. ON JUNE 9, 2003, INSURANCE INVESTIGATORS AND A REPRESENTATIVE FROM FORD MOTOR CO. CAM TO THE HOUSE TO INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WHICH ORIGINATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT OF THE VEHICLE. LATER, MY HUSBAND AND I WERE INFORMED THA

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE HEAD. I NOW LEARN THAT FORD'S ENGINEERS RECOGNIZED THIS DEFECT IN THE HEAD AND HAVE INCREASED THE THREAD COUNT IN THE HEAD FROM APPROXIMATELY 4 THREADS TO APPROXIMATELY 10 THREADS (PER POWER FORD, TORRANCE, CA). *AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, A FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE INFORMATION. *JB

I HAD A SKIING ACCIDENT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED MY KNEE. AS I WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN MY 1998 EXPEDITION, IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TODAY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL FORD TRITON ALUMINUM ENGINES, HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NO COMPENSATION FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *NM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

THE CAR WAS UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS VIOLENTLY EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT A FIRE, WITH FUEL AIR VAPORS BEING EXPELLED FROM THE EMPTY SPARK PLUG HOLE AND THE PLUG AND WIRE VISIBLE ARCING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE CERTAINLY WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DIRECTLY TO REPORT THIS AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, THEY FLATLY DENY THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST OF THIS REPAIR CAN RUN BETWEEN $3000 AND $6000, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY FORD HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE THE COARSE OF DENIAL. AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE DENYING THAT THIS IS A HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW, THE HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN REPLACEMENT PARTS AND IN LATER MODEL YEARS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE SPARE TIRE LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL ONTO THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1998 FORD EXPEDITION. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. 3 TIMES . FIRST TWO TIMES REPAIREDBY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

HEATER COIL WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT RADIO WAS MAKING THE PART DEFECTIVE. THE COIL WENT OUT AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN. MANUFACTURER STATED NO MORE REPLACEMENTS. *AK

1998 EXPEDITION. FIRE CONCENTRATED IN LEFT REAR CORNER OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN VICINITY OF CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE 15 AMP FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT WAS BLOWN. XRAYS OF THE SWITCH HEAD SHOWED TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE BRASS CONTACTS INSIDE EVEN THOUGH THE OUTER SHELL WAS STILL RELATIVELY IN TACT.

THE PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD ON MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 LITER V8. HAS TO GO TO FORD, APPROX 2700 TO FIX, MY EXTENDED 3RD PARTY WARRANTY REFUSES TO COVER BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. FORD DISAGREES. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM . THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT DEAL WITH IT. EVEN THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY SAID THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME ON THESE ENGINES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OR MORE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR PUMP TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE'S WIPER ALSO FAILED. *NM

TRAVELING ON NEW PORTION OF I-670 MY REAR TIRE BLEW OUT. SUV HAS 52,000 MILES ON IT, THE TIRE THAT BLEW WAS THE ORIGINAL AND IT HAD 6,000 MILES ON IT. SPARE WAS PUT ON SUV OCT 30, 2003.*JB

HAVING TROUBLE WITH MY SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY ON MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE NHSTA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V17100. I TOOK MY VEHICLE TO ORANGE FORD FOR REPAIRS. I WAS TOLD THAT THERE WAS NO SUCH RECALL ON MY VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THE VIN NUMBER. I CALL THE FORD HOTLINE ALSO AND WAS TOLD THE SAME. SEEMS TO ME IF THERE WAS A RECALL SEEM LIKE ALL FORD LIGHT DUTY TRUCKS AND MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED.

WITHOUT WARNING VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER HAD TO COAST OFF THE ROAD. CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT ENGINE HEAD GASKET FAILED, CAUSING THE ENGINE TO MALFUNCTION. *AK BOTH HEAD GASKET BLEW AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *TS

WHILE DRIVING AT 60 MPH THE FRONT END TIE ROD BROKE WITHOUT WARNING. AS A RESULT THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE BUT WAS ABLE TO RECOVER AND PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE FRONT LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE HAD COLLAPSED. PLEASE PROVIDE ADDITIONAL INFORMATION . *JB

MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I OWN A 1998 EXPEDITION AND IT IS NOW IN THE SHOP BECAUSE I HAD TO HAVE THE TRANSMISSION REBUILT, IS THERE OR WAS THERE EVER A RECALL ON THESE TRANSMISSIONS. I AM SURPRISED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD HAVE TO BE REBUILT IN THIS CAR.*JB

WHILE PULLING INTO THE STREET FROM A PARKED POSITION A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. DEALER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. *AK

CONSUMER HEARD A SOUND WHILE STEERING THE VEHICLE. IT WAS A THUMPING SOUND. DEALER STATED THAT IT SOUNDED LIKE TIE ROD FAILURE . DEALER ADVISED CONSUMER THAT TIE ROD WAS DEFECTIVE AND WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED.*AK

WHINE FROM REAR END OF FORD EXPEDITION NUMEROUS EXPEDITION OWNERS HAVE HAD THIS HAPPEN AS THERE IS DEFINITELY A PROBLEM WITH THE REAR ENDS IN FORD EXPEDITIONS EVEN THE 2003 HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM IT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED AS THERE IS A MAJOR PROBLEM WITH THIS. *JB

WHILE PARKED VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. *AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A COLLISION AND THE PASSENGER'S SEAT BELT DID NOT HOLD. THE PASSENGER SUSTAINED A SHOULDER INJURY.*AK

THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM AS MENTIONED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN 97V171000. LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. DEALERSHIP INDICATED TO THE CONSUMER, YES YOU HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM DUE TO VIN NOT BEING INCLUDED IN THIS RECALL. *AK