Page 7 of 17 · complaints 301–350 of 836

1998 Ford Expedition complaints

Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 1998 record →

Tires
Filed Aug 11, 2004120,000 milesCA

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED REAR PASSENGER SIDE TIRE BLEW OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. BIG-O, LT26570R17. *AK

Tires › Temporary/Emergency Spare Tire
Filed Aug 4, 200470,000 milesTX

WHILE PARKING SPARE TIRE RACK BOLTS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE SNAPPED. THIS CAUSED THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED,BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission
Filed Aug 2, 2004OK

VEHICLE DISENGAGES WHEN PARKED. WHEN TRYING TO SHIFT IT FAILS, AND WHEN REMOVING THE KEY IT IS DIFFICULT.*AK

Power Train › Transfer Case (4-wheel Drive)
Filed Jul 23, 200492,184 milesAZ

WE WERE ON VACATION JUNE 27, 2004 AND OUR 1998 FORD EXPEDITION BROKE DOWN 15 MILES OUTSIDE OF FLAGSTAFF, AZ. WE WERE TOWED TO AAMCO TRANSMISSIONS, WHOM AFTER GETTING AUTHORIZATION FROM OUR SERVICE CONTRACT TO CHECK OUR TRUCK FOUND THAT A SEAL GASKET IN OUR TRANSFER CASE HAD MELTED AND ALL THE OIL RAN OUT. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE COVERED FOR 150,000 MILES, OUR TRUCK IS AT 92,184 MILES. I HAVE A SERVICE CONTRACT COVERING ME FOR 96,000 MILES. THEY REFUSED TO FIX IT BECAUSE THEY SAID IT WAS TAMPERED WITH FIRST, THEN THEY SAID THE TRANSMISSION WASN'T COVERED, THEN IT WAS BECAUSE WE DROVE IT WITH NO OIL. AAMCO TOLD THEM US THE PART WAS COVERED UNDER OUR SERVICE CONTRACT BUT THAT THEY GET THIS ALOT FROM SERVICE CONTRACTS WHERE THEY DON'T WANT TO PAY FOR THE WORK. AAMCO ALSO SAID THAT THESE TRUCKS DO NOT HAVE INDICATORS ON THE TRANSFER CASES TO SHOW THAT ANYTHING IS GOING WRONG OR THAT OIL IS LEAKING. WE HAVE NEVER HAD PROBLEMS. OUR R OIL LEVELS WERE CHECKED ON JUNE 25TH BEFORE TAKING OFF FOR VACATION AND EVERYTHING WAS FINE. WE HAVE NEVER HAD LEAKS. WE HAD 3 OF OURYOUNG GRANDCHILDREN WITH US. WE WERE DRIVING ON A FREEWAY AND OUR TRUCK JUST STARTED SLOWING DOWN REALLY FAST AND WERE LUCKY THERE WERE NOT MANY CARS AT THAT TIME SO WE COULD PULL OFF THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THIS THING COULD LEAD TO ACCIDENTS IF SOMEONE IS DRIVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN YOUR VEHICLE SLOWS DOWN IN HEAVY, FAST TRAFFIC BECAUSE YOU HAVE NO WAY OF KNOWING THIS IS HAPPENING OR ANYTHING IS HAPP

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 15, 2004117,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT. THE CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER AND INSPECTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE BLEW OUT. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD NEEDED TO BE REPLACED DUE TO A BLOW OUT. *AK THE CONSUMER FOUND THAT MANY OTHERS EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH THE 5.4 AND THE 4.6 FORD ENGINES. THE PROBLEM WAS FOUND TO BE A DEFECT IN THE HEADS NOT HAVING ENOUGH THREADS TO HOLD THE PLUGS IN. FORD WOULD NOT ASSIST IN THE REPAIR, EVEN THOUGH THEY RECENTLY REDESIGNED THE HEADS TO PREVENT THE PROBLEM. *SC

Interior Lighting
Filed Jul 12, 200487,000 milesOH

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND LOCKING SYSTEM; LIGHTS STAY ON INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING - DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES CAN TAKE UP TO 30 MINUTES TO "DECIDE" TO TURN OFF - OTHER TIMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING... NO REAL PATTERN HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF EVEN THOUGH NUMEROUS CHECKS OF ALL DOORS HAVE BEEN DONE AND NONE ARE OPEN. RUNNING BOARDS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF (WHETHER LOCKED OR UNLOCKED). THESE LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF FOR OVER 1 HOUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXITED LAST. DOOR LOCKS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. "BEEPING" SOUND WILL ALARM WHILE DRIVING ALERTING THAT DOORS ARE UNLOCKED OR POSSIBLY AJAR - THEN DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK - SOMETIMES ONCE, OTHER TIMES FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN A ROW. LIGHTING ISSUE OCCURS EVERY TIME CAR IS EXITED. INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUE (WHILE RUNNING) OCCURS 3 TIMES WEEKLY, IF NOT MORE AT TIMES. LOCKING ISSUE OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE WEEKLY. NOT UNDER WARRANTY... AFTER INQUIRING WITH DEALER THEY RESPONDED, "NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE". HOWEVER, I HAVE ASKED RANDOM EXPEDITION OWNERS IN PARKING LOTS AND GAS STATIONS - ALL HAVE CONFIRMED THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2004113,428 milesCA

ON JUNE 23, 2004 MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WAS TOWED TO A DEALER BECAUSE I BLEW A SPARK PLUG. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD COST OVER $2700.00 TO GET IT FIXED. THEY SAID IT WAS BECAUSE THE SPARK PLUG WOULD ONLY BLOW OUT AGAIN AND I NEEDED A NEW HEAD COVERING. THE SERVICE MANAGER SAID THAT THIS WAS A COMMON OCCURRENCE ON THE ALUMINUM HEADS. MY QUESTION OR RATHER MY COMPLAINT IS THAT I AM ANGRY ABOUT THE RESPONSE FROM THE SERVICE MANAGER AND FROM THE FORD FRONT OFFICE. IF FORD KNOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON OCCURRENCE THEN WHY SHOULD THE CONSUMER BE LIABLE FOR SOMETHING THAT FORD KNOWS IS A PROBLEM. AM PRETTY UPSET ABOUT THIS AS FORD KNOWS THIS HAPPENS AND THERE HASN'T BEEN A RECALL. WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL IF THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE HEAD COVERINGS?? AM I EXPECTED TO PAY AN ADDITIONAL $2700.00 WHEN THE OTHER HEAD GOES BAD? THIS ISN'T RIGHT AND IF THEY HAVE A PROBLEM THEN FIX IT AND DON'T JUST ROB THE CONSUMER. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jun 29, 200484,000 milesCA

ON MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE. THE FORD COMPANY WILL NOT SAY THAT THE ENGINE HAS A DEFECT. THE SPARK PLUGS ARE STILL THE SAME ONES THAT CAME WITH THE TRUCK NEW. I HAD MY INFANT SON IN THE CAR WHEN THIS OCCURRED, AND THIS MISHAP PUT US IN NEEDLESS PERIL. CAR IS IN REPAIR STILL AND FORD IS NOT TREATING THIS LIKE AN ENGINE DEFECT. I SEE MANY ONLINE POSTS FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. THIS SITUATION COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY. GASOLINE WAS FUMES WERE STRONG AND THE ENGINE COULD HAVE CAUGHT ON FIRE. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jun 27, 200480,450 milesMN

ENGINE AT IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME HEARD A POP AND FOUND THAT SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION FOUND OUT THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD TRITON V8 ENGINE. *JB

Visibility › Rearview Mirrors/Devices › Interior
Filed Jun 21, 2004IL

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS GLASS BROKE OFF FROM THE INSIDE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

Tires › Tread/Belt
Filed Jun 5, 2004TX

SEPARATION OF TIRE TREAD FROM TIRE LEADING TO SUBSTANTIAL CAR BODY DAMAGE. AK

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
Filed May 18, 2004GA

WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED, THE PEDAL PULSATED WHICH CAUSED THE EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP ONCE A YEAR DEALING WITH THE ISSUE, HOWEVER THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO OCCUR. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *JB

Suspension › Front › Stabilizer Bar
Filed May 12, 2004120,000 milesNY

STABILIZER BAR BROKE WHILE BACKING OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY. AS A RESULT, THE FRONT END COLLAPSED TO THE GROUND. *AK

Electrical System
Filed May 10, 200475,000 milesNV

FORD NEEDS TO RECALL THE 1998 YEAR EXPEDITION. I BOUGHT MY VEHICLE NEW AND HAVE TO DATE REPLACED A BLOWN SPARK PLUG AND APPROXIMATELY 5 BLOWN COIL PACKS. FORD TELLS ME THE INSTALLATION OF THE COIL PACKS WERE NOT MOISTURE PROTECTED THEREFORE WHEN THE COIL RECEIVES MOISTURE THEY BLOW. THERE IS 8 COIL PACKS IN A VEHICLE AT A COST OF APPROXIMATELY $377 PER COIL. HOW CAN WE GET THESE RECALLED? IF YOU DID A SEARCH OF ALL FORD DEALERSHIPS AND SEE HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE HAD COIL PACKS AND SPARKS PLUGS REPLACED YOU WOULD SEE THERE IS A DEFINITE PROBLEM. PLEASE HELP WITH THIS! *LA

Electrical System
Filed Apr 29, 2004IL

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THIRD SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK

Air Bags › Frontal › Driver Side › Inflator Module
Filed Apr 28, 200420,000 milesNJ

THE AIR BAG IN MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION FELL OFF OF THE STEERING WHEEL. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE FORD DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 28, 200488,000 milesIL

DRIVING ONE DAY AND HEARD A LOUD POP THEN NO RESPONSE OR POWER FROM THE ENGINE.A CERTIFIED MECHANIC SAID THAT THE 3RD SPARK PLUG WAS BLOWN OUT OF THE HEAD AND THE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THIS IS A COMMON THING IN THESE TYPE OF ENGINES. I ALSO TALKED TO THE DEALER THAT I BOUGHT THIS JOKE OF A VEHICLE FROM AND THEY SAID THAT THEY GET THESE KIND OF REPAIRS IN ALL THE TIME - DOMINO FORD IN MIDLOTHIAN IL. I TALKED TO FORD MOTOR CO. CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND ALL THEY SAID WAS "SIR THERE IS NO RECALL ON YOUR'E VEHICLE AND THEY SAID HAVE A NICE DAY. THE MECHANIC SAID THEY WOULD PUT IN A INSERT OR HELI COIL AND THAT IT MIGHT WORK BUT AFTER SCANNING THE INTERNET THERE IS ALL KINDS OF COMPLAINTS OUT THERE WITH THIS EXACT KIND OF PROBLEM WITH THE FORD PICKUPS , VANS AND SUV'S THAT HAVE THIS TRITON ENGINE. FORD WON'T ACKNOWLEDGE THIS BECAUSE THEY KNOW THAT UNDER A RECALL IT WILL COST THEM A LOT TO FIX THIS OBVIOUS MANUFACTURER DEFECT. OF THE COMPLAINTS THAT I READ AND TALKING TO MY MECHANIC THEY ALL MENTION THAT THE THREADS THAT HOLD THE SPARK PLUGS ARE NOT LONG OR DEEP ENOUGH TO CONTAIN THE SPARK PLUG FOR GOOD. FOR 40K PRICE TAG FORD MOTOR CO. SHOULD REPLACE THE ENGINES IN THESE VEHICLES. DO WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR SOMEONE TO SACRIFICE THEIR LIFE FOR THIS TO GET RECTIFIED? JUST LIKE THE TIRE ISSUES. IF SOMEONE DOES DIE DUE TO THIS DEFECT I WILL BE THE FIRST TO COME FORWARD ON THIS ON WHEN I COMPLAINED AND THAT NOTHING WAS DONE. PEOPLES LIVES SHOULD NOT BE RISKED TO LINE FORDS POCKETS. IF YOU SUE THE

Suspension › Front › Stabilizer Bar
Filed Apr 20, 200470,000 milesAK

BOLT THAT HOLDS FRONT STABALIZER TO DRIVER SIDE WHEEL SUSPENSION ASSEMBLY HAS EITHER SNAPPED OR WORKED ITSELF OUT AND IS MISSING. THIS CAUSES A CLUNKING SOUND WHEN TURNING OR TRAVELLING OVER BUMPS. CONCERN OVER LOSS OF FRONT STABILITY WHILE TURNING. NO IMPACT OR COLLISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS PROBLEM

Electrical System
Filed Apr 20, 200477,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING ON A SERVICE ROAD AT 40 MPH SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO DECELERATE. THIS WAS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THESE VEHICLES,THAT MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE TREAD NOT BEING TREADED DEEP ENOUGH INTO THE HEAD AT THE FACTORY.*AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Apr 14, 2004130,000 milesGA

SAFETY BELT ON 98 FORD EXPDITION WILL NOT FUNCTION. BELT WILL LATCH, THEN WHEN PULLED, WILL RELEASE. THE COVER ON THE BELT IS LOOSE AND IT WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY. HAVE CONTCTED FORD 6 TIMES WITH NO REPLY.

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Apr 11, 200486,000 milesCO

TORSION BAR ON DRIVER'S SIDE OF 1998 EXPEDITION BROKE APART CAUSING THE LEFT SIDE OF THE VEHICLE TO LEAN AND CAUSE EXTREME DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE CAR. THE BREAK LOOKS LIKE IT HAPPENED ON A SEAM AND RUST WAS INSIDE-CLEARLY POINTING TO A BREACH IN THE MANUFACTURE OF THIS PART.*JB

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Apr 7, 200493,300 milesFL

WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A TRAFFIC LIGHT, I HEARD A POP AND THEN MY 5.4L ENGINE ON MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION STARTED MAKING A LOUD CONTINUOUS POPPING/TICKING SOUND. WE HAD IT TOWED TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER AND THEY DIAGNOSED IT AS A BLOWN SPARK PLUG CAUSED BY THE CYLINDER HEAD THREADS GIVING WAY AND CAUSING THE SPARK PLUG TO BE BLOWN OUT OF THE SPARK PLUG HOLE. THEY ARE CHARGING US ALMOST $3300 TO FIX THE DEFECT IN THEIR CYLINDER HEADS. THEY DENY THERE IS ANY TYPE OF RECALL, BUT I DID SEE A TSB# 98B33 WHICH RELATES TO CYLINDER HEAD REPLACEMENT. IF YOU GO TO THESE WEBSITES, HTTP://WWW.F150ONLINE.COM/FORUMS/SHOWTHREAD.PHP?S=90A1A25C42DBFFDE23D53146381E3E78&THREADID=88853&PERPAGE=15&PAGENUMBER=2 AND HTTP://FORUMS.PICKUPTRUCK.COM/SHOWFLAT.PHP?CAT=&BOARD=UBB10&NUMBER=155196 YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO ALOT OF OTHER FORD OWNERS WITH 5.4 AND 6.7L V-8'S AND V-10'S. I HAVE NEVER HEARD OF A SPARK PLUG BLOWING UP AND CRACKING A HEAD BEFORE IN MY LIFE AND TO ME THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A MANUFACTURER DEFECT AND FORD SHOULD RECALL THESE ENGINES AND FIX THIS PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER. WE HAVE DONE ALL OF OUR SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE AT FORD DEALERS AND SPENT CONSIDERABLE AMOUNTS OF MONEY DOING SO AND WE WERE NEVER WARNED OR TOLD OF THIS PROBLEM WITH THESE ENGINES. FORD SHOULD AT THE VERY LEAST RECOMMEND MORE FREQUENT MAINTENANCE SPECIFICALLY ADDRESSING THIS ISSUE. *AK *TR

Suspension › Front
Filed Apr 1, 200476,000 milesCA

WHILE DRIVING LUGS NUTS BROKE, CAUSING THE FRONT RIGHT WHEEL TO DETACH FROM THE VEHICLE. *AK CONSUMER WAS TRAVELING AT 70 MPH WHEN LUGS AND NUTS BROKE IN THE FRONT WHEEL. TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP AND PUT THE SAME TIRE AND RIM. WHEN CONSUMER LEFT DEALERSHIP, LIGHTS FAILED TO WORK AND EXPERIENCED SHAKING IN FRONT END. TOOK VEHICLE TO A DIFFERENT DEALERSHIP, AND FOUND OUT THAT THE FRONT END WAS SO BAD. DEALERSHIP REPLACED SHIMS TO ALIGN FRONT END. THE FAILURE OF LIGHTS WAS CAUSED BY THE REPAIR FROM THE PREVIOUS DEALERSHIP BECAUSE WHEN THEY TOOK THE DASH BOARD APART, THEY POKED A HOLE IN THE HEATER WHICH BURNED THE WIRE. *LA

Tires
Filed Mar 22, 2004CA

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH A LOUD NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE PASSENGER SIDE WHEEL. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. CONSUMER NOTICED THAT TIRE BLEW OUT. ALSO, WAS WARPED FROM THE INNER SIDE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO CHANGE THE TIRE, AND DRIVE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. MICHELIN, P195/55R15, DOT 895VB68X4100*AK

Suspension › Front › Springs › Torsion Bar
Filed Mar 21, 200486,627 milesPA

FRONT TORSION BAR SHEARED OFF WHILE PARKED, CAUSING THE RIGHT FRONT TO DIP APROX 6 INCHES. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Feb 27, 200472,804 milesWA

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER WITH A 5.4L TRITON V-8 JUST BLEW A SPARK PLUG. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 10, 2004107,000 milesNC

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD RATTLING NOISE COMING FROM ENGINE. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.

Unknown or Other
Filed Feb 9, 2004111,000 milesCA

HELLO, MY NAME IS [XXX] AND I LIVE IN MARTINEZ, CA. I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WITH APPROXIMATELY 111,000 MILES ON IT. I RECENTLY HAD A SPARK PLUG POP OUT WHILE DRIVING. AFTER RESEARCHING THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM I DETERMINED THAT IT IS INHERENT IN MY TYPE OF ENGINE. THERE ARE A NUMBER OF WEBSITES WITH STORIES OF FORD OWNERS WHO EXPERIENCED IDENTICAL PROBLEMS. ONE OF THE WEBSITES IS: WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML THIS IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM. CAN YOU PLEASE LOOK INTO IT. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM IS APPROXIMATELY $3,000. THANK YOU, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Exterior Lighting › Turn Signal › Flasher Unit
Filed Feb 4, 200450,000 milesIL

TURN SIGNAL CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS. RIGHT SIGNAL NOT WORKING UNLESS STALK IS PULLED SLIGHTLY BACK AND LANE CHANGE FEATURE IS USED. EMERGENCY FLASHERS FAIL TO OPERATE. PROBLEM WAS INTERMITTENT AND IS NOW CONSTANT.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Feb 2, 2004NE

FORD SPARK PLUG BLOWOUT PROBLEM. *JB

Electrical System
Filed Jan 20, 200497,711 milesCA

NUMBER 2 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD, DAMAGING THE COIL AND STRANDING MY WIFE, 2 YEAR OLD SON AND MY 8 MONTH OLD DAUGHTER.*AK

Suspension › Rear › Springs › Air Suspension System
Filed Jan 15, 2004TX

WARNING LIGHT FOR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH AIR LEVELER ON 4X4, SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. VEHICLE NEVER LEVELED WITH A LOAD ON THE HITCH. THE AIR COMPRESSOR RUNS A LOT AND BECAME VERY NOISY OVER THE YEARS. THE VEHICLE ROCKS BACK AND FORTH, IN, RIGHT SIDE GOES UP AND DOWN A FEW INCHES, WILL NOT LEVEL UNDER LOAD. NEVER FELT SAFE TO TOW ANYTHING WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE FOR BUYING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. TOOK IN 3 - 4X A YEAR FOR SAME AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT ANYTHING EXCEPT THE COMPUTER READOUT. PRESENTED LIST OF RELATED NHTSA REPORTS AND FORD SAID THEY DO NOT USE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. PURCHASED FORDS BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN 3 MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. COMPRESSOR PUMP BROKE A WEEK AGO AND THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE. INITIAL RECOMMENDATION WAS TO DISCONNECT WARNING LIGHT. SECOND RECOMMENDATION WAS TO SELL VEHICLE IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT. NO OBLIGATION FOR THE 45,000.00 PAID. CANNOT SELL VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND VEHICLE NEVER LEVEL. *CB

Electrical System1 injured
Filed Jan 15, 2004TX

SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONING EVER SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW IN 07-1998. *CB

Power Train
Filed Jan 15, 200479,940 milesMD

COMPLETE TRANSMISSION FAILURE. ASE/AAA REPAIRMAN FOUND ONE MISSING AND ALL OTHER BOLTS SECURING VALVE BODY BACKED OUT AND HOLDING BY A FEW THREADS. THIS AFTER TOTAL WARRANTY REBUILD BY FORD DEALER @ 14,972MI 8/18/98. I HAD RETURNED VEHICLE TO SAME DEALER WITH TRANSMISSION COMPLAINT @ 53,382MI 5/10/01. WOULDN'T TEST ON N/C BASIS AND WOULDN'T TEST DRIVE. FORD REFUSES ASSISTANCE.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Jan 13, 200496,000 milesMA

SPARK PLUG BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD.

Equipment › Electrical › Radio/Tape Deck/Cd Etc.
Filed Jan 8, 200440,000 milesVA

THE RADIO FADES FROM LEFT TO RIGHT AND FRONT TO BACK SLIGHTLY ON ITS OWN. I HAVE HAD THIS IN FOR SERVICE 4 TIMES AND THEY CAN NEVER FIND IT, BUT WHEN I LEAVE MY SELF AND EVERYONE WHO RIDES IN IT CAN HEAR THE PROBLEM. THIS WILL KEEP ME FROM BUYING AGAIN. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System › Manifold/Header/Muffler/Tail Pipe
Filed Dec 24, 200370,000 milesCA

1998 FORD EXPEDITION EDDY BAUER LOSSES POWER WHEN ACCELERATED OVER 3000 RPMS, ON WHAT SEEMS TO BE A MISFIRE, I'VE TAKEN IT TO DIFFERENT MECHANICS, I'VE HAD THE COILS AND SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, I'VE SPENT OVER $2000 AND PROBLEM STILL PERSISTS. I WENT TO TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS JUST TO ENCOUNTERED THE WORST DEALER SERVICED I'VE EVER RECEIVED IN MY LIFE...THEY ARE NO HELP. I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT I PAID OVER $30,000 FOR THAT HAS DEFECT PROBLEMS THAT FORD IS AWARE OF BUT IS COMPLETETY UNWILLING TO ACCEPT. THIS IS DEFINITELY THE WORST INVESTMENT I'VE EVER MADE IN MY LIFE, CAN ANYBODY HELP ME?...PLEASE.*AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Dec 10, 200373,000 milesFL

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM *PH

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Dec 9, 200364,000 milesAZ

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR NEEDLE SLIPPED TO A POSITION WHERE IT IS NO LONGER INDICATION THE ACTUAL OPERATION OF THE TRANSMISSIN. I.E. WHEN THE INDICATOR SHOWS NEUTRAL, THE TRANSMISSION IS IN REVERSE.*AK

Interior Lighting
Filed Nov 25, 200340,000 milesWA

ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT AFTER ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND VEHICLE IS STARTED. AS YOU BEGIN DRIVING, THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY WENT OFF. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON BY THEMSELVES. IN ALL CASES THE 'DOOR OPEN' LIGHT SHOWS ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT AFTER OPENING AND CLOSING ALL DOORS, TAILGATE AND TAILGATE WINDOW THE LIGHTS "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT REMAINS ON, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT. *LA

Air Bags › FrontalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 19, 2003112,000 milesAR

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A HEAD ON COLLISION. UPON IMPACT DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. AS A RESULT, DRIVER SUSTAINED SEVERE INJURIES IN THE LOWER BODY. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Lever and Linkage › Column Shift
Filed Nov 18, 2003150,000 milesSC

SHIFT LINKAGE CABLE BROKE, BETWEEN SHIFT LEVER AND TRANSMISSION. *LA

Vehicle Speed Control › Accelerator PedalCrash1 injured
Filed Nov 8, 2003109,555 milesCA

STARTED TO BRAKE AND VEHICLE WENT TO HIGH THROTTLE. *AK

Power Train › Automatic Transmission › Gear Position Indication (prndl)
Filed Nov 5, 200370,000 milesGA

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LEVER GEAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONE MENTIONED IN A RECENT RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 30, 2003120,000 milesMD

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A TAPPING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. CONSUMER CONTINUED DRIVING WHEN THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT APPEARED ON THE DASHBOARD. AFTERWARDS, VEHICLE LOST POWER. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP. *AK

Electrical System › Ignition
Filed Oct 30, 200300

1998 FORD EXPEDITION AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED I REALIZED I HAD EXPERIENCE SIMILAR ONES FOR INSTANCE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT IN DEC/02. IN AUG./03 THE TIE ROD BROKE. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH 4X4 WORKING OR IN THIS CASE NOT. WHEN SWITCHED IN WHILE LIFTED ON A HOIST IT REGISTERS, BUT WHEN ON THE GROUND IT DOESN'T WORK. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WEIGHT. ALSO THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK, SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SENSOR. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON IN HOT WEATHER. AND THE LIST GOES ON. *LA

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Oct 20, 2003110,000 milesCA

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L. THE SPARKPLUG THREADS ON CYLINDER #3 ARE DAMAGED EVEN THOUGH THE SPARKPLUGS ARE ORIGINAL. THE FORD MECHANIC CLAIMS THIS IS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT THREADS ON THE ORIGINAL CYLINDER HEAD. MY PLUG LOOSENED PART WAY BUT DID NOT BLOW OUT LIKE MANY OTHERS HAVE REPORTED. *LA

Electrical System
Filed Oct 17, 2003131,000 milesCA

TRAVELING ON THE FREEWAY IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC AT APPROXIMATELY 40-50 MPH WHEN ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS IN THE MOTOR EXPLODED OUT OF THE HEAD. I SPOKE TO FORD, AND THEY EXPRESSED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPEDITION, THAT IT IS PROBABLY A CASTING FLAW WITH THE HEADS, AND THAT A REPLACEMENT IS TYPICAL AND WILL COST APPROXIMATELY $3,000.00 FOR REPAIR. ASIDE FROM BEING STRANDED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, THERE WAS NO INDICATOR THAT THIS WOULD HAPPEN. RESEARCH HAS LED ME TO FIND THAT THERE ARE HUNDREDS, IF NOT THOUSANDS, OF OTHER FORD OWNERS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS SAME PROBLEM. WHERE IS THE RECALL? *LA

Service Brakes, Hydraulic › Foundation Components › Disc › Rotor
Filed Oct 17, 2003IL

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FRONT AND BACK ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BRAKES ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.*AK

Seat Belts › Rear/Other
Filed Oct 15, 2003CO

REAR SEAT BELT BROKE FROM THE WALL. DEALER NOTIFIED. AK

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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Full record for the 1998 Ford Expedition → · Every Expedition year → · How the figures are calculated →