Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
STRUCTURE
03V094000SOUTHERN COMFORT CONVERSIONSfrom 08/01/2000 to 03/03/2003V (Vehicle)367403/07/2003MFRFORD MOTOR COMPANY03/07/200303/18/2003
Defect SummaryCertain pickup truck, van, and mini van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. these units contain a courtesy light or lights that might overheat when the wire harness is exposed to excessive moisture and road salt.
Consequence SummaryThis overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
Corrective SummaryDealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. owner notification began march 7, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact southern comfort at 1-800-745-6096.
NotesCustomers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
STRUCTURE
1513708/01/2001624715Customers may complain of wind noise. *yd11/08/2001
STRUCTURE - BODY
0425112/27/200410014165Aluminum corrosion - service tip. *tt04/28/2005
1593905/01/2002637848Concerns with speed body boom. *tt12/06/2002
STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS
1512208/01/2001624622Some vehicles may exhibit a vibration at idle and/or engine droaning noise on acceleration from a stop. *slc11/08/2001

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
STRUCTURE
06/01/200767000107/01/2002
 Tire detreaded on our way to san antonio from edinburg ripping off the side fender around the tire. the bottom part of the truck caved in. *tr
10/30/2006102/11/2006
 We bought our 2002 expedition feb/2006. since then, every time it rains, we experience water dripping from the visor hinges. we were concerned that our roof will rust so we took it to our mechanic but he could not find the problem. we continued to drive it but became more concerned about the potential problems so we took it back to our mechanic and told him to keep it until he finds the problem on oct 30, 2006. we also noticed our dash lights flashing. we told him to also find out what is causing this problem also. we received a call from him later in the day and he advised us that he called the dealership who advised him that there's an overlayment of metal behind the windshield that ford failed to seal correctly and the windshield wasn't sealed correctly so when it rains or snows, the water seeps through the windshield and fills the pillars with water. the overflow of water from the pillars is what drips through the visor hinges. some of the water leaks into the wiring in the dashboard and other places. ford advised there is no recall for this. we found someone else had a similar problem from a petrina compton @ my3cents.com which she advised of a special message sent directly from ford to all ford dealerships in april of 2002 which states 1997-2002 expeditions may exhibit electrical problems due to water leaking in through incorrectly sealed windshields. special message #15773. if ford is already aware of this problem and they admit they are aware of it in so many years of models, why has there not been a recall on this? i feel that this defect will be a potential safety hazard while operating vehicle when the electrical fails or causes a short in the electrical system and causes a fire. please take the time to investigate this defect. i'm sure there are several other owners who have the same problem but don't know where to turn or have been told by their mechanics and dealerships that they cannot locate the problem. *jb
01/01/19011
 2003 expedition leaked water inside vehicle. the outside molding of the windshield came off. *ts the consumer stated while driving, the head lights, interior lighting and radio all went out due to the leaking water which was affecting the electrical system. the doors rattled. *jb
01/24/200697400210/18/2001
 My 2002 ford expedition's windshield wipers and audio system would not function in any position except park. i took the vehicle in on jan. 24 and was told that since the vehicle audio and wiper system functioned properly. i got a call later in the day saying that the vehicle's wipers and audio system displayed the malfucntion that i had described. i was also told that there was severe corrsion around some of the eletrical parts. the service tech suspected a leak but could not tell where the leak was coming from. the dealership replaced the corroded part for the amount of $1065.70 and released the car to me. on jan. 31, my husband noticed at 5:00 a.m as he was preparing for work that the audio system was blasing and the dash board was lit. he attempeted to start the car, but it wouldn't. he called the dealership at 8:00 a.m to report the problem. a towing company was contacted at this time. at approximately 12 noon, my husband attemted to start the car again. this time it started and my husband drove the vehicle to the dealership. the service engine light remained on, and the vehicle drove rough. on arrival at the dealership, a small fire started under the hood of the vehicle. the starter had burned (according to the service tech). the starter was replaced on feb. 6. the service manager then reported that a leak was detected, and he suspected that it was coming from the top of the windshield (we told them that we replaced the windshield in july because of a small whole from a rock in the road). we paid an additional $335 for the replacement of the starter. we carried the vehicle back to the glass delearship and had them run a wet test with my husband as a witness. water did not enter the vehicle through the windshield. as an extra precaution we had extra sealant placed around the windshield. upon further investigation, i learned that the wipers may have a malfunction that causes water to enter the dash after rain or snow. both occurances started after rain. *nm
09/26/200537000207/12/2005
 Windshield leaked on driver side during a rainstorm. water then entered a relay control box causing electrical malfunctions with the climate control system. the system ran without the key in the on position while the vehicle was unattended. *nm
05/25/2004316144
 Ford expedition failed suspension system repair request under warranty.*mr the consumer's believed the suspension system is faulty. the consumer contacted the manufacturer but they refused any assistance. *nm the transmission started with an occasional chunk and or ratcheting sound, rough, did not move and would bang when moved, the driver window occasionally rolled up out of the top rack and there was air leakage, the vehicle was extremely bouncy and was so severe that the consumers head would bounce against the roof top of the vehicle and the vehicle swayed severely when the vehicle made a turn around curves. *sc *jb
04/30/20021
 While driving at 40mph, the consumer had experienced a head-on collision with another vehicle, in which the airbags did not deploy. *ak estimated property damage was 20000 dollars. the accident caused the front-end to collapse all the way to the engine block. *scc
STRUCTURE - BODY
08/03/201275000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford expedition. the contact was driving 5 mph when he heard a noise coming from the vehicle.the contact discovered that the spare tire had fallen and partially detached from the vehicle, hanging by a cable. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and they stated that there were no recalls for the vehicle. the failure and the current mileage was 75,000. kmj
08/03/201275000
 Tl- the contact owns a 2002 ford expedition. the contact stated while driving 5 mph when he hear a noise coming form the vehicle. he stop the vehicle and he notice that the spare tire had fell off the vehicle and he notice the cable holding the tire was broken. the vehicle was not taken to the dealer. the manufacturer was contacted and they stated that there wasn't no recall under that issue. the failure and the current mileage was 75,000.jp
STRUCTURE - BODY - ROOF AND PILLARS
04/05/200430891107/13/2002
 Roof separated from the supports. *la
10/07/200210000
 Rust developed on the roof of car in support grooves.
08/15/200351000109/13/2001
 Ford 2002 expidition. 52,000 miles sun roof drip tray has fallen loose. railings and drip trays need replacing. ford has issued a bulletin on this issue and knows it is a problem, yet refuses to acknowledge a recall on this issue. if safety is a concern, then rain inside my vehicle while driving should be a good enough to satisfy that concern. *ak