Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||||
| 03181 | 09/15/2003 | 10004027 | Remote keyless entry (rke) - service tips. *tt | 11/14/2003 | |
| 12227 | 12/01/1998 | 615488 | For all vehicles with generic electronic module (gem) concerns that require a module replacement, the technician must call for approval before removing and / or replacing the module. *tt | 01/17/2001 | |
| 98246 | 12/07/1998 | 604059 | Ford motor company has released a new electrical grease ( f8az - 19g208-aa ) to reduce the possibility of moisture corrosion at the terminals. *yc | 03/16/1999 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| 98-4817 | 09/01/1998 | 607230 | Some 1997-1998 explorer/mountaineer/expedition or navigator vehicles with 4-wd 4x4 system may exhibit both | 01/02/2001 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||||
| 99164 | 08/09/1999 | 607657 | Concerns with a hard to turn ignition key and / or a hard to remove key from ignition cylinder. *tt | 10/04/1999 | |
| BC0477961114 | 11/14/1996 | 50758 | Engineering is investigating dealership concerns with fouled or cracked spark plugs. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| 962523 | 12/02/1996 | 50979 | Runs rough - malfunction indicator lamp (mil) on - diagnostic trouble codes (dtcs) p0300 through p0308 stored in memory - vehicles built through 10/14/96 with 4.6l engine. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| BC0696961023 | 10/23/1996 | 50368 | Concerns of check engine light (mil) w/ codes p0300 thru p0308 & eng runes rough/misses. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - ANTI-THEFT CONTROLLER | |||||
| 0162 | 04/02/2001 | 619266 | Vehicles equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) may not start or crank. *tt | 05/22/2001 | |
| 12154 | 11/01/1998 | 613173 | Some vehicles equipped with pats (securilock) except certain models now have availability of fleet keys through rotunda. *mjs | 06/19/2000 | |
| 983566 | 01/01/1998 | 607837 | Information on programming / diagnosing any passive anti-theft system (pats) related issues. *tt | 10/13/1999 | |
| 983566 | 01/19/1998 | 607484 | Information regarding programming / diagnosing passive anti-theft system (pats) related issues. *tt | 09/23/1999 | |
| 98110 | 01/19/1998 | 605570 | Subject regarding passive anti theft system (pats) diagnostic service tips. *tt | 07/09/1999 | |
| BC3272970207 | 02/07/1997 | 51870 | Vehicles are equipped with passive anti-theft system (pats) - vehicle will not start without the correct ignition key. *tw | 07/17/1997 | |
| BC1025097230 | 01/23/1997 | 51621 | Passive anti-theft system. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||||
| BC3282970206 | 02/06/1997 | 51878 | Gem concern - check for more than one gem controlled component that is inoperative or for a string of false gem dtc's received in memory. *tw | 07/17/1997 | |
| 97620 | 03/17/1997 | 52002 | Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) - illuminated- diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0446 stored in continuous memory- vehicles built through 1/17/97. *jd | 07/17/1997 | |
| BC3363972301 | 01/23/1997 | 51449 | The ngs displays incorrect date for the ing gem pid on the vehicles. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC1022797230 | 01/23/1997 | 51590 | The ngs displays incorrect data for the ign gem pid on the vehicles. *jd | 06/27/1997 | |
| BC0340961127 | 11/27/1996 | 50737 | Certain 1997 vehciles may have been built with the 240 second misfire delay. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| 962511 | 12/02/1996 | 50968 | Powertrain control module -reprogram powertrain control module (pcm) - service procedures - service tip. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| BC0054961101 | 11/01/1996 | 50817 | Vehicles may have been built with a 240 second misfire delay. *tw | 06/17/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||||
| 97111097234 | 11/10/1997 | 53660 | Vehicles exhibiting a squeaking or chirping from the blower motor at low blower motor speeds. *yc | 03/30/1998 | |
| BC0745961018 | 10/18/1996 | 50388 | Concern of starter staying engaged, look at chafed wire at the rear bracket for the right front upper control arm. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||||
| 99222 | 10/18/1999 | 6089681 | Subject on a wire harness terminal repair kit available for repairing electrical wiring harnesses. *tt | 02/11/2000 | |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||||
| BC5196961001 | 10/01/1996 | 50473 | Concern of starter staying engaged. red wire that runs from the starter relay to the starter may chafe & cause starter to stay engaged after crank. *tt | 04/24/1997 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 08V025000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V488000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 05V388000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V078000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V336000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 06V286000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V347000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 06V286000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 05V388000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V078000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 08V025000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V336000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V347000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
| EA05005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY | 03/22/2005 | 08/02/2006 | ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES | 07V488000 | |
| Ea05-005 is closed with ford | ||||||
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | |||
| 03/16/2007 | 155000 | ||
| Tl- 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. rvk | |||
| 03/16/2007 | 155000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. whenever the contact drives the vehicle he noticed that the dashboard panel lights occasinally will not function. the vehicle has not been diagnosed or repaired. the current and failure mileages are 160000. bml | |||
| 02/26/2012 | 113000 | ||
| 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. | |||
| 12/31/2011 | 140000 | ||
| Tl-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. sm. | |||
| 12/31/2011 | 140000 | ||
| Tl- the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. the contact stated that while the vehicle was stalled in the driveway, the contact noticed the exterior and interior lights were flashing, the stereo would turn on and off, the door locks would lock and unlock. the contact unplugged the vehicle for the vehicle for the vehicle to stall normally. also, the transmission completely failed. the contact noticed a water leak coming from windshield onto the dash board. the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repair to the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure mileage was 140,000 and current mileage was 197,000. nw | |||
| 02/09/2011 | 170000 | ||
| Tl* 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. | |||
| 02/09/2011 | 170000 | ||
| Tl- 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. rvk | |||
| 02/09/2011 | 170000 | ||
| Tl-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 to 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. js | |||
| 06/19/2009 | 100000 | ||
| Tl* 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. | |||
| 06/19/2009 | 100000 | ||
| Tl-the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. the contact stated that when it rained, the main computer component that sat behind the fuse box absorbed moisture. the moisture caused that all the gauges on the instrument panel failed, the vehicle would lock and unlock itself, the interior lights would flash on and off constantly, the starter would attempt to engage when the vehicle was running, and she heard the starter attempt to engage when the keys were not in the ignition. the vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer who refilled the windshield more than once and the body of the vehicle was refilled as well; the main computer connected to the fuse box was also replaced the failure continued and only occurred when it rained. the manufacturer had not been notified. the current mileage was approximately 150,000. the failure mileage was approximately 100,000-bk | |||
| 05/07/2011 | 232936 | ||
| Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. the contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire, which originated from under the hood. the police and the fire department were called and a police report was filed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer for inspection and the manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 232,936. | |||
| 05/07/2011 | 232936 | ||
| Tl - the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. the contact stated that the vehicle caught on fire, which originated from under the hood. the police and the fire department were called. a police report was filed. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was not made aware. the vehicle was not repaired. the failure and current mileage was 232,936. pm | |||
| 10/03/2010 | 100000 | ||
| 1997 ford expedition looses #7 spark plug. all 7 people on-board die in ensuing fire. defect known by nhtsa and ford for many years. nhtsa, is the the headline your waiting for? this is your responsibility. do your job. | |||
| 06/08/2010 | |||
| Car was dead when i woke up. jumped it, speedometer ddn'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. | |||
| 08/01/2009 | 165 | 1 | |
| 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. *tr | |||
| 02/11/2009 | 184000 | 1 | |
| 1997 ford expedition has water in stereo causing electrical fire in dash. no water leaks found. windshield was resealed and water tested. *tr | |||
| 01/05/2008 | 98000 | 1 | |
| After rain, water leaked through windshield on 1997 ford expedition resulting in electrical anomalies. this could pose a fire hazard. *tr | |||
| 02/16/2008 | 1 | 06/20/2006 | |
| Start my truck as usual every morning to let idle before i go to work. 5 to 10 min. *tr | |||
| 10/18/2007 | 150000 | 1 | 07/01/2007 |
| Tl*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. | |||
| 04/16/2007 | 124500 | 50 | 02/12/1998 |
| 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 expeditions catching fire. recall where are you???!!!!! *jb | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 10 | 06/20/1999 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 03/01/2007 | 98000 | 1 | 04/04/2000 |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 01/01/2007 | 5 | ||
| My 1997 ford expedition has been having serious electrical problems. i have had the gem mod replaced as well as the fuse box. it seems as though water is leaking into these parts from the windshield. i am still having these problems with a family of six, i am concerned with the prospects of an electrical fire or something else. we have had instances where the car lost power while on the highway, this could cause a serious accident. please talk to ford. this seems like a very common problem! *jb | |||
| 12/21/2006 | 1 | ||
| I have a 1997 ford expedition which has had the following symptoms: the fan blower stays on while truck is off, the battery dies for no apparent reason after truck has sat unused for short periods, various lights on instrument panel come on and off while driving(including abs, airbag, all 4wd related lights, low wash, check engine), overdrive light blinks, speedometer doesn't work, truck doesn't accelerate and shift properly, radio comes on when truck is off. clicks and beeps can be heard sometimes when in use and off. the dealer said the gem and fuse box were damaged by water leaking from windshield. they replaced parts(for $600 and told me that i had to go and get the windshield fixed. i asked how they knew the water was certainly coming from windshield, and they said because of location etc. and i asked them what will happen if it rains after i pick it up and before it gets looked at. they said i'd be fine if it's within a few days (just don't wait a month). well i picked it upon the evening, and made an appointment for the next day for windshield. it rained overnight, though i even covered the area as best i could. i woke up to the radio blaring from my truck. i turned the truck on, shut it back off, radio still played so i shut its power off. as i drove to work, some of the other things started to happen again as well. i am not happy that (a) i have had to pay for ford's inadequate workmanship and (b) i now have to fight with them about what is going to happen now since the rain has already screwed it up again because they left it in my hands before the leak was fixed. that truck never should have left their garage until it was taken care of. i don't know why they couldn't do it themselves, but they could have at least had the glass company come and do it there. this clearly is a common problem with expeditions, and i think ford should be forced to do something about it. electrical malfunctions are not something to let. *nm | |||
| 03/24/2006 | 1 | ||
| Dt*: the contact stated the vehicle caught on fire while parked. the dealer and the manufacturer were contacted but would not investigate the cause of the problem to determine if it was caused by a recall or defect. pictures of the incident were taken.*ak | |||
| 02/04/2006 | 93000 | 3 | 09/23/2005 |
| 97 expedition that has multiple electrical problems, air bag light stays on, clicking under dash wet carpet on drivers side. local ford dealer tells me oh that's an easy fix, only $1200.00 to replace the generic electric module and remove and reinstall the windshield! went on to tell me they do this all the time on expeditions! i asked why and they told me that the factory screwed up when the windshields were installed and they leak! i thought that was why we had recalls! if this is the factories fault then why must i pay for it? *jb | |||
| 01/13/2006 | 129000 | 20 | 06/28/2003 |
| I have experienced a problem with my 97 ford expedition not starting after sitting for longer than two days for over a year now. i have had the local ford dealership attempt to find the draw keeping the vehicle for over a month total. when it rained the problem seemed to be worse. eventually i was left with having to have a battery booster in the back and jump the car as it needed with no solution from the dealer. today i went out to the car almost a year later of dealing with this and the car wouldn't start after less than 24 hours of not driving it. the car was not completely dead as there was clicking noises upon turning the ignition but did not turn over. removed the keys from ignition and got out of car to get battery booster from the back and heard popping and static noise from passenger front speaker very loud. again, keys were not even in the ignition. noise continued to come from the speaker for over 30 min until i jumped the car. when started the clock and radio would not work and noise continued to come from the speaker, also noticed water leaking down passenger side handle located by the windshield. drove immediately to garage specializing in electrical and was told of water leaking from windshield seal failure very common in this vehicle and position of fuse and gem module allowing water to leak in and pool acting as a conductor resulting in components coming on and malfunctioning without vehicle on is very common. resolution, replace windshield as seal needs to be corrected (approx. $280.00) and replace fuse and gem module (approx. $600.00). i left the garage and called the local dealer and was told the same and service manager said with our recent rain of 25 days running here in wa they were seeing a lot of this and is common but there is no recall for this. after doing research online this evening i am shocked how many similar complaints i have found for this and a couple of other problems i have noticed. *jb | |||
| 07/16/2005 | 98569 | 1 | 03/25/2003 |
| Dt: ford expidition caught fire this past saturday on july 16, 2005. no keys were in igition, it had been sitting for about 5 minutes, got in and began to drive it, backed it up and smelled something funny, so left it there. the fire department had a hard time putting out the fire. they said fire was so bad they couldn't determine what started it or where it started from. couldn't even tell there was an engine in the truck. it burnt the front of the vehicle. contacted dealer, they said there was nothing they could do. . at this point have not contacted the manufacturer.*ak | |||
| 06/30/2005 | 112439 | 11/23/1997 | |
| Cruse controll brake switch burned up while attempting to back car out of the garage. when this switch burned up it caused the stop light fuse to also burn out and and this causes the shift leaver to lock in the park position. now we have an electrical fire and can't get the car out of the garage. a good friend of mine has his own shop and he used to a chief mechcanic for ford so i called him and he corected the problem. he gave me the parts that burned up and told me to call ford because they had a recall out for this problem on thier 2000 & 2001 modles. my car is a 1997 and they said they could not help me. any suggestions. p.s. i still have the parts from the car. | |||
| 05/29/2004 | 90000 | 1 | |
| Ford expedition caught on fire.***no answer required***. *mr the vehicle had been sitting for 6-8 hours before it caught on fire. *nm | |||
| 06/19/2005 | 119000 | 5 | 06/28/2003 |
| Dt:consumer stated that since t she bought vehicle it had electrical problems. dealer told consumer had consumer to take vehicle to a special shop, they would try to figure out the problem. consumer said that within the first three months vehicle had two ignition switches installedt hat consumer did not have to pay for. vehicle had several other electrical problems. consumer said that without the key in ignition the windshield wipers /radio came on, and the air bag deployed. sometimesm the windows would not role back up after being rolled down. consumer arrived home after driving vehicle all day. consumer parked and went inside the house. about five minutes later, found out that vehicle was on fire. firemen stated they could not tell what caused the fire.*ak | |||
| 06/07/2005 | 102000 | 0 | 11/01/2003 |
| June 7, 2005, i picked up my son at school; we drove home and got out of the truck. we were in the house 3-4 minutes when i heard a very loud noise and then started to smell smoke. i looked outside and my 1997 ford expedition was engulfed in flames. i immediately called the fire department who arrived with the police department. the fire department said it was a fire that started under the hood and burnt the entire truck up. | |||
| 04/29/2005 | 1 | ||
| 1997 ford expedition caught on fire while parked. *mr the consumer was informed that smoke was coming from the hood along with flames on the drivers side of the vehicle. the fire spread to the vehicle parked beside the consumers vehicle and damaged the rear driver side quarter panel of the other vehicle. *sc *jb | |||
| 10/29/2004 | 105160 | 1 | 02/03/2002 |
| My 97 ford expedition caught on fire while parked in home depot parking lot 10-29-05. the fire was electrical, and it started under the hood according to the insurance report. *jb | |||
| 10/15/2004 | 95000 | 1 | 11/15/1997 |
| 1997 ford expedition was parked in driveway. under hood fire and smoke erupted. cruise control disconnect switch had burst into flames and set brake fluid on fire. significant damage. parts replaced, old parts available. | |||
| 12/19/2000 | 42000 | 100 | 08/17/2000 |
| Check engine light comes on stays on. at first, i was told this was being caused by a gas cap not holding pressure. i purchased a new gas cap which seem to take care of the problem and the computer was reset by taking the cable off the battery. this last about a month until i was told it was the evap can solinoid, which was replaced under the extended warranty purchased. the computer was reset by removing the cable from the battery. this lasted about a month and was told to check the gas cap and the computer reset by removing the battery cable. the check engine light will go out with fresh tank of high octane gas, but will reappear with lower grade of fuel after a while. i am told now that 1 of 4 o2 sensors are bad and need to be replaced. furthermore, it is recommended that all 4 o2 sensors be replaced ($150/ea) at the same time. i am relucntant in believing the cause of the check engine light as i have had this problem way too many times to throw down $700 on something may or may not work. ohio emissions test will automatically fail your vehicle if the check engine light is on. there needs to be record some place so that owners can fight back if they pass their emissions test, but can't get the certificate if the check engine light is on. i have wasted too much money and time trying to diagnose and fix this check engine light.*ak | |||
| 01/27/2005 | 3 | ||
| The consumer was unable to start the vehicle. the engine light illuminated the dash board and flashed very fast. it made a clicking noise in the front end of the vehicle. the consumer took the vehicle to the dealer who replaced the keys and, the pcm, the pcm burned out again, and the consumer was told some wires were pulling from the front to the transmission. the vehicle is out of service again with the same problem. please provide any further information. | |||
| 02/14/2005 | 98000 | 1 | |
| Engine compartment fire while vehicle was parked. vehicle had been parked 30 minutes. alternator replaced 1 month ago. cruise control used sometimes. last used 1 month ago and it worked. no after market equipment. bruce york went to see vehicle and took pictures.*ak | |||
| 01/09/2005 | 100000 | 4 | 12/08/2004 |
| Wet conditions cause electrical malfunctions on my 1997 ford expedition. was traveling on 01-10-05 on snow packed roads with 4x4 activated. four whell drive cluster on the instrument panel started to flash intermittently causing the vehicle to shift very akwardly. took car out of 4x4 and seemed to correct the problem. next occurance was on 01-21-05, traveling on wet roads. turned off vehicle in parking lot and interior lighting and running board lights would not shut off for a few minutes. after the vehicle had dried out after a few days the problem seemed to fix itself again. the next incident was on 01-29-05, once again wet road conditions. parked vehicle in driveway overnight went out to start the next day and heater blower was still running without the key in the ignition. vehilcle had dead battery, jump started the car and the interior lights would not turn off, as well as the running boards. heater blower would not shut off. took the vehicle out to make sure that the battery was charged enough and the speedometer stopped working and it would not shift correctly. it felt at one point that it had shifted itself into neutral. this is very unsafe as the traffic behind me had to suddenly brake. managed to get the car home safely. i have been made aware that this seems to be a common problem on the expeditions of any year. i am having the car serviced tomarrow to find out what the problem is. hopefully this can be corrected, but the more i look into it other owners have had their vehicles in several times before it can be corrected. i think this is a terrible situation that should be looked into by the ford motor company. it is not an isolated incident. *ak | |||
| 01/29/2005 | 154000 | 1 | 09/15/2001 |
| My husband went out to start vehicle. he heard a pop. turned off the truck. saw that the coil and plug blew out of the cylinder head. had it towed to ford dealer who said all they could do is charge me $2700 to replace the head that was damaged from the spark plug blowing out. i've seen other complaints on this website similar to my problem and yes, it should be a manditory recall. will never buy another ford. also talked with ford company who acted like they had never heard this complaint before. ford dealer has worked on truck each time it needed repair. buying a chevrolet.*ak | |||
| 01/08/2005 | 108000 | 1 | |
| Parked vehicle at 12 pm at around 5 pm the vehicle caught on fire. one day prior to the fire the low washer fluid level light came on. then the light cluster for the 4 wheel drive flashed a few times. the day of fire, the vehicle was driven about 14 miles. the sames lights were flashing and then the odometer stopped working. took it to local gas station and they said probably a loose wire. car started it self and the starter motor kept trying to start the vehicle on its own. popped hood and saw lots of sparking and popping. so video taped it as it happened. fire seemed to come from the passenger side. did not use cruise control and so do not know if worked. | |||
| 05/13/2002 | 65000 | 9 | 02/17/1999 |
| Paint and finish on roof of vehicle peeling, cracking, flaking off - oxidation from rust, ruining entire outer car surface - have been advised that primer coat was either missed or skimped during the production process... ford will not address this issue - one male rep from ford stated: the paint job is only supposed to last 2 years not an acceptable answer...also, child safety locks engage themselves, thus preventing occupants in rear seats to exit vehicle, can cause injury or death in an emergency situation... also, vehicle rear wheels and or axels chatter at low speed turns... also, an audible hum in vehicle at normal highway speeds...also, audible squeaking from interior side panels...ford dealer states: cause cannot be located...also, leather seats have cracked and show signs of abnormal wear - this is apparant in all leather seat coverings but especially in the front bucket or captain seats...ford states warranty for vehicle no longer covers -engine has had several episodes of misfiring of revving on it's own - has been explained away as a computer problem or a sensor problem - always at cost to consumer...check engine light has come on on numerous occasions, using previous explanations as stated previously. have numerous invoices for replacements of sensors, computer chips, etc.*ak | |||
| 12/29/2003 | 98443 | 1 | 06/01/2002 |
| The consumer wentto warm the vehicle, he smelled something burning, then looked around and saw that the fuse box melted and wires were hanging. *sc *jb | |||
| 02/01/2004 | 1 | ||
| I own 1997 ford expedition 4.6l 2wd and have had a few instances where i think water has leaked through the windshield. the water is leaking somewhere on the driver side. it is causing the radio to turn on and stay on without the keys in the ignition. it also causes the airbag light to come on so i do not know if there is a real problem or not. the windshield washer fluid light comes on also. i am afraid this might trigger some extremely dangerous reaction while driving if the wrong thing gets wet. i would have it fixed but i do not know what is wrong with it. i told the dealer but they could not figure it out because it dried and stopped. this has happened a few times in the last twelve months. i have read on this site i am not the only one with this problem. i do not have the money to replace all the molding and glass. please help. *ak | |||
| 02/07/2004 | 105000 | 2 | |
| I have owened a 1997 ford expedition for 1 year. in this time i have had the same problem twice. the spark plugs come loose from the piston head and are blown out and damage the coil pack. there is then un-burnt fuel coming from the piston chamber and the spark plug is still firing with the possiblity of a fire. the dealership has told me that this is a known and addressed issue by ford motor company, but ford will only pay for repairs upto 75,000 miles. this last time this happened it damaged the head and will require major repairs. i am mostly concerned with the fire saftey and believe that this should be a manditory recall.*ak | |||
| 06/05/2003 | 76000 | 1 | |
| While driving spark plug fell out, causing vehicle to have no power. dealer notified. *ak | |||
| 06/08/2003 | 64000 | 1 | 12/14/1997 |
| 5.4l ford engine in 1997 expedition. spark plug blow-out in 3 position. expedition has 64,000 miles on it!! also , this vehicle was sold to me as a demo model that was never titled, warranty should have started when i purchased it. *nlm | |||
| 06/09/2002 | 1 | 03/20/1999 | |
| Vehicle was parked inside of the driveway and horn was blowing. then there were flames coming from underneath the hood. vehicle was on fire, and was totaled. *ak flames were coming from the hood before the horn started to blow. there was no warning of any problem before fire. truck had not been driven for hours prior to fire. it was determined that the fire was due to an electrical short near the power distribution box. *tt | |||
| 03/01/2001 | 3 | ||
| While vehicle was not running and it was raining, heater fan and radio would turn on intermittently. also, air bag light on the instrument panel would come on during operation of vehicle. dealership has examined vehicle and determined there was water in the electrical system. gem module(fuse system) was faulty, and was being replaced. *ak *tt | |||
| 08/01/2000 | 1 | ||
| Interior dome and running board lights do not shut off after all the doors are shut tightly, possible electrical problems. *et | |||
| 05/30/2000 | 3 | 01/01/2000 | |
| I have had several electrical malfunctions in the past 9 months. first starting may 2000, clicking noises under dash, dash lights blinking on and off seems low washer fluid light is effected most. beeping noises from behind glove box. a/c comes on without key in ignition. took it to ford imediatly they couldn't find a problem. next incident, was during a weekend and it seemed to correct itself. second time to the shop, same problem as first. they could not find what was causing the problem. this problem has happened several times either at night or on weekend as this is the only time the car is driven. by monday am problem is gone. in june another incident this time windows and door locks affected. windows rolled up and down by selves, then would not perform at all. door locks came up on their own. dealership could not find problem. oct. 5, 2000 driving and clicking noises start under dash, window rolls down by self, beeping noises start under dash, cigerette lighters malfunction(cell phone stops working), speedometer, odomerter, tackometer, quit working while i'm driving. windsheild wipers malfunction. car begins shifting hard. this is scary when you are driving in the rain, on dark windy roads with 3 children in the car. i just kept thinking , what if the engine dies and the steering locks up. i feel this to be a huge problem and could be life threatening. again i took the car to ford who once again could not find a problem. found the trottel to need adjusting. drove car home and the next morning the same thing happened (saturday ford service is closed) i turned off the vehicle and when i started it again the problem corrected itself. please help, i'm worried about the safety of my family.) | |||
| 03/01/1997 | 4 | 02/01/1997 | |
| Electrical failures caused vehicle to stall in traffic many times. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - BATTERY | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 60132 | 1 | 06/08/1998 |
| I am original owner of my 1997 expedition, which just turned 60000. driving at night, the dashboard lights flickered. stopped the truck and it stalled. when trying to restart, battery did not have enough joice to turn engine. when hooking up jumper cables, the starter engaged by itself, without key in ignition, engine started, but starter remained engaged for a few minutes. engine idled, but when headlights were turned on engine stalled. when trying to restart, nothing happened when turning key, even with jumper cables connected to a good battery. had to have it towed. mechanic had to replace ground wire, starter, starter soleniod, starter cable, alternator, battery, and lockout sensor. mechanic said he has replaced many ground wires on these trucks, but typically only ground wire, starter solenoid, & battery. my truck was the worst effected. how can i find out if there is any action that can be taken against ford for this very expensive fault ?*ak | |||
| 08/05/2002 | |||
| While driving, speedometer stayed at zero. consumer states all the console lights started to flash on and off. the next day vehicle would not start took to dealer. dealer states' there a crack in front window that allowed water go into fuse box and short circuit wires. resulting in speedometer being inoperative. please provide any further information. ts | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||
| 1 | |||
| When driving in the rain, water leaks around windshield, which shorted out the fuse box. took vehicle to dealer several times, but problem was not remedied. took vehicle to dealer in maryland and had windshield replaced, dealer found fuse box had rusted. *tt | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION | |||
| 04/22/2008 | 147000 | 1 | |
| Violent spark plug blow out from engine block, a regular, yet ignored, problem with ford engines. *tr | |||
| 12/06/2005 | 1 | ||
| On december 6 2005 my 1997 ford expedition caught fire around 2:30 a.m. the vehicle was off and we we're asleep. the police had to call my home and aware me of the fire and ask me to evacuate my residence because someone had reported the fire outside my home. part of my home was also damaged. *tr | |||
| 07/23/2007 | 88695 | 1 | |
| Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. on july 23, 2007, the ignition switch failed to turn as the contact attempted to start the vehicle. the vehicle was towed to the dealer and they stated that the ignition switch cylinder needed to be replaced. she was not informed of any recalls at that time. upon returning home, the contact realized that she had two different invoices; one stated that there was a safety recall on the vehicle and the other charged her for the recall repair. the purchase date was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 88,695. | |||
| 08/23/2005 | 115000 | 1 | |
| Spark plug #6 blew out of the cylinder head. resulted in being stranded on the road and impeding the flow of traffic. dealer was not helpful regarding repair. | |||
| 05/22/2004 | 0 | ||
| Sparkplugs blowing out of engine on 1997 expedition due to poor engineering | |||
| 04/04/2004 | 9 | 05/01/1999 | |
| My 1997 ford expedition has had 9 faulty or failed engine coils. the problem is most prevelant in the spring. i suspect moisture but have not been able to isolate the source. the coils have typically been on cylinders 5, 6 and 8.*ak | |||
| 12/12/2003 | 60621 | 1 | 01/05/2000 |
| My 1997 ford expedition (eddie bauer) with 5.4l engine with under 60000 miles and with all regular service at dealership blew a spark plug out of passenger side cylinder head. plugs are original factory installed. please see consumer affairs.com website. while not a safety issue plugs on fords 96-2000 are blowing out all over country. the fix is $2-3k. please consider recal investigation. *ak | |||
| 06/10/2003 | 111000 | 5 | |
| When the consumer attempted to start the vehicle it would not start. this occurred four times. after an hour the key was inserted into the ignition and the vehicle started up as if nothing happened. *ak | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 60132 | 1 | 06/08/1998 |
| I am original owner of my 1997 expedition, which just turned 60000. driving at night, the dashboard lights flickered. stopped the truck and it stalled. when trying to restart, battery did not have enough joice to turn engine. when hooking up jumper cables, the starter engaged by itself, without key in ignition, engine started, but starter remained engaged for a few minutes. engine idled, but when headlights were turned on engine stalled. when trying to restart, nothing happened when turning key, even with jumper cables connected to a good battery. had to have it towed. mechanic had to replace ground wire, starter, starter soleniod, starter cable, alternator, battery, and lockout sensor. mechanic said he has replaced many ground wires on these trucks, but typically only ground wire, starter solenoid, & battery. my truck was the worst effected. how can i find out if there is any action that can be taken against ford for this very expensive fault ?*ak | |||
| 02/08/2001 | 5 | ||
| While driving vehicle engine check light comes on and remains on. this causes vehicle to act as if it's going to stall out when its idling too long at stop lights or stop signs. has happened so far 5 times. had taken to dealership 4 times, each time mechanic replaced a coil pack. light would go out, but after 2 weeks would return again. *ak *slc | |||
| 02/22/2001 | 11/01/1996 | ||
| Coil pack defective. this is a common problem of these vehicles. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - MODULE | |||
| 04/24/2004 | 1 | ||
| When i drive through a puddle or it rains it leaks somewhere and the g.e.m. (gem) module gets wet and the speedometor, odometer, runningboard lights don't work and it doesn't shift correctly until you let it dry out. *ak | |||
| 07/01/1997 | 7 | 04/02/1997 | |
| Vehicle stalls, stutters and hesitates while driving, rendering vehicle hard to steer. | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - IGNITION - SWITCH | |||
| 06/19/2005 | 119000 | 5 | 06/28/2003 |
| Dt:consumer stated that since t she bought vehicle it had electrical problems. dealer told consumer had consumer to take vehicle to a special shop, they would try to figure out the problem. consumer said that within the first three months vehicle had two ignition switches installedt hat consumer did not have to pay for. vehicle had several other electrical problems. consumer said that without the key in ignition the windshield wipers /radio came on, and the air bag deployed. sometimesm the windows would not role back up after being rolled down. consumer arrived home after driving vehicle all day. consumer parked and went inside the house. about five minutes later, found out that vehicle was on fire. firemen stated they could not tell what caused the fire.*ak | |||
| 04/22/2002 | |||
| Vehicle will start on its own, without key being in ignition. consumer has disconnected battery. vehicle has not been inspected by dealership.*ak | |||
| 10/10/2000 | |||
| Had taken vehicle at least 3 different times to dealer for non working radio. after 3rd time dashboard started smoking. could smell rubber & plastic. went back to dealership. mechanic indicated would need to rewire & then reground the wires. had also claimed penny in radio caused electrical short. due to alarm going off, key could not be used. vehicle could not be started. mechanic could not resolve issue of electrical system & indicated it was driver's problem. *ak | |||
| 11/26/2000 | 3 | ||
| While driving about 65-70 mph vehicle suddenly stalled, and all light on dashboard were on/off. driving off the road had to turn off ignition switch. then turn it back on, and it worked as normal. taken vehicle to dealer three times. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - STARTER ASSEMBLY | |||
| 01/16/2005 | 1 | ||
| Parking brake on 1997 expedition fall to pieces, replaced both e-brake assemblies. *bf the consumer started using the parking brake since his driveway contained a slop, until one day when he backed of out of a parking spot, the vehicle began to make funny noises. the next day the vehicle began to make grinding noises and started to vibrate badly. the vehicle was towed and the consumer was informed by the dealer that it was a known problem, but ford would not fix it for free. the starter was replaced. *jb | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 60132 | 1 | 06/08/1998 |
| I am original owner of my 1997 expedition, which just turned 60000. driving at night, the dashboard lights flickered. stopped the truck and it stalled. when trying to restart, battery did not have enough joice to turn engine. when hooking up jumper cables, the starter engaged by itself, without key in ignition, engine started, but starter remained engaged for a few minutes. engine idled, but when headlights were turned on engine stalled. when trying to restart, nothing happened when turning key, even with jumper cables connected to a good battery. had to have it towed. mechanic had to replace ground wire, starter, starter soleniod, starter cable, alternator, battery, and lockout sensor. mechanic said he has replaced many ground wires on these trucks, but typically only ground wire, starter solenoid, & battery. my truck was the worst effected. how can i find out if there is any action that can be taken against ford for this very expensive fault ?*ak | |||
| 02/01/1997 | 1 | 12/01/1996 | |
| Starter failed. mjs | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 05/01/1999 | 2 | ||
| Vehicle is driven on dirt road 30%. cable frays and breaks near grommet, originally at 55,000 miles and again at 75,000. tire size was 245-75-r16.*ak | |||
| 11/01/1999 | 0 | ||
| Automobile caught on fire. was told that the cause of the fire was faulty wiring. *ak | |||
| 06/12/1998 | 3 | 06/01/1997 | |
| My wife had just began to press the brakes to slow down to go around a curve when she realized the brakes were not working, and the steering wheel would not turn as usual as all power was gone. she ran into the wrong lane of traffic on a split off road and was able with great pressure to get the truck stopped. she was very lucky no traffic was on the off road. after turning the truck switch to the off position and putting the truck in park, it started right back up. on 6/22/98 martin ford tested it, but only replaced the wiring assembly and did find anything wrong. it has happened twice since then, but not as scary since it has been when we were slowing at traffic lights and going straight so as not needing to turn. but really noticing the extra strength it takes to stop the truck without power brakes. we love the truck, but are glad it is a leased, and we will be returning it in september, we are just scared that if those other expeditions have the same problem, there could be major accidents over it. *ak | |||
| An electrical short circuit occurred in the engine f-3 compartment near the firewall, resulting in the vehicle burning. please give any frther details. *ak | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - FRONT UNDERHOOD | |||
| 12/06/2005 | 1 | ||
| On december 6 2005 my 1997 ford expedition caught fire around 2:30 a.m. the vehicle was off and we we're asleep. the police had to call my home and aware me of the fire and ask me to evacuate my residence because someone had reported the fire outside my home. part of my home was also damaged. *tr | |||
| 03/11/2007 | 150000 | 1 | 02/08/2006 |
| My 1977 ford expedition was parked in front of my house off for an hour.it then started on fire in the engine compartment and quickly engulfed the front of the car in flames destroying the car.the fire was so intense that i couldnt put it out with a fire extiguisher the fire dept had to put it out. | |||
| 04/23/2004 | 100000 | 1 | 01/01/1997 |
| Dt: contact had a 1997, ford, expedition that burned on 4-23-2004. she called ford, and they told her that there was nothing they could do because they had no proof of what caused the fire. the car was sitting in a grocery store parking lot ; she hadn't driven it for more that 15 minutes when it caught on fire while sitting there. the vehicle had been in the garage for 3 weeks prior to this. the fire came from under the hood. the inside of the car was not damaged. *ak | |||
| 02/13/2005 | 140000 | 1 | |
| After parking for 5 minutes a fire started under the hood. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem.*ak | |||
| 01/21/2005 | 165000 | 1 | |
| While vehicle was parked a fire started under the hood. the fire was put out. dealership was notified, but did not resolve the problem. *ak the consumer stated that he did not know if the cruise control was operating properly because he rarely uses it. *tc | |||
| 07/07/2004 | 152000 | 1 | 05/01/2004 |
| I have a 1997 ford expedition which caught on fire on saturday july 17, 2004. he car caught on fire when it was park in the parking lot in my office. i haven't start the car for a couple of days prior to the event.*ak the fires happened when the car is not in use and the vehicle is turned off. i tried to do some online research and find nothing relate to the problem. i still have the car parking in the back parking lot, the whole car was total. houston fire department came to the parking and stop the fire, the case number is 040865bv by r.l scott houston arson investigator and his number is 713 865 9018. | |||
| 06/12/2004 | 1 | ||
| While in the garage and in park the key was taken out of the ignition switch and vehicle caught on fire under the hood. *ak | |||
| 03/06/2001 | 1 | 01/01/1997 | |
| Due to icy road conditions, the vehicle slid off the road, impacting the passenger side at a point between the front fender and front door. a fire started immediately at point of impact, under the hood. the driver exited the vehicle, only to notice that the engine was still running. she reached back into the vehicle and turned off the engine. the fire spread very rapidly and enveloped the entire vehicle, destroying it completely. it is our understanding the vehicle's inertia switch should have shut off the fuel system, killing the engine. obviously the inertia switch did not work because the engine continued to run after impact. the driver would probably have been burned to death had she been rendered unconscious by the impact, as there was no one present when the accident occurred in a wooded section of state route 271, cambria county, pa.*ak | |||
| 1 | 02/01/1998 | ||
| Rear sway bar fell out of bushing, making difficult to control. engine has rough idle.roof rack fell off due to screws that hold rack to roof were not installed.exterior moldings and glass trim discolored.passenger power window sticks and squeaks.serpentine belt noisy upon cold morning starts. | |||
| 2 | 02/01/1998 | ||
| Hood light connection faulty.'clunk' going over moderate bumps due to suspension concern-dealer said it was because my gas tank was 3/4 full and it was 'sloshing' around.technician described a 'transmission chatter' but was unable to determine cause.steering wheel has 1/2 inch of play.***our vehicle has had 42 repairs, 38 repair days, 36 pages of warranty work and over $10,000(cdn) in warranty costs. it has 6 warranty repairs pending (plus a repeated request to address the documented 'piston slap'). we are currently slated for arbitration with camvap october 27, 1999. feel free to contact us. we are simply fed up! regarding the signature card, if it is applicable for canada please forward us a card. if we can be of any assistance please let me know. | |||
| 09/18/1999 | 1 | 02/01/1999 | |
| Vehicle was parked and turned off,within 5 min of parking and exiting vehicle a fire started in the engine compartment ,there were 2 abc type fire extinguishers used on the fire but it could not be supressed until a fire truck arrived on the scene. i listed electrical but it could have involved the fuel system also, the truck was a total loss. the state farm claim # is 53-c431-317 and their rep is cathrine ismert @281-587-6608 | |||
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING - INTERIOR/UNDER DASH | |||
| 03/30/2007 | 10 | 06/20/1999 | |
| 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. *jb | |||
| 02/01/2007 | 138000 | 10 | 11/23/1996 |
| Electrical devices in the car have turned on without keys even in the ignition. concerned with fire hazard if such things as lights and blower motors turn on on their own, perhaps for extended periods. also concerned as to what other electrical malfunctions will present themselves in unattended vehicle. failure is apparently due to leaking windshield seals draining water onto gem (electronic module) and the fuse panel for the vehicle, shorting electrical connection and corroding the units over the long term. the fuse box and gem will need to be replaced to eliminate the dangerous condition (after having re-sealed the faulty seal). *nm | |||
| 12/23/2000 | 42000 | 50 | 08/14/2000 |
| The interior dash lights of my 1997 expedition go out every time it rains or the vehicle gets wet. the cause of this appears to be in the electrical system connect with the dimmrer switch that cause a short that then blows the 5 amp fuse. i have replaced this multiple times and is fine as long as it is dry (ohio isn't a very dry climate). i have gone through many 5 amp fuses. i have delayed getting anything done since the first occurance back in 2000 due the costly expense of just trying to diagnose the problem. this seems similar to other complaints that i have read posted on this web site due to water leaking from windshield. i have even had my windshield replaced and still have this problem to date. i have now stopped replacing the fuse and live with no dash lights at night. very dangerous when you don't know what speed your going. in my professional engineering opinion there appears to be a water leak issue in the windshield/firewall area. this water leak issue should be looked into as the root cause to other failures that have been seen on expeditions and f-150s in regards to electrical issues and fires.*ak | |||
| 07/06/2003 | 60132 | 1 | 06/08/1998 |
| I am original owner of my 1997 expedition, which just turned 60000. driving at night, the dashboard lights flickered. stopped the truck and it stalled. when trying to restart, battery did not have enough joice to turn engine. when hooking up jumper cables, the starter engaged by itself, without key in ignition, engine started, but starter remained engaged for a few minutes. engine idled, but when headlights were turned on engine stalled. when trying to restart, nothing happened when turning key, even with jumper cables connected to a good battery. had to have it towed. mechanic had to replace ground wire, starter, starter soleniod, starter cable, alternator, battery, and lockout sensor. mechanic said he has replaced many ground wires on these trucks, but typically only ground wire, starter solenoid, & battery. my truck was the worst effected. how can i find out if there is any action that can be taken against ford for this very expensive fault ?*ak | |||
| 09/01/1997 | 2 | 07/01/1997 | |
| Shorts in the electrical system resulted in misfunctioning door locks (repaired), electronic 4wd (still malfunctioning) and failure of internal dome light to turn off. all occurred within the first 12000 miles. 4wd and dome light are still a problem.. dome light makes vehivcle difficult to drive at night. | |||
| 38 | 06/01/2000 | ||
| Sometimes the system flutters between on and off. *ak | |||
| 10/10/2000 | |||
| Had taken vehicle at least 3 different times to dealer for non working radio. after 3rd time dashboard started smoking. could smell rubber & plastic. went back to dealership. mechanic indicated would need to rewire & then reground the wires. had also claimed penny in radio caused electrical short. due to alarm going off, key could not be used. vehicle could not be started. mechanic could not resolve issue of electrical system & indicated it was driver's problem. *ak | |||
| 04/12/2000 | 04/01/2000 | ||
| On 4-12-2000 i was driving to children's hospital with my wife and daughter. we were n/b on i-5, at 60 mph in the seattle. i attempted turn on the radio and pushed the button. nothing happened for a couple of minutes and then smoke came out of the radio. the smoke started to fill the passenger compartment . i was afraid the dashboard area was about to catch fire. i managed to find a exit to get off the freeway, stopped the car and get my family out. i turned off the ignition however the smoke was still coming out of the radio. the smoke stopped about 1 or 2 minutes later. i called bowen scarff ford in kent and was referred to sound on wheels for radio repair. the manager at sound on wheels pulled the radio from the dash and showed me the water damage on the radio and coxial antenna wire leading from the antenna to the back of the radio. when the water got into the back of the radio a short was caused and the smoke started. i was told this was a problem with the 97 ford expedition. i took my vehicle to bowen scarff ford and was informed a tech memo had been put out to ford mechanic but nothing had been sent to ford owners of expedition. what i experience was a safety issue. i could have panic and cause a major accident on a freeway at high speeds. i believe this type of short could cause a major malfunction of the electrical system. could the doors lock, trapping people inside? most deaths related to fire occure from inhaling smoke. these were some to the things going through my mind while attempting to get my family to safety. why has there not been a recall to fix this problem. how many must be injured or killed before a recall. none i pray. *ak | |||
| 01/24/1998 | 1 | 05/14/1997 | |
| Generic electronic module system failure caused relay to fail, 4-wheel drive control/transfer case failure. yh | |||
| 08/02/1999 | |||
| Intermittent problem of something burning from the dash area; dealer notified and inspected and some repairs was made by replacing heating coil; but condition still reoccurring. can nhtsa help in this matter. *ak | |||
| 03/30/1999 | 04/01/1998 | ||
| While driving 65mph dashboard caught on fire due to a defective electronic control module. *ak | |||
| 09/15/1998 | 0 | ||
| Consumer parked vehicle and went inside the house, and vehicle exploded, catching on fire. fire department explained to consumer that fire started in the glove compartment. *ak | |||