1997 Ford Expedition Owner Complaints

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check ABS" messages were displayed on the instrument panel along with the oil, brake, and battery warning lights being illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the part needed to repair the steering wheel was no longer in stock. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as from the dealer. The contact also stated that moisture had begun to leak from the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

NHTSA ID

11591275

Incident

May 28, 2024

Mileage

171,000 mi

Vehicle will speed up or slow down in certain times for certain speeds without notice smell of smok and looked hurt wiring

NHTSA ID

11458221

Incident

Mar 23, 2022

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND THE INTERSECTION OF LONGSTREET AND HIGHWAY 82. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I SLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH. I WAS TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A BROKEN NOSE FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL. SEAT BELTS WERE ON FRONT SEAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

NHTSA ID

11383877

Incident

Dec 16, 2020

Mileage

3 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11365980

Incident

Oct 12, 2017

Mileage

225,000 mi

STEERING IS EXTREMELY OVERACTIVE AND SEEMS TWITCHING, MEANING AT LOW SPEED OR AT HIGH RATE OF TRAVEL VERY SLIGHT MOVEMENTS OF THE STEERING WHEEL CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO MOVE SUDDENLY, AND UNCONTROLLABLY, PREVIOUS OWNER WENT OFF HIGHWAY AND FELT UNSAFE IN VEHICLE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE. I IMAGINE THIS HAS TO DO WITH THE VARIABLE ASSIST POWER STEERING BUT CANNOT FIND ANY DIAGNOSTIC AIDE IN RESOLUTION OF ISSUE.

NHTSA ID

11343190

Incident

Jul 31, 2020

Mileage

261,900 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11325759

Incident

May 5, 2017

Mileage

190,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11156712

Incident

Dec 1, 2018

Mileage

190,000 mi

THE STEERING IS VERY LOOSE AND HARD TO KEEP ON ROAD, I CALLED FORD HEADQUARTERS TO SEE IF IT WAS UNDER RECALL AND THEY SAID NOT MY VIN WAS INCLUDED. I ALSO HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE O/D LIGHT BLINKING. MY TRANSMISSION SHIFT GREAT UNTIL THE LIGHT STARTS BLINKING.I THINK IT IS A BAD CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR. I READ WHERE A LOT OF THOSE SHORTED OUT AND STARTED FIRES.

NHTSA ID

11140296

Incident

Oct 14, 2018

Mileage

180,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11090884

Incident

Sep 22, 2016

Mileage

189,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11090882

Incident

Apr 4, 2016

Mileage

195,000 mi

THE STEERING ON THE VEHICLE IS LOOSE AND WONDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD CONTACTED A MECHANIC AND HE TOLD ME WHERE STEERING SHAFT SLIDES TOGETHER IS REALLY LOOS AND STEERING SHAFT NEEDS REPLACED

NHTSA ID

11035550

Incident

Aug 28, 2017

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.

NHTSA ID

11006506

Incident

Jul 19, 2017

Mileage

160,000 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10966207

Incident

Mar 12, 2017

Mileage

221,613 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

10925688

Incident

Nov 13, 2016

TL* 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.

NHTSA ID

10853802

Incident

Mar 20, 2016

Mileage

220,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO REMAIN IN POSITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO STEER THE VEHICLE IN EXCESS TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE STEERING SHAFT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS AWARE OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10849692

Incident

Feb 1, 2015

Mileage

170,000 mi

MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY WATER LEAKING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD INTO THE FUSE BOX CAUSING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO QUIT. DOOR LOCK WON'T WORK, RADIO QUIT. PROBLEM IS NEVER THE SAME, DEPENDS ON WHERE THE WATER LEAK OCCURS. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN.

NHTSA ID

10810074

Incident

Dec 11, 2015

Mileage

190,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH, THERE WAS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOTICED THE STEERING WHEEL WAS BECOMING LOOSE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT WAS LOOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 03V196000 (STEERING). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 134,000.

NHTSA ID

10778718

Incident

Sep 10, 2015

Mileage

134,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 097V171000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.

NHTSA ID

10767362

Incident

Sep 15, 2015

Mileage

220,000 mi

IN DRIVEWAY UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, TO PUT CAR IN GEAR, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES AT ALL. NO WARNING. NO LIGHTS INDICATING FAILURE AHEAD OF TIME. BOTH BRAKE LINES THAT GO FROM MASTER CYL, TO ABS UNIT RUSTED THROUGH. UPON FOR DEALER REPLACING BOTH LINES ON A TEST DRIVE FRT DRIVERSIDE BRAKE LINE FAILED DUE TO RUST. COST $976 FOR THOSE RUSTED OUT LINES AND STILL 3 ORE BADLY RUSTED, TO GO. HARDLY SAFE WITH SEVERELY RUSTED LINES. WHEN THOSE TWO LINES BURST,(AT SAME TIME) NO BACKUP BRAKE SYSTEM IN AFFECT.

NHTSA ID

10759629

Incident

Jul 2, 2015

Mileage

130,021 mi

GENERAL AMERI-TRAC 255/70/R16 HAD A COMPLETE TREAD SEPARATION FROM MAIN TIRE. IT BEGAN WHEN I NOTICED SUDDEN AND VIOLENT VIBRATION COMING FROM THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE TIRE WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH ON HIGHWAY 82 IN MONTANA. I IMMEDIATELY SLOWED DOWN, PULLED OVER AND INSPECTED THE TIRE TO FIND CHUNKS OF RUBBER FALLING OUT AND TREAD BULGING & WARPED. THIS TIRE (PROPER MOUNTED & BALANCED) HAS APPX 75% TREAD. I SLOWLY DROVE HOME AND PARKED THE VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY I WAS GOING TO REPLACE IT WITH THE SPARE. WHEN I WENT OUT THE NEXT MORNING THE TIRE HAD COMPLETELY GONE FLAT. A CLOSER LOOK REVEALED OVER NIGHT THE TIRE HAD EXPLODED WITH THE TREAD COMPLETELY SEPARATING FROM THE TIRE AROUND 1/5 OF ITS CIRCUMFERENCE. THE STEEL BELTS STILL ATTACHED TO THE LIFTED PART OF THE TREAD. I WAS LUCKY THIS DIDN'T EXPLODE WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.. AS GOING 60MPH ON A TWO LANE HIGHWAY (ONE LANE EACH WAY) THAT IS HEAVILY USED BY LOGGING TRUCKS GOING 70+MPH COULD HAVE LEAD TO A DEVASTATING AND TRAGIC ACCIDENT. AN INCIDENT OF THIS NATURE ON ICY ROADS IN WINTER WOULD HAVE ONLY INCREASED THE LIKELY-HOOD OF A FATALITY. I'M NOT SURE IF THIS TIRE IS AN ISOLATED DEFECTIVE ITEM OR IF ALL THE 255/70 R16 AMERI-TRAC TIRES ARE BAD, BUT I CERTAINLY WANT THIS DEFECTIVE TIRE REPLACED BY GENERAL AS NO TIRE OF THIS POOR OF QUALITY SHOULD LEGALLY BE ON THE ROAD. IT WOULD BE LIKE ALLOWING BRAKE MANUFACTURERS TO SELL BRAKES SYSTEMS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FAIL OR ALLOWING STEERING WHEEL MANUFACTURERS TO SELL STEERING WHEELS THAT ARE KNOWN TO FALL OFF WHILE DRIVING. IF HEAVY PENALTIES AND FINES WERE GIVEN TO THESE COMPANIES (THAT HAVE WEAK INSPECTION PROCEDURES) FOR EACH DEFECTIVE INCIDENT, MAYBE THEY WOULD NOT ALLOW HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF THESE TIRES TO BE SOLD... JUST BECAUSE THEY WISH TO CUT COSTS ON QUALITY CONTROL ISSUES AND HELP THEIR BOTTOM LINE PROFITS. THE AMERICAN PUBLIC AND ESPECIALLY FAMILIES WITH SMALL CHILDREN DESERVE BETTER, SAFER AND HIGHER STANDARDS IN THIS INDUSTRY.

NHTSA ID

10747925

Incident

Aug 1, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.

NHTSA ID

10721634

Incident

May 13, 2015

Mileage

63,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE LEFT, THE TIRES TURNED TO THE RIGHT WITHOUT WARNING. WHILE DRIVING OVER A SPEED BUMP, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 192,000.

NHTSA ID

10704376

Incident

Oct 31, 2014

Mileage

192,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK. HAVE ACCIDENT, THE CAR ROLL OVER TO ANOTHER CAR, I CAN"T PARK DOWN HILL IS TO DANGERS, IS NOT SAFETY . *TR

NHTSA ID

10703149

Incident

Dec 30, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi

THE VEHICLE WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK. HAVE ACCIDENT, THE CAR ROLL OVER TO ANOTHER CAR, I CAN"T PARK DOWN HILL IS TO DANGERS, IS TOT SAFETY . *TR

NHTSA ID

10703148

Incident

Dec 30, 2014

Mileage

90,000 mi