1998 Ford Expedition Complaint Log

WHILE TRAVELING AND APPLYING THE BRAKES THEY LOCKED UP, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO SLIDE, RESULTING IN AN ACCIDENT. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FUEL GAUGE READS 1/8 OF A TANK OR LESS AND VEHICLE RUNS OUT OF GAS.

WHILE MAKING A STOP BY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES PEDAL THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TRAVEL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

NOT SPECIFIED.

WHEN APPLYING THE ABS BRAKES ON AN INCLINE AND HOLDING THE PEDAL FOR A FEW SECONDS, THE PEDAL WILL SLOWLY GO TO THE FLOOR, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS.*AK

WINDSHIELD WIPER FAILURE, FRONT AND REAR.

TURN SIGNALS FAILED.

WHEN FUEL GAUGE READS AT 1/8TH OR LESS VEHICLE ENGINE STOPS WHILE TURNING LEFT.

HORN IS DIFFICULT TO HONK AND CAN ONLY BE ACTIVATED IN TWO SPOTS DUE TO DESIGN.

MY WIFE AND I WERE HIT FROM A SIDE IMPACT VEHICLE INTO OUR FORD EXPEDITON ON MONDAY NOVEMBER 16, 1998. ONE EYE WITNESS SAID THAT WE ROLLED OVER 2 1/2 TIMES AND SLID OVER 150 FT. UPSIDE DOWN. WE ARE THANKFUL TO BE ALIVE. MOST OF THE EMERGENCY PERSONEL BELIEVED THAT WE WERE TO BE DEAD FROM THIS ACCIDENT. SINCE OUR ACCIDENT, WE HAVE HEARD OF OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS ROLLING DURING SIDE IMPACTS. JUST ABOUT 9 MONTHS AGO, MY WIFE AND I SAW AN EXPEDITION UPSIDE DOWN. WE THOUGHT THAT IT WAS JUST A FLUKE ACCIDENT. DURING OUR STAY IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM, THE STATE PATROLMAN TOLD US THAT HE HAD SEEN SEVERAL FORD EXPEDITIONS THAT HAD TURNED OVER DURING CRASHES. I BELIEVE THAT THERE MAY BE OTHERS THAT WE DO NOT KNOW ABOUT. IT IS MY CONCERN THAT YOU MAY USE MY REPORT THAT MAY ASSIST IN YOUR RESEARCH TO HELP SAVE OTHER LIVES.

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES, THE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR AND THE VEHICLE DID NOT STOP. DEALER HAS SEEN FOUR TIMES, AND REPLACED MASTER CYLINDER, BUT STILL CAN'T FIND THE PROBLEM. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL LETTER IN JUNE CONCERNING THE LUGS:NUTS AND BOLTS. CONSUMER WENT TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, DEALER HAD NO PARTS AVAILABLE TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM. CONSUMER ALSO HAS NOT RECEIVED SECOND NOTIFICATION FROM MANUFACTURER. RECALL NUMBER 98V095000. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

THIS IS TO COMPLAIN ABOUT YOUR REQUIRING THE HEADLIGH DIMMER SWITCH TO BE ON THE STEERING COLUM. THAT IS NOT ONLY INCONVIENIENT, ITS DANGEROURS. IT IS EASIER TO KEEP BOTH HANDS ON THE WHEEL IF YOU DON'T HAVE TO KEEP REACHING TO DIM YOUR LIGHTS. PLEASE ALLOW THE ON-FLOOR "FOOT CLICKER" SWITCH AGAIN.

RUNNING BOARDS ON EARLY 1998 EXPEDITIONS DO NOT EXTEND OUT FAR ENOUGH TO BE SAFE. ESPECIALLY IN ICY/SNOWY CONDITIONS, THE NARROW AREA TO PLACE YOUR FEET CAN CAUSE YOU TO SLIP OFF. THE NEWER 1998 EXPEDITIONS APPEAR TO HAVE THE RUNNING BOARDS MOVED OUT APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES.

SPEED SENSITIVE POWER STEERING: AT THE TIME OF PURCHASE THE VEHICLE PULLED RIGHT. THE VEHICLE ALSO EXHIBITED A PROBLEM I CALL STEERING BURST OR HANG. WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT THE POWER ASSIST STEERING WOULD CONTINUE TO APPLY PRESSURE TO THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS CONTINUED PRESSURE COULD ONLY BE STOPED BY JERKING HARD, BACK IN THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION ON THE STEERING WHEEL. ANOTHER ISSUE EXPERIENCED IS WHEN ACCELERATING HARD FROM A STOP OR PASSING ETC. THE VEHICLE MOVES TO THE RIGHT OF THE LANE OF TRAVEL. THIS OCCURS IN A SURPRISINGLY QUICK AND UNUSUAL MANNER AS IF THE VEHICLE WHERE DOG TRACKING TO THE RIGHT.?. THE VEHICLE WAS ALIGNED BY THE DEARLER 4 TIMES IN THE FIRST WEAK OF OWNERSHIP. ALSO THE FRAME AND THE TIRES WERE CHECKED. AFTER THE FORTH ALIGNMENT I NOTICED THE VEHICLE WONDERING LEFT & RIGHT ON THE ROAD. SUSPECTING SOMTHING FISHY, I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AN INDEPENDENT AUTO SHOP. THE MECHANIC THER POINTED OUT VISUALLY THE CASTER AND CAMBER ADJUSTMENT SLOTS AND HOW THEY WERE MAXED OUT. THE CASTER AND CAMBER HAD BEEN INTENTIONALLY SET TO 3 DEGREES AND 6 DEGREES OUT OF MANUFACTORS SPECIFICATIONS SO AS TO PULL LEFT. LEFT SO AS TO BURY THE PULL RIGHT PROBLEM. THIS STEERING SYSTEM IS EITHER MAL-ENGINEERED, MAL-ASSEMBLED OR HAS DEFECTIVE PARTS. A PROBLEM WHICH THE DEALER NOR MANUFACTURER CAN RESOLVE OR DON'T WANT TO RESOLVE IT. FORD HAD TWO OF THIER REPS LOOK AT THE PROBLEM. BOTH TIMES THEY STATED THE VEHICLE OPERATES AS PER DESIGN. THE LAST TIME THEY (FORD & DEALER) HAD THE VEHICLE THEY DEACTIVATED THE SPEED SENSITVE FEATURE WHICH MAKES THE PROBLEM FEEL LESS APPARENT BUT IS NON THE LESS STILL THERE. THE POWER STEERING IS NOW STIFFER AND TIGHTER I CAN ONLY SURMISE TO FURTHER ATTEMP TO COVER -UP THE PROBLEM. OTHER EXPEDITIONS I TEST DROVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM. AND ON THE"FORD EXPEDITION ENTHUSIEST" WEB SITE THERE ARE MANY OF THE SAME COMPLAINTS. THE A/C FAILURE WAS CATASTROPHIC THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE TOWED, LATE AT NIGHT I MIGHT ADD. MORE DETAILS PLEASE CALL.

VEHICLE REQUIRES WHEEL ALIGNMENT AND TIRE BALANCING.

BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FAILED. NLM

ALL WHEEL BOLTS FAILED. NLM

LUG NUTS FAILED.

TRANSMISSION FAILED. YH

FRONT END SUSPENSION OUT OF ALIGNMENT. YH

NOISE FROM REAR SUSPENSION. *YC

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT MOUNTING POINTS, CAR SEATS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY, SEATS MOVE AND ARE NOT STABLE.

CLIMATE CONTROL CIRCUIT FAILED. YH

REAR BRAKE LINE LEAKING. NLM

RADIO AND SPEAKERS FAILED. MJS

MIDDLE SEAT BELT FAILED. *YC

VEHICLE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION, RESULTING IN ACCIDENT. *YC

AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. *YC

A/C COMPRESSOR FAILED.

LOOSE LUG NUTS.

SEAT COVER REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO CUTS.

TORSION BAR BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE LEFT SIDE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVESHAFT IS TOUCHING THE EXHAUST, CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO CRACK IN HALF. DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT DEFECT IS OCCURS. *AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED AN UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING TO COME TO A STOP WITH MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS HAS HAPPENED 10 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE IN SEPTEMBER, 1998. THE FIRST OCCURENCE WAS ON 9/19/1998 AND THE LATEST OCCURRENCE WAS 3/01/1999. INTERMITTENTLY, WHEN PRESSING ON THE BRAKE TO COME TO A STOP THE ENGINE ACCELERATES AS IF I WERE PRESSING ON THE GAS PEDAL RATHER THAN THE BRAKE. THE DEGREES OF THE ENGINE ACCELERATION HAVE VARIED FROM SOMEWHAT MILD TO EXTREMELY VIOLENT. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP THE VEHICLE IS TO PUT THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL SINCE THE ACCELERATION STILL PULLS THE VEHICLE FORWARD EVEN WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE (STANDING ON THE BRAKE). THIS UNCONTROLLED ACCELERATION HAS ALWAYS OCCURRED WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING AT A VERY SLOW SPEED IN THE BRAKING PROCESS TO COME TO A FULL STOP. LUCKILY THERE HAVE NOT BEEN PEDESTRIANS OR OTHER AUTOMOBILES IN FRONT OF ME WHEN THIS HAS HAPPENED. I HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP SEVERAL TIMES CONCERNING THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALERSHIP AND FORD HAVE NOT PROVIDED A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM AS OF THIS DATE. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS DEFECT IN THE VEHICLE AND IS A POTENTIAL KILLER. ALL 10 OCCURRENCES OF THE PROBLEM HAPPENED WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

SIDE VIEW MIRRORS VIBRATE SO BADLY THAT YOU CANNOT SEE ANYTHING IN THEM. EVERYTHUNG IS A BLUR. THE PROBLEM IS WORSE THE FASTER YOU GO. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS OF 60-65 MPH IT IS THE WORST. THE PROBLEM HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW (OCT. '98). REPLACEMENT OF THE MIRRORS BY THE DEALER HAS NOT HELPED. THE DEALER SAYS THAT IT IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THEIR ATTENTION BY OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS, BUT THAT FORD MOTOR HAS NO SOLUTION TO FIX THE PROBLEM. THIS CAUSES A SAFETY CONCERN AS THE DRIVER HAS TO TURN TO LOOK OUT THE WINDOWS TO SEE IF THERE IS A VEHICLE AS THE MIRRORS ARE RENDERED USELESS. UPON CONTACTING FORD MOTOR CO. OF MY CONCERNS (1-800-392-3673), I WAS INFORMED THAT ENGINEERING WOULD BE CONTACTED AND THAT I WOULD HAVE TO KEEP IN CONTACT WITH THE DEALER FOR ANY INFORMATION AS FORD WOULD NOT CONTACT ME. I ASKED WHEN THIS WOULD BE AND WAS INFORMED THAT NO DATE COULD BE GIVEN. I ALSO ASKED FOR THIS INFORMATION IN WRITING AND WAS INFORMED THAT THIS WAS NOT POSSIBLE. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT TO PULL A HORSE TRAILER AND WEIGHED IN AT APPROXIMATELY 5500 POUNDS, OWNER'S MANUAL STATES IT SHOULD BE ABLE TO PULL UP TO 7500 POUNDS. BUT WHEN CONSUMER WAS PULLING THE HORSE TRAILER, IT FISHTAILED AND ALMOST FLIPPED OVER BECAUSE VEHICLE WAS TOO LIGHT IN THE BACK, AND WOBBLED.THIS VEHICLE CANNOT PULL HORSE TRAILER WEIGHING ABOUT 5500 POUNDS. *AK

MY EXPEDITION HAS A STRANGE VIBRATION AT 65 TO 75 MILES PER HOUR.

THE VEHICLE WILL INTERMITTENTLY SURGE OR STALL UPON ACCELERATION . DEALER HAS PUT IT ON COMPUTER, BUT CANNOT DETERMINE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM. *AK

WHEN DRIVING ALONG A CURVE AT TIMES STEERING CONTROL IS BRIEFLY INTERRUPTED CAUSING A SENSE OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. I TOOK IT TO THE DEALER AND EXPLAINED THE PROBLEM, THEY INDICATED THAT MY VEHICLE WAS OUT OF ALIGNMENT AND THAT MY TIRES NEEDED REBALANCING AND ROTATION. I PAID FOR THE ALIGNMENT AND THEY THROUGH IN THE REBALANCING AND ROTATION, BUT THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. *AK

CONSUMER RECEIVED RECALL NOTICE 98V095000. DEALER TIGHTENED LUGS: NUTS: BOLTS THREE TIMES WHICH DID NOT CORRECT THE PROBLEM. DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE COMPLETELY COME OFF WHILE DRIVING. PLEAE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE AIR CONDITIONING COMPARTMENT DUE TO FAULTY WIRING. THE DEALER HAS INSPECTED THE VEHICLE . THE MANUFACTURE HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *AK

REARVIEW EXTERIOR MIRROR HAS A REFLECTIVE MATERIAL THAT HAS BUBBLED AND WORN, CAUSING THE MATERIAL TO REFLECT ALL LIGHT, SHINING IN IT. DEALER SAYS MATERIAL HAS TO BE REPLACED. *AK

WHEN APPLYING THE BRAKES TO COME TO A STOP THE ENGINE WILL SURGE FROM 2500 TO 3000RPM. DLR HAS SEEN VEHICLE 4 TIMES, STILL NO SOLUTION. *AK

POWER WINDOW MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING.

REAR WINDOW WIPER MOTOR.

DOOR LOCKS DO NOT CONSISTENTLY WORK.

FRONT BRAKE PADS AND ROTORS ARE PREMATURELY WEARING OUT, CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

WHEN INSTALLING CSS ON LEFT SIDE OF SECOND ROW THE MIDDLE SEATBELT RETRACTOR WILL QUIT WORKING DUE TO PRESSURE ON THE LEFT SEAT. *AK