2000 Ford Expedition Electrical System Problems

The contact owns a 2000 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle would not start-up. The contact attempted to jump start the vehicle with assistance, but he was not successful. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The dealer and the manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 300,000.

MY EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY AT LEAST 30 MINUTES AFTER DRIVING IT. I WAS ABLE TO PUT THE FIRE OUT WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER AND A WATER HOSE, BUT THE PLASTIC PARTS WERE WERE MELTED ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE BATTERY WAS DISCONNECTED AND I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT IT WAS THE CRUISE CONTROL RELAY.

MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED AT MY JOB PARKING LOT FOR 3HRS, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER, DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE FIREWALL. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BBB, AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WHICH ALL ATTEMPTS WERE IGNORED.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS ALERTED BY MY DOGS BARKING. I OPENED MY GARAGE DOOR TO SEE THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD HAD MELTED.THE FIRE MARSHALS SAID THE ALTERNATOR CAUSE IT

TRIED TO START WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OF. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING IF HAPPENED IN A CLOSED GARAGE

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A STORE PARKING LOT, NOT RUNNING/IGNITION OFF, AND IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD NEAR THE BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER. THE FIRE DAMAGED EVERYTHING IN THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THE HOOD, THE COWLING AND THE GRILL. PROBABLY NOT REPAIRABLE.

#7 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT DESTROYING THE COIL ON PLUG WITH IT. ALL THE THREADS ARE STRIPPED OUT AND THERES NO WAY TO PUT A NEW PLUG IN IT. WAS LUCKY I DIDN'T HAVE AN ENGINE FIRE FROM FUEL VENTING OUT OF SPARK PLUG HOLE. THIS IS A TRITON 5.4L V8

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 10:25 PM. VEHICLE WAS PARK AND COLD SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS USED WAS AROUND 1:00 PM THE SAME DAY. MY WIFE GOT HOME AND WAS PARKING HER CAR A SUDENLY SAW THE FORD EXPEDITION CACHING FIRE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINGE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS TOTAL THERE ARE NO POSSIBILITY OF REPAIR.

IT STARTED WITH THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PERIODICALLY THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT 5/31/14 AT APPROX. 11:30 AM "[XXX]" SHOWED UP AND MY CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITS SELF. IT MADE A CLICKING SOUND FOR ABOUT 30 MINS WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY SOUND. THEN IT WOULD TRY TO START ITSELF. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT AND HOUR AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I ASSUMED THAT THE NEXT MORNING MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD BUT WHEN I WENT OUT SUNDAY MORNING IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO RUN MY ERRANDS. THIS MORNING MONDAY 6/2 I WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START BUT THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND EVEN THOUGH I ASSUMED THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I AM SCARED TO DO ANYTHING, LIKE JUMP THE BATTERY , FOR FEAR IT WILL EXPLODE OR CATCH FIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

DRIVING NORMALLY DURING HEAVY RAIN WIPERS AND RADIO WENT DEAD AT HIGHWAY SPEED AND WORKED INTERMITTENTLY AFTER THAT. AFTER THE RAIN STOPPED AND CAR DRIED OUT WIPERS AND RADIO WORKED NORMALLY AGAIN. CARPET ON LEFT SIDE UNDER FUSE PANEL AND GEM MODULE, BOTH OF WHICH HAVE ALREADY BEEN REPLACED WAS WET. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN AS IT IS EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO SEE WHEN THE WIPERS STOP WORKING UNEXPECTEDLY. THE CAUSE SEEMS TO BE THE WINDSHIELD WASN'T SEALED PROPERLY AT THE FACTORY, AS MY FATHER BOUGHT THE VEHICLE NEW AND SAID THE WINDSHIELD HAS ALWAYS LEAKED. I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM HIM. *TR

5 PEOPLE IN MY VEHICLE DRIVING 55MPH ON I40 AROUND MIDNIGHT WHEN AIR SUSPENSION WENT OUT AND EVERYTHING IN THE DASH WENT CRAZY. THINGS CUTTING OFF AND ON MOVING BACKWARDS AND FORWARDS, WHEN I CUT IT OFF SO TO NOT DRIVE WITH AIR SUSPENSION DOWN IT WOULD NOT RESTART UNLESS YOU STARTED IT IN NEUTRAL BUT THE BATTERY KEPT DYING AND EXPLODED DRIVING TO SHOP,.GOT ANOTHER BATTERY, IT EXPLODED TO. NOTHING ELECTRICAL WORKED. DOOR LOCKS, WINDOWS,SPEEDOMETER, STEREO WOULDN'T COME ON THEN WOULD COME ON BY ITSELF, LIGHTS TO. AIR SUSPENSION WOULD NOT WORK, BEEN IN THE SHOP TWICE. FIRST TIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHAT WAS WRONG. THIS TIME THEY KNOW BUT I CAN AFFORD TO FIX IT. THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX IS OVER 600.00 PLUS LABOR! IM DISABLED WITH A FIXED INCOME AND I HAVEN'T DRIVEN ANYWHERE SINCE FEB I CANT GET TO MY DOCTOR, GROCERY STORE, TO GET MEDICINE FOR HEART ATTACK AND OTHER DISABLING ILLNESSES. I CANT AFFORD ANOTHER CAR OR TO FIX MY EXPO. THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS I SURE NEED SOME HELP WITH THIS.ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILURE NHTSA PRELIMINARY EVALUATION #PE05033 STATUS:CLOSED DATE OPENED:JUNE 15, 2005 DATE CLOSED: OCTOBER 13, 2005 RECALL: NO RECALL ISSUED COMPONENT(S): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD SUMMARY: ODI HAS RECEIVED 39 REPORTS ALLEGING THAT WATER LEAKS AROUND THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE HEADLAMPS.FORD REPORTS THAT WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE CAN WET THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX (PDB) AND THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM).THESE COMPONENTS CONTROL VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE.THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UPGRADED TO AN ENGINEERING ANALYSIS, EA05015, TO ALLOW FURTHER INVESTIGATION OF THE ISSUE AND TO ASSESS THE NATURE OF THE POTENTIAL SAFETY CONSEQUENCE.NHTSA: FOR DETAILED INFORMATION & SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, SEE THE OFFICIAL NHTSA INVESTIGATION#PE05033. *TR

BATTERY WILL NOT KEPT A CHARGER HAVE TO TAKE OFF CABLE WHEN CUTTING THE TRUCK OFF. LIGHTS NOT WORKING IN BACK ,NO PICK UP SPEED

SUMMARY: WATER LEAKED AROUND THE LEFT SIDE OF WINDSHIELD CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE STARTER, RADIO, WINDSHIELD WIPERS, HEADLAMPS, ETC. THE WATER ENTERING THE VEHICLE WET THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX (PDB) AND THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE (GEM). THESE COMPONENTS CONTROL VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ATTEMPT TO START ITSELF WITHOUT ANY KEY IN IGNITION UNTIL IT RESULTED IN THE STARTER BURNING UP AS WELL AS DAMAGING ASSOCIATED WIRING AND BATTERY. VEHICLE'S WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED AS WAS THE STARTER, ASSOCIATED WIRING AND BATTERY AFTER VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO REPAIR FACILITY. *TR

SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. *TR

AFTER AN APPROXIMATE 30 MINUTE DRIVE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE IGNITION OFF AND KEY REMOVED FROM VEHICLE. WHILE UNATTENDED, THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED COMPLETELY TO THE GROUND. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND IS A TOTAL LOSS. WITNESSES REPORTED SMELLING A STRONG ELECTRICAL SMELL BEFORE FIRE WAS OBSERVED, AND STATED THAT FLAMES AND SMOKE WERE FIRST OBSERVED COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT PARKED NEAR COMBUSTIBLE MATERIALS SUCH AS DRY GRASS, ETC. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS APPROXIMATELY 70 DEGREES. *TR

ON JUNE 3, 2013 MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION THAT I HAD JUST PURCHASED 7 DAYS PRIOR EXPLODED IN MY DRIVEWAY AFTER BEING PARKED FOR 2HRS. THE FIRE ALSO CAUGHT OUR 2008 COBALT ABLAZE AND CAUSED SIGNIFICANT DAMAGE TO THE PROPERTY THAT BOTH VEHICLES WERE PARKED AT. AS OF RIGHT NOW THERE HAS NOT BEEN A CAUSE OF THE FIRE DETERMINED BUT I DID FIND A RECALL NOTICE ON THE EXPEDITION THAT WAS ISSUED IN 2005 FROM FORD. APPARENTLY THIS RECALL EFFECTED THE SPEED CONTROL SYSTEM THAT LED TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE IN THE MOTOR COMPARTMENT CAUSING THESE EXPLOSIONS. I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THIS RECALL FROM THE PREVIOUS OWNER WHO IS A FORD EMPLOYEE AND HE SWEARS THAT HE WAS NEVER SENT ANY RECALL LETTERS FROM FORD IN REGARDS TO THIS PROBLEM. *TR

WHILE DRIVING THIS EXPEDITION I BEGAN NOTICING STRANGE INTERMITTANT ELECTRICAL BEHAVIOR LIKE THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, RADIO TURNING OFF, WINDSHIELD WASH LIGHT BLINKING, AND 4X4 LIGHT BLINKING. SEVERAL TIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT I'D NOTICE THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD COME ON ON THEIR OWN. ALSO THE AIR RIDE WOULD TURN ON AND OFF WHILE THE CAR WAS OFF, AND THE HEATER FAN WOULD ALSO COME ON. THIS WOULD KILL THE BATTERY. SEVERAL TIMES WHILE DRIVING THE 4X4 WOULD TURN ON IN THE LOW GEAR MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO MANEUVER. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS THE STARTER WOULD TURN ON WHILE THE CAR WAS ALREADY RUNNING. I REPLACED THE GEM MODULE AND HAD THE WINDSHIELD RESEALED SEVERAL TIMES, BUT AFTER JUST A FEW MONTHS THE PROBLEMS WOULD RECUR. THE FINAL NAIL IN THE COFFIN WAS WHEN THE STARTER KICKED ON WHILE RUNNING AND IT TOOK A MINUTE TO GET THE CAR SAFELY STOPPED. I COULD SMELL SMOKE FROM THE BURNED UP STARTER MOTOR. THE EXPEDITION HAS SAT FOR 1.5 YEARS AS I AM UNABLE TO SELL IT AND AM UNWILLING TO PUT ANY ADDITIONAL MONEY TO FIX THIS LEMON.

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM A FAMILY TRIP GOING THE POSTED INTERSTATE SPEED LIMIT OF 65 MPH WHEN I HEARD A LOUD POPPING NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A MAJOR LEAK HAD JUST OCCURRED. WHEN I PULLED OVER TO CHECK OUT THE PROBLEM I DISCOVERED THE REAR SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE HAD EJECTED ITSELF DESTROYING THE THREADS THAT HOLD IT IN THE CYLINDER HEAD AND ALSO DESTROYING THE HELI COIL PACK THAT SITS ON TOP OF THE SPARK PLUG. I HAVE NEVER FILED A COMPLAINT OR SAFETY REPORT ON ANY VEHICLE I HAVE OWNED. THIS TIME THE ONLY REASON I AM FILING A REPORT IS DUE TO THE FREQUENCY THIS PROBLEM SEEMS TO HAVE ON FORD TRITON MOTORS. IT SEEMS EXCESSIVE AND UPON VERY LITTLE INVESTIGATING ON MY PART I HAVE FOUND THAT EVERY PERSON I HAVE TALKED TO ABOUT IT EITHER OWNS A VEHICLE WITH THE SAID MOTORS IN THEM AND HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS, OR IS SOMEONE WHO KNOWS A PERSON WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE. I AM A DEDICATED AND LOYAL FORD OWNER AND ALWAYS WILL BE, HOWEVER I ALSO BELIEVE THAT WHEN A PROBLEM OCCURS WITH SUCH FREQUENCY THAT THEY SHOULD BE REQUIRED TO STEP UP AND MAKE GOOD ON ISSUES THAT CLEARLY HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR WELL OVER A DECADE AT THIS POINT IN TIME. *TR

WHILE VEHICLE IS OFF THE HEATER BLOWERS WILL TURN ON AND RUN BATTERY DOWN. WHILE DRIVING 4X4, WASHER LIGHTS, POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, INTERIOR LIGHTS ALL TURN OFF AND ON. RADIO WORKS WHILE IN PARK BUT, POWERS DOWN WHEN VEHICLE IS PUT IN GEAR. HAVE HAD ISSUES WITH WATER GETTING IN AND RUNNING DOWN DRIVERS SIDE. APPEARS ALOT OF PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME ISSUE. BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IN 2001 JUST STARTED HAVING THESE ISSUES WITHIN THE PAST YEAR STARTED OUT SLOW BUT ARE GETTING WORST AND MORE FREQUENT. *TR

VEHICLE SITTING IN DRIVEWAY AFTER 2 DAYS OF RAIN. WENT TO START UP VEHICLE AND BATTERY DEAD. TOOK BATTERY OUT TO BE TESTED AND TESTED FINE. SPENT $165 ON ALTERNATOR REPLACEMENT. VEHICLE DEAD AGAIN NEXT MORNING. CHARGED BATTERY STARTED VEHICLE UP. NOTICED WATER IN FLOORBOARDS AND HEADLINER. WHEN KEY WAS REMOVED FROM IGNITION, RADIO WAS STILL ON AND DOOR WOULD STILL DING AS IF KEY IN IGNITION. BATTERY DEAD AGAIN SEVERAL HOURS LATER. AFTER DOING RESEARCH, WAS EXTREMELY FRUSTRATED TO LEARN THE ISSUE IS VERY WELL DOCUMENTED WITH IMPROPERLY SEALED WINDSHIELDS. RATHER THAN FORD PAYING TO RESEAL OR INFORM CONSUMERS TO FIX OUT OF THEIR OWN POCKETS, THEY ALLOWED CONSUMERS TO EXPERIENCE DREADFUL ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS WITH VEHICLE. WITHOUT GOING TO MECHANIC, I REMOVED BOTH THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX. PUT FAX IN VEHICLE TO SPEED UP THE DRYING PROCESS. ALLOWED FUSE BOX TO SIT INSIDE FOR A WEEK AND ORDERED A GEM MODULE OFF THE INTERNET. CLEANED CORROSION FROM FUSE BOX/GEM CONNECTORS AND REPLACED GEM MODULE. VEHICLE PERFORMS MUCH BETTER. THINGS THAT HAVEN'T WORKED IN YEARS (AUTO LOCKS) NOW WORK. HOWEVER, RADIO LOSES POWER INTERMITTENTLY WHICH IS FRUSTRATING. I OWN 2 FORDS AND AM A VERY VERY DISAPPOINTED CONSUMER THAT SOMETHING THAT COULD HAVE BEEN FIXED FOR $100 HAVE COST LOYAL CONSUMERS THOUSANDS. *TR