1997 Ford Expedition Electrical Problems

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

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

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

ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON MY 97 FORD EXPEDITION LIGHTS FLASHING RADIO ON AND OFF BY ITSELF. *TR

NHTSA ID

10680418

Incident

Jan 31, 2015

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10551149

Incident

Oct 15, 2013

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AND I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING COMING FROM MY DASH ALONG WITH ALL OF MY GAUGES JUMPING RPMS RAN EXTREMELY HIGH AND SPEED GAGE JUMPING FROM ALL OVER FROM 50'S TO 05 MILES A HOUR LIGHTS LIGHTING UP AND THEN POWER LOST IN WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO STOP AND STEER ITS DONE THIS A FEW TIMES ALONG WITH A WITH THE CLICKING THE RADIO WILL TURN ITS SELF ON AND KILLS THE BATTERY AND THERE IS A SMELL OF A HOT PLASTIC SMELL ALONG WITH ALL OF THAT WHEN I START TO LOSE POWER MY HEAD LIGHTS DIM DOWN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10494443

Incident

Feb 9, 2012

Mileage

179,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

NHTSA ID

10451978

Incident

Mar 16, 2007

Mileage

155,000 mi

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. *TR

NHTSA ID

10450242

Incident

Feb 26, 2012

Mileage

113,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED IN THE DRIVEWAY, HE NOTICED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, THE STEREO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF, AND THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE DASHBOARD. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.

NHTSA ID

10442635

Incident

Dec 31, 2011

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE FUSE BOX AS A RESULT IT CAUSED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE GEM MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID

10438549

Incident

Feb 9, 2011

Mileage

170,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER, WHICH WAS HOUSED BEHIND THE MAIN FUSE BOX, WOULD ABSORB MOISTURE WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. THE FAILURE CAUSED SEVERAL FAILURES INCLUDING THE FAILURE OF ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY, THE STARTER WOULD ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND WHEN THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS ALSO REPLACED B UT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND WOULD ONLY RECUR WHEN IT RAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

NHTSA ID

10402055

Incident

Jun 19, 2009

Mileage

100,000 mi

1997 FORD EXPEDITION LOST #7 SPARK PLUG. ALL 7 PEOPLE ON-BOARD DIED IN ENSUING FIRE. DEFECT KNOWN BY NHTSA AND FORD FOR MANY YEARS. NHTSA IS THE HEADLINE YOUR WAITING FOR? THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. DO YOUR JOB. UPDATED 11/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/07/10 *TR

NHTSA ID

10364237

Incident

Oct 3, 2010

Mileage

100,000 mi

CAR WAS DEAD WHEN I WOKE UP. JUMPED IT, SPEEDOMETER DIDN'T WORK AFTERWARD. LIGHTS IN RIGHT HAND CORNER BLINK ON AND OFF I WAS TOLD BY THE FORD DEALER IT IS A GEM MODULE IS GETTING WATER IN IT BUT I DO NOT HAVE A LEAK IN MY WINDSHIELD. I RESEARCHED ONLINE AND SEVERAL PEOPLE HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM. IT BECOMES DANGEROUS BECAUSE THE CAR WON'T MOVE SOMETIMES IN THE MIDDLE OF DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. I SEEMS TO HAPPEN WHEN IT RAINS (WHICH IS EVERYDAY IN SEATTLE) I HAVE ALMOST BEEN HIT 3 TIMES BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM AND I JUST BOUGHT THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10336549

Incident

Jun 8, 2010

MY BRAKES STARTED SQUIKING, AND THAT WENT ON FOR ABOUT A WEEK AND THEN IT BECAME HARD FOR ME TO STOP. SO NOW I HAVE A LOT OF SQUIKING AND I HAVE TO STOP WAY BEFORE I AM SUPPOSE TO. I BOUGHT SOME BRAKE PADS THAT DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10281669

Incident

Aug 1, 2009

Mileage

165 mi

1997 FORD EXPEDITION HAS WATER IN STEREO CAUSING ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH. NO WATER LEAKS FOUND. WINDSHIELD WAS RESEALED AND WATER TESTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10258345

Incident

Feb 11, 2009

Mileage

184,000 mi

AFTER RAIN, WATER LEAKED THROUGH WINDSHIELD ON 1997 FORD EXPEDITION RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL ANOMALIES. THIS COULD POSE A FIRE HAZARD. *TR

NHTSA ID

10254336

Incident

Jan 5, 2008

Mileage

98,000 mi

VIOLENT SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM ENGINE BLOCK, A REGULAR, YET IGNORED, PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10225431

Incident

Apr 22, 2008

Mileage

147,000 mi

START MY TRUCK AS USUAL EVERY MORNING TO LET IDLE BEFORE I GO TO WORK. 5 TO 10 MIN. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219868

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

ON DECEMBER 6 2005 MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 2:30 A.M. THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND WE WE'RE ASLEEP. THE POLICE HAD TO CALL MY HOME AND AWARE ME OF THE FIRE AND ASK ME TO EVACUATE MY RESIDENCE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD REPORTED THE FIRE OUTSIDE MY HOME. PART OF MY HOME WAS ALSO DAMAGED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10214824

Incident

Dec 6, 2005

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. SHE REMOVED HER DAUGHTERS FROM THE REAR SEATS AND WHEN SHE RETURNED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THE FRONT SEAT WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SAME LOCATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

NHTSA ID

10206197

Incident

Oct 18, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. ON JULY 23, 2007, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS AT THAT TIME. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT SHE HAD TWO DIFFERENT INVOICES; ONE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THE OTHER CHARGED HER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,695.

NHTSA ID

10197861

Incident

Jul 23, 2007

Mileage

88,695 mi

IN 1998, MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOW LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN, RADIO PLAYING WHEN NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, CLICKING FROM UNDER THE DASH, SEATBELT LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN SEATBELTS WERE BEING WORN, WIPERS WORKING ON THEIR OWN. I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL, I THREATENED A LAW SUIT IF SOMETHING WASN'T DONE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED IN A CREW THAT THEY REFERRED TO AS THE RAIN DOCTORS. COME TO FIND OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING ON THE GEM MODULE AND SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. NOW, IN 2007, I AM STILL DRIVING THE SAME 1997 EXPED. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, ALL THESE PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE 4X4 CLUSTER LIGHTS COMING ON AND GOING OFF, CLICKING UNDER THE DASH AGAIN, HEATER COMING ON BY ITSELF WHEN CAR ISN'T RUNNING AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN, BEEPING UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, RADIO PLAYING ON ITS OWN. THE WHOLE SCENARIO HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM CURRENTLY PARKING THE VEHICLE 100 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE FOR FEAR IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF AS I HAVE READ MANY, MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH THE 1997 EXPED. CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NOW. SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT ALL THESE WERE CHECKED OUT. HOWEVER, I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND WHY THIS LEAKY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM IS NOT BEING RECALLED. NOW TEN YEARS LATER, WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED AT GARAGES AND PARTS STORE IN MY COMMUNITY, THE TECHNICIANS IMMEDIATELY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WENT THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME, I GUESS IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO ME TO REPAIR THIS FAULTY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I SINCERELY HOPE NO ONE DIES OR HAS DIED DUE TO ONE OF THESE EXPEDITIONS CATCHING FIRE. RECALL WHERE ARE YOU???!!!!! *JB

NHTSA ID

10188078

Incident

Apr 16, 2007

Mileage

124,500 mi

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. *JB

NHTSA ID

10186555

Incident

Mar 30, 2007

MY 1977 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE OFF FOR AN HOUR.IT THEN STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND QUICKLY ENGULFED THE FRONT OF THE CAR IN FLAMES DESTROYING THE CAR.THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT I COULDNT PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTIGUISHER THE FIRE DEPT HAD TO PUT IT OUT.

NHTSA ID

10185430

Incident

Mar 11, 2007

Mileage

150,000 mi

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE AT MY OFFICE. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM SPREADING TO THE OTHER CARS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10184537

Incident

Mar 1, 2007

Mileage

98,000 mi