1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

I HAD A SKIING ACCIDENT AND SEVERELY DAMAGED MY KNEE. AS I WAS BEING TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL IN MY 1998 EXPEDITION, IT BLEW A SPARK PLUG OUT OF THE ENGINE. I WAS TOLD BY THE DEALER TODAY THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH ALL FORD TRITON ALUMINUM ENGINES, HOWEVER, THERE WOULD BE NO COMPENSATION FOR THIS KNOWN DEFECT. *NM

WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED SMOKE WAS COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. CONSUMER OPENED THE HOOD, AND VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE. CONSUMER WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE WITH A FIRE EXTINGUISHER. THEN, VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. *AK

THE CAR WAS UNDER NORMAL CITY DRIVING CONDITIONS WHEN THE #3 SPARK PLUG WAS VIOLENTLY EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NOT A FIRE, WITH FUEL AIR VAPORS BEING EXPELLED FROM THE EMPTY SPARK PLUG HOLE AND THE PLUG AND WIRE VISIBLE ARCING IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT, THERE CERTAINLY WAS A POSSIBILITY OF A FIRE. I HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTORS CUSTOMER RELATIONS DIRECTLY TO REPORT THIS AS A POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DESIGN FLAW, THEY FLATLY DENY THAT THERE IS ANY PROBLEM. UNFORTUNATELY, THE COST OF THIS REPAIR CAN RUN BETWEEN $3000 AND $6000, WHICH IS PROBABLY WHY FORD HAS CHOSEN TO TAKE THE COARSE OF DENIAL. AT THE SAME TIME THEY ARE DENYING THAT THIS IS A HAZARDOUS DESIGN FLAW, THE HAVE CORRECTED THE PROBLEM IN REPLACEMENT PARTS AND IN LATER MODEL YEARS. *JB

WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH THE SPARE TIRE LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE DISCONNECTED FROM THE VEHICLE AND FELL ONTO THE GROUND. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

1998 FORD EXPEDITION. SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. 3 TIMES . FIRST TWO TIMES REPAIREDBY FORD UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

HEATER COIL WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT RADIO WAS MAKING THE PART DEFECTIVE. THE COIL WENT OUT AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN. MANUFACTURER STATED NO MORE REPLACEMENTS. *AK

1998 EXPEDITION. FIRE CONCENTRATED IN LEFT REAR CORNER OF ENGINE COMPARTMENT IN VICINITY OF CRUISE CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH. THE 15 AMP FUSE FOR THAT CIRCUIT WAS BLOWN. XRAYS OF THE SWITCH HEAD SHOWED TOTAL DESTRUCTION OF THE BRASS CONTACTS INSIDE EVEN THOUGH THE OUTER SHELL WAS STILL RELATIVELY IN TACT.

THE PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD ON MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 LITER V8. HAS TO GO TO FORD, APPROX 2700 TO FIX, MY EXTENDED 3RD PARTY WARRANTY REFUSES TO COVER BECAUSE THEY SAY IT IS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT. FORD DISAGREES. I WILL HAVE TO PAY THIS. TOO MANY PEOPLE HAVE THIS SAME THING HAPPEN TO THEM . THERE ARE SEVERAL WEB SITES THAT DEAL WITH IT. EVEN THE 3RD PARTY EXTENDED WARRANTY COMPANY SAID THEY SEE IT ALL THE TIME ON THESE ENGINES. *NM

WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH OR MORE VEHICLE COMMENCED TO LOSE STEERING CONTROL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN TO THE DEALER ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS. DEALER REPLACED COMPRESSOR PUMP TWICE, BUT PROBLEM RECURRED. *AK

THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE'S WIPER ALSO FAILED. *NM