1997 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

JUNE 7, 2005, I PICKED UP MY SON AT SCHOOL; WE DROVE HOME AND GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK. WE WERE IN THE HOUSE 3-4 MINUTES WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE AND THEN STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARRIVED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNT THE ENTIRE TRUCK UP.

1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. *MR THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED THAT SMOKE WAS COMING FROM THE HOOD ALONG WITH FLAMES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FIRE SPREAD TO THE VEHICLE PARKED BESIDE THE CONSUMERS VEHICLE AND DAMAGED THE REAR DRIVER SIDE QUARTER PANEL OF THE OTHER VEHICLE. *SC *JB

THE CONSUMER STATED VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF IN THE YARD WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNED. FLAMES CAME FROM THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. JUST HAD IT SERVICED TWICE SINCE DECEMBER.

LTR RE DEFECTIVE 1997 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPEDITION, WHICH CAUGHT ON FIRE AND BURNED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED OFF.*MR THE CONSUMER BELIEVES THE FIRE WAS THE RESULT OF A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WHICH WAS RECALLED FOR THE 2000 EXPEDITIONS BUT NOT THE 1997'S. *NM

WHEN PUSHING ON THE BRAKE PEDAL IT TOOK AN EXTRA TWENTY FEET TO STOP. IT FELT LIKE IT WAS ON ICE. THE DEALER INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND FOUND NO DEFECTS, AND THE COMPUTER SHOWED NOTHING. *AK THE BRAKES WOULD GET HARD AND THE CALIPERS WERE CLICKING. WHEN THE VEHICLE HAD GONE OVER BUMPS, THE ABS LIGHT WOULD APPEAR ON THE DASH. THE VEHICLE WOULD BE TURNED OFF AND BACK ON AND THE LIGHT WOULD GO OFF. *SC *JB

NHTSA RECALL CAMPAIGN 05V017000 CONCERNING CRUISE CONTROL. VEHICLE WAS PARKED ONE HOUR WHEN THE NEIGHBOR ALERTED CONSUMER THAT THE GARAGE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DPEARTMENT WAS ALERTED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE, HOWEVER, TWO VEHICLES AND PART OF THE HOME WERE DESTROYED. *AK

THE STEERING SHAFT WAS LOOSE AT THE GEAR BOX , THE TECHNICIAN SAID THERE WAS ALMOST NO CONTACT AND WOULD NOT LET ME DRIVE IT HOME SAYING IT WAS TOO DANGEROUS AND WAS ABOUT TO COME UNDONE AT ANY TIME. THE WHEEL COULD BE TURNED 1/3 AROUND AND THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT BECAUSE OF THE DEGREE OF SEPARATION MAKING IT VERY DIFFICULT TO DRIVE. MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE GROUP THAT WAS RECALLED IN RECALL NUMBER 03S02 DATED MAY 2003, THEREFORE I HAD TO PAY FOR THE REPAIRS MYSELF. I CALLED FORD AND THEY SAID THEY CANNOT HELP ME BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T RECALL MINE. THERE COULD ALSO BE OTHERS THAT WERE NOT RECALLED. I HAVE THE RECEIPT TOTALING ABOUT $340. THE PAPERWORK FROM THE FORD DEALERSHIP READS: FOUND STEERING SHAFT LOOSE AT BOX. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY I HAD TO PAY FOR WHAT OTHER OWNERS GOT FREE BECAUSE IT WAS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *JB

MY 97 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN HOME DEPOT PARKING LOT 10-29-05. THE FIRE WAS ELECTRICAL, AND IT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD ACCORDING TO THE INSURANCE REPORT. *JB

AFTER PARKING FOR 5 MINUTES A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM.*AK

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING BRAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY NO MATTER HOW HARD BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL MUST BE PRESSED TO STOP ACCELERATION. MY WORRY IS IF SOMEONE SHOULD PANICK WHEN THIS OCCURS IT COULD RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION OR RUN THROUGH A INTERSECTION.