There are 15 owner-reported lighting complaints for the 1997 Ford Expeditionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT NOTICE A FAILURE WITH THE FUSES OR THE RELAY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE BRIGHTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E060000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). HE HAS NOT MADE ANY REPAIRS TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CONNECTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME THE CONNECTOR FOR THE LOW BEAMS WAS REPLACED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE SECOND TIME THE CONNECTOR FOR THE BLINKERS AND THE HAZARDS FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED HOWEVER THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.
WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM COMBO SWITCH WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH WAS KNOWN TO CAUSE FIRES, WAS NOT RECALLED FOR HER VEHICLE. *TT
INTERIOR AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, FROM 10 MINUTES TO OVER 1 HOUR. VARIES. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN WET WEATHER. A REAL HAZARD AS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS ON IS DANGEROUS. THEY MIGHT TIME OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR OR MORE, YOU NEVER KNOW. FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY AS IT IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *JB
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS WINDSHEILD WASHERS AND WIPERS HAS FAILED 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE IS THE INABILITY TO ACTIVATE THE WASHER SYSTEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF THE WINDSHEILD BECOMES FOULED, I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT OR IF MY VISION WILL BE SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED.*AK
FOIL BACKING OF MIRROR I PEELING, BUBBLING. THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE A REFLECTION FOR VIEWING. ALL MAKES FROM 1997-1999 FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE FLASHER BUILT IN THE MIRROR ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AND FORD ONLY REPLACES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK
WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, I SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO DRIVE WAS TO HOLD THE WIPER, HEADLIGHT DIMMER ARM FULLY TO THE REAR. THIS ITEM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER IT DEFECTED ONCE BEFORE. *AK
HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION. TOLD MECHANIC CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK
THE DOOR AJAR LIGHT AND DOME LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON FOR 1 HOUR+ AND THE RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS ALSO STAY ON. BEEN BACK TO DEALER 4 TIMES AND STILL NO SOLUTIONS.*AK
WHENEVER VEHICLE AJAR LIGHT REMAINS ON IT CAUSES THE INTERIOR COURTESY LIGHT TO COME ON WHILE DRIVING INTERMITTENTLY. VEHICLE POWER WOULD HAVE TO BE TURNED OFF TO GET THE COURTESY LIGHT TO TURN OFF. DEALER NOTIFIED. *AK
WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MULTIPLE FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS SHORT CIRCUIT. *AK
MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH/WIPER FAILE.
THE "DOOR AJAR" SIGNAL KEEPS COMING UP ON MY DISPLAY PANEL - WHEN THIS HAPPENS, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON AND WON'T GO OFF FOR 30-45 SECONDS. AT NIGHT THIS IS A SERIOUS HAZARD BECAUSE NEITHER I OR MY TEENAGE CHILDREN WHO DRIVE IT CAN SEE SAFELY. I'M HAVING THE PART REPLACED TOMORROW BUT WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED. THE SERVICE MAN AT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TOLD ME THEY ARE SEEING THIS PROBLEM A LOT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT AN INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE MADE. THANK YOU. *AK
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