1999 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

ENGINE IDLING LOUDER THAN NORMAL. NEEDED A VALVE ASY-IDLE AIR CONTROL. I KNOW 3 PEOPLE THAT HAD THE SAME PROBLEM WITH THEIR EXPEDITION AND THEY HAD THE WORK DONE IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS. *JB

ENGINE WAS LEAKING OIL. DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. HOWEVER, OIL LEAK RECURRED. CURRENTLY, DEALERSHIP INDICATED THAT ENGINE HEAD WAS WHOPPING AND CAUSING THE OIL TO LEAK.*AK

3OF3 - BRIDGESTONE DUALER AT T9802 D693AZ P265/70R16 SET OF 4 PURCHASED 2/2/2001 - THIS TIRE SN? ENLJ JLD0700. FAILURE OCCURRED @ 37 MONTHS AND 39000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. NO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, 1/4" TREAD DEPTH, TIRES INFLATED TO MFG SPEC, 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 2WD 4.6L. THIS IS 3OF4 TIRES TO FAIL. PURCHASED A SET OF MICHELIN LTX M/S 3/16/04... SR-101 NORTHBOUND (WEST PHOENIX) END OF A TRIP FROM SAN DIEGO, 10PM, AIRTEMP 78F, DRY, SPEED=65 MPH. GRADUAL INCREASE IN "SHAKE" AND STEERING GETTING "SQUIRRELY". FELT THIS BEFORE! WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION OF THE LEFT FRONT TIRE OCCURRED. WAS ABLE TO LIMP HOME @ 30 MPH. *NM

2OF3 - BRIDGESTONE DUALER AT T9802 D693AZ P265/70R16 SET OF 4 PURCHASED 2/2/2001 - THIS TIRE SN? ENLJ JLD2100. FAILURE OCCURED @ 37 MONTHS AND 38KMILES AFTER PURCHASE. NO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, 1/4" TREAD DEPTH, TIRES INFLATED TO MFG SPEC, 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 2WD 4.6L. THIS IS 2OF4 TIRES TO FAIL. I-10 WESTBOUND, 20 MILES WEST OF PHOENIX, 2PM, AIRTEMP 92F, DRY, SPEED=75MPH. GRADUAL INCREASE IN "SHAKE" AND STEERING GETTING "SQUIRRELY". WAS ABLE TO PULL OFF TO SIDE OF ROAD BEFORE A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT FRONT TIRE OCCURED. *NM

1OF3 - BRIDGESTONE DUALER AT T9802 D693AZ P265/70R16 SET OF 4 PURCHASED 2/2/2001 - THIS TIRE SN UNKNOWN. FAILURE OCCURRED @ 31 MONTHS AND 33000 MILES AFTER PURCHASE. NO UNEVEN TIRE WEAR, 3/8" TREAD DEPTH, TIRES INFLATED TO MFG SPEC, 1999 FORD EXPEDITION 2WD 4.6L. THIS IS 1OF4 TIRES TO FAIL. I-10 EASTBOUND, 60 MILES SOUTH (EAST) OF PHOENIX, 5PM, AIRTEMP 105F, DRY, SPEED=75 MPH. 15 SECONDS OF "SHAKE" PRECEDED A CATASTROPHIC TREAD SEPARATION OF THE RIGHT REAR TIRE. ENTIRE RIGHT SIDE OF CAR SUFFERED BODY DAMAGE, EXCEPT FOR THE RIGHT FRONT FENDER. AS OF 3/16/04, CURRENTLY UNDER SUBROGATION VIA ST. FARM. *NM

ABOUT A YEAR AGO THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET ON OUR 1999 FORD EXPEDITION WAS REPLACED DUE TO LEAKING OIL, BY THE DEALERSHIP. THE MILEAGE WAS 35,000. NOW A YEAR LATER, WHILE TRAVELING AT 70 MPH. ON THE FREEWAY, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE SAME RIGHT CYLINDER. THE LOUD NOISE AND CLATTER CAUSED A KNEE JERK RESPONSE,ALMOST CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE'S MILEAGE IS NOW ONLY 46,000. WE FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD DO THE RESPONSIBLE THING AND RECALL THESE 5.4 L ENGINES WITH THE ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS AND AND REPLACE THEM WITH A BETTER DESIGN WITH SAFETY IN MIND. IF YOU CHECK OTHER CONSUMER COMPAINTS, YOU WILL SEE THAT THIS IS NOT AN ISOLETED INCIDENT.*AK

WHILE DRIVING CONSUMER HEARD A LOUD CLUNKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

I PURCHASED A 1999 EXPEDITON. AND SHORTLY AFTER BUYING IT NOTICE A TAPPING NOISE THAT GOES AWAY AFTER ABOUT 2-3 MINUTES OF WARM UP. I BELIEVE THER IS OTHER PROBLEMS CAUSING THIS. MY MAJOR COMPLAINT IS WITH THE CONSTANT OIL LEAK ON THE RIGHTHAND SIDE HEAD GASKET. THE IS A CONSTANT LEAK OF OIL DOWN ONT THE EXHAUST MANIFOLD AND CATALYST CONVERTER,CAUSING A POSSIBLE FIRE HAZARD. I HAVE READ OF OVER 53 OTHER COMPALINTS FOR THE SAME PROBLEM AND QUESTION WHY FORD HAS NOT RECALLED THIS PROBLEM. IT ALL COMES DOWN TO ECONOMICS, I FEEL THE ARE QUICK TO FIX SMALL PROBLEMS I.E... TRAILER HITCHES AND WIRING PROBLEMS, BUT WHEN IT COMES TO A KNOWN MANF. DEFECT IN THESE PARTICULAR ENGINES FORD IS NOT WILLING TO STAND BEHIND THERE WORK. IWOULD LIKE TO SEE N.H.T.S.A FORCE FORD TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. IF PEOPLE ARE SPENDING OVER 25,000 FOR A VEHICLE THEY SHOULD HAVE THE PIECE AND MIND THAT THEIR FAMILIES WILL LIVE LONG ENOUGH TO PAY OFF THE VEHICLE. MY POINT IS THAT I AM A U.S. MARINE AND MY LIFE IS AT DANGER WHENEVER WE GO OFF TO WAR AND ITS A POSSIABILTY THAT MY LIFE CAN BE ENDED BY A SINGLE BULLET, AND I AM WILLING TO MAKE THAT SACARFICE. BUT I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD BE ASK TO DIE IN MY VEHICLE ON THE OPEN ROADS IN THE LAND OF THE FREE. THE WAY I SEE IT FORD IS WILLING TO SAVE A FEW DOLLARS BY NOT ACCEPTING RESPONSIABITY OF THIS KNOWN DEFECT. BUT MY WIFE, 5 YEAR OLD DAUGTER, 3 YEAR OLD SON, AND 2 YEAR OLD SON SHOULD MEAN ALOT MORE THAN $1800- $5000 SAVED BY THEM NOT FIXING THE PROBLEM. I WOULD REALLY LIKE TO SEE WHAT CAN BE DONE TO REMEDY THIS SITUATION. AND IF THEY STILL REFUSE TO FIX THE PROBLEM LETS JUST SEND ALL THE IRAQI'S AND TERRORIST A FREE 99 FORD EXPEDITON THAT SHOULD SOLVE OUR WAR ON TERRORISM... NOT SO RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED, GUNNERY SERGEANT UNITED STATES MARINES. *AK

APPROXIMATELY 2 WEEKS AGO, I NOTICED A BURNING SMELL/OIL LEAK IN MY 1999 EXPEDITION. I PROMPTLY TOOK IT IN TO MY MECHANIC TO BE DIAGNOSED. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT IT HAD A LEAKING HEAD GASKET (THIS ENGINE HAS ONLY 46,000 MILES ON IT, AND THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXTREMELY WELL MAINTAINED). I SPENT MANY HOURS ON THE PHONE WITH FORD, BUT WAS TOLD THEY WOULD NOT HELP. FEELING STUCK, I WENT AHEAD AND AUTHORIZED MY MECHANIC TO GO AHEAD AND FIX THE HEAD GASKET AT OUR EXPENSE (OF NEARLY $2000)! UNFORTUNATELY, THIS NIGHTMARE ONLY GOT WORSE! YESTERDAY, MY MECHANIC INFORMED ME THAT WHILE TEARING DOWN THE ENGINE TO GET TO THE HEAD GASKET, HE DETERMINED THAT THE TIMING CHAIN HAS WORN CLEAR INTO THE GUIDES/TENSIONERS. HE (AND 2 OTHER QUALIFIED MECHANICS) HAVE STATED THAT THERE IS NO EXPLANATION FOR THIS OTHER THAN DEFECTIVE MANUFACTURING. THERE IS NOTHING I COULD HAVE DONE TO HAVE CAUSED THIS. THE COST TO REPAIR THIS PROBLEM WOULD BE AN ADDITIONAL $1500, NOW PUTTING MY TOTAL AT NEARLY $3500! BOTH THE MECHANIC AND I SPENT MUCH OF YESTERDAY ON THE TELEPHONE (YET AGAIN) WITH FORD, BUT THEY ARE STILL REFUSING TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE FAULTY ENGINES! IT SICKENS ME THAT THEY CAN CHARGE $40,000 FOR A VEHICLE, THEN NOT BE MADE TO STAND BEHIND THEM! I HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY AMAZED AT HOW MANY OTHER REPORTS I AM READING (HERE AND ELSEWHERE) ABOUT THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM OCCURRING WITH THE HEAD GASKETS. WHY HASN'T FORD BEEN REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM? THIS EXPEDITION WAS MY "DREAM" CAR THAT I SAVED 2 YEARS TO BUY. I CANNOT EVEN BEGIN TO TELL YOU HOW MUCH THAT DREAM CAR HAS TURNED INTO A NIGHTMARE!! PLEASE MAKE FORD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THESE DEFECTIVE ENGINES!!*AK

FOLLW UP ON LETTER DATED OCT. 7, 2002 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. NVS-216, MEK, REF. # 567329. NO COMPONENTS MENTIONED. THE CONSUMER CALLED INTO THE HOTLINE TO INDICATE THAT THE ENGINE WAS REPLACED BECAUSE OF A SNAPPED INTAKE VALVE THAT WAS LAYING AGAINST THE PISTON. *AK