1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

FROM APR-98 TO JULY-98 THE NHTSA HAD INVESTIGATED TIEROD-END FAILURES IN 96-98 FORD F150, FORD EXPEDITIONS AND LINCOLN NAVIGATORS. THIS INVESTIGATION NEEDS TO BE RE-OPENED. I BELIEVE I HAVE FOUND THE REASON FOR THE FAILURES. PLEASE HAVE THE ENGINEER IN CHARGE OF THIS ISSUE CALL ME AS SOON AS POSIBLE. THIS IS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE. KYLE LEMBACH 02-28-99. P.S. I HAVE CONTACTED THE NHTSA TWICE IN THE PAST 2 WEEKS WITH NO RESPONSE.

DRIVESHAFT IS TOUCHING THE EXHAUST, CAUSING THE EXHAUST TO CRACK IN HALF. DEALER HAS REPLACED 3 TIMES, BUT DEFECT IS OCCURS. *AK

RIGHT FRONT TORSION BAR BROKE WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN GARAGE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIRS. WAS TOLD THEY HAD SOME F-150 PICKUPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM, BUT ON THE LEFT SIDE. I WAS TOLD THE PARTS WERE ON NATIONAL BACKORDER, MAKING ME BELEIVE THAT THIS WAS MORE THAN AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. TOOK 2 1/2 WEEKS TO GET PARTS IN. ASKED THE DEALER SINCE IT WAS OCCURING MOSTLY ON THE LEFT SIDE OF THE OTHER VEHICLES, I WAS WONDERING IF THEY WERE GOING TO REPLACE THE LEFT SIDE ON MINE. ALSO. I WAS TOLD ONLY IF IT BREAKS. DEALER FIXED THE VEHICLE ON FEB. 5, 1999. AFTER DRIVING FOR 2 DAYS IT BROKE AGAIN. DEALER HAD TO ORDER ANOTHER TORSION BAR AND THAT WAS REPLACED ON FEB. 17,1999. I HAVE NUMEROUS CONCERNS WITH THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE SINCE MY WIFE IS THE PRIMARY DRIVER AND TRANSPORTS OUR CHILDREN AGES 10 AND 3. WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IF SHE HAD BEEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE TORSION BAR FAILED. I'VE PLACED 3 CALLS TO FORD CONSUMER RELATIONS, AND RECEIVED NOTHING, NOT EVEN I'M VERY SORRY, AND NO CORESPONDENCE FROM THEM. AS TO THE PROBLEM WITH THE FUEL PUMP, EVERY TIME WE GOT DOWN TO 1/4 OF ATANK OF GAS OR LESS AND WOULD COME TO A STOP AND STEP ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PROCEED, THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION. BROUGHT IT TO THE DEALER ON THREE OCCASIONS, ONLY TO BE TOLD THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG, AND THAT WE SHOULD DRIVE THE VEHICLE WITH MORE THAN 1/4 OF A TANK OF GAS. I ASKED THEM TO TEST THE FUEL PUMP TWICE. THEN FINALLY, ON THE THIRD VISIT THE REPLACED THE FUEL PUMP BECAUSE THEY FOUND THE FUEL SOCK ON THE PUMP WAS TOO SHORT AND PUMPING FUEL WHEN THE TANK WAS BELOW 1/4 OF A TANK. *AK

VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP AND ENGINE SPEED INCREASED. BREAK PEDAL WAS FULLY DEPRESSED. ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT WAS NOT DEPRESSED. VEHICLE ONLY STOPPED WHEN TRANSMISSION WAS PUT IN NEUTRAL. A SERIOUS ACCIDENT WAS NARROWLY AVOIDED. WILL BRING VEHICLE TO DEALER FOR CHECK-OUT ASAP. *AK

THE BRAKE SYSTEM FAILED COMPLETLY ON 02/02/99. WE HAD THE DEALER TOW THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICE. THE DEALER KEPT THE VEHICLE FOR 2 DAYS AND RETURNED THE VEHICLE TO US AND SAID THAT THE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CHECKED TO BE OK, AND THAT THEY FELT THERE WOULD BE NO OTHER FAILURES. ON 02/09/99. MY WIFE WAS APPROACHING A STOP LIGHT WITH TRAFFIC STOPPED WAITING FOR THE LIGHT TO CHANGE. AS SHE APPROACHED THE STOPPED TRAFFIC, SHE APPLIED THE BRAKES AND THE BRAKES AGAIN FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE BRAKE PEDAL AGAIN WENT ALL THE WAY TO THE FLOOR. IF THE LIGHT WOULD NOT HAVE CHANGED SHE WOULD HAVE REAR ENDED THE CARS STOPPED FOR THE LIGHT . WE HAD THE AGENCY TOW THE CAR TO THEIR GARAGE. THEY HAVE LOANED US A SMALL CAR WHILE THEY DO MORE TESTING. *AK

TORSION BAR BROKE ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE, CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE LEFT SIDE. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

DRIVER'S SIDE TORSION BAR BROKE, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAN TO THE LEFT. CAUSE UNKNOWN. PLEASE GIVE ANY FURTHER DETAILS. *AK

FRONT RIGHT TORSION BAR BROKE AND FELL OFF, CAUSING VEHICLE TO LEAN. DEALER REPORTS HE HAS 5 FORD VEHICLES WITH SAME PROBLEM, 3 PICKUPS AND 2 EXPEDITIONS. FORD HAS A FACTORY BACKLOG ON THIS PART. THIS IMPRESSES ME THAT IT IS A COMMON SAFETY PROBLEM ON THESE FORD VEHICLES. *AK

THE DESIGN OF THE AUTO UP/DOWN FEATURE CAN NOT STOP WITHOUT THE DOOR SWITCH ACTIVATED, POOR DESIGN FEATURE. YH

DUE TO THE DESIGN OF THE SEAT BELT MOUNTING POINTS, CAR SEATS DO NOT FIT PROPERLY, SEATS MOVE AND ARE NOT STABLE.