This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
When examining my vehicle which supposedly had a recall on the cruise control sensor on brake master cylinder, found that Ford only added a fusable link to prevent fire as the sensor may not have been leaking at the time. It has since leaked and the added bit of wire with the blue tag has blown it's fuses but I believe the cruise control has now disabled my horn durring operation. I am requesting my vehicle be serviced properly as the recall was not done correctly to my understanding. I was looking online and just realized this so I looked at my vehicle and saw it is the old design.
Miscellaneous electrical problems caused by water leaking from driver's side windshield into the fuse box causing, windshield wipers to quit. Door lock won't work, radio quit. Problem is never the same, depends on where the water leak occurs. Very scary and dangerous when driving at night in the rain.
I was driving down the street, going about 10 to 15 mph and while driving I had not light on my dashboard indicating any problems all of sudden my 97 Ford Expedition makes this crazy sound and completely turns off. I was not able to start the truck up again so I had it towed. After two day past I tried starting the truck up and it would not do anything.
- Gainesville, FL, USA
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The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. Whenever the contact drove the vehicle he noticed that the dashboard panel occasionally failed to function. The vehicle failure was not diagnosed nor was the vehicle repaired. The current and failure mileage was 160,000.
This issue was at night while driving the headlight to see at night had turned off at a 35 mph speed no bumps no turn just driving straight. This is a serious issue, you use your lights for night and your are left with no lights, as a result for this huge problem I received a ticket that is how I found out my lights were not working. The headlights fuses, module components, wiring were checked no issues there, as for all other lights example emergency lights, rear lights interior lights are functioning. But as the electrician found the directional switch combo was burned left with a white shadow in one area it was replaced, and now functioning. As for the suspension not functioning properly is this an issue that has not been able to be resolved. I have taken it to different shops and there is no air leakage in the suspension pump and other areas that are linked with the suspension. The suspension pump still repeatedly pump air every 45-60 minutes which it's fine, but not when the vehicle bounces very vigorously for 15 minutes or more till it activates the suspension to pump air. When the suspension is down the steering wheel functions different as the bouncing makes it hard to drive at a certain speed, not safe but manageable in the mean while. During this time I'm not appreciating the quality of my Expedition components.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idled in the driveway, he noticed that the exterior and interior lights were flashing, the stereo would turn on and off, and the door locks would lock and unlock. The contact unplugged the battery and the vehicle operated as normal. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission completely failed and the contact noticed water leaking in from the windshield onto the dashboard. Both the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repairs of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000 and current mileage was 197,000.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact was driving approximately 60 mph with the windshield wipers activated and suddenly without warning the windshield wipers failed to function. In addition, the entire electrical system failed with a strong burning odor emitting inside of the vehicle. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated there was water leaking into the fuse box as a result it caused a shortage within the GEM module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the main computer, which was housed behind the main fuse box, would absorb moisture whenever it would rain. The failure caused several failures including the failure of all of the instrument panel gauges, the vehicle would lock and unlock independently, the interior lights would illuminate independently, the starter would attempt to engage when the vehicle was running and when the keys were not in the ignition. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who made several repairs to no avail. In addition, the main computer was also replaced B ut the failure persisted and would only recur when it rained. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The current mileage was approximately 150,000. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
1997 Ford Expedition lost #7 spark plug. All 7 people on-board died in ensuing fire. Defect known by NHTSA and Ford for many years. NHTSA is the headline your waiting for? this is your responsibility. Do your job. Updated 11/29/10 updated 12/07/10
Car was dead when I woke up. Jumped it, speedometer didn't work afterward. Lights in right hand corner blink on and off I was told by the Ford dealer it is a GEM module is getting water in it but I do not have a leak in my windshield. I researched online and several people have had this same problem. It becomes dangerous because the car won't move sometimes in the middle of driving on the freeway. I seems to happen when it rains (which is everyday in seattle) I have almost been hit 3 times because of this problem and I just bought the car.
My brakes started squiking, and that went on for about a week and then it became hard for me to stop. So now I have a lot of squiking and I have to stop way before I am suppose to. I bought some brake pads that did not fix the problem.
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact noticed smoke coming from underneath the front driver seat. She removed her daughters from the rear seats and when she returned, the front of the vehicle was engulfed in smoke and the front seat was in flames. The fire department arrived and extinguished the fire. The vehicle is currently at the same location. The current and failure mileages were 150,000.
In 1998, my 1997 Ford Expedition began having electrical problems. Window locks going up and down on their own, radio playing when no one was in the car, clicking from under the dash, seatbelt lights coming on when seatbelts were being worn, wipers working on their own. I had this vehicle in the shop multiple times for these issues. After having his vehicle in the shop numerous times to no avail, I threatened a law suit if something wasn't done. The dealership called in a crew that they referred to as the rain doctors. Come to find out, the windshield was leaking on the GEM module and shorting out the electrical system. The vehicle was under warranty at that time. Now, in 2007, I am still driving the same 1997 exped. In the last few weeks, all these problems have started all over again. This time, the 4X4 cluster lights coming on and going off, clicking under the dash again, heater coming on by itself when car isn't running and running the battery down, beeping under the dash on passenger side, radio playing on its own. The whole scenario happening all over again. I am currently parking the vehicle 100 yards from my house for fear it may catch on fire by itself as I have read many, many instances in which the 1997 exped. Caught fire while parked. This should be a recall by now. Several recalls on this vehicle but all these were checked out. However, I cannot for the life of me understand why this leaky windshield problem is not being recalled. Now ten years later, when this problem is discussed at garages and parts store in my community, the technicians immediately are familiar with the problem. Again, I cannot imagine why this has not been a recall issue. The first time I went through this nightmare, it was under warranty. This time, I guess it is completely up to me to repair this faulty windshield problem. I sincerely hope no one dies or has died due to one of these Expedition catching fire. Recall where are you"?"!!!!!
I'm having serious electrical problems with my 1997 Ford Expedition. During heavy rains the truck will not start, when I do get it running the dash lights flash off and on. The truck stops running in the middle of traffic. Clicking noises are coming from the dash, the overdrive light flashes off and on the doors want lock. I'm concerned for my families safety. A possibility of the truck catching on fire. Ford needs to do a recall on the vehicles.
My 1997 Ford Expedition caught on fire in the parking structure at my office. The sprinkler system prevented the fire from spreading to the other cars. Vehicle was a total loss.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Grand Prarie, TX, USA