1997 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE SUPERVISOR NOTIFIED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE GARAGE. THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY THE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE FIRE MARSHALL STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO THE CRUISE CONTROL FIRING OFF AND SPREADING TO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 200,000. *AK

IN 1998, MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOW LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN, RADIO PLAYING WHEN NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, CLICKING FROM UNDER THE DASH, SEATBELT LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN SEATBELTS WERE BEING WORN, WIPERS WORKING ON THEIR OWN. I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL, I THREATENED A LAW SUIT IF SOMETHING WASN'T DONE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED IN A CREW THAT THEY REFERRED TO AS THE RAIN DOCTORS. COME TO FIND OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING ON THE GEM MODULE AND SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. NOW, IN 2007, I AM STILL DRIVING THE SAME 1997 EXPED. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, ALL THESE PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE 4X4 CLUSTER LIGHTS COMING ON AND GOING OFF, CLICKING UNDER THE DASH AGAIN, HEATER COMING ON BY ITSELF WHEN CAR ISN'T RUNNING AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN, BEEPING UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, RADIO PLAYING ON ITS OWN. THE WHOLE SCENARIO HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM CURRENTLY PARKING THE VEHICLE 100 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE FOR FEAR IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF AS I HAVE READ MANY, MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH THE 1997 EXPED. CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NOW. SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT ALL THESE WERE CHECKED OUT. HOWEVER, I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND WHY THIS LEAKY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM IS NOT BEING RECALLED. NOW TEN YEARS LATER, WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED AT GARAGES AND PARTS STORE IN MY COMMUNITY, THE TECHNICIANS IMMEDIATELY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WENT THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME, I GUESS IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO ME TO REPAIR THIS FAULTY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I SINCERELY HOPE NO ONE DIES OR HAS DIED DUE TO ONE OF THESE EXPEDITIONS CATCHING FIRE. RECALL WHERE ARE YOU???!!!!! *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE,THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BURNING UNDER THE HOOD. THE ENTIRE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THIS VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN RECALL # 05V388000. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WERE 100,003.*AK

I'M HAVING SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. DURING HEAVY RAINS THE TRUCK WILL NOT START, WHEN I DO GET IT RUNNING THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON. THE TRUCK STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CLICKING NOISES ARE COMING FROM THE DASH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON THE DOORS WANT LOCK. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. A POSSIBILITY OF THE TRUCK CATCHING ON FIRE. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES. *JB

PASSENGER SIDE EXHAUST MANIFOLD STUDS CORRODED AND BROKE ON 4.6L ENGINE, CAUSING EXHAUST LEAK WITH EMISSION CONTROL CATALYTIC CONVERTER. REPLACED STUDS WITH STAINLESS STUDS, BUT NOT ACKNOWLEDGED ON 4.6L. *AK

MY 1977 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE OFF FOR AN HOUR.IT THEN STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND QUICKLY ENGULFED THE FRONT OF THE CAR IN FLAMES DESTROYING THE CAR.THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT I COULDNT PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTIGUISHER THE FIRE DEPT HAD TO PUT IT OUT.

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE AT MY OFFICE. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM SPREADING TO THE OTHER CARS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. WHEN HE PUT SOMEONE IN THE BACK SEAT THE SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGED AND THE PASSENGER COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND STATED THAT THEY HE SHOULD HAVE THE LOCKS REPLACED AT HIS OWN COST. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS SAFETY PROBLEM, IF A CRASH OCCURRED THE BACK PASSENGERS COULD NOTB GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON HIS OWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10500, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB

TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE 1997 FORD EXPEDITION INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE CABLE THAT HELD THE SPARE TIRE SNAPPED, CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL ONTO THE GROUND WHILE GOING UP OVER THE CURB. *AK UPDATED 02/2/707*JB

ELECTRICAL DEVICES IN THE CAR HAVE TURNED ON WITHOUT KEYS EVEN IN THE IGNITION. CONCERNED WITH FIRE HAZARD IF SUCH THINGS AS LIGHTS AND BLOWER MOTORS TURN ON ON THEIR OWN, PERHAPS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. ALSO CONCERNED AS TO WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES IN UNATTENDED VEHICLE. FAILURE IS APPARENTLY DUE TO LEAKING WINDSHIELD SEALS DRAINING WATER ONTO GEM (ELECTRONIC MODULE) AND THE FUSE PANEL FOR THE VEHICLE, SHORTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND CORRODING THE UNITS OVER THE LONG TERM. THE FUSE BOX AND GEM WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO ELIMINATE THE DANGEROUS CONDITION (AFTER HAVING RE-SEALED THE FAULTY SEAL). *NM