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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
0 / 2
Injuries / Deaths:
0 / 0
Average Mileage:
153,723 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1997 Ford Expedition engine problems

engine problem

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1997 Ford Expedition Owner Comments

problem #11

Oct 122017

Expedition

  • 225,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

My 1997 Ford Expedition XLT beige in color since I have own this vehicle I have had to replace five (5) spark plugs and coil for they have blown out of the cylinder and I have had to have the vehicle towed into a repair facility which have been costly to me. The engine on this vehicle is a 5.4. the vehicle was in motion at the time of the problem on the highway

- Augusta, KS, USA

problem #10

Apr 042016

Expedition

  • 195,000 miles
Coil pack, spark plug issue. My Expedition sounded like it was "missing". not sure when I 1st heard it. I took it in for some maintenance- oil change, change spark plugs, basic tune up. But I was told by the shop that the coil pack/spark plugs were defective & if I attenpted to change the plugs & could that there is a good chance it will blow the head. The shop refused to change the plugs N coils. Stating that they will not attempt it, being as they do not want to be responsible for the head. So, I have to live with a defective engine. Ford needs to own up to the problem. If this blows while I drive it & anyone gets injured as a result, I will sue Ford. The 97 Expedition is a great SUV. But I can't believe the coil pack/spark plug issue has not been included in any recalls! this is a very serious & dangerous & expensive problem. Shame on you, Ford.

- Tonica, IL, USA

problem #9

Mar 122017

Expedition

  • 221,613 miles
Started vehicle and immediately heard loud noise under hood. Found spark plug had blown out of head. Vehicle was stationary at time, but had been driven without problem just a couple of hours earlier.

- New Bern, NC, USA

problem #8

Feb 212015

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • 193,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Spark plug blow out. On my trip from va to pa spark plug blew out while on I95 in Delaware a snowstorm about to start and I got stranded. No part store has any answers, auto repair shops want to change $300+ dollars to fix. There is a repair kit that cannot be bought in any auto part store only online. My truck is yet in pa can't afford having it towed back to va.. had to get a rental to come back home. Ford needs to do the right thing here.

- Virginia Beach, VA, USA

problem #7

Jan 112015

Expedition

  • 98,000 miles
Spark plug blew out, broke coil and damaged head.

- Roanoke, VA, USA

problem #6

Dec 032012

Expedition

  • miles
I currently own a 1997 Ford Expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !St time was cylinder #3 then #7, then on 3-6-2014 it was #8 then on 03/14/14 #2 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! Ford has known for years that there are millions of vehicles out there especially from 1997 through 2005 and still have done nothing to assist in either fixing the problem or compensating people for their losses due to this crap design they came out with that only has the heads of the motor holding the spark plug in with 4 threads!! I am told that they do not have a recall because they believe there is no eminent danger involved with the malfunction of this defect"? what about - hey the motor is running so the fuel injector is spewing out fuel all over the motor when the plug shoots out like a rocket and then knocks someone's eye out? fire did U say?? eye out?" naaah no problem!!! I am also told from my mechanic that I will have to live with this because even if you replace the heads that hold the plugs in you will only have the same problem again down the line. This is not an answer. Ford needs to step up and fix the problem, make a recall, redesign the heads and stop with the B.S. before someone gets hurt bad!!! too much time and $$$ lost from having this problem go to the shop every [xxx] few miles not to mention the time and $$$ I am loosing from work - just fix it Ford!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Decatur, GA, USA

problem #5

Jul 072009

Expedition

  • 190,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the engine caught on fire while parked in a driveway. Only the frame remained after the engine fire was extinguished by the fire department. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 190,000. The VIN was not available.

- Winchester , KY, USA

problem #4

Oct 092013

Expedition

  • 238,340 miles
I currently own a 1997 Ford Expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !St time was cylinder #4 then #5, then today 2-3-2014 I met with #3 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! Ford has known for years that there are millions of vehicles out there especially from 1997 through 2005 and still have done nothing to assist in either fixing the problem or compensating people for their losses due to this crap design they came out with that only has the heads of the motor holding the spark plug in with 4 threads!! I am told that they do not have a recall because they believe there is no eminent danger involved with the malfunction of this defect"? what about - hey the motor is running so the fuel injector is spewing out fuel all over the motor when the plug shoots out like a rocket and then knocks someone's eye out? fire did U say?? eye out?" naaah no problem!!! I am also told from my mechanic that I will have to live with this because even if you replace the heads that hold the plugs in you will only have the same problem again down the line. This is not an answer. Ford needs to step up and fix the problem, make a recall, redesign the heads and stop with the B.S. before someone gets hurt bad!!! too much time and $$$ lost from having this problem go to the shop every [xxx] few miles not to mention the time and $$$ I am loosing from work - just fix it Ford!! information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Cumming, GA, USA

problem #3

Dec 222013

Expedition

  • 140,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while he driving 60 mph, an abnormal noise emitted from under the hood. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the local repair shop where it was found that the spark plugs separated due to a defective thread and cylinder. The dealer replaced the spark plugs with a newly manufactured steel head and thread however, the failure was not corrected. The contact was advised that the cylinder head or engine possibly needed replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 140,000.

- Atherton , CA, USA

problem #2

Oct 152013

Expedition 8-cyl

  • miles
I was driving down the street, going about 10 to 15 mph and while driving I had not light on my dashboard indicating any problems all of sudden my 97 Ford Expedition makes this crazy sound and completely turns off. I was not able to start the truck up again so I had it towed. After two day past I tried starting the truck up and it would not do anything.

- Gainesville, FL, USA

problem #1

Aug 032012

Expedition

  • 190,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that smoke emitted from under the hood. The contact inspected the vehicle and found that oil leaked onto the brake pressure switch. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure and current mileages were 190,000.

- Bakersfield , CA, USA

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