1997 Ford Expedition Body & Structure Problems

HUSBAND DROVE CAR ALL DAY LONG WITH NO ISSUE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. HE PARKED IT ABOUT 10PM. WE ALL WENT TO BED. AT 3:15 AM WE WERE AWAKENED BY NEIGHBORS SCREAMING OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT HAD STARTED ON FIRE. NOT SURE WHY OR HOW, WHEN IT WAS RUNNING JUST FINE DURING THE DAY. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS BURNT UP, THE TIRES WERE MELTED, IT WAS RUINED. THE FIRE SCORCHED PART OF THE HOUSE ON THE FRONT. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND MELTED AWAY SOME OF THE SIDING AND THE DOOR. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH OVER A SMALL BUMP IN THE ROAD, THE SPARE TIRE DETACHED FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE CABLE WHICH HELD THE SPARE TIRE IN PLACE FRACTURED DUE TO RUST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 156,000.

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY A NORMAL SPEED THE SPARE TIRE ON MY EXPEDITION FELL OFF WHEN THE CABLE HOLDING THE TIRE UP SEEMED TO HAVE BROKE. MY VEHICLE RAN OVER THE TIRE AND I COULD SEE THE SPARE BOUNCING WILDLY DOWN THE ROAD. FORTUNATELY, NO OTHER CARS HIT THE TIRE BUT IT WAS EXTREMELY CLOSE SINCE A CAR JUST PASSED FROM THE OTHER DIRECTION AND THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN NO WAY THEY COULD HAVE MISSED THE BOUNCING TIRE IN THE ONCOMING LANE. FORD DOES NOT KNOW HOW CLOSE THEY CAME TO KILLING INNOCENT PEOPLE. THE ROAD WAS SMOOTH WITHOUT BUMPS, THE TIRE JUST FELL OFF. TO MY KNOWLEDGE, WE HAVE NEVER USED THE SPARE TIRE ON THIS VEHICLE. *TR

OUR SPARE TIRE THAT WAS MOUNTED UNDERNEATH THE CAR, -FELL OFF- WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD. THE CABLE "BROKE" THAT WAS HOLDING IT IN PLACE UNDERNEATH THE CAR. THANK GOODNESS WE WERE NOT ON THE FREEWAY. IT WILL COST $100. TO REPAIR. *TR

THE CHILD SAFETY DOOR LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS OF OUR 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF TO THE ON POSITION, PREVENTING THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. HAVE ATTEMPTED TO TAPE THE LOCKS IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT THIS HAS NOT WORKED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE IT WAS RAINING, WATER BEGAN TO DRIP ON THE DRIVER'S LEG. THE WATER CAME FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THAT THE WATER ENTERED THROUGH THE AIR VENT DUCT LOCATED OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE BY THE WINDSHIELD. THE STEREO AND INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED. THE CONTACT SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT RESTART. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VENT DUCT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 130,000.

1997 FORD EXPEDITION - THE HINGES ON REAR GLASS LIFTGATE BROKE / FRACTURED CAUSING REAR WINDOW GLASS TO DISCONNECT FROM THE VEHICLES AND CRASH TO THE GROUND AND SHATTER. THIS SOUNDS VERY SIMILAR TO THE RECALL ALREADY IN EFFECT FOR 2002 FORD EXPLORERS NHTSA CAMPAIGN #04V442000. *JB

HINGES COMPLETELY FAILED/BROKEN ON LIFTGATE WINDOW OF 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WINDOW HANGING PRECARIOUSLY BY LATCH ALONE. COULD EASILY HAVE FALLEN/SHATTERED AND INJURED CHILDREN OF OWNER RIDING IN 3RD SEAT. THIS MANUFACTURING DEFECT ACKNOWLEDGED AND SAFETY RECALLED IN EXPLORERS ALREADY. *JB

BLEND DOOR IS BROKEN ON MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. *AK

AFTER STARTING VEHICLE AND PUTTING IT IN GEAR, DOOR SHOULD AUTOMATICALLY LOCK, BUT IT DOESN'T. *AK CONSUMER STATES THAT HER DAUGHTER ALMOST FELL OUT OF THE VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS. *JG

I FIXED THIS ONCE WITH GLUE AND REPLACED. THE ACTUATOR BROKE THE DOOR AGAIN. THIS CAN BE A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM CONSIDERING IF WILL MAKE WINDOW DEFROSTER NON FUNCTIONAL. *AK

CABLE AND HOUSING BROKE JUST FORWARD OF FIRE WALL. POSSIBLE LIFE THREATENING INCIDENT.*AK

THE DOOR JAM SWITCH FAILED TO WORK PROPERLY. THE SWITCH SENSORS THINKS DOOR IS OPEN WHEN IT'S NOT. ALSO, DOME LIGHT IN FRONT WOULD REMAIN ON & WOULD RUN THE BATTERY DOWN. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP & MECHANIC INDICATED THE PROBLEM WAS REPAIRABLE, BUT NOT UNDER WARRANTY.

THE SUNROOF LEAK HAS CAUSED WATER TO ENTER ABOVE THE HEADLINER AND SHORT OUT THE OVERHEAD CONSOLE/INTERIOR LIGHTS

PASSENGER DOOR HANDLE CAME OFF. *YC

HAD THE HATCHBACK CLOSED. SHOCK ON RIGHT HAND SIDE PUSHED THROUGH WINDOW & IT EXPLODED. WINDOW WAS SHATTERED. *AK

VEHICLE WAS PARKED; WENT TO REAR; OPENED HATCH AND AIR SPRINGS/CYLINDERS HOLDING HATCH RELEASED & FELL ON DRIVER'S HEAD; TOOK TO DEALER & WAS INFORMED CYLINDERS WERE DEFECTIVE AFTER 5 MONTHS. DEALER IS REPLACING/REPAIRING CYLINDERS. *AK

BACK END OF TRUCK NEEDS TO BE REPLACED/ OWNER SAID THAT THE DEALERSHIPP HAS TAKEN A MONTH AND PARTS ARE STILL NOT AT DEALERSHIP. *AK

THE VEHICLE HAS CRACKS DEVELOPING ON THE ROOF ON BOTH SIDES. VEHICLE HAS BEEN REMEDIED. *AK

CONSUMER STATES THAT RUNNING BOARD LIGHT DOES NOT LIGHT UP. CAUSE UNKNOWN. *AK