1997 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN PARK. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING IT JUMPED OUT OF PARK INTO REVERSE AND ROLLED DOWN A HILL INTO SOME METAL POLES WHICH STOPPED THE VEHICLE. THIS OCCURRED ON PRIVATE PROPERTY AND THERE WAS NO OTHER DAMAGE TO PROPERTY OR PERSON OTHER THAN THE REAR DOOR PANEL OF THE VEHICLE WHICH WAS DAMAGED BY THE IMPACT. THE SHIFT LEVER OF THE VEHICLE WILL NOT GO INTO PARK PROPERLY NOW AND APPEARS TO BE SOMEWHAT LOOSE. I HAVE AN INVOICE THAT INDICATES WORK WAS DONE UNDER WARRANTY TO CORRECT A PROBLEM WITH THE SHIFTING CABLE ON 12/29/1997, BUT THE DEALER AND FORD CLAIM NO SUCH WORK WAS EVER DONE. *JB

I HAVE OWENED A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION FOR 1 YEAR. IN THIS TIME I HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM TWICE. THE SPARK PLUGS COME LOOSE FROM THE PISTON HEAD AND ARE BLOWN OUT AND DAMAGE THE COIL PACK. THERE IS THEN UN-BURNT FUEL COMING FROM THE PISTON CHAMBER AND THE SPARK PLUG IS STILL FIRING WITH THE POSSIBLITY OF A FIRE. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TOLD ME THAT THIS IS A KNOWN AND ADDRESSED ISSUE BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT FORD WILL ONLY PAY FOR REPAIRS UPTO 75,000 MILES. THIS LAST TIME THIS HAPPENED IT DAMAGED THE HEAD AND WILL REQUIRE MAJOR REPAIRS. I AM MOSTLY CONCERNED WITH THE FIRE SAFTEY AND BELIEVE THAT THIS SHOULD BE A MANDITORY RECALL.*AK

SPARK PLUG BLOWS OUT OF ALUMINUM HEAD. THIS CAR HAS ONE OF THE MOST EXTENSIVE SERVICE RECORDS PASO ROBLES FORD HAS ON RECORD; THESE ARE THEIR WORDS. IN OTHER WORDS THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED VERY VERY WELL AND TO HAVE THE PLUG BLOW OUT IN THE FIRST PLACE IS UNCALLED FOR. SECONDLY WE PAID TO HAVE A REMANUFACTERED ENGINE INSTALLED AND A FEW WEEKS LATER THE PLUG BLOWS OUT AGAIN. THIS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON WHAT FORD CALLS A REVISED PART TO TAKE CARE OF PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE ALUMINUM HEAD. FORD WILL NOT GIVE US A STRAIGHT ANSWER ON WHAT THE REVISION IS; THIS COULD BE ANYTHING-POSSIBLY NOT EVEN RELATED TO THE PROBLEM. MY UNDERSTANDING IS THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE ARE ONLY THREE THREADS GOING INTO THE ALUMINUM HEAD. APPARENTLY THE REVISION DOES NOT TAKE THIS PROBLEM INTO ACCOUNT BECAUSE IT ONLY TOOK A FEW WEEKS FOR THE EXACT SAME THING TO HAPPEN.

THE TRUCK ABRUPTLY PULLED TO THE RIGHT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH. ALSO, WHEN THIS OCCURRED THERE WAS A RATTLING NOISE FROM THE FRONT WHEEL. IT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING WAS LOOSE. THE TRUCK PULLED TO THE RIGHT WITH SUCH FORCE THAT IT RESULTED IN THE TRUCK HITTING A CURB AND DAMAGING THE TIRE AND RIM. THE MECHANIC INDICATED THIS COULD OF BEEN CAUSED BY A FAILURE IN THE SWAY BAR. *JB

I JUST PURCHASED A 1997 FORD EXPADITION, I ONLY PUT 3000 MILES ON IT AND ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD. I CALLED FORD AND THE SAID THEY HAVE NO RECORDS OF ANY PROBLEMS LIKE THIS. AFTER DOING A LITTLE RESERCH ON THE INTERNET F150ONLINE.COM I FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. I CANT AFFORD TO REPLACE THE HEAD, FORD SHOULD BE MADE TO AKNOWLEDGE THAT THEY HAVE A PROBLEM. DAVE

THROTTLE REMAINS STUCK DOWN UNDER HARD ACCELERATION, POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THROTTLE BODY HAS BEEN REPLACED TWICE AND APPARENTLY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. *LA

1997 EXPEDITION 5.L TRITON. BLEW #3 PLUG 18000 MILES AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED. RESEARCH SHOWS THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE THOUGH FORD DOES NOT ACKNOWLEDGE ANY DESIGN FLAW. *AK

SPARE TIRE FELL OFF OF 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WHILE DRIVING ON ROAD. THE SPARE IS SUSPENDED BY A CABLE UNDER THE REAR SECTION OF THE VEHICLE. THIS EVENT OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING AT VERY SLOW SPEED. HOWEVER, THE CAR FOLLOWING BEHIND MY VEHICLE COULD NOT AVOID THE FALLEN TIRE AND DROVE OVER THE TOP. THE DEFECTIVE TIRE SUSPENSION CABLE WAS REPLACED, AT MY EXPENSE, BY A LOCAL DEALER. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED IF THIS HAD OCCURRED WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. *AK

WAS DRIVING SUV DOWN HIGHWAY AND IT JUST SHUT DOWN. FOUND OUT IT WAS THE TRANSPONDER ON THE ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM BURNT UP. I FELT THAT IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO BE DESIGNED THAT WAY. *LA

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION (EDDIE BAUER) WITH 5.4L ENGINE WITH UNDER 60000 MILES AND WITH ALL REGULAR SERVICE AT DEALERSHIP "BLEW" A SPARK PLUG OUT OF PASSENGER SIDE CYLINDER HEAD. PLUGS ARE ORIGINAL FACTORY INSTALLED. PLEASE SEE "CONSUMER AFFAIRS.COM WEBSITE. WHILE NOT A SAFETY ISSUE PLUGS ON FORDS 96-2000 ARE BLOWING OUT ALL OVER COUNTRY. THE FIX IS $2-3K. PLEASE CONSIDER RECAL INVESTIGATION. *AK