1998 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

OUR 1998 EXPEDITION ONLY HAS 93,000 MILES AND IT IS POSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW GEM MODULE. I HAVE READ AT LEAST 50 COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORDS WINDSHIELD LEAKING AND CAUSING SAME SYMPTOMS. WHY WOULD FORD DO A RECALL. OR MAYBE THEY HAVE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THEY HAVE. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT. ALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE VERY SIMILAR SO IT IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. *TR

TRUCK CAUGHT ON FIRE. IT HAD BEEN IDLE FOR APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS BEFORE INCIDENT OCCURRED. TRUCK WAS A TOTAL LOST. *TR

CAR CAUGHT FIRE FOR PROBLEM WITH SPEED CONTROL DEVICE , I WAS NEVER INFORMED ABOUT PROBLEM WITH THIS AND THE RECALL THE DEALERSHIP REFUSED TO PROVIDE A CARFAX AND OR VEHICLE HISTORY WHEN REQUESTED . BELOW I WILL PASTE THE INFO ABOUT THE RECALL. MAKE: FORD MODEL: EXPEDITION MODEL YEAR: 1998 MANUFACTURER: FORD MOTOR COMPANY MFR'S REPORT DATE: SEP 07, 2005 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 05V388000 EA05005 NHTSA ACTION NUMBER: EA05005 COMPONENT: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL POTENTIAL NUMBER OF UNITS AFFECTED: 4500000 SUMMARY: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN. CONSEQUENCE: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR. REMEDY: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286) NOTES: FORD RECALL NO. 05S28. CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV. *TR

1998 FORD EXPEDITION #3 SPARK PLUG EXPLODED RESULTING IN VEHICLE REQUIRING $1,000.00 IN REPAIRS

SUSPECTED FAILURE OF ABS CONTROL MODULE RESULTED IN TOTAL LOSS OF BRAKING. DISABLING THE ABS BY REMOVING THE FUSE RESULTS IN RELIABLE BRAKING. FORD WANTS TO REPLACE THE MODULE, BUT IF THE MODULE FAILS AGAIN THEN THERE WILL BE A LOSS OF BRAKES. THE BRAKING IS MORE RELIABLE WITHOUT THE ABS ACTIVATED. *TR

1998 FORD EXPEDITION 4X4 4.6L, THE POOR QUALITY STEEL USED FOR THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS AND BOLTS RUST VERY FAST. MINE RESULTED IN THE DRIVERSIDE BOLTS RUSTING AWAY CAUSING EXHAUST COMING DIRECTLY OUT OF THE ENGINE, ALSO THE EGR TUBE RUSTED OFF THE DRIVERS MANIFOLD CAUSING HOT EXHAUST TO BLOW TOWARD THE TOP OF THE ENGINE. ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE MANIFOLD BOLTS/STUDS ALSO RUSTED AWAY CAUSING EXHAUST TO DISPERSE IN THE ENGINE BAY. ALSO ON THE PASSENGER SIDE THE MANIFOLD CRACKED ABOUT 3 INCHES LONG ON THE TOP OF THE MANIFOLD CAUSING HOT EXHAUST TO BLOW UPWARD TO THE UPPER ENGINE BAY. I CORRECTED THIS PROBLEM BY REPLACING THE BAD MANIFOLDS/STUDS WITH PACESETTER SHORTY HEADERS AND BOLTS, IT WAS THE CHEAPEST FIX. THE PACESETTER SHORTY HEADER KIT WAS $150 FROM WWW.SUMMITRACING.COM . THE TRUCK WAS EXTREMELY LOUD BEFORE I FIXED THIS PROBLEM AND I WAS PULLED OVER FOR IT BY THE POLICE 4 TIMES, THEY LET ME GO IF I PROMISED TO FIX THE PROBLEM. SINCE I FIXED THE PROBLEM THE TRUCK IS VERY QUIET AND I DON'T GET THREATENED WITH $75 TICKETS ANYMORE PLUS I HAVE THE PEACE OF MIND THE TRUCK WONT BURN TO THE GROUND WITH MY FAMILY IN IT FROM HOT LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLDS OR RUSTY FAILED STUDS/BOLTS. *TR

FIRST, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT POWER OFF WHILE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED, DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WAS ON. TOOK TO DEALER PROBLEM RESOLVED FOR A MONTH OR SO. NOW NEED TO SPRAY WD40 ON LATCHES RELIGIOUSLY. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THEN CAME THE RADIO AND HEATER RUNNING WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. BEEPS AND CLICKS AND BAD SMELLS COMING FROM UNDER DASH. AGAIN TO THE DEALER, NO CODES FOUND FOR THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING. BATTERY DRAINING OCCURRING FREQUENTLY NOW AND NO RESOLUTION. I NOW HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERYNIGHT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD I GET THE MANY FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH, THE WINDOWS WON'T WORK, SPEEDOMETER FAILS, TRUCK LOSES POWER AND THE TRANSMISSON SHIFTS STRANGELY. I WAS HOURS FROM HOME AND DOING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN EVIDENCING DECIDED TO NOT WORK AT THE SAME TIME. THEN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ONLY WHEN IT RAINS OR IS VERY WET OUT. AND I WAS TRULY AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE OTHERS THAT WERE ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I HAD TO DRIFT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND PUT MY HEAD DOWN, WHEW, AND THE MOTOR POWERED BACK UP AND ALL THE FAILURE LIGHTS WERE OFF. ONLY AFTER INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET TODAY DO I FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AND THE FIX... REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD SEAL! AND POSSIBLE DAMAGED FUSE BOX AND GEM! NOW WHY DIDN'T THE FORD DEALER HELP REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ONE OF THE MANY TIMES I WAS IN? THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NEW WINDSHIELD $165 AND THEY COME TO THE HOUSE. I PAID BIG MONEY FOR "NO CODES MATCH YOUR ISSUES, MISS." TW*

I HAVE A 98 EXPEDITION, WINDOWS ROLL DOWN, STEREO COME ON HEAT TURNS ON, ALL DASH PANEL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF,THE AIR BAG LIGHT GO ON AND OFF,AND THE WIPERS AND OVERDRIVE GO ON AND OFF ,THE STARTER TRIES TO START WHILE RUNNING IT STARTED FEW YEARS AGO ON OCCASION WHEN IT WOULD RAIN NOW EVERYTIME ,FOUND OUT THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER ON THE FUSE BOX AND SOME OTHER GENERIC BOX, I FEEL FORD SHOULD FIX THE EXPEDITION ITS THERE DEFAULT LOOK ON THE INTERNET ,THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROB. PLEASE HELP. *TR

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION EB MODEL. I JUST HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AND THE GEM MODULE HAS BEEN GETTING WET AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUSE BOX. APPARENTLY THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODLE.I HAVE TO SPEND 885 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE LIGHTS FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS NOT SAFE! IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ONCE THEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE DASH STARTED SMOKING AND A BEEPING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH SOMEWHERE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED BEFORE THERE WAS ANY REAL FIRE DAMAGE. IF I HAD KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARS I WOULD HAVE KEPT DRIVING AND COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

DRIVING OUR 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WITH A TRITON 5.4L V-8 HOME FROM A WEEKEND CAMPING TRIP, THE ENGINE BLEW A SPARK PLUG. WE WERE ON A VERY BUSY 5 LANE HIGHWAY WITH OUR THREE CHILDREN UNDER 6 YEARS OLD. WE SPENT NEARLY TWO HOURS ON THE SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE WAITING FOR A TOW TRUCK. I UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FAIRLY COMMON MALADY; ONE IN WHICH THE NHTSA HAS INVESTIGATED BEFORE. I UNDERSTAND THAT MANY OUTSIDE FORD MOTOR CORP FEEL THIS IS A DESIGN FLAW AND CREATES UNNECESSARY EMERGENCY EVENTS ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. *TR