1999 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

MY FORD EXPEDITION WAS OUTFITTED A LITTLE OVER 3 YEARS AGO WITH GOODYEAR WRANGLERS BY FORD DUE TO THE FIRESTONE TIRE FAILURE. RECENTLY, WHILE WASHING THE VEHICLE I NOTICED FAILURE IN THE SIDEWALL OF THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TIRE. ALL AROUND THE RIM APPROXIMATELY 1/2 TO 3/4" FROM THE RIM THERE ARE CRACKS IN THE RUBBER SIDEWALL OPENING UP AS THE EARTH DOES DURING AN EARTHQUAKE. THESE ARE APPROXIMATELY 2-3" LONG AND A LITTLE OVER 1/8" DEEP SO FAR. THIS IS HIGHLY UNUSUAL FOR THREE YEAR OLD TIRES. THESE WILL BE REMOVED BEFORE THE NEXT LONG TRIP AS I WILL NOT WAIT FOR FAILURE AND PUT MY OR MY FAMILY IN DANGER. *JB

HEAD GASKET FAILURE. RIGHT HAND, REAR SIDE OF THE ENGINE. I CAN SMELL STRONG BURNING OIL WHEN ENGINE IS RUNNING AND AFTER SHUT-OFF. OIL SATURATED STARTER. *JB

I WAS DRIVING ON A BUSY ROAD WITH MY THREE CHILDREN DURING RUSH HOUR. I HEARD A LOUD POP FOLLOWED BY THE WHAT SOUNDED LIKE MACHINE GUN FIRE. I IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND SHUT DOWN THE VEHICLE. I WAS FEARFUL OF THE SAFETY OF MY CHILDREN AND HAD THEM LEAVE THE CAR. I THEN HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED. A FORD REPAIRMAN LOOKED AT THE CAR AND STATED THAT THE #3 PASSENGER SIDE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT. HE STATED THAT THIS A KNOWN PROBLEM AND FORD REFUSES TO ACKNOWLEDGE THE ISSUE. HE SAID THAT THEY SEE MANY OF THESE EACH WEEK AND THAT IT IS USUALLY THE #3 SPARK PLUG ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD BE $2500-$5000 TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. WE WERE TOLD BY ANOTHER FORD DEALER THAT HE COULD FIX IT FOR $300-$500. WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED THERE AND DESPITE INFORMING HIM WHICH SPARK PLUG IT WAS, UPON INSPECTING THE VEHICLE HE CLAIMED IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT TO REPAIR AND INCREASED THE REPAIR PRICE TO $2100. WHEN WE OBJECTED HE OFFERED TO PURCHASE THE VEHICLE FOR $200-$300. WE FEEL AS IF THE FORD DEALERS ARE USING THIS ISSUE TO RUN A BATE AND SWITCH. WE HAVE INVESTIGATED THE MATTER ON THE INTERNET AND HAVE FOUND MANY OTHERS COMPLAINING OF THE SAME ISSUE AND FORD'S FAILURE TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY. SOMEONE IS GOING TO GET INJURED IF THEY FAIL TO CORRECT THEIR DESIGN DEFECT. *NM

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE APPLYING BRAKE PRESSURE AT 25 MPH ON A CITY STREET, THERE WAS A LOSS OF BRAKING POWER, AND AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. ALTHOUGH NO CRASH OCCURRED, THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP, WHO DETERMINED THE STEEL PIPE FITTINGS,HOSES, AND CONNECTIONS OF THE BRAKES WERE CORROSIVE, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. ADDITIONALLY, IT WAS DETERMINED THE CORROSION WAS DUE TO USE OF INFERIOR METALS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALERTED.

EVENTS LEADING UP TO FAILURE: (1) STARTED WITH FOG LIGHT SWITCH NOT WORKING. (3) TOOK IT IN FOR SERVICE AND WAS TOLD THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING AND SHORTED THE SWITCH. SERVICE ATTEMPTED TO CORRECT LEAK BY LEAVING WINDSHIELD IN PLACE AND PROVIDING MORE SEALANT. (1) LEAK IN WINDSHIELD DISCOVERED TO PERSIST AFTER BATTERY DRAINED DUE TO RADIO AND VARIOUS ELECTRICAL FUNCTIONS WOULD CONTINUE EVEN WITHOUT THE KEY IN THE IGNITION. MOST RECENTLY, THE STARTER WOULD REPEATEDLY ATTEMPT TO START THE ENGINE RANDOMLY AFTER THE ENGINE WAS STARTED AND EVEN WHILE THE KEY WAS OUT OF THE IGNITION! (2) WITH THIS UNCONTROLLED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY BATTERY DRAIN WAS CAUSING STRANDING AND THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE THE SMELL OF AN ELECTRICAL FIRE WAS NOTED. (3) THE CAR WAS TAKEN IMMEDIATELY TO A FORD DEALERSHIP FOR SERVICE, WHERE CURRENTLY THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX ARE GETTING REPLACED AS WELL AS THE WINDSHIELD TO FIX THE LEAK - I WAS TOLD THAT THE ORIGINAL WINDSHIELD CANNOT BE RE-SEALED AS IT WILL BREAK WHEN REMOVED. I DON'T HAVE VIN WITH ME AT THIS VERY MOMENT, BUT CAN SUBMIT IT LATER. WHAT DOES OEM MEAN NEXT TO THE DEFECTIVE ELEMENTS I'VE LISTED? *NM

LOUD POP THEN LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER, CONTINUAL POPPING SOUNDS UNTIL I STOPPED ENGINE. SPARK PLUG WAS EJECTED FROM ENGINE. I BELIEVE THIS INVESTIGATION SHOULD BE REOPENED AS THIS SHOULD BE A DEFECT RECALL . *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY WITH THE IGNITION TURNED OFF, FLAMES ERUPTED FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD AND ENGINE COMPARTMENT AREA WITHOUT WARNING. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ALERTED, AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE POLICE WERE ALSO ALERTED, AND A REPORT WAS TAKEN. THERE WAS EXTENSIVE FIRE DAMAGE; AN INSURANCE ADJUSTOR DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. *AK

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE SILVER WAS COMING OFF OF THE EXTERIOR MIRRORS. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED.

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A LOUD EXHAUST NOISE WAS HEARD WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS. THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNING SIGNALS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER, WHO DETERMINED THE BOLTS WERE SNAPPING OFF THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD DUE TO A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. THE VEHICLE HAS YET TO BE REPAIRED.

1999 FORD EXPEDITION BURNED IN GARAGE, DESTOYING GARAGE AND DAMAGING HOUSE. NOT DRIVEN FOR OVER 12 HOURS. BURNED SO BADLY INVESTIGATORS COULD NOT DETERMINE HOW IT STARTED. RECALL WAS DONE FOR CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. *NM