1999 Ford Expedition complaints

I HAVE A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. IT HAS HAD BOTH HEAD GASKETS ALREADY REPLACED ONCE, AND NOW THEY ARE BLOWN AGAIN. THE CAR IS OUT OF WARRANTY AND THE DEALERSHIP HAS INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS AN ABNORMALITY IN MY ENGINE WHICH WILL CAUSE THIS PROBLEM TO CONTINUE TO RE-OCCUR UNLESS I PAY $5000 TO HAVE A NEW ENGINE PUT IN. FORD HAS RECALLED SIMILIAR VEHICLES DUE TO THE PROBLEMS WITH THE SAME ENGINES, HOWEVER OFFERS NO ASSISTANCE ON THEIR MUCH PRICIER EXPEDITION. I GUESS THEY FIGURE WE CAN AFFORD THE REPAIRS. THEY REFUSE TO DISCUSS MY PROBLEMS AND TELL ME THAT BLOWN HEAD GASKETS ARE CONSIDERED "NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR". THE HEAD GASKET PROBLEM ASIDE, THIS CAR HAS BEEN IN THE SHOP OVER 30 TIMES FOR NON-ROUTINE MAINTENANCE ISSUES. THE LEATHER SEATS HAD TO BE REPLACED, THE EXTERIOR MOLDING WENT BAD, THE EXHAUST SYSTEM WAS FAULTY, WIRING WAS FAULTY, MIRRORS AND WINDOWS WERE FAULTY, ELECTRONIC COMPONENTS WERE FAULTY, THE LIST GOES ON AND ON.

RIGHT CYLINDER HEAD GASKET LEAKING OIL. DEALER SAID NO WARRANTY TOO OLD AND TOO MANY MILES. IT'S A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 38,000 MILES. FORD KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM SEE TSB'S. BUT WILL NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.

ON MY RECENT PURCHASE OF A USED 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WITH THE 4.6L V8 ENGINE, WITH LOW MILES ONLY APPROX 31,500 WHEN PURCHASED, AND AFTER ONLY ADDING 12,000 MORE MILES TO THE VECHICLE, IN WHICH WE HAVEN'T HAD THE CAR FOR A FULL YEAR, WE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET THAT I JUST RECENTLY FOUND OUT WAS A KNOWN PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THE CAR WASN'T UNDER WARRENTY AND THE COST FOR REPAIRS RAN UP TO 1300.00 WHICH IS OUTRAGIOUS. I FEEL THAT IF FORD HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS DEFECT THAT FORD SHOULD HAVE RECALLED THIS DEFECT LONG BEFORE SO MANY HAVE NEEDED REPAIRS. I REGRET THAT THIS IS THE LAST FORD I WILL EVER OWN, WHICH IS DIRECTLY DUE TO THE INEPT CUSTOMER SERVICE THAT FORD IS NOW KNOWN FOR.

FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION AT 43,000 MILES OF 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 4 X 4 EDDIE BAUER CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD.

THE REAR BRAKES SEIZED, WHICH CAUSED THE VEHICLE NOT MOVE.*JB

DEFECTIVE SPARE TIRE CABLE ASSEMBLY. *DT

THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. ALL DOORS LOCK/UNLOCK INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT ENGAGEMENT. ALSO THE VEHICLE'S INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTS ENGAGE ON/OFF. PH

I NOTICE OIL DROPS ON MY DRIVEWAY, I TOOK MY VEHICLE IN TO VERIFY WHERE LEAK WAS COMING FROM, THE DEALER STATED THAT MY HEAD GASKET WAS BLOWN. THE REPAIR COST FOR LABOR AND PARTS WOULD BE OVER $1200.00. THE EXTENDED WARRENTY WOULD NOT COVER SEAL OR GASKET FOR THIS VEHICLE. I REQUEST NHTSA HAVE FORD DEALER OR MANUFACTOR'S DO A RECALL ON THIS VEHICLE ENGINE. MY VEHICLE HAS THE 4.6L ENGINE WITH LESS THAN 49000 MILES.

CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE MIRRORS ARE DELAMINATING. AS A RESULT, CONSUMER CAN NOT SEE OBJECTS WITH THE MIRRORS. PH

1999 EXPEDITION SPARE TIRE CABLE FAILED. BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY IN ANOTHER VEHICLE IF IT OCCURED AT HIGH SPEED. A TIRE SHOP WAS THE LAST TO REPLACE THE SPARE. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE ALWAYS TIGHTENED IT FULLY IN THE PAST. I ASSUME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT LOOSE AND WORE THROUGH THE CABLE OVER TIME AS IT RUBBED ON THE WHEEL.

THERE IS A RIGHT SIDE CYLINDER HEAD OIL LEAK CAUSED BY SMALL METAL CHIPS LEFT BETWEEN THE HEAD AND BLOCK DURING MANUFACTURE .FORD KNOWS ABOUT THE PROBLEM ,SAYS IT HAPPENED TO 1 IN 10 1999 FORD EXPEDITIONS ,AND OTHER MODELS.THEY HAVE DISMISSED MY COMPLAINT AND OFFER NO FINANCIAL ASISSTANCE.REPAIR COSTS 5000 DOLLARS

EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE DETERIATING. DEAL WOULD NOT REPLACE.

CONSUMER STATE THAT WHILE DRIVING WITHOUT WARNING THE HEAD GASKET BLEW CAUSING FLUID TO LEAK OUT. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

AN OIL LEAK ON RIGHT & LEFT BANKS OF THE 4.6L & 5.4L V8 WINSOR AND/OR ROMEO PRODUCED ENGINES COULD PRODUCE POSSIBLE OIL LEAK.CAUSING OIL TO LEAK ONTO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND POSSIBLY CAUSING A FIRE. FORD CORP. IS AWARE OF THIS SITUATION AND HAS ISSUED A BULLETIN ARTICLE 02-22-7 PUBLISHED 10-31-2002

WINDSHIELD WIPERS INTERMITTENTLY WIPE WITHOUT SWITCH BEING ACTIVATED, REAR WIPERS FAIL TO WIPE AT ALL.

FRONT DRIVE AXLE POPS AND VEHICLE SHAKES WHEN TURNING . ALSO POPS AND SHAKES WHEN ACCELERATING/DECELERATING. POSSIBLY DUE TO DEFECTIVE SPIDER GEAR(S).

SIDE-VIEW MIRRORS ON DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HAVE BECOME VERY DULLED RESULTING IN LOSS OF COMPLETE EFFECTIVENESS OF VIEWING. IT APPEARS THAT SOMETHING HAS CAUSED THE SILVER IN THE MIRRORS TO DISINTEGRATE. THIS IS A 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD AND THE LOCAL DEALER AND NEITHER WOULD OFFER TO REMEDY AT THEIR EXPENSE SINCE THE WARRANTY PERIOD HAD EXPIRED.

OIL LEAK FROM RH HEAD/BLOCK INTERFACE. NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS AND TSB ABOUT THIS ISSUE INDICATE MANUFACTURING ASSYMBLY DEFECTS. TSB NOTE "CHIPS COULD BE PRESENT OR DIMPLES IN MATING SURFACE OF GASKET AREA". CUSTOMERS SHOULD NOT HAVE TO PAY FOR MANUFACTURING PROBLEMS THAT ARE NONE TO BE PRESENT.

CONSUMER STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AND NO WARNING THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BALL JOINT FELL ONTO THE GROUND AND THE CONSUMER WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS

AFTER AN OIL CHANGE AT 42K MILES, NOTICED A BURNING SMELL AND SOME SMOKE COMING OUT OF THE RIGHT SIDE ENGINE COMPARTMENT NEAR BATTERY. TOOK TRUCK TO DEALER AND WAS ADVISED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE HEAD GASKET WAS LEAKING TOWARDS THE REAR. VEHICLE OUT OF MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY BUT LUCKILY I HAD AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER MECHANIC THAT THERE IS INDEED A HEAD GASKET LEAK PROBLEM WITH THE 97-02 EXPEDITIONS. HEAD GASKETS SHOULD NOT FAIL AT 43K MILES AND FORD SHOULD REPAIR PROBLEM AT NO COST TO THE CONSUMER.

WE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE OWNER WE KNEW VERY WELL AND ALL REGULAR MAINTANCE HAD BEEN PERFORMED ACCORDING TO FORD RECOMENDATIONS. IN 2001 WITH ONLY 30,000 MILES THE TRANSMISSION HAD TO HAVE O-RINGS REPLACED IN TRANSMISSION BECAUSE OF PROBLEMS WITH THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTING. WE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUSHED JUST PRIOR TO THE FOLLOWING INCIDENT AS RECOMMENDED BY THE FORD OWNERS MANUAL. IN JUNE 2002 WHILE TOWING A TRAILER (WEIGHTS WITHIN LIMITS OF VEHICLE REQUIREMENTS) WE EXPERIENCE A COMPLETE LOSS OF THE TRANSMISSION. ENGINE WOULD REV WHILE IN GEAR BUT ACTED LIKE IN NEUTRAL. TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS SPEWING OUT FROM UNDER THE VEHICLE AND SMOKING. WE PULLED SAFELY TO THE SIDE OF THE RODE BUT HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE NEXT AVAILABLE TOWN. THIS TRANSMISSION WAS EQUIPPED WITH AN AUXILLARY TRANSMISSION COOLER. THERE IS ONLY 58,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, LESS THAN 30,000 SINCE THE LAST PROBLEM. WE WERE INFORMED BY THE SERVICE TECH THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NEITHER DRIVE FORWARD OR IN REVERSE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. THE TRANSMISSION WAS REPLACED WITH A FORD REBUILT TRANSMISSION. WITH IN APPROX. 1-2 MONTHS AFTER REPLACEMENT THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE SERVICE TECH INFORMED US THAT IT WAS A TRANSMISSION CODE. AFTER RESETTING THE LIGHT AND WAITING FOR AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE "TRANSMISSION PERSON" AT THE DEALERSHIP THE LIGHT DID NOT COME BACK ON AN THE SERVICE TECH ADVISED TO 'WAIT AND SEE'. IN DEC. 2002 WHILE DRIVING IN THE MOUNTAINS WITH 4 ADULTS AND 3 CHILDREN IN THE

CONSUMER COULD TAKE VEHICLE OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE FOOT ON THE BRAKE. DEALER NOTIFIED. TS...*AK

CONSUMER STATED HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION. ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER FOR A THREE MONTH CHECK UP AND SAME CABLES WERE REPLACED AND TWO DAYS AFTER THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT. TS *TT

CONSUMER STATES HIS MIRRORS ARE GETTING DARK STAINS ON THEM, WHICH IMPAIRS HIS VISION. ALSO THE MIRROR PART IS FLAKING AWAY. TS

CONSUMER STATES' THE VEHICLES DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE, SIDE VIEW MIRRORS HAVE DEVELOPED A SCRATCHY CLOUDY LOOKING. CONSUMER IS NOT ABLE TO SEE THE ROAD CLEARLY BEHIND VEHICLE. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. MR

NO SUMMARY. DT

DEALER REPLACED ALL RECALLED TIRES INCLUDING SPARE. A FEW MONTHS LATER I PULLED OFF THE HIGHWAY INTO MY DRIVEWAY AND FELT THE VEHICLE "JUMP UP" AND MOVE TO THE RIGHT. I LOOKED BACK AND THE SPARE TIRE HAD FALLEN OUT FROM UNDER IT. THE TIRE WAS BRAND NEW BUT HAD RUB MARKS ALL THE WAY AROUND LIKE IT HAD BEEN SPINNING. THE CABLE HOLDING IT WAS SLICED STRAIGHT ACROSS. I'M ASSUMING THE TIRE WASN'T TIGHT AND IT HAD SPUN UNTIL IT SNAPPED THE CABLE. THIS WAS NOT REPORTED. MY HUSBAND LOWERED THE CABLE AND PUT ANOTHER CLAMP TO HOLD IT ON. THE SPARE NEEDS TO BE SECURELY TIGHTENED. I TRADED THIS VEHICLE IN FOR A 2002 F150. DT

WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH IN A HEAD ON COLLISION NONE OF THE FRONTAL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED UPON VEHICLE IMPACT. NO POLICE REPORT WAS TAKEN. PLEASE PROVIDE MORE DETAILS. TS

THE OWNER NOTICED A BURNING SMELL ENTERING THE COMPARTMENT. THE RIGHT SIDE OF THE ENGINE HAS A CYLINDER FAILING CAUSING A LEAKAGE OF OIL ONTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE OWNER IS AWARE THAT THE MANUFACTURE HAS (3) TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS THE INDICATE THIS TYPE OF FAILURE. PLEASE DESCRIBE DETAILS. TS

CONSUMER WAS PULLING OFF FROM A STOP AND VEHICLE SUDDENLY TOOK OFF LIKE DRIVER'S FOOT WAS PRESSING ON GAS PEDAL. THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION RESULTED IN A CRASH, AND VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *PH...*AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVERS SIDE REAR VIEW WINDOWS OVER TIME BECOME SCRATCHED AND SPIEDERY LOOKING. CONSUMER CAN HARDLY SEE THE ROAD. DEALER HAS BEEN CONTACTED. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

EXTREME FISH TAILING, LOSS OF TRACTION IN ANY TYPE OF WET CONDITION!! DT

ENGINE SPUTTERED WHILE AT A STOP, CONSUMER APPLIED MORE GAS TO KEEP VEHICLE RUNNING. ACCELERATOR PEDAL GOT STUCK AND VEHICLE TOOK OFF. CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO SLOW DOWN VEHICLE, IT HIT A GOUP OF TREES.(SPEED UNKNOWN) CONSUMER SUFFERED INJURIES TO HER BACK. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. TS

WHILE DRIVING APPROX 70MPH W/CRUISE CONTROL ENGAGED, THE ENGINE'S HEAD GASKET "BLEW" CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO STALL. TS

WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE MECHANISMS ENGAGE ON AND OFF. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED (NOTHING THEY CAN DO) PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. TS

VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN 1999 NEW, ALL ROUTINE MAINTENANCE WAS PERFORMED ON TIME AND ON SCHEDULE, VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED WITH A FACOTRY EXTENDED WARRANTY TO PROVIDE DRIVETRAIN COVERAGE TO 100,000 MILES. ENGINE FAILURE AT 103,000. WARRANTY EXPIRED, MANUFATURE CUSTOMER SERVICE REPORTED SO SORRY. BUY NEW ENGINE. MR

CONSUMER STATES WHILE CAR IN PARK AND KEYS OUT OF IGNITION A 4 YEAR OLD CHILD WAS ABLE TO PULL THE SHIFTER DOWN TO LOW GEAR CAUSING THE TRUCK TO ROLL BACK. NLM

FRONT WINDSHIELD WIPERS SELF ACTIVATES. OCCURENCE IS MORE COMMON WHEN TURNING CORNERS. MAY BE ASSOCIATED WITH USING TURN SIGNAL. IF I RECALL CORRECTLY, DURING EARLY MONTH OF OWNERSHIP, FORD NOTIFIED ME OF SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER. I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN AND HAD THIS AND THE TRAILER HITCH RECALL TAKEN CARE OF. FORD DEALERSHIP TOLD ME MY VEHICLE DID NOT HAVE A DEFECTIVE PART (FOR THE REAR WIPER SWITCH) AND THEREFORE DID NOT CHANGE OUT. MR

I WAS SLOWLY BACKING INTO A PARKING SPACE BEHIND THE OFFICE BUILDING THAT I WORK AT GOING APPROXIMATELY 4 TO 5 MPH (JUST CRAWLING). I HAVE BEEN BACKING INTO THE SAME AREA FOR OVER 15 YEARS. AS I LIGHTLY STEPPED ON THE GAS PEDAL, VEHICLE LURCHED BACKWARDS HITTING THE BUILDING SQUARELY CAUSING EXTENSIVE DAMAGE AS IT WAS A POWERFUL HIT. THIS HAD HAPPENED TWO OTHER TIMES WHEN THE CAR WAS DRIVEN BY MY HUSBAND AND PARENTS. THOSE TWO SEPARATE INCIDENTS HAD OCCURRED IN OTHER AREAS WHERE THERE WAS AMPLE ROOM TO REACT.

BRAKE ROTORS WARPING ON INSIDE OF VEHICLE. DEALERSHIP IS AWARE OF PROBLEM.*AK

ENGINE CHECK LIGHT HAS BEEN ON FOR SEVERAL MONTHS. WHEN I CONTACTED BIRD-KULGEN FORD, WES TOLD ME IT WAS AN EMMISSION PROBLEM AND A COMPUTER CHECK WOULD NEED TO BE DONE. IT WAS AND THE COMPUTER COULD NOT FIND THE PROBLEM... NOW THEY ARE IN TRIAL AND ERROR AND LABOR INTENSIVE TIME...JUST BEGAN TODAY BUT OTHERS MAY BE HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM, SO I WROTE TO YOU.*AK

I PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE ON 9/8/2002. I HAVE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS COMING ON WHILE RIDING DOWN THE ROAD, AND ALSO WHEN I TURN ON THE TURN SIGNALS. IT IS VERY EMBARRASING WHEN OTHER PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT THIS HAPPENING TO A DRY WINDSHIELD. I HAD IT IN THE SHOP ON 9/13/2002 AND I WAS TOLD THAT THE MACHINE DID NOT DIAGNOSE A PROBLEM AND TO KEEP DRIVING IT UNTIL THE WIPER COMPLETELY STOP>AK

AFTER READING A LOCAL NEWSPAPER AND READING ARTICLES THROUGH THE WEBSITE REGARDING THE RECALL OF CERTAIN TIRES DUE TO TREAD SEPARATION. THE CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE TIRES ON HIS 99' FORD EXPEDITION (GRABBER AW P255 70 R16). THE COSUMER HAD SIMILAR TREAD SEPARATION PROBLEMS THAT EXISTED WITH THE TIRES ON THE VEHICLE.*SCC *CB *JB

THE CONSUMER WOULD HEAR A POPPING/RUMBLING NOISE WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS REVERSED OR IF THE STEERING WHEEL WAS TURNED TO THE LEFT OR RIGHT. CONSUMER HAD TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY THOUGHT THEY HAD FIXED THE PROBLEM, THE CONSUMER CONTINUED TO HEAR A NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE FRONT TIRES WERE RAPIDLY WEARING DOWN. THE CONSUMER HAD GONE TO SEVERAL FORD DEALERS AND RECEIVED DIFFERENT CONFLICTING DIAGNOSES FROM THE SEVERAL SERVICE AREAS OF DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, CONSUMER FEELS THERE IS A POSSIBLE DEFECT WITH THE VEHICLE, ALSO THERE WAS A NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR, DEALER REPLACED THE CLUTCHES IN THE REAR, THERE WAS A POPPING NOISE WHEN BACKING UP AND MAKING A TURN, DEALER LUBED THE STEERING, CONSUMER WAS ALOS INFORMED THAT LOWER BALL JOINTS WERE NEEDED.*SCC *CB

AGAIN, I AM NOT HAVING TO INSTALL ANOTHER TORQUE CONVERTER TOMORROW. MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT TO YOU WAS FOR THE FIRST TORQUE CONVERTER INSTALLED WHILE THE CAR WAS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. MY ORIGINAL COMPLAINT HAS ALL THE NECESSARY INFORMATION CONCERNING THIS CAR. WHAT DO I HAVE TO DO TO GET SOME KIND OF FEEDBACK OR INFORMATION FROM SOMEONE THAT CAN INFORM ME OF MY OPTIONS ON SEEING THAT FORD IS DOING SOMETHING ABOUT THIS?I AM STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS NO TRADE-IN VALUE( WORD IS OUT ON THESE CARS) AND CANNOT AFFORD ANOTHER AUTOMOBILE WITHOUT A DESCENT TRADE-IN. I AM STUCK WITH THIS FORD LEMON....CAN YOU NOT CONTACT ME VIA E-MAIL AND AT LEAST LET ME KNOW THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED MY COMPLAINT? I WOULD DEEPLY APPRECIATE IT AND I WOULD DO IT FOR YOU. NO ONE DESERVES THIS TROUBLE AND NO DESERVES TO LOSE THE TIME AND MONEY I HAVE INVESTED IN THIS AUTOMOBILE. PLEASE, PLEASE HELP. THANK YOU. *AK

SHIFT CABLE BROKE IN HALF, CAUSING VEHICLE NOT TO SHIFT FROM PARK TO REVERSE.*AK*JB

EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE CABLE AT LEFT REAR TIRE BROKE, CAUSING THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE TO BECOME INOPERABLE. *AK DEALER COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. *SLC

EXTERIOR MIRROR IS PEELING, CAUSING ALMOST ZERO VISIBILITY.*AK THE MANUFACTURER REFUSES TO REPAIR UNDER WARRANTY. THESE MIRRORS ARE HEATED WITH THE TURN SIGNALS EMBEDDED. *JG

I WAS RETURNING FROM KANSAS CITY, MO. TO WOODBRIDGE, VA., TRAVELING ON I-70E AT THE 51 MM IN INDIANA. MY VEHICLE WAS SET ON CRUISE JUST UNDER 70 MPH. (69 MPH APPROX.) SUDDENLY I FELT A VIBRATION AND SOUND THAT RESEMBLED DRIVING OVER RUMBLE STRIPS! THERE ALSO WAS IMMEDIATE VIBRATION IN THE STEERING, THOUGH NO LOSS OF CONTROL. I WAS DRIVING IN THE SLOW LANE (#2), SO I GENTLY APPLIED BRAKES AND MOVED TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AND STOPPED. MY PASSENGER SIDE FRONT TIRE HAD COMPLETELY COME APART. THE TREAD HAD SEPARATED FROM THE CASING, AND THE SIDEWALL WAS CHEWED UP, EXPOSING THE WHITE PLYS UNDERNEATH! WHEN THE TIRE WAS REMOVED AND INSPECTED AT THE GARAGE THAT TOWED ME, A TEAR, THAT WENT FROM THE RIM STRAIGHT OUT TO WHERE THE CASING MEETS THE TREAD WAS FOUND. THERE WERE NO FOREIGN OBJECTS OR BUBBLES IN THE TIRE, NOR HAD I RUN OVER ANYTHING, AND THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO THE RIM. THE TIRE HAD ABOUT 90% TREAD ON IT .THIS VEHICLE HAD JUST RECEIVED A MAINTENANCE CHECK AND SERVICING AT A FORD DEALERSHIP IN PITTSBURGH, PENNA. ON 10AUG02. THIS WAS A "MULTI POINT INSP."(INCLUDING TIRE ROTATION) I WAS TOLD THAT "ALL TIRES, BRAKES, ETC. WERE IN VERY GOOD CONDITION, REQUIRING NO MAINTENENCE BEYOND FLUID AND FILTER CHANGES THAT WERE BEING DONE AT THAT TIME. BASICALLY, I DON'T KNOW WHAT CAUSED THE TIRE TO THROW THE TREAD, (SEPARATE). I DO KNOW THAT THE VEHICLE WAS CHECKED BY THE MANUFACTURER'S DEALERSHIP, AND BASED ON THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE SUPPLIED, AND THE RECENT PROBLEMS WITH FIRESTONE,

STARTED MAKING VIBRATION SOUNDS( THOUGHT WAS ROAD NOISE). VIBRATION BECAME LOUDER AND I TOOK IT TO TRUSTED MECHANIC AT AAMCO WHO TOLD ME THAT THE FORD CAR I BOUGHT HAD PROBLEMS WITH THAT PARTICULAR TRANSMISSION AND THAT AN EXPENSIVE FLUID CALLED MERCHRON 5(VERY EXPENSIVE FLUID) WAS TO BE PUT INTO THEM. THIS DIDNOT WORK AS MY TORQUE CONVERTOR NEEDED REPLACING. THE GENTLEMAN AT AAMCO CALLED AN OUT OF AREA FORD DEALER AND TOLD THEM THAT THE MILEAGE WAS TOO LOW AND THE CAR TO EXPENSIVE FOR THESE KIND OF TROUBLES. THIS DEALER REPLACED TORQUE CONVERTOR UNDER WARRANTY, BUT IT IS DOING IT AGAIN. AS YOU CAN SEE, THE MILEAGE AT WHICH IT WAS FIRST REPAIRED (37000) UNTIL NOW(48000), ONLY MEANS THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO HAVE THIS PROBLEM EVERY 10 OR 11K MILES. THIS WAS MY FIRST MAJOR PROBLEM BUT IN THE PAST, THIS CAR HAS SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY, NOT REGISTERED ANY OIL AND BECAUSE IT IS A SOUTHERN COMFORT LIMITED EDITION MODEL IT HAS A TV-VCR COMBO THAT WORKED FOR A FEW MONTHS AND IT WENT OUT. I HAVE YET TO FIND A REPAIR PERSON FOR THIS PROBLEM. FORD KNEW OF THIS TRANSMISSION PROBLEM AND TRIED TO COVER IT UP. I DO NOT WISH TO CONTINUE TRAVELING LONG DISTANCES TO FIND AN HONEST FORD REPAIR DEALERSHIP WHEN THIS CAR IS NOTHING BUT A LEMON. THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND ANY HELP YOU MIGHT GIVE ME. FORD IS RIPPING OFF THOUSANDS OF CONSUMERS( THEY ARE ON THE INTERNET) AND THEY SHOULD BE STOPPED AND PUT COMPLETELY OUT OF BUSINESS!*AK