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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
3 / 0
Average Mileage:
40,093 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 suspension problems

suspension problem

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1997 Ford Expedition Owner Comments (Page 1 of 2)

problem #28

Dec 012018

Expedition

  • 190,000 miles

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

Takata recall, my steering is bad like im fishtailing on the freeway, when I hit a bump it pulls to one side. Theres alot of play in the steering wheel.

- Daly City, CA, USA

problem #27

Sep 222016

Expedition

  • 189,000 miles
While driving on the highway, as soon as I go faster than 55mph the vehicle down by the wheels, starts shaking. I can feel it in the steering wheel. I suspect it's the ball joints but not sure. It also wobbles when turning going as slow as 25 mph.

- Tonica, IL, USA

problem #26

Nov 132016

Expedition

  • miles
My brake went to the floor when I started to drive my vehicle last week. I was going to ave my bakes replaced today when the mechanic noticed that the lower control arms were very rusted it has pieces breaking off and there is actually a hole in the rear driver side lower control arm. The metal brake lines is also rusted in two. He looked at my 1998 expidition and the lower control arms on the back of it are also rusted out. He saididn't I should not drive either of them until they are replaced. I'm wondering if there is a recall on these.

- Luttrell, TN, USA

problem #25

Mar 202016

Expedition

  • 220,000 miles

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

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving at 10 mph, an abnormal sound was heard from the rear driver side tire. The failure recurred constantly. The vehicle was not diagnosed nor repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 96V252000 (suspension). The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 220,000.

- Lexington, SC, USA

problem #24

Aug 312010

Expedition 8-cyl

  • 48,500 miles
When I had the tires replaced one lug on each front wheel broke off. We ordered replacements and the next day when the tires were removed to replace the broken ones several others broke. I had all the tire lugs replaced and am driving the car. There have been similar problems reported with accidents caused by lost wheels.

- Dallas, TX, USA

problem #23

Feb 262012

Expedition 8-cyl

  • 113,000 miles
This issue was at night while driving the headlight to see at night had turned off at a 35 mph speed no bumps no turn just driving straight. This is a serious issue, you use your lights for night and your are left with no lights, as a result for this huge problem I received a ticket that is how I found out my lights were not working. The headlights fuses, module components, wiring were checked no issues there, as for all other lights example emergency lights, rear lights interior lights are functioning. But as the electrician found the directional switch combo was burned left with a white shadow in one area it was replaced, and now functioning. As for the suspension not functioning properly is this an issue that has not been able to be resolved. I have taken it to different shops and there is no air leakage in the suspension pump and other areas that are linked with the suspension. The suspension pump still repeatedly pump air every 45-60 minutes which it's fine, but not when the vehicle bounces very vigorously for 15 minutes or more till it activates the suspension to pump air. When the suspension is down the steering wheel functions different as the bouncing makes it hard to drive at a certain speed, not safe but manageable in the mean while. During this time I'm not appreciating the quality of my Expedition components.

- Victorville, CA, USA

problem #22

Sep 102011

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • 134,000 miles

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

The rear lower trailing arms that hold the rear axle in place are made too thin and with corrosion will fail. This will cause the rear axle to move backward and break the drive shaft.

- Jackson, TN, USA

problem #21

Mar 152011

Expedition

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact noticed that the vehicle was leaning to one side. The contact's husband inspected it and noticed that the torsion bar was broken. The vehicle had not been inspected by a dealer/mechanic nor was it repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The current and failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

- Mount Royal, NJ, USA

problem #20

Feb 062004

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 98,100 miles
Torson bar broke in half and fell off after going over a moderate speed bump at 5-8mph. Metal was sheared in half. Vehicle leaned severely to the right. Could have been tragic - 8 occupants were in the vehicle.

- Eugene, OR, USA

problem #19

Jul 082003

Expedition

  • miles
While traveling on the highway and without prior warning a knocking noise was coming from underneath the vehicle. Also, there was vibrations coming though the steering column.

- Westerly, RI, USA

problem #18

Mar 062003

Expedition

  • miles

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

The front suspension wore and caused the vehicle to be hard to control. Dealer notified.

- Madison, WI, USA

problem #17

Sep 052001

Expedition 4WD

  • miles
Consumer has replaced rotors 7 times since purchase of vehicle, the dealer continues to evade the problem by replacing the rotors every 6 to 8 thousand miles. Severe vibration occurs when braking at speeds from 60 mph down to 50 mph. The dealer can not find a remedy for the problem. Consumer also states there is a problem with the suspension.

- Bellevue, WA, USA

problem #16

Jan 152002

Expedition 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
Theres a clunking noise coming from vehicle while driving, took vehicle to dealer, and dealer informed consumer that linkage broke from stablizer bar. Consumer took the vehicle for alignment and dealer told her that both ball joints were very bad and would have to be replaced at her cost.

- Clarksburg, PA, USA

problem #15

May 012001

Expedition 4WD

  • miles
It took some time before I could determine the source of the squeak because it was an intermittent problem. The oem pitman arm is a sealed unit with insufficent lubrication & no provision for lubrication. This is a steering component & should be recalled. All steering & suspension moving components such as tie-rod ends & ball joints should be required to have provisions for lubrication. My vehicle has been repaired but I have observed several vehicles of the same model with the same problem during parking lot turns. This is a steering component & should be a safety recall, not a tsb. There is no safe substitute for proper vehicle maintenance, no matter what the manufacturers tell you about sealed components. Moving parts with grease fittings are sealed also. If factory sealed components without grease fittings were adequate then the bearing hubs on my boat trailer wouldn't have grease fittings. I have been an ase master technician since 1977.

- Bedford, TX, USA

problem #14

Aug 012001

Expedition

  • miles
When making left or right turns there is a clicking tinging noise like metal hitting against something underneath vehicle. Dealership is aware of problem.

- Antoich, TN, USA

problem #13

Sep 051998

Expedition

  • miles
Vehicle was leaning on the passenger's side. Took to dealer while still under warranty, dealer said there was nothing wrong with suspension. Two months later, out of warranty, put vehicle on dianostic machine and they said it was a problem. They could have put it on the machine the first time when consumer first purchased vehicle.

- Fort Worth, TX, USA

problem #12

May 232000

Expedition

  • miles
When making a right turn, vehicle started pulling to the left. Driver had no control of truck. It swiped a telephone pole, which took off the side mirror and jammed the driver's side door. Aftering exiting truck on the passenger's side, driver saw that the entire left wheel was off. Truck was towed to dealership. Problem has not been corrected.

- Atlanta, GA, USA

problem #11

Apr 052000

Expedition

  • miles
While driving in the rain the front tires will skid although the tires are in good condition.

- Mitchelville, MD, USA

problem #10

Jun 181997

Expedition

  • miles
Suspension light continually illuminately with excessive noise in the suspension system, several repair attempts, however continues. Mjs

- Townsend, TN, USA

problem #9

Sep 161999

(reported on)

Expedition

  • miles
The vehicle vibrates uncontrollably at highway speeds. The dealer has not been able to correct the problem.

- Chickasha, OK, USA

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