1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

THE ENGINE IN MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION CONTINUES TO HAVE SPARK PLUG PROBLEMS. THE ENGINE MISFIRES, RUNS POORLY, AND IS A HAZARD TO HAVE ON THE ROAD. I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SPARK PLUGS BLOW OUT AND HAVE HAD TO SPEND $4000 TO HAVE ONE OF THE HEADS REPLACED BECAUSE FORD DID NOT INCLUDE ENOUGH THREADS IN THEIR ORIGINAL DESIGN. THEY LATER CHANGED THE DESIGN IN 2003 I AM TOLD. IF SOMEONE THERE WOULD VISIT THE FOLLOWING SITE [HTTP://WWW.CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/FORD_SPARK.HTML], THEY WOULD SEE THAT THESE ENGINES CONTINUE TO BLOW OUT SPARK PLUGS AS RECENTLY AS YESTERDAY, 9/16/08. WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO ISSUE A RECALL? THESE ENGINES HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS AND DEFECTIVE FOR YEARS. I AM NOT SURE WHAT IT TAKES, BUT FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AN RESOLVE THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CONTACT HEARD A CLUNKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE REAR DRIVER'S SIDE TIRE DETACHED FROM THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT VEERED TO THE OTHER SIDE OF THE ROAD. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 308,000.

FORD EXP EDDIE B. BLEW OUT #3 SPARK PLUG. STRIPED THE THREADS IN THE HEAD. COST IS ABOUT 2 GRAND TO REPAIR AND CORRECT THE 7 OTHER PLUG HOLES TO ENSURE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN TO OTHERS. *TR

MY 1998 GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SHIFTED SUDDENLY TO REFLECT THE WRONG GEAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE INDICATOR INDICATES IT IS IN REVERSE, WHEN IN REVERSE IT INDICATES IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, DEALERSHIP AND FORD BOTH STATE IT IS NOT A VIN INCLUDED IN THE 97V171000 RECALL. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. HE TURNED THE VEHICLE AROUND TO RETURN HOME AND THE BRAKE PEDAL EXTENDED TO THE FLOOR WHEN IT WAS DEPRESSED. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL FORWARD, AND THE EMERGENCY BRAKE HAD TO BE APPLIED. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE BRAKE COMPONENTS AND NOTICED SEVERAL FAILURES WITH THE FRONT AND REAR BRAKE LINE. HE CALLED THE DEALER AND ASKED IF FORD WOULD COVER THE COST OF THE REPAIRS, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 57,295. UPDATED 07/29/08 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO CORROSION. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MATERIAL THAT WAS USED WAS DEFECTIVE. THE BRAKE LINE SHOULD HAVE BEEN MADE OF STAINLESS STEEL OR OTHER CORROSION REISTANT MATERIAL. UPDATED 08/07/08. *JB

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON RT 3 WAS GOING AROUND A CURVE THE VEHICLE STARTED LIKE WOBBLING AND SHE WAS TRYING TO FIND A WIDE SPOT TO PULL OFF THE ROAD. WHEN SHE WENT AROUND THE CURVE THE TIRE CAME OFF AND SHE WAS SLUNG INTO THE OTHER LANE AND SHE COUNTER STIRRED AND WENT OVER AN EMBANKMENT. OLD PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY WENT. CAUSE THE STUD BOLTS BROKE AND LUG NUTS CAME OFF. PUT NEW STUD BOLTS IN AND BOUGHT NEW LUG NUTS. *TR

ON SUNDAY, JUNE 1ST 2008, I WAS TRAVELING SOUTHBOUND ON THE HIGHWAY 99 IN MY WIFE'S 1998 FORD EXPEDITION FROM FRUITRIDGE RD TO FLORIN RD. AS I EXITED ONTO FLORIN RD GOING WESTBOUND, I HEARD WHAT SOUNDED LIKE PLASTIC CAUGHT ON THE SIDE. I PULLED INTO THE 76 GAS STATION ON FLORIN ROAD AND EAST PARKWAY TO ASSES THE DAMAGE. THE VALVE STEM ON MY NEARLY NEW GOODYEAR EAGLE GT II 285/50-20 TIRE HAD TORN. THE HORROR IS THAT I DECIDED TO TAKE MY WIFE'S TRUCK AND LEAVE MY 2002 FORD EXCURSION AT HOME THAT MORNING BECAUSE IT HAD MY BOAT ATTACHED AND I DIDN'T WANT TO MOVE IT. THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN EXTREME HARM DONE TO MY WIFE AND CHILDREN. IT COST ME TIME AND MONEY TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE CONTACT STARTED THE VEHICLE, HE SMELLED SMOKE. HE TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD, AND NOTICED FLAMES COMING FROM THE VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL. THE CONTACT PULLED THE CABLES FROM THE BATTERY AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS NOT ABLE TO BE DRIVEN AND NEEDS TO BE TOWED; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY WILL NOT PAY FOR THE TOWING. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 102,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. EVERYTIME THE CONTACT ENTERS THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINS ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED. SHE MUST MANUALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHT. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE BATTERY EVENTUALLY FAILS AND HAS TO BE RECHARGED IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED 07/15/08

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE GEAR INDICATOR DID NOT DISPLAY THE ACTUAL GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VIN RANGE FOR RECALL # 97V171000 AND THAT HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,000.