1997 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

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

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT EVIDENTLY TO A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL AND I NEVER GOT A NOTICE ON IT FROM FORD. I LOST MY CAR AND IF I HAD PARKED IT INTO THE GARAGE LIKE I NORMALLY DUE MY WHOLE FAMILY WOULD BE DEAD! *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 45 MPH, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND THE BRAKE PEDAL NEARLY TOUCHED THE FLOORBOARD WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE; HOWEVER, THE STOPPING DISTANCE HAD DOUBLED. THE CONTACT EXAMINED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE LINE WAS EXTREMELY RUSTED AND HAD A PINHOLE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 113,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL UNIT IN HIS VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO BE SERVICED FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. AFTER THE REPAIR WORK WAS PERFORMED, THE CRUISE CONTROL DEVICE DID NOT OPERATE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OPERATING NORMALLY PRIOR TO THE REPAIR. THE AUTHORIZED DEALER STATED THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT WAS DISPLEASED ABOUT THE ADDITIONAL COSTS NEEDED FOR THE REPAIR. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE VIN AND RECALL NUMBER WERE UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 29,000.

THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE ON POSITION AS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND DOORS ARE OPENED AND CLOSED. THE PASSENGER(S) OCCUPYING THE REAR SEAT WILL BE UNABLE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS WITHOUT HELP FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO AND IS USUALLY NOTICED MORE OFTEN WHILE WE ARE TRAVELING AND OUR TEENAGE SONS ARE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR REST STOPS, ETC. *TR

LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING A SAFETY DEFECT WITH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOOR OF HIS 1997 AND 2000 FORD EXPEDITIONS. *NJ THE CONSUMER OWNS THE 1997 FORD EXPEDITION AND HIS WIFE OWNS THE 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONSUMER STATED ON BOTH VEHICLES, AFTER 3 OR 4 OPERATIONS OF THE REAR DOOR INSIDE INSIDE HANDLES, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT PASSENGER THAT OCCPIES THE REAR SEAT, WHO ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR WILL BE LOCKED INSIDE UNTIL SOMEONE OPENS THE REAR DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *JB

VIOLENT SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM ENGINE BLOCK, A REGULAR, YET IGNORED, PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES. *TR

SPARK PLUG ON MY 97 FORD EXPEDITION BLOW OUT. THE ENGINE IS A TRITON 5.4L. IT HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON RESIDENTIAL STREET AT 30 MILES PER HOUR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT AWAKENED TO FIND HIS VEHICLE ENGULFED IN FLAMES AT HIS RESIDENCE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND FILED A REPORT. AN INVESTIGATOR FROM THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE APPEARED TO HAVE ORIGINATED FROM THE CRUISE CONTROL, BUT MORE CONCLUSIVE EVIDENCE WAS NEEDED TO SUPPORT THAT HYPOTHESIS. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND THE CONTACT'S HOME SUSTAINED SEVERE PROPERTY DAMAGE IN EXCESS OF $100,000. THE MANUFACTURER DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSISTANCE. THE CONTACT HAS PICTURES. THE VIN WAS VERIFIED, BUT APPEARS TO BE INVALID. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 160,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM THE CYLINDER. THE VEHICLE THEN MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND SHUT DOWN COMPLETELY. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE, BUT IT WOULD ONLY ADVANCE APPROXIMATELY FIVE MILES AFTERWARDS. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER AND THEY WANTED TO REPLACE THE HEAD AT THE COST OF $2,000. HE CONSULTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT HAS NOT YET RECEIVED A RESPONSE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE IS 172,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000. UPDATED 6/2/08 *CN UPDATED