1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

WHILE DRIVING VEHICLE WAS MAKING A FUNNY NOISE. VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC, AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS ONGOING PROBLEM THAT FORD WAS HAVING WITH FUEL PUMP. CONSUMER STATED THAT 56000 MILES LATER PROBLEM WAS STILL OCCURRING. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

THE FONT WIPER HAVE QUIT WORKING AND HAVE BEEN FIXED ON FOUR OCCASIONS WITH NEW SWITCHES, THE REAR WIPERS HAVE FAILED ON THREE OCCASIONS AND HAS HAD 3 MOTORS REPLACED, THE REAR WIPER IS CURRENTLY INOPERATIVE, THE MANUFACTURER IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM.

THE BLACK BACKING INSIDE THE SIDE MIRRORS ARE MELTING EXPOSING ALL COMPONENTS INSIDE THE MIRROR. I WAS TOLD BY FORD THA IT IS CAUSED BY THE TURNING SIGNAL LIGHTS IN THE MIRROR. MY TRUCK HAS THE DOUBLE BAND LIGHTS AND THEY NEED TO BE SINGLE BAND.

I AM WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A NEWS ARTICLE I SAW REGARDING NHTSA INVESTIGATIONS OF 1997 AND 1998 FORD EXPEDITIONS, IN PARTICULAR FAILURES OF THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINKS. I AM CREATING THIS DEFECT REPORT BECAUSE I BELIEVE MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION MAY ALSO SUFFER FROM A DEFECT WITH THE FRONT STABILIZER BAR LINK. THE STABILIZER BAR CONNECTS THE LEFT AND RIGHT FRONT WHEEL CONTROL ARMS AND IS SUPPOSED TO HELP IN CONTROLLING THE PITCH OF THE VEHICLE IN TURNS. WHEN DRIVING, IF I DRIVE OVER THE SLIGHTEST OF IMPERFECTIONS IN A PAVED ROAD, THE FRONT WHEELS START TO VIBRATE AND I HAVE TO SLOW DOWN TO REGAIN CONTROL AND TO MAKE THE WHEELS RIDE CORRECTLY. ALSO WHEN EXITING OFF A RAMP FROM A HIGHWAY (MEANING A VERY GRADUALLY RIGHT EXIT, NOT A SHARP RIGHT TURN), THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEELS AGAIN SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START TO VIBRATE. LIKEWISE, WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT OR RIGHT TURN, THERE IS A LOUD THUMPING SOUND AND THE WHEEL SEEM TO LOSE CONTROL AND START VIBRATING. I HAVE TO PRESS THE BRAKES TO SLOW THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO REGAIN CONTROL. THIS IS MORE THAN JUST A MATTER OF GETTING MY 'ALIGNMENT FIXED.' PLEASE NOTE: I THINK THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WHICH NEEDS MORE INVESTIGATION BY THE NHTSA. THIS BEHAVIOR STARTED ABOUT APRIL 2001. THIS HAS GRADUALLY GOTTEN WORSE AND WORSE. IT NOW OCCURS EVERY TIME I DRIVE THIS FORD EXPEDITION. THIS VEHICLE HAS NEVER BEEN IN ANY TYPE OF ACCIDENT TO MY KNOWLEDGE. I BELIEVE THIS VEHICLE TO BE UNSAFE, YET I HAVE NO ALTERNATIVE MODE OF TRANSPORTATION TO GET TO AND FROM WORK. I NOW HAVE TO DRIVE SLOWLY TO AVOID ANY PROBLEMS WITH LOSING CONTROL OF THE WHEELS. FYI - I CALLED YOUR OFFICE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT AND FILED A COMPLAINT. BUT I WASN'T QUITE SURE THE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVE GOT ALL MY INFORMATION. SO I AM OPENING THIS REPORT AS A FOLLOW-ON. THE PREVIOUS DOT IMAGE NUMBER IS 715727, AND I SPOKE TO CAROL. YOU MAY CONTACT ME FOR FURTHER INFORMATION. THANK YOU.*AK (TIRESIZE: P265/70R17)

IF VEHICLE HITS A SLIGHT BUMP IN ROAD IT WILL VIBRATE. CONSUMER IS RESPONDING TO A CURRENT INVESTIGATION CONCERNING STABILIZER BAR. CONSUMER HAS TO SLOW DOWN TO GET CONTROL OF VEHICLE. *AK

WHILE DRIVING CRANKSHAFT/ PULLEY SNAPPED OFF THE MOTOR. LOST ALL POWER TO VEHICLE. AFTER TOWING VEHICLE TO MECHANIC, THERE WAS NOT A REASON FOR CRANKSHAFT TO SNAP.*AK

THE SUPPORT BOLT ON THE LEFT SIDE HAS BROKEN AND THE RIGHT SIDE IS BENT AND READY TO BREAK. I DO HAVE PHOTOS. THE SEAT BELTS ARE RIPPING IN HALF AT A POINT WHERE THE BELT IS INSIDE THE REEL. BOTH SHOULDER BELTS ON THE 3RD SEAT HAVE RIPPED AND THE LEFT SIDE 2ND SEAT SHOULDER BELT HAS RIPPED APROX. 3/4 OF THE WAY THROUGH. FORD WILL NOT COMMIT TO REPLACEMENT, WILL ONLY EVALUATE.

WHEN MAKING A SHARP LEFT TURN STABILIZER WOULD GO OUT. NOT ABLE TO CONTROL VEHICLE. WOULD IMMEDIATELY NEED TO STRAIGTEN WHEELS WHEN THIS HAPPENS. WOULD NOT DO IT WHEN MAKING RIGHT TURNS. *AK

STABILIZER LIGHT COMES ON INTERMITTENTLY, AND THERE IS A CLICKING SOUND FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE WHEN MAKING TURNS. VEHICLE TAKEN TO DEALER 4-5 TIMES, CANNOT FIND A PROBLEM.*AK

THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT INVOLVED WITH THIS PART FAILURE AS OUR MECHANIC CAUGHT THE PROBLEM BEFORE WE HAD AN ACCIDENT. OUR MECHANIC FELT SINCE THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART USED IN THE EXPLORER AND MOUNTAINEER AND HAS SINCE BEEN RECALLED, THIS ONE FOR THE EXPEDITION SHOULD BE RECALLED AS WELL. THIS IS THE EXACT SAME PART! FORD WAS OF NO HELP AND FRANKLY FORD NOR THE DEALERSHIP CARED ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. NO SAFETY DEFEC TMENTIONED.*AK