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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
10 / 9
Injuries / Deaths:
9 / 0
Average Mileage:
37,297 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 (Page 1 of 3)

problem #45

May 052017

Expedition

  • 190,000 miles

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

When examining my vehicle which supposedly had a recall on the cruise control sensor on brake master cylinder, found that Ford only added a fusable link to prevent fire as the sensor may not have been leaking at the time. It has since leaked and the added bit of wire with the blue tag has blown it's fuses but I believe the cruise control has now disabled my horn durring operation. I am requesting my vehicle be serviced properly as the recall was not done correctly to my understanding. I was looking online and just realized this so I looked at my vehicle and saw it is the old design.

- Washougal, WA, USA

problem #44

Jul 192017

Expedition

  • 160,000 miles
I know for a fact there was a massive recall on the model. The cruise control malfunctions and catches on fire when the key is not in the ignition. Most of the F-150 engine fires were traced back to a faulty cruise control. The vehicles usually burned when the vehicle has 160-180,000 miles on the speedometer. My 2000 Ford Expedition burned caught my home on fire and nearly killed three people and several pets. The vehicle in question belongs to a good friend. They mentioned in passing that the cruise control is malfunctioning. This vehicle is exhibiting the exact same symptoms that my Expedition did just before it caught fire. I unplugged my friends Expedition cruise control. I am shocked this vehicle is no longer on the recall list. If this vehicle was repaired during the recall it would not be malfunctioning now.

- Palm Harbor, FL, USA

problem #43

Mar 052012

Expedition 8-cyl

  • miles
On 03/05/2012, my Ford Expedition exemplified sudden acceleration upon ignition. The truck started and, immediately, accelerated with extreme RPM. The transmission was in the parked gear but the truck gunned forward explosively. The incident occurred in the parking lot of my job at the end of my shift. The truck rocketed forward about 60 feet then collided with a brick, six feet high retaining wall. The front bumper of the Expedition was about four feet from a ground-level power transformer. The retaining wall was designed to prevent damage to the transformer. I've suffered neck and back injuries and was hospitalized. The truck sustained significant front end and under carriage damage.

- Lithonia, GA, USA

problem #42

Jun 242011

Expedition 8-cyl

  • 179,000 miles

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

1997 Ford Expedition spontaneously combusted in target parking lot about 2 hrs after the driver parked it there and went in to work. The aft area of the engine compartment, the front driver and passenger seating area and most of the back seats were melted and burned. The fire was put out by denver fire dept. Sounds much like many internet reported issues with "Ford Expedition cruise control switch fires".

- Alamogordo, NM, USA

problem #41

Sep 112009

Expedition

  • 131,629 miles
Fire center of hood drivers side vehicle sitting not running.

- Farmer City , IL, USA

problem #40

Mar 212007

Expedition

  • 72,000 miles
Car burned down at 2:15 am in garage because of cruise control on 21 March 2007 and set car next to it Lincoln town car and garage and rooms above on fire, damage roughly 380,000.-$, recalls only was official in Aug 2007 since cnn report.

- Mauerbach, 00, USA

problem #39

Sep 092008

Expedition

  • miles

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

1997 Ford Expedition caught fire today 09-09-2008. The vehicle had been parked for several hours, no key in ignition. Fire department told me to check on the recalls, I did & it had a fire recall on the make, model & year of the vehicle I did own. It is salvage now.

- Stedman, NC, USA

problem #38

Aug 272008

Expedition

  • 179,105 miles
I had drove to my mothers house on 8/27/08 and parked in the street. After 15 minutes of visiting with her I heard the alarm going off, and went to see what it was, only to find my vehicle on fire. The fire dept. Put out the fire, but it was to late. The vehicle was a total loss.

- Imperial Beach, CA, USA

problem #37

Jun 152008

Expedition

  • 185,000 miles
My 1997 Ford Expedition caught fire in the middle of the night evidently to a faulty cruise control and I never got a notice on it from Ford. I lost my car and if I had parked it into the garage like I normally due my whole family would be dead!

- Mesa, AZ, USA

problem #36

Nov 262007

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The vehicle caught fire after being parked for ten minutes. The vehicle was in the off position and the keys were not in the vehicle. Prior to the fire, the vehicle had only been driven one mile. The siding on the neighboring home was burned completely. The vehicle was completely destroyed. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a report. The manufacturer is expected to send him information in the next few business days. The failure and current mileages were 120,000.

- Rosedale, NY, USA

problem #35

Jul 252007

Expedition

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles

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

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While parked he heard the smoke alarm and noticed there was smoke coming from the vehicle. He later noticed the vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department extinguished the fire however; the fire destroyed the vehicle, office furniture and personal items. As of August 3, 2007, the cause of the fire has not been determined. The VIN, engine size, number of cylinders and mileage information were unavailable. The consumer stated on August 30th a forensics expert determined the cause of the fire to be the cruise control switch. The consumer stated the owner was never notified of the recall on the vehicle. Updated 12/12/07

- Santa Fe Springs, CA, USA

problem #34

Mar 292007

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 100,003 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. Approximately 20 minutes after parking the vehicle, the contact discovered that the vehicle was burning under the hood. The entire vehicle was destroyed. This vehicle was included in recall # 05V388000. The current and failure mileage were 100,003.

- Chillicothe, OH, USA

problem #33

Feb 172006

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • 116,646 miles
1997 Expedition throttle was stuck open. ***** while driving in below zero temps the throttle stuck open. The vehicle was taken to and auto center who located a bulletin indicating that the throttle sticks after steady driving in cold ambient temps. The date on the bulletin was Oct 26, 1998.

- Cheyenne, WY, USA

problem #32

Dec 091997

Expedition 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 125,000 miles
On Dec. 08, 2005 the washer fluid like blinked rapidly and loudly from what sounded to be a relay under the dash. The airbag light came on and the speedometer stopped working. The dealer advised me that the truck was attempting to start itself. Dealer rep name is gary wells at bondy's Ford in dothan, al.

- Dothan, AL, USA

problem #31

Dec 242003

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 120,000 miles
Throttle remains stuck down under hard acceleration, potentially dangerous situation. Throttle body has been replaced twice and apparently needs to be replaced again.

- Issaquah, WA, USA

problem #30

Feb 172003

Expedition

  • miles
When the gear was shifted into drive, the vehicle accelerated in reverse, which caused a minor accident.

- Helotes, TX, USA

problem #29

Dec 242001

Expedition

  • miles
Consumer states that vehicle was placed in reverse for parallel parking, as she tapped the accelerator, the engine raced, and the vehicle surged backwards, consumer applied brakes but it did not slow the vehicle down, the car jumped the curb and slammed into a column, one person was injured in the accident.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #28

Dec 242001

Expedition

  • miles
The vehicle suddenly accelerated when the consumer was in reverse, parallel parking, the vehicle slammed into a brick column. The damage of the vehicle was extensive and the consumer sustained minor injuries.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #27

Dec 242001

Expedition

  • miles
Consumer states that vehicle was placed in reverse for parallel parking, as she tapped the accelerator, the engine raced, and the vehicle surged backwards, consumer applied brakes but it did not slow the vehicle down, the car jumped the curb and slammed into a column, one person was injured in the accident.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #26

Dec 242001

Expedition

  • miles
The vehicle suddenly accelerated when the consumer was in reverse, parallel parking, the vehicle slammed into a brick column. The damage of the vehicle was extensive and the consumer sustained minor injuries.

- Houston, TX, USA

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