2002 Ford Expedition Complaint Log

I HAVE A 2002 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPEDITION, AND IT JUST BLEW OUT A SPARK PLUG AT 66 THOUSAND MILES OR SO. DEALER SAYS IT ISN'T COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. I AM SEEING A HUGE AMOUNT OF THESE V8 TRITON ENGINES BLOWING OUT SPARK PLUGS ON THE INTERNET, AND ATTEMPTED CLASS ACTION LAWSUITS. IT LOOKS LIKE THE ENGINE THREADING IS MESSED UP AND THE PLUGS BLOW OUT. ALL THE PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL FACTORY. I SMELLED FUEL AFTER A LOUD POP HAPPENED, AND I WAS WORRIED THE ENGINE MIGHT EXPLODE FROM GAS VAPOR, BUT I WASN'T ON THE FREEWAY THANK GOD. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A 5.4L ENGINE THAT HAS JUST RECENTLY EXPERIENCED A BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG AND COIL. IN MORE THAN HALF OF THE 5.4L ENGINES PRODUCED BY FORD BETWEEN 1990 - 2005 HAVE EXPERIENCED A BLOWN OUT SPARK PLUG AND COIL. THE PLUG THREAD WITHIN THE CYLINDER HEAD ARE INADEQUATE RESULTING IN REPLACEMENT OF YOUR HEADS OR TO TEMPORARILY FIX THE PROBLEM WITH THE LOCK-N-STITCH METHOD WHICH IS FORD APPROVED. THE REASON I AM RAISING THIS CONCERN IS THAT THIS SITUATION HAS AFFECTED SO MANY VEHICLES YET FORD STILL CONTINUES TO PRODUCED EQUIPMENT SET UP TO FAIL. I ALWAYS SEE RECALLS ON ITEMS THAT ARE DEFINITELY SAFETY ISSUES BUT ARE A CHEAP FIX BUT WHEN IT COMES TO COMPLEX PROBLEMS THAT ARE COSTLY TO REPAIR AND VERY COMMON AMONG THE SAME STYLE AND SIZE ENGINE IT SHOULD BE ADDRESSED AS WELL. AT THIS TIME I AM NOT SURE OF THE RESULT IN DAMAGE OR INJURY EXCEPT FOR MAYBE THE PERSON WORKING ON THE VEHICLE. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION THREW OUT A SPARK PLUG(#3) AFTER I STARTED IT. THE CAR SHOWED NO SIGNS OF ANY PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THE EVENT. FROM THE NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS I'VE SEEN ONLINE, THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED A HEAD REPLACEMENT BUT I COULD NOT AFFORD THE $3,700 THEY WANTED. I HAD TO CHOOSE THE HELICOIL FOX AT $600 AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WOULD NOT BE ANY GUARANTEE ON THIS FIX OR HOW LONG IT WOULD LAST. *TR UPDATED 07/17/08

I BOUGHT MY FORD EXPEDITION (2002) BRAND NEW, HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE REGISTERED OWNER AND HAVE NEVER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE VEHICLE. MY FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AT OUR FAMILY MEDICAL FACILITY (RANCHO BERNARDO) AFTER AN HOUR OF BEING OFF AND PARKED. THE MEDICAL FACILITY ANNOUNCED A CAR ON FIRE WITH DESCRIPTION AND I RAN OUTSIDE AND CALLED 911 BUT FIRE DEPARTMENT RESPONDED AS I WAS STILL ON THE PHONE. THANKS TO THE LIGHTNING SPEED OF RB FIRE THERE WAS NO DAMAGE TO ANYTHING EXCEPT MY VEHICLE. THE FIREFIGHTERS ON THE SCENE TOLD ME THAT THEY SUSPECTED THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. IT ONLY BURNED INSIDE THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT - IN FRONT OF THE DRIVER SIDE. AN INDEPENDENT FIRE INVESTIGATOR DETERMINED AFTER COMPLETING HIS INVESTIGATION THAT THE VEHICLE FIRE WAS DUE TO A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH AND BRAKE FLUID HAD LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT THAT IS ALWAYS ON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLE WAS STILL DECLARED A TOTAL LOSS BY MY INSURANCE COMPANY DUE TO HIGH REPAIR ESTIMATES. ON 8/5/2008 MY INSURANCE COMPANY PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM ME FOR A LITTLE OVER THE KBB PRIVATE PARTY VALUE DUE TO RECENT VEHICLE ADD-ONS I PROVIDED RECEIPTS FOR. MY INSURANCE COMPANY WAIVED THE DEDUCTIBLE. MY FAMILY (3 PEOPLE) WAS DOWN TO 1 CAR FOR A LITTLE OVER A MONTH AND WE ALL WORK AND GO TO SCHOOL. ON SEVERAL DAYS I HAD TO GET A RENTAL CAR AND DID NOT HAVE INSURANCE TO COVER THESE COSTS AND HAVE NOT BEEN REIMBURSED FOR THE DAYS I HAD TO RENT A CAR.

SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM ENGINE. ORIGINAL SPARK PLUGS IN THE VEHICLE. EJECTED AT START UP OF ENGINE. HEADS WILL NEED TO BE REMOVED AND HELI COIL INSERTS INSTALLED. *TR

OTHER VEHICLE RAN A RED LIGHT AND I STRUCK HIS VEHICLE BROADSIDE WITH THE FRONT OF MY CAR. CAR IS TOTALED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPEDITION - OUT OF THE BLUE, THE CAR BLEW A SPARK PLUG. IT WAS TOWED, DID FULL TUNE UP AND NEW SPARK PLUG. WAS INFORMED THAT THERE HAVE BEEN MANY PROBLEMS WITH BLOWN PLUGS AND FAULTY ALUMINUM HEADS IN MY YEAR AND MAKE. IT WAS $500.00. 2 WEEKS LATER SAME PLUG BLEW OUT. HAD TO TOW AGAIN. MY CHOICE WAS EITHER NEW CAR OR DROP A NEW ENGINE IN THE CAR. A NEW HEAD WOULD HAVE BEEN A BAND-AID. I HAD TO PUT A NEW ENGINE IN, THE ENGINE AND THE LABOR WERE $6,000.00. I SHOULD HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO THIS FOR A 2002 THAT I PAID OVER 30,000.00 FOR. SEVERAL MECANICS SAID THEY ARE SEEING MORE AND MORE OF THESE COMING IN THEIR SHOPS FROM YEARS 2000-2002 IN DIFFERENT FORDS. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION EXPLODED, LAST NIGHT ON APRIL 11TH. *TR

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, HEARD "POP" UNDER DASHBOARD (FUSE PANEL) AND RADIO WENT OFF. REPLACEMENT FUSE BLEW IMMEDIATELY UPON REPLACEMENT. REMOVED RADIO AND REPLACEMENT FUSE IMMEDIATELY BLEW AGAIN. SUSPECTED GROUND IN POWER CIRCUIT TO FACTORY STEREO, VERIFIED WITH TEST LIGHT. SHORTED CIRCUIT, 797 IN THIS VEHICLE, IS HOT AT ALL TIMES (NOT SWITCHED THROUGH IGNITION). SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION BY OWNER SHOWS THAT MAIN WIRING HARNESS BEHIND DASHBOARD WAS NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ASSEMBLED AT FACTORY. THE MOUNTING POINTS INSTALLED IN THE HARNESS WERE NEVER INSTALLED IN THE CORRESPONDING HOLES IN THE BODY, ALLOWING THE HARNESS TO SAG APPROXIMATELY 2 INCHES BELOW ITS CORRECT POSITION (AND PRESUMABLY RUB AGAINST METAL PARTS BEHIND THE DASHBOARD). DUE TO THE FAULTY FACTORY INSTALLATION, THE HARNESS CAN NOT BE RAISED FAR ENOUGH TO BE PROPERLY INSTALLED WITHOUT REMOVING AT LEAST PART OF THE DASHBOARD AND PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG (DEALER SAYS ENTIRE DASHBOARD MUST BE REMOVED, A SIGNIFICANT COST ITEM). DEALER MECHANIC HAS VIEWED HARNESS AND AGREES HARNESS WAS NOT CORRECTLY INSTALLED. SUBJECT HARNESS ALSO CONTAINS WIRING FOR AIRBAGS, INSTRUMENT PANEL, TRANSMISSION CONTROL, REAR LIGHTING, TRAILER CONTROLS; BASICALLY EVERY CIRCUIT IN THE VEHICLE WHICH IS CONTROLLED FROM OR HAS INDICATION IN THE DASHBOARD. OWNER IS STILL TROUBLESHOOTING AND ATTEMPTING TO REPAIR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE, IT ACCELERATED TO A HIGH RATE OF SPEED AND CRASHED INTO A WALL. NONE OF THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. THE CONTACT WAS INJURED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY RECOMMENDED THAT THE DEALER SERVICE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE DEALER FOR 32 DAYS WHILE THE REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 31000.

A FACTORY INSTALLED ORIGINAL SPARKPLUG IN MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, BOTH THE BRAKE AND ACCELERATOR PEDALS WERE IN THE UP POSITION. WHILE TURNING THE VEHICLE, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DROPPED. WITH THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL DOWN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL STILL UP, IT BECAME DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO DRIVE. SHE HAS NOT YET SPOKEN TO THE DEALER. THE VIN, ENGINE SIZE, NUMBER OF CYLINDERS, AND POWERTRAIN WERE UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 116,000.

#1 SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM CYLINDER HEAD DAMAGING COIL AND PLUG WIRING THIS IS 2ND INCIDENT COSTING OVER 4000 DOLLARS TO REPAIR HEAD REPLACED. *TR

2002 FORD EXPEDITION WITH 5.4L TRITION ENGINE SUFFERED SPARK PLUG "BLOW OUT". *TR

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD STATING THAT THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH FOR MY VEHICLE. IN THIS LETTER I'VE BEEN INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT MY LOCAL FORD DEALER TO SET UP A TIME/ DATE FOR REPAIRS. I'VE BEEN TOLD BY THE DEALER THAT "THEY DON'T HAVE THE PART IN" AND WOULD "CALL ME" WHEN IT ARRIVES. ITS BEEN ALMOST A MONTH AND NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE. WHAT MY NEXT RECOURSE OF ACTION? *TR

THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER. I WAS TOLD BY A MECHANIC THAT THIS FAILURE COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I AM NOW LOOKING AT A $2,200 REPAIR BILL! *TR

ON THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS, MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION HAS BLOWN A SPARK PLUG. THIS IS A WELL DOCUMENTED, ALBEIT UNACKNOWLEDGED BY FORD, ISSUE WITH THE TRITON ENGINES. EACH TIME, I INCURRED THE DIRECT COST OF AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC CORRECTING THE ISSUE USING AFTER MARKET REPAIR KITS. WEBSITES SUCH AS CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM ARE REPLETE WITH OTHERS ENCOUNTERING THE SAME PROBLEMS. WHY FORD HAS NOT BEEN FORCED TO RECALL AND FIX THESE VEHICLES IS BEYOND ME. THERE IS A VERY REAL DANGER WITH THE BLOWN SPARK PLUG IGNITING VAPORS AND STARTING AN ENGINE FIRE. EACH TIME THE SPARK PLUG BLEW, IT WAS WHILE THE CAR WAS IN MOTION, CAUSING RAPID DECELERATION AND JERKING OF THE CAR. I AM USING THE SECOND DATE OF INCIDENT FOR PURPOSES OF THIS REPORT. THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE HAPPENED ON SUNDAY, NOV 30, 2008. *TR

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS FROM WINDSHIELD LEAK. THOUGHT IT WAS MOONROOF DRAINS, HAD THEM CHECKED & CLEANED AT DEALER. STILL LEAKING. KEEP HEARING ELECTRICAL CLICKING NOISES FROM UNDER DASH AND SOMEWHERE IN BACKSEAT WHENEVER IT RAINS. DRIVER'S SEAT HEATER NO LONGER WORKING, REAR HEAT/AC BLOWERS INTERMITTENTLY NOT WORKING. *TR

I HAVE A 2002 EXPEDITION AND AM HAVING PROBLEMS WITH THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT UNLATCHING. I LOOKED IT UP AND THE 2001 WAS RECALLED. I CONTACTED FORD AND WE TOOK IT TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THAT IT IS FAULTY BUT NOT COVERED IN THE RECALL. THEY WON'T FIX IT. IT WILL COST ABOUT $150. THERE IS OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT AND THEY HAVE HAD MANY PROBLEMS WITH THEIR BELTS AND THEY SHOULD FIX THE PROBLEM BEFORE MORE PEOPLE ARE KILLED OR INJURED. WE HAVEN'T HAD AN ACCIDENT YET, BUT I WON'T RIDE IN THAT SEAT. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SPARK PLUGS CAUSED THE ENGINE TO FAIL. THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SMOKE OCCASIONALLY; HOWEVER, HE WAS ABLE TO CONTINUE DRIVING IT. PRIOR TO FILING THE COMPLAINT THE FAILURE OCCURRED THREE TIMES. IT ALSO SEEMED TO OCCUR ONCE EVERY YEAR SINCE 2007. THE FIRST FAILURE WAS REPAIRED BY THE DEALER ACCORDING TO THE EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE SECOND TIME, THE DEALER REPAIRED IT AT THE OWNERS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DIAGNOSED AT THE DEALER AT THE TIME THE COMPLAINT WAS FILED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT RESPONSIBLE AND THAT THERE WERE NO EXISTING RECALLS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 89,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 69,000.

ON DECEMBER 22, 2007 WHILE TRAVELING WE HEARD A 'POP' IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND THEN THE SOUND AN SMELL OF EXHAUST ESCAPING THE ENGINE. WHEN TAKEN TO BOB TOMAS FORD IN MCKINNEY TEXAS I WAS TOLD THE THE #3 SPARL PLUG HAD BEEN EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE HEAD WHICH HAD STRIPPED THE THREADS. I WAS THEN TOLD THAT THIS HAS BEEN AN ONGOING PROBLEM BUT THAT FORD HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL AND WAS NOT PROVIDING ANY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO WERE NO LONGER COVERED BY A WARRANTY. MY VEHICLE HAD 97,433 MILES WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED. THE TOTAL REPAIR BILL WAS $3375.20 TO REPLACE THE RIGHT HEAD. I REQUESTED ASSISTANCE FROM FORD AFTER POINTING OUT THAT THE MAINTANCE SCHEDULE THAT CAME WITH THE VEHICLE DID NOT REQUIRE A CHECK OF THE SPARK PLUGS UNTIL THE VEHICLE HAD REACHED 100,000 MILES. FORD STATED THEY WOULD NOT ASSIST IN ANY WAY.*CN

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO PARK THE VEHICLE ON A STEEP HILL. SHE DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL, BUT THE BRAKES DID NOT ENGAGE. SHE DID NOT PARK ON THE HILL BECAUSE SHE FEARED THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL AWAY. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE WAS THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THEY REPLACED BOTH BRAKE CABLES, ROTORS, AND REAR PADS. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,000.

2002 EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER EDITION IT'S BEEN HAVING ELECTRICAL ISSUES FOR AWHILE, AND JUST RECENTLY THE ALTERNATOR HAD TO BE REPLACED. SINCE THEN THE LOVELY ELECTRICAL ISSUES HAVE SNOWBALLED. DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, MY LOCKS START LOCKING AND UNLOCKING THEMSELVES. THEN THE WARNING LIGHTS START GOING OFF (AIRBAG, THEFT DEVICE, ABS, BATTERY). THEN IT STARTS TO SHAKE AND I PRESS THE GAS PEDAL, AND NOTHING HAPPEN EXCEPT IT ROLLS FORWARD SLOWLY, LIKE I'M IDLING THROUGH THE LIGHT. I MADE IT TO THE 7-11 PARKING LOT JUST BEFORE IT DIED. I'VE GOT NO IDEA WHAT IS WRONG, ONLY THAT I'M EITHER THE OWNER OF A VERY LARGE PAPERWEIGHT, OR MY TRUCK IS POSSESSED. *TR

TIMING CHAIN AND TENSIONERS. *TR

ON 10/30/07 AT 12:30AM A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE ON MY CAR LOT AND BURNED ONE OTHER VEHICLE TO THE GROUND. THE EXPEDITION WAS JUST DELIVERED TO US FROM THE AUTO AUCTION THE DAY PRIOR. IT WAS PARKED, LOCKED, WINDOWS UP, KEYS OUT OF THE VEHICLE. IT CURRENTLY HAS THE OPEN RECALL 05S28 ON IT AND HAD NOT YET BEEN PERFORMED. THE ENTIRE FRONT HOOD, GRILL, ENGINE COMPARTMENT, BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS WHERE BURNED TO THE POINT OF NON-EXISTENCE OR MELTED MATTER. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY ADVISED ME TO CONTACT MY INSURANCE COMPANY. *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION FRONT DRIVERS SEAT BELT DOES NOT STAY LATCHED. TODAY IS THE MOST RECENT EVENT, SEVERAL SIMULAR EVENTS HAVE HAPPED OVER THE LAST 18 MONTHS. *TR

THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH THAT WAS UNDER RECALL CAUSED MY 2002 EXPEDITION TO CATCH FIRE IN MY DRIVEWAY. I HAD GONE DOWN WHEN THE RECALL WAS FIRST ANNOUNCED, BUT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE AND NO ONE EVER CALLED ME TO LET ME KNOW THAT THE PART WAS AVAILABLE. *JB

MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION 4X4, 5.3L ENGINE WITH 71K MILES HAD THE #3 SPARK PLUG BECAME DISLODGED AS I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT ~65 MPH. TURNS OUT THE THREADS ON THE CYLINDER HEAD ARE STRIPPED. MY CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER AND IS AWAITING BEING FIXED. IF I CHOOSE TO HAVE THE CYLINDER HEAD REPLACED, IT WILL COST ~$3000. I'VE READ OTHER ARTICLES AND COMPLAINTS ON THE INTERNET THAT LEAD ME TO BELIEVE THERE ARE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE WHO'VE EXPERIENCED THE SAME THING WITH THEIR FORD TRUCKS. I BELIEVE THERE IS SUFFICIENT DATA TO SUGGEST FORD SHOULD DO A RECALL ON THESE TRUCKS FOR THIS PROBLEM. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STARTED. SHE INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OFF. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THE FAILURE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE. THE CONSUMER STATED DEALER INFORMED HER THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPEDITIONS, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE POWERTRAIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT IS 82,362 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WAS 76,400. EQ-10203932-4200, DATE RECEIVED 12/12/07. UPDATED 12/12/07 *TR

2002 FORD EXPEDITION I PURCHASED 6 DAYS AGO CAUGHT ON FIRE IN MY FRONT YARD. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT RUNNING IT WAS JUST SITTING IN MY YARD. I INFORMED THE SELLER WHEN I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL DID NOT WORK AND A FEW OTHER THINGS WERE WRONG. I WAS TOLD TO BRING THE VEHICLE BACK ON THE DAY THAT IT CAUGHT ON FIRE. BEFORE I LEFT MY HOUSE, I WAS INFORMED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT IT WAS ON FIRE. I DO HAVE A POLICE REPORT OF THE INCIDENT. RECEIVED 12/12/07 . 64200. UPDATED 12/12/07

MY 2002 EXPEDITION WAS RECALLED IN 2005 TO REPLACE THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS. A FUSED WIRING HARNESS WAS INSTALLED TO PROTECT THE LIVE CRUISE CONTROL CIRCUIT FROM INITIATING A FIRE IF THE BRAKE SENSING SWITCH MEMBRANE LEAKED BRAKE FLUID. YESTERDAY, 17 SEP 07, MY CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONED. THE BRAKE SENSING SWITCH AT THE MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER AND THE CRUISE CONTROL WIRING HARNESS COMING OUT OF THE SWITCH WERE SOAKED WITH BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE FLUID WAS ALL OVER THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. I DISCONNECTED THE WIRING HARNESS THE AREA OF THE SWITCH INTO WHICH THE WIRING HARNESS WAS PLUGGED WAS FULL OF BRAKE FLUID. BRAKE APPLICATION CAUSED BRAKE FLUID TO LEAK OUT OF THE SWITCH. THE SWITCH MEMBRANE WAS INDEED BROKEN. I ASSUMED (WRONGLY) THAT THE NEW FUSED CRUISE CONTROL BUNDLE HAD PROBABLY SPARED ME A FIRE. I TOOK MY CAR TO FORD TODAY. THEY CALLED CORPORATE REGARDING PAYMENT ISSUES. I WAS INFORMED THAT FORD WAS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR THE REPAIR BILL. THIS SPECIFIC COMPLAINT IS NOT ABOUT THE BILL PER SE, BUT ABOUT MY CONCERN FOR SAFETY. AS IT TURNED OUT, THE NEW FUSED HARNESS DID NOT BLOW THE FUSE--FORD DID NOT REPLACE THE HARNESS. I AM NOW CONCERNED THAT THE "HOT" FUSED WIRING HARNESS WAS ATTACHED TO THE BRAKE SENSOR WHILE IT WAS COMPLETELY IMMERSED IN BRAKE FLUID. THERE IS STILL A SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. I HAVE KEPT THE OLD BRAKE SWITCH, BUT AS PREVIOUSLY STATED, THE FUSED WIRING HARNESS WAS NOT REPLACED SINCE THE FUSE WAS NOT BLOWN (THE FUSE CANNOT BE REPLACED--THE ENTIRE BUNDLE MUST BE REPLACED PER A INFORMATION LABEL ATTACHED TO THE WIRING HARNESS) AND IS STILL ON THE CAR. SIGNIFICANT SAFETY ISSUES ARE: IS THERE STILL A RISK OF FIRE WHEN THE BRAKE SWITCH BRAKES/LEAKS AND, WHAT IS THE SAFETY IMPLICATION WITH REGARDS TO BRAKING GIVEN AN INCREASED RISK OF FAILURE AND SUBSEQUENT LEAKAGE OF THE BRAKE FLUID AT THE SWITCH? *TR

MY 2002 FORD EXPEDITION (83,000 MILES) ON THE WAY HOME FROM LAKE POWELL BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. WE WERE 350 MILES FROM HOME ON VACATION AND HAD TO OBTAIN ASSISTANCE AND ADDED EXPENSE TO RETURN HOME IN TIME FOR OUR JOBS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL IN ST GEORGE, UTAH AT A FORD DEALERSHIP BEING REPAIRED. IT WAS EXPLAINED THAT THE SPARK PLUG ISSUE IS WELL KNOWN. THERE IS NO ASSISTANCE FROM FORD FOR REPAIRING THE WELL KNOWN DESIGN FLAW. *TR

VEHICLE THREW A SPARK PLUG WITHOUT WARNING WHILE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THIS STRIPPED OUT THE PLUG SOCKET REQUIRING REBUILDING OF THE ENGINE HEADS TO REALLY FIX IT CORRECTLY TO BE SURE IT WOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN. MECHANIC EXPRESSED THAT THIS WAS COMMON ON THESE VEHICLES. DESTROYED THE SPARK COIL AND WIRING AS IT BLEW OUT. COULD EASILY HAVE CAUSED A SEVERE ACCIDENT AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS, TOWING A TRAILER. WE WERE LUCKY IT WAS LATE AND TRAFFIC WAS LIGHT. *TR

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE UNDER HOOD AS A RESULT OF VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL SWITCH. FILING CLAIM FOR RESULTING TOTAL LOSS OF 2002 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER. PLEASE CONTACT FOR DETAILS AND ENGINEER REPORT. (REPORTED BY INS CO). *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT TOOK HIS VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR A ROUTINE SERVICE CHECK AND THEY REPLACED THE LOWER DRIVER SIDE BALL JOINTS. A FEW WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, HIS VEHICLE WAS STRUCK ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE BY ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED MINOR INJURIES. HE DROVE HIS VEHICLE HOME AND NOTICED A BURNING SMELL. THE FOLLOWING DAY, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT BOTH THE UPPER AND LOWER BALL JOINTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED, EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE JUST REPLACED 500 MILES AGO. THE CONTACT ALSO NOTICED THAT WHOEVER REPLACED THE BALL JOINTS DID NOT CHECK HIS ALIGNMENT. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY STILL AT THE AUTO SHOP AND HAS YET TO BE COMPLETELY REPAIRED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 89,500 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 89,002.

AFTER PARKING VEHICLE IN GARAGE, SMELLED BURNING RUBBER AND CALLED 911. WAS ABLE TO ROLL VEHICLE OUT OF GARAGE AND FIRE DEPT PUT OUT FIRE UNDER HOOD. VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. *JB

I NOTICED TODAY THAT THE SIDE WALL TIRES ON MY MICHELIN -CROSS TERRIANIN SUV RADIAL X TIRES APPEAR TO HAVE CROSS CUTS IN THE SIDEWALLS ON 3 OF 4 TIRES (ONE WAS RECENTLY REPLACED). ANOTHER THE RUBBER APPEARS TO BREAKING OFF, LEAVING A WHITE COATING BEHIND THE RUBBER. PLAN TO TAKE TO DEALER WHO SOLD ME THE TIRES, BUT AM DOUBTFUL THE WILL ACT. *TR

I AM THE OWNER OF A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION, EDDIE BAUER EDITION WITH LESS THAN 60,000 MILES. FOR NEARLY A YEAR DOME LIGHTS AND WINDOWS CONTINUE TO MALFUNCTION AFTER REPLACING FUSES MANY TIMES. MECHANIC INDICATED THAT THERE COULD POSSIBLY BE AN ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, WHICH WILL BE COSTLY TO REPAIR. HAS THERE BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM. *AK

ON 7/3/2007 I HEARD A LOUD BANGING SOUND AND SMELLED GAS COMING FROM UNDER MY ENGINE. WHEN I HAD IT TOWED TO SIOUX FALLS FORD, THEY SAID A SPARK PLUG HAD BLOWN OUT. WHEN I ASKED IF THAT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, I WAS TOLD THAT THE PLUG MAY HAVE BEEN PUT IN INCORRECTLY. I HAVE NEVER HAD THE SPARK PLUGS REPLACED, SO I KNEW IT WAS A FACTORY PLUG, BUT THE TECHNICIAN SAID THAT THEY HAD NO WAY OF KNOWING THAT. I SPENT $800 TO HAVE THE IT RE-THREAD. 4 WEEKS LATER, A DIFFERENT SPARK PLUG DID THE SAME THING. AT THAT TIME, THEY TOLD ME THAT THEY WOULD CHECK ALL OF THE SPARK PLUGS TO ENSURE THAT THEY WERE TIGHT. 4 WEEKS AFTER THAT, THE IGNITION COIL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED IN THAT PLUG AND THE PLUG NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THEY CLAIMED THAT THEIR REPAIRS HAD NOT CAUSED THIS, BUT I FEEL LIKE I HAVE BEEN GETTING THE RUN-AROUND ON ALL OF THIS SIMPLY BECAUSE I AM A WOMAN. *TR

ENGINE BACKFIRED BLOWING OUT NO. 7 SPARK PLUG STRIPPING OUT CYLINDER HEAD. HAS BACKFIRED BEFORE SPLITTING NO. 3 SPARK PLUG. CAUSING THE VEHILCLE TO BE UNUSABLE UNTIL REPAIRD. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT FROM THE SIDE OF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 68,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CAUSE OF FAILURE WAS DUE TO A BLOWN SPARK PLUG CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG CYLINDER. APPROXIMATELY TWO WEEKS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. THE MECHANIC REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS AND PERFORMED A TUNE UP. THE FOLLOWING DAY, WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH UPHILL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AGAIN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE ENGINE WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AS OF JULY 11, 2007, THE ENGINE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 106,710 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 106,000.

TIRE DETREADED ON OUR WAY TO SAN ANTONIO FROM EDINBURG RIPPING OFF THE SIDE FENDER AROUND THE TIRE. THE BOTTOM PART OF THE TRUCK CAVED IN. *TR

FIRST I HAD A FUSE BLOW,THAT PREVENTED THE CAR FROM BEING PUT INTO GEAR. ONCE THE FUSE WAS REPLACED, IT WAS FINE. A WEEK LATER,WHILE STOPPING AT A GAS STATION,WITH THE CAR TURNED OFF, SMOKE STARTED COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE HOOD. WITHIN MINUTES THE WHOLE ENGINE WAS ON FIRE. IT WASN'T UNTIL LATER THAT I FOUND OUT THAT THIS PROBLEM WAS NATION WIDE! I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM A DEALER,THAT WAS NOT A FORD DEALER, SO I RECEIVED NO RECALL NOTICES! THE CAR WAS TOTALED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE CONTACT HEARD A VERY LOUD SOUND FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD OF THE VEHICLE. THE SOUND WAS DERIVED FROM A SPARK PLUG THAT WAS EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD. THE FAILURE CAUSED THE CONTACT TO SWERVE ACROSS TWO LANES OF TRAFFIC AND DRIVE INTO SOMEONE'S YARD. THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF, AND WAS TOWED TO A MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC CONFIRMED THAT THE EJECTED SPARK PLUG WAS INDEED THE CAUSE OF FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 72,502, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.*AK

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 FORD EXPEDITION. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND A NEIGHBOR NOTIFIED THE CONTACXT THAT VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE FIGHTERS AND POLICE DEPARTMENTS WERE CALLED. THE HOOD BURNED OFF THE VEHICLE. THE PAINT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE BURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELDWAS MISSING, AND THE INTERIOR WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED. THE DRIVEWAY WAS ALSO DAMAGED, AND A TREE BURNED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. FORD STATED THAT THERE WAS NOTHING THAT THEY COULD DO. HOWEVER, HE GAVE THEM HIS VIN AND NEVER RECEIVED A CALL TO CONFIRM IF THIS VEHICLE WAS AFFECTED BY THE RECALL NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 06E056000). THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WERE 75,000. *AK

2 - ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS THE FIRST PROBLEM RESULTED IN ABOUT $800 WORTH OF REPAIRS - A WIRE UNDERNEATH THE DASH GROUNDED ITSELF ON THE FRAME OF THE AUTOMOBILE. THIS SHOWED ITSELF BY BLOWING SEVERAL FUSES AS WELL A SHUTTING DOWN THE ABILITY TO PUT THE CAR IN GEAR ONCE STARTED. IT TOOK SEVERAL WEEKS TO REALIZE THE EXACT PROBLEM. REPLACING FUSES HELPED, BUT BLOW SEVERAL DAYS LATER. MANY OPTIONS SUCH AS THE POWER WINDOWS, RADIO, REAR WIPERS, RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS, INTERIOR LIGHTS, ETC. WOULD NOT WORK. THE SECOND INSTANCE IS EVEN MORE ALARMING - THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH CAUGHT FIRE WHILE IN THE GARAGE. MY WIFE WAS AT HOME AT THE TIME. SHE NEEDED SOMETHING OUT OF THE CAR. WHEN SHE OPENED THE DOOR TO THE GARAGE SHE NOTICED THAT THE GARAGE WAS FULL OF SMOKE. SHE CALLED 911. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT GOT THE CAR OUT AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE.... WE WERE LUCKY.*JB

TL*- WHILE DRIVING THE 2002 FORD EXPEDITION ON THE HIGHWAY 65 MPH THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING. IN ORDER TO STOP THE ACCELERATION THE CONTACT HAD TO PUT VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL. THE CONTACT HAD NOT TAKEN VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR. *AK

OPERATING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH ON HIGHWAY, ANOTHER VEHICLE PULLED INTO MY LANE FROM A SIDE STREET. MY VEHICLE "T-BONED" THE OTHER VEHICLE. MY VEHICLES AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE AIR BAG DEPLOYED WHEN SHE PUT HER CAR IN REVERSE. CONTACT IS UPSET THAT DEALER WONT HELP HER BECAUSE THE AIR BAG HAS A 50,000 MILE WARRANTY AND HER CAR IS AT 107,000 MILES. THE CONTACT RECEIVED INJURIES AS A RESULT OF THE AIR BAG DEPLOYING.