1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

THE CRUISE CONTROLS STUCK AND THE CAR WENT UP TO 8,000 RPMS. I COULD NOT STOP THE ENGINE FROM RACING, AND I HAD TO TURN OFF THE ENGINE, AND TAKE OUT THE KEY FROM THE IGNITION TO SHUT DOWN THE ENGINE.*AK

SPARK PLUGS BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD OF FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 LITER ENGINE. *AK

GEM MODULE/ECU FAILED - COROSION FOUND ON BA BOX FUSE ASSEMBLY - PROGRESSIVE AND RANDON SYMTOMS OVER PERIOD OF TIME PRIOR TO COMPLETE FAILURE - FORD LOOKED AT PROBLEMS PREVIOUSLY AND NEVER CORRECTED(REPLACED BATERY WORN OUT FROM REPEATED DRAINS). CAUSED ELECTRICAL BACKFLOWS INTO VARIOUS SYSTEMS WHEN POWER OFF SUCH AS AC, RADIO, ENGINE ETC... DRAINING BATTERY NUMEROUS TIMES AND CAUSING A POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.... CAUSED AIRBAGS TO BECOME DISABLED... COMPROMISED ABS BRAKING RANDOMLY... THESE SYSMPTOMS OCCURRED MANY MONTHS PRIOR TO TOTAL FAILURE AT WHICH TIME MANY REALLY WEIRD SYSMPTOMS MADE THE CAR VIRTUALLY UNDRIVEABLE AT SPEED... TRANSMISSION CHANGING GEARS ERRADICALLY... SPEEDOMETER WORKS OFF AND ON... ENGINE CYCLE THRU STARTUP CYCLE OVER AND OVER WHILE DRIVING. *AK

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR A FEW MINUTES WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT ON FIRE . RESULTS SHOWED THAT THERE WAS S SHORT WITHIN THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH.*AK

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IT CAUGHT ON FIRE, ON ITS OWN. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE FIRE WAS A RESULT OF A DEFECTIVE CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. *JB

RECALL CAMPAIGN 97V171000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION CABLE ASSEMBLY. THE SHIFT LEVER WILL NOT GO INTO PARK. THE SHIFT INDICATOR IS OFF BY ONE. OWNER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, BUT WAS INFORMED THAT THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

OUTSIDE MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDES OF AUTO HAVE SHOWN LINES IN THE MIRRORS AND THEY SHOW UP IN SUNLIGHT AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. THEY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE SOME VISION. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION FOR SOME TIME BUT THE DEALERS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. THIS AUTO HAS ONLY 500 MILES NOW BUT THIS STARTED BACK IN 2000. I JUST WENT IN FOR SERVICE 3/17/05 AT FORD AND THEY SAID ITS UP TO ME TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON ON FORD SUV. THANK YOU R VUSICH. *JB

I HAVE NOTICED A LARGE INCREASE IN AMOUNT OF SWAY WHEN STEERING AT HIGHER SPEEDS. I WENT TO CHANGE MY OIL AND FOUND THAT ONE OF THE LINKAGES FROM THE STABLIZER ARM TO THE AXLES? (SIDES WHERE THE WHEEL IS CONNECTED) HAD SNAPPED AND THE OTHER ONE WAS MISSING. I CONTACTED TWO DIFFERENT FORD DEALERS, ONE ACKNOWLEDGED THAT THEY HAD SEEN THAT PROBLEM SEVERAL TIMES AND THE OTHER ONE SAID THEY HAD NEVER SEEN OR HEARD OF IT. THEY WANTED $75.00 FOR JUST THE PARTS (LINKAGES), WHICH I PAID CONSIDERING THE SAFETY ISSUE. I AM A MECHANICAL ENGINEER AND WHEN YOU HAVE BOLTS SNAPPING LIKE THAT IT APPEARS TO BE BAD ENGINEERING OR FAULTY PARTS. ALSO WHEN YOU CONSIDER THESE VEHICLES HAVE HAD A ROLLING ISSUE IN THE PAST (ALTHOUGH ATTRIBUTED TO THE TIRES), I THOUGHT THIS WOULD DEFINITLY WARRANT A RECALL INVESTIGATION (THERE HAVE BEEN OTHER DOCUMENTED CASES ON YOUR SITE OF THIS PROBLEM ALSO). I REPLACED THE PARTS: TWO (2) XL3Z-5495AA STUDS, TWO (2) F65Z-5C491-BC NUT & WASHERS, TWO (2) F65Z-5K483-CC LINKS. I HAVE KEPT THE ONE STUD THAT HAD SNAPPED SHOWING THE BREAK. IT DID NOT SNAP ON THE THREADED END.*AK

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION, AND THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKES STOPPED WORKING, THE BRAKE LIGHTS STOPPED WORKING, AND I COULD NOT PUT THE CAR IN GEAR. I LOOKED AT THE FUSE BOX AND FOUND A FUSE BLOWN. WHEN I REPLACED THE FUSE, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN THE CAR STARTED SMOKING PROFUSELY. I PULLED THE FUSE OUT RIGHT AWAY, AND HAD SOMEONE WATCH AS I PUT IT BACK IN. THE SMOKING STARTED AGAIN, AND IT WAS COMING FROM SOME TYPE OF BRAKE SWITCH ON THE FRONT OF THE MASTER CYLINDER. I TOOK THE CAR TO AIRPORT FORD IN FLORENCE, KY, AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THAT THE 2000 FORDS WERE BEING RECALLED FOR. I ASKED THEM IF IT WAS COVERED UNDER THE RE-CALL, AND THEY SAID IT WAS NOT THE RIGHT YEAR OR VIN. THEY SAID THEY DIDN'T KNOW WHY BECAUSE IT WAS THE EXACT SAME SWITCH CAUSING THE EXACT SAME FIRE THAT OTHERS ARE EXPERIENCING. I HAD TO PAY $158.14 PLUS $15.00 "SHOP SUPPLIES" PLUS $10.39 IN TAXES, TOTALING $183.53 FOR A DESIGN AND SAFETY FLAW - THE SAME ONE THAT THEY SAY ONLY AFFECTS THE 2000 MODELS. FORD IS TRYING TO KEEP FROM TAKING CARE OF THE PROBLEM FOR OTHER MODELS EVEN THOUGH EVEN THEIR OWN DEALERSHIP TECHNICIANS SAY IS THE SAME EXACT PROBLEM.*AK

A LOUD CLANKING NOISE STARTED COMING FROM THE TRAILER HITCH WHILE DRIVING. THE TRAILER HITCH CAME APART, BUT THE DRIVER WAS ABLE TO MAINTAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE, AND PULLED OVER. DRIVER WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE TRUCK HOME, AND WILL CALL THE MANUFACTURER THE NEXT DAY FOR APPOINTMENT.*AK