Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
1564802/01/2002630702Some vehicles may exhibit a slow fuel fill condition and/or premature shutoff of the gas pump when the vehicle is being refueled. *tt04/19/2002
97601111/01/1997605804Experiencing difficulty diagnosing vehicles with evaporative fuel system diagnostic trouble codes. *tt07/26/1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP
1548012/01/2001630585Some vehicles may exhibit a slow fuel fill condition and/or premature shutoff of the gas pump when the vehicle is being re-fueled. *tt04/18/2002
0020110/02/2000618539Some vehicles may exhibit hesitation on acceleration or while turning. *jb04/16/2001
981801/19/1998605568Fuel pump replacement procedure - service tip. *tt07/09/1999
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - FUEL INJECTION SYSTEM
0219309/30/200210008588Driveability-idle-high idle speeds-throttle sticks after steady state driving in extreme cold ambient temperatures-vehicles built through 12/31/01 equipped with 4.6l engine. *mj08/09/2004
98161204/07/2000609747Fuel may leak from the spring lock couplings. yd04/07/2000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
1419706/04/2000613894Some vehicles may exhibit a slow fuel fill condition. *tt09/20/2000
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
039805/12/200310002780Malfunction indicator lamp (mil) illumination with diagnostic trouble codes p0442, p0455, p0456, p0457, p1442 or check fuel cap lamp illuminated with diagnostic trouble code p0457. *tt09/17/2003
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
99E0310/01/19996089616Emission recall for vehicles that were built with a fuel filler-valve which could leak while the vehicle is being operated which can exceed evaporative emissions standards. *tt02/09/2000

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
09/19/201178000
 Tl* the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the fuel tank ruptured and the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that both fuel straps was also rusted. the manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. the manufacturer advised that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 78,000.
09/19/201178000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated that the fuel tank ruptured and the vehicle was taken to a local mechanic where the contact was advised that both fuel straps was also rusted. the manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was filed. the manufacturer advised that there were no recalls for the failure and offered no further assistance. the failure mileage was 78,000. kmj
09/19/201178000
 Tl-the contact owns a 1998 ford expedition. the contact stated the fuel straps on the fuel tank was rusted and corroded. the vehicle was taken to a mechanic shop for a rupture fuel tank and they notice both fuel straps was also rusted. they will repair the vehicle but a cost to the contact they have to order the parts from the manufacturer. the manufacturer was contacted and a complaint was file and informed him there are no recalls. they offered no other assistance. the failure mileage was 78,000. mw
09/08/2011
 Rear lower trailing arms rusted completely thru gas tank straps rusted thru
11/15/2010145000
 I was driving @ 70mph down interstate 10 in seguine texas when the sparkplug on my 1998 ford expedition blew out of the head, destroying the coil, plug and wire. the vehicle interior filled with gas fumes and the vehicle started to knock very loudly. i was able to stop the vehicle prior to the fuel vapors igniting, however this was extremely dangerous as my wife and children were in the vehicle with me. after researching i have found that this problem is common with the ford 5.4 triton engines. the mechanic i took the cehicle to explained that the aluminum heads do not mesh with the steel spark plugs and eventually tear all the threads out of the head and shoot the plug out of the hole. the head of the vehicle had to be removed and machined at a cost of 1400$.
02/10/2010138000
 The gas tank straps on my 1998 ford expedition rusted through. luckily i noticed the gas tank was hanging down from the truck before taking it on an extended trip. upon further inspection, the cross-frame support rail that holds the gas tank strap was also rusted through.
02/18/2010200100
 1998 ford expedition #3 spark plug exploded resulting in vehicle requiring $1,000.00 in repairs
211/25/1997
 Poor gas mileage. window sticker when purchased claimed (16) highway. driver claims vehicle only get 13 miles to the gallon. dealer states that sticker is not true.
01/15/1998
 Upon moderate acceleration, after stopping, the engine hesitates then accelerates. problem only occurs when the fuel tank is at or below 1/4 full.
01/15/1998
 Upon moderate acceleration, after stopping, the engine hesitates and then accelerates. only occurs when fuel tank is at or below 1/4 full.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY
11/25/199802/28/1999
 Vehicle was parked in front of grocery store and the engine caught on fire, causing the vehicle to burn completely up. the fire started from the fuel line. *ak
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - FUEL PUMP
10/08/20010
 While driving vehicle was making a funny noise. vehicle would not start. took vehicle to a mechanic, and he stated that it was ongoing problem that ford was having with fuel pump. consumer stated that 56000 miles later problem was still occurring. please provide any further information.*ak
01/18/1999207/01/1998
 Right front torsion bar broke while vehicle was parked in garage. had vehicle towed to dealership for repairs. was told they had some f-150 pickups with the same problem, but on the left side. i was told the parts were on national backorder, making me beleive that this was more than an isolated incident. took 2 1/2 weeks to get parts in. asked the dealer since it was occuring mostly on the left side of the other vehicles, i was wondering if they were going to replace the left side on mine. also. i was told only if it breaks. dealer fixed the vehicle on feb. 5, 1999. after driving for 2 days it broke again. dealer had to order another torsion bar and that was replaced on feb. 17,1999. i have numerous concerns with the safety of the vehicle since my wife is the primary driver and transports our children ages 10 and 3. what would have happened if she had been driving down the highway when the torsion bar failed. i've placed 3 calls to ford consumer relations, and received nothing, not even i'm very sorry, and no corespondence from them. as to the problem with the fuel pump, every time we got down to 1/4 of atank of gas or less and would come to a stop and step on the accelerator to proceed, the vehicle would stall in the middle of an intersection. brought it to the dealer on three occasions, only to be told they could not find anything wrong, and that we should drive the vehicle with more than 1/4 of a tank of gas. i asked them to test the fuel pump twice. then finally, on the third visit the replaced the fuel pump because they found the fuel sock on the pump was too short and pumping fuel when the tank was below 1/4 of a tank. *ak
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
04/25/1999
 Consumer noticed that engine check light engine light came on three weeks after she purchased the vechicle. she took vehicle back to the dealership, and the mechanic told her tha it was her gas cap. they replaced it, and she was still having problems. also, they replaced a hose running though the fuel tank. but consumer was still having problems. mechanic told her that fuel tank had a manufacturer's defect, and they would replace the part when it arrived. consumer is driving a rental car. *ak
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - AUXILLARY TANK
12/18/1998107/23/1998
 Vehicle experiences continued stalling after replacement of fuel tank.
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - AUXILLARY TANK - SELECTOR DEVICES
1
 Consumer noticed fuel under vehicle due to fuel tank leakage. please provide furher information. *ph
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
06/29/2005160000103/15/2001
 Dt: the valve inside the gas tank that keeps the gasoline from evaportaing in the air broke. contacted the dealer, and they said this part very rarley breaks and there were going to charge consumer to have it fixed. *ak
04/25/1999
 Consumer noticed that engine check light engine light came on three weeks after she purchased the vechicle. she took vehicle back to the dealership, and the mechanic told her tha it was her gas cap. they replaced it, and she was still having problems. also, they replaced a hose running though the fuel tank. but consumer was still having problems. mechanic told her that fuel tank had a manufacturer's defect, and they would replace the part when it arrived. consumer is driving a rental car. *ak
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - FILLER PIPE AND CAP
11/01/1998107/21/1998
 Gas cap failed. yh
04/25/1999
 Consumer noticed that engine check light engine light came on three weeks after she purchased the vechicle. she took vehicle back to the dealership, and the mechanic told her tha it was her gas cap. they replaced it, and she was still having problems. also, they replaced a hose running though the fuel tank. but consumer was still having problems. mechanic told her that fuel tank had a manufacturer's defect, and they would replace the part when it arrived. consumer is driving a rental car. *ak
10/01/1998104/25/1998
 Gas cap would not close/lock causing the check engine light to come on. *yc
12/05/1998112/01/1997
 Gas cap failed, causing leak. *yc
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER
02/14/20091650001
 Was driving the 98 expedition we just bought and the spark plug blew and broke the coil off. which come to find out could have even caught fire. with me having 7 kids to put in car that is more then a little worry for me and i risk my kids life putting them in this vehicle and not aware that this motor does this and can cause such a bad risk. there for ford should have to pay some how for the lives they could have taking. because of there motors and they haven't even recalled this problem that so many people have with them. we buy cars to put our family in looking at its safety rating and no one thinks they would have to worry about there motor literally catching fire. which mine could have with my kids in side. im am very upset!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *tr
05/01/1998
 The fuel tank is placed in such a manner that when the vehicle is driven up hill (or is parked facing up hill) the fuel gauge will register up to a quarter tank more than on a flat surface, and when travelling down hill (or when parked facing down hill) the gas gauge will register up to a quarter tank less than on a flat surface. the result is that when travelling or being parked on a down hill surface the vehicle will either not start or run out of gas, despite the fact that the vehicle has a quarter tank of gasoline. i contacted a ford dealer in glendale when i first experienced the problem, but they only responded that this is the vehicle's design. the dealer also provided me with a technical service bulletin acknowledging ford's knowledge of the gas tank fluctuation problem. the reason i am now, and once again, making this an issue is that i recently, due to the gas tank fluctuation, ran out of gas while driving down hill, despite a quarter tank reading on the gas gauge while travelling on a level surface. i strongly urge nhtsa to perform a safety analysis on this gas tank defect. a vehicle which becomes inoperative while driving down hill is truly an unsafe vehicle.
2
 Fuel gauge reads 1/8 of a tank or less and vehicle runs out of gas.
5
 When driving vehicle if the gas gauge is below 1/4, the vehicle stops. before the last repair, this happend if the gauge was below 1/2 tank. consumer took vehicle to ford dealership for repairs 4 to 5 times since november 14, 1997. three days after consumer bought vehicle . the dealership has replaced gas gauges, and the last time they replaced the fuel sending unit. *ak
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - FUEL GAUGE SYSTEM
2
 When fuel gauge reads at 1/8th or less vehicle engine stops while turning left.
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - FILLING/CHARGING
01/06/1999207/23/1998
 Airflow sensor replaced two times due to vehicle stalling, however continues to stall.