There are 50 owner-reported electrical system complaints for the 1997 Ford Expeditionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Vehicle will speed up or slow down in certain times for certain speeds without notice smell of smok and looked hurt wiring
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.
ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON MY 97 FORD EXPEDITION LIGHTS FLASHING RADIO ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. *TR
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. *TR
I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AND I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING COMING FROM MY DASH ALONG WITH ALL OF MY GAUGES JUMPING RPMS RAN EXTREMELY HIGH AND SPEED GAGE JUMPING FROM ALL OVER FROM 50'S TO 05 MILES A HOUR LIGHTS LIGHTING UP AND THEN POWER LOST IN WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO STOP AND STEER ITS DONE THIS A FEW TIMES ALONG WITH A WITH THE CLICKING THE RADIO WILL TURN ITS SELF ON AND KILLS THE BATTERY AND THERE IS A SMELL OF A HOT PLASTIC SMELL ALONG WITH ALL OF THAT WHEN I START TO LOSE POWER MY HEAD LIGHTS DIM DOWN. *TR
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.
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. *TR
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.
1997 FORD EXPEDITION HAS WATER IN STEREO CAUSING ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH. NO WATER LEAKS FOUND. WINDSHIELD WAS RESEALED AND WATER TESTED. *TR
VIOLENT SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM ENGINE BLOCK, A REGULAR, YET IGNORED, PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES. *TR
START MY TRUCK AS USUAL EVERY MORNING TO LET IDLE BEFORE I GO TO WORK. 5 TO 10 MIN. *TR
AFTER RAIN, WATER LEAKED THROUGH WINDSHIELD ON 1997 FORD EXPEDITION RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL ANOMALIES. THIS COULD POSE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026