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.
I'm having serious electrical problems with my 1997 Ford Expedition. During heavy rains the truck will not start, when I do get it running the dash lights flash off and on. The truck stops running in the middle of traffic. Clicking noises are coming from the dash, the overdrive light flashes off and on the doors want lock. I'm concerned for my families safety. A possibility of the truck catching on fire. Ford needs to do a recall on the vehicles.
Electrical devices in the car have turned on without keys even in the ignition. Concerned with fire hazard if such things as lights and blower motors turn on on their own, perhaps for extended periods. Also concerned as to what other electrical malfunctions will present themselves in unattended vehicle. Failure is apparently due to leaking windshield seals draining water onto GEM (electronic module) and the fuse panel for the vehicle, shorting electrical connection and corroding the units over the long term. The fuse box and GEM will need to be replaced to eliminate the dangerous condition (after having re-sealed the faulty seal).
The interior dash lights of my 1997 Expedition go out every time it rains or the vehicle gets wet. The cause of this appears to be in the electrical system connect with the dimmrer switch that cause a short that then blows the 5 amp fuse. I have replaced this multiple times and is fine as long as it is dry (Ohio isn't a very dry climate). I have gone through many 5 amp fuses. I have delayed getting anything done since the first occurance back in 2000 due the costly expense of just trying to diagnose the problem. This seems similar to other complaints that I have read posted on this web site due to water leaking from windshield. I have even had my windshield replaced and still have this problem to date. I have now stopped replacing the fuse and live with no dash lights at night. Very dangerous when you don't know what speed your going. In my professional engineering opinion there appears to be a water leak issue in the windshield/firewall area. This water leak issue should be looked into as the root cause to other failures that have been seen on Expedition and F-150S in regards to electrical issues and fires.
I am original owner of my 1997 Expedition, which just turned 60000. Driving at night, the dashboard lights flickered. Stopped the truck and it stalled. When trying to restart, battery did not have enough joice to turn engine. When hooking up jumper cables, the starter engaged by itself, without key in ignition, engine started, but starter remained engaged for a few minutes. Engine idled, but when headlights were turned on engine stalled. When trying to restart, nothing happened when turning key, even with jumper cables connected to a good battery. Had to have it towed. Mechanic had to replace ground wire, starter, starter soleniod, starter cable, alternator, battery, and lockout sensor. Mechanic said he has replaced many ground wires on these trucks, but typically only ground wire, starter solenoid, & battery. My truck was the worst effected. How can I find out if there is any action that can be taken against Ford for this very expensive fault ?
Shorts in the electrical system resulted in misfunctioning door locks (repaired), electronic 4WD (still malfunctioning) and failure of internal dome light to turn off. All occurred within the first 12000 miles. 4WD and dome light are still a problem.. dome light makes vehivcle difficult to drive at night.
- Auburn, AL, USA
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Had taken vehicle at least 3 different times to dealer for non working radio. After 3rd time dashboard started smoking. Could smell rubber & plastic. Went back to dealership. Mechanic indicated would need to rewire & then reground the wires. Had also claimed penny in radio caused electrical short. Due to alarm going off, key could not be used. Vehicle could not be started. Mechanic could not resolve issue of electrical system & indicated it was driver's problem.
On 4-12-2000 I was driving to children's hospital with my wife and daughter. We were N/B on I-5, at 60 mph in the seattle. I attempted turn on the radio and pushed the button. Nothing happened for a couple of minutes and then smoke came out of the radio. The smoke started to fill the passenger compartment. I was afraid the dashboard area was about to catch fire. I managed to find a exit to get off the freeway, stopped the car and get my family out. I turned off the ignition however the smoke was still coming out of the radio. The smoke stopped about 1 or 2 minutes later. I called bowen scarff Ford in kent and was referred to sound on wheels for radio repair. The manager at sound on wheels pulled the radio from the dash and showed me the water damage on the radio and coxial antenna wire leading from the antenna to the back of the radio. When the water got into the back of the radio a short was caused and the smoke started. I was told this was a problem with the 97 Ford Expedition. I took my vehicle to bowen scarff Ford and was informed a tech memo had been put out to Ford mechanic but nothing had been sent to Ford owners of Expedition. What I experience was a safety issue. I could have panic and cause a major accident on a freeway at high speeds. I believe this type of short could cause a major malfunction of the electrical system. Could the doors lock, trapping people inside? most deaths related to fire occure from inhaling smoke. These were some to the things going through my mind while attempting to get my family to safety. Why has there not been a recall to fix this problem. How many must be injured or killed before a recall. None I pray.
Intermittent problem of something burning from the dash area; dealer notified and inspected and some repairs was made by replacing heating coil; but condition still reoccurring. Can NHTSA help in this matter.
Consumer parked vehicle and went inside the house, and vehicle exploded, catching on fire. Fire department explained to consumer that fire started in the glove compartment.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Moore, OK, USA