Owner-reported complaints naming the engine system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 1997 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 100 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 100, in the owner's own words
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
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.
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.
SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. ON MY TRIP FROM VA TO PA SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT WHILE ON I95 IN DELAWARE A SNOWSTORM ABOUT TO START AND I GOT STRANDED. NO PART STORE HAS ANY ANSWERS, AUTO REPAIR SHOPS WANT TO CHANGE $300+ DOLLARS TO FIX. THERE IS A REPAIR KIT THAT CANNOT BE BOUGHT IN ANY AUTO PART STORE ONLY ONLINE. MY TRUCK IS YET IN PA CAN'T AFFORD HAVING IT TOWED BACK TO VA.. HAD TO GET A RENTAL TO COME BACK HOME. FORD NEEDS TO DO THE RIGHT THING HERE. *JS
SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, BROKE COIL AND DAMAGED HEAD. *TR
I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION THAT KEEPS SPITTING OUT SPARK PLUGS! !ST TIME WAS CYLINDER #3 THEN #7, THEN ON 3-6-2014 IT WAS #8 THEN ON 03/14/14 #2 AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD OPEN LOOKING FOR WHAT I THOUGHT SOUNDED LIKE A VACUUM LEAK OR VALVE TICK ONLY TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT AND ALMOST TAKE OUT MY EYE!!! FORD HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES OUT THERE ESPECIALLY FROM 1997 THROUGH 2005 AND STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ASSIST IN EITHER FIXING THE PROBLEM OR COMPENSATING PEOPLE FOR THEIR LOSSES DUE TO THIS CRAP DESIGN THEY CAME OUT WITH THAT ONLY HAS THE HEADS OF THE MOTOR HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN WITH 4 THREADS!! I AM TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THERE IS NO EMINENT DANGER INVOLVED WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS DEFECT?? WHAT ABOUT - HEY THE MOTOR IS RUNNING SO THE FUEL INJECTOR IS SPEWING OUT FUEL ALL OVER THE MOTOR WHEN THE PLUG SHOOTS OUT LIKE A ROCKET AND THEN KNOCKS SOMEONE'S EYE OUT? FIRE DID U SAY?? EYE OUT?? NAAAH NO PROBLEM!!! I AM ALSO TOLD FROM MY MECHANIC THAT I WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU REPLACE THE HEADS THAT HOLD THE PLUGS IN YOU WILL ONLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DOWN THE LINE. THIS IS NOT AN ANSWER. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM, MAKE A RECALL, REDESIGN THE HEADS AND STOP WITH THE B.S. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BAD!!! TOO MUCH TIME AND $$$ LOST FROM HAVING THIS PROBLEM GO TO THE SHOP EVERY [XXX] FEW MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TIME AND $$$ I AM LOOSING FROM WORK - JUST FIX IT FORD!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY. ONLY THE FRAME REMAINED AFTER THE ENGINE FIRE WAS EXTINGUISHED BY THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 190,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I CURRENTLY OWN A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION THAT KEEPS SPITTING OUT SPARK PLUGS! !ST TIME WAS CYLINDER #4 THEN #5, THEN TODAY 2-3-2014 I MET WITH #3 AFTER STARTING THE ENGINE WITH THE HOOD OPEN LOOKING FOR WHAT I THOUGHT SOUNDED LIKE A VACUUM LEAK OR VALVE TICK ONLY TO HAVE THE SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT AND ALMOST TAKE OUT MY EYE!!! FORD HAS KNOWN FOR YEARS THAT THERE ARE MILLIONS OF VEHICLES OUT THERE ESPECIALLY FROM 1997 THROUGH 2005 AND STILL HAVE DONE NOTHING TO ASSIST IN EITHER FIXING THE PROBLEM OR COMPENSATING PEOPLE FOR THEIR LOSSES DUE TO THIS CRAP DESIGN THEY CAME OUT WITH THAT ONLY HAS THE HEADS OF THE MOTOR HOLDING THE SPARK PLUG IN WITH 4 THREADS!! I AM TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT HAVE A RECALL BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE THERE IS NO EMINENT DANGER INVOLVED WITH THE MALFUNCTION OF THIS DEFECT?? WHAT ABOUT - HEY THE MOTOR IS RUNNING SO THE FUEL INJECTOR IS SPEWING OUT FUEL ALL OVER THE MOTOR WHEN THE PLUG SHOOTS OUT LIKE A ROCKET AND THEN KNOCKS SOMEONE'S EYE OUT? FIRE DID U SAY?? EYE OUT?? NAAAH NO PROBLEM!!! I AM ALSO TOLD FROM MY MECHANIC THAT I WILL HAVE TO LIVE WITH THIS BECAUSE EVEN IF YOU REPLACE THE HEADS THAT HOLD THE PLUGS IN YOU WILL ONLY HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AGAIN DOWN THE LINE. THIS IS NOT AN ANSWER. FORD NEEDS TO STEP UP AND FIX THE PROBLEM, MAKE A RECALL, REDESIGN THE HEADS AND STOP WITH THE B.S. BEFORE SOMEONE GETS HURT BAD!!! TOO MUCH TIME AND $$$ LOST FROM HAVING THIS PROBLEM GO TO THE SHOP EVERY [XXX] FEW MILES NOT TO MENTION THE TIME AND $$$ I AM LOOSING FROM WORK - JUST FIX IT FORD!! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HE DRIVING 60 MPH, AN ABNORMAL NOISE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHERE IT WAS FOUND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS SEPARATED DUE TO A DEFECTIVE THREAD AND CYLINDER. THE DEALER REPLACED THE SPARK PLUGS WITH A NEWLY MANUFACTURED STEEL HEAD AND THREAD HOWEVER, THE FAILURE WAS NOT CORRECTED. THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE CYLINDER HEAD OR ENGINE POSSIBLY NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND THAT OIL LEAKED ONTO THE BRAKE PRESSURE SWITCH. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 190,000.
WHILE DRIVING ON A EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT 55MPH, MY WIFE FELT A THUMPING AND HEARD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH, I NOTICED 2 HOLES PUNCHED THROUGH THE BACKING PLATE OF THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I PULLED THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR OFF AND THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES AND HARDWARE FELL OUT ONTO THE GROUND. AFTER TALKING TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPEDITIONS. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE INCLUDING SOME INSTANCES OF WHEELS LOCKING UP. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. WHY HAS FORD NOT ISSUED A RECALL? I HAVE ALSO HAD 2 LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS THAT I AM TOLD IS ALSO COMMON. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS FRACTURED AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR. THE MOTOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE, WHICH ORIGINATED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WERE CALLED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 232,936.
FEBURARY 28, 2011 I PURCHASED A 97 FORD EXPEDITION. I DROVE THE TRUCK FOR ONE DAY AND ON MARCH 4, 2011 I PARKED THE TRUCK UNDER THE GARAGE AROUND 8:30 A.M. AND AROUND 10:45 A.M THE TRUCK CAUGHT FIRE UNDER THE HOOD ON THE DRIVERS SIDE BY THE TIME THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT . THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS BURNED UP. *TR
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
I OWN A 1997 EDDIE BAUER FORD EXPEDITION THAT I BOUGHT IN 1998 AS A DEMO MODEL IT HAS RUN GREAT UNTIL IT STARTED TO BLOW THE SPARK PLUG FROM THE HEADS THE FIRST TIME WAS LAST YEAR WHILE MY FAMILY AND I WERE DRIVING BACK FORM TEXAS WE WERE IN A REMOTE PART OF THE COUNTRY WHEN IT BLEW AND SPENT OVER 500.00 FOR TOWING NOT TO MENTION THE 1200.00 DOLLAR BILL THAT THE DEALERSHIP TAGGED ON. I WAS NEVER INFORMED THAT THIS WAS A PROBLEM THAT COULD RE-OCCUR WE HAVE TAKEN OTHER TRIPS BUT DID NOT HAVE ISSUE UNTIL JUST RECENTLY IT BLEW ANOTHER PLUG AND OF COURSE THE BILL IN THE THOUSANDS. FORD NEEDS TO TAKE SOME OWNERSHIP FOR THE PRODUCT THAT THEY BUILD IF THEY WANT TO KEEP SOME OF AS CUSTOMERS... *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE DASHBOARD COMPONENTS FAILED. WITHIN SECONDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DEALER ADVISED THAT THE FAILURE WAS DUE TO FLUID LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NEITHER DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 128,000.
1997 FORD EXPEDITION 5.4L TRITION ENGINE . ENGINE HAS EXPERIENCE SEVERAL COIL PACK FAILURES SINCE ABOUT 25000 MILES. AROUND 120,000 MILES IT HAS HAD 3 FAILURES DUE TO SPARK PLUGS BLOWING OUT OF THE HEADS. HAD TO HAVE THE CAR TOWED EACH TIME WITH A RATHER EXPENSIVE REPAIR BILL EACH TIME. NEEDLESS TO SAY FORD SAYS THIS IS NOT A PROBLEM. THIS CAR IS IN GREAT CONDITION AND HAS ALWAYS BEEN SERVICE PROPERLY. *TR
I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, MY 15 YEAR DAUGHTER AND I WAS DRIVING ON 10 FREEWAY GOING EASTBOUND TOWARDS SAN BERADINO, WHEN MY CHECK ENGINE LIGHT STARTED FLASHING A THEN I HEARD A LOUD POP UNDER MY HOOD AS MY TRUCK STARTED TO LOSE POWER AND MAKE LOUD POPPING SOUNDS. I WAS TERRIFIED CAUSE THIS HAPPEN AS I WAS GOING BETWEEN 65 AND 70 MILES PER HOUR ON FREE WAY. ONCE I COASTED SAFELY TO SIDE OF FREEWAY AND EXAMINED UNDER MY HOOD I SEE MY SPARK PLUG WIRE LAYING TO THE SIDE AND SPARK PLUG LAYING ON AXLE I WAS IN DISBELIEF UNTIL I TRIED TO PICK UP SPARK PLUG AND IT WAS TOO HOT, TO HOLD IN MY HAND YES THIS WAS MY SPARK PLUG! IT HAD BEEN SPIT OUT OF THE ENGINE. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS ONCE THIS HAPPENS YOUR TRUCK LOSE POWER AND SLOWS DOWN TREMENDOUSLY, I HAD MY TRUCK TOWED TO SHOP. I KNEW I WOULD HAVE A HARD TIME EXPLAINING THIS TO MECHANIC, BECAUSE I'M A WOMAN AND MECHANIC WAS NOT GOING TO BELIEVE ME, BUT HE STATED THAT IT WAS COMMON IN FORD TRUCKS, THE SAME THING HAPPEN TO HIM AND WHEN HE CONTACTED DEALER THEY DID NOT ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS AN ISSUE WITH THEY'RE SPARK PLUGS. MY QUESTION IS DOES SOME HAVE TO BE KILLED BEFORE YOU GUYS DO SOMETHING IT COST ME $400 DOLLARS TO REPAIR THIS AND IT COULD HAVE COST ME MY LIFE MECHANIC STATED THAT IT COULD HAPPEN AGAIN AND MAYBE I SHOULD GET RID OF IT AS HE SOLD HIS NAVIGATOR AFTER HIS INCIDENT. WOULD NOT FEEL RIGHT PUTTING SOMEONE ELSE THRU THIS. AS I RESEARCH THIS ISSUE I SEE I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE AND THIS IS NOT AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. THIS HAS HAPPENED ENOUGH TIMES TO ENOUGH PEOPLE FOR FORD TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO STALL WHILE DRIVING 10 MPH AND THERE WAS A LEAK IN THE FUEL TANK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO MIDAS FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO STALL IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT WAS SERVICED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK TO MIDAS THREE TIMES AFTER IT STALLED. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE VEHICLE NEEDED A COIL PACK. THE MECHANIC PERFORMED A TUNE UP AND THAT THE SPARK PLUGS WERE DAMAGED. THE CYLINDER HEAD ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 120,000. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD BY FORD A REPRESENTATIVE THAT THE FORD EXPEDITION SPARK PLUGS RECALL WAS CLOSED. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 132,000.
#4 SPARK PLUG BLEW THRU HEAD. *TR
FIRE CENTER OF HOOD DRIVERS SIDE VEHICLE SITTING NOT RUNNING. *TR
OUR 1997 FORD EXPEDITION EJECTED A SPARKPLUG, MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE PAST YEAR. WAS HELICOILED AND STILL DAMAGED MOTOR TO THE POINT OF REBUILD OR REPLACING MOTOR. HAPPENED DURING A HOLIDAY TOWING OUR BOAT, VERY LUCKY IT DIDN'T HURT ANYONE. WE HAD TO HAVE BOAT AND FORD TOWED, RUINED OUR VACATION, THANKS TO HAVING A CLASS A DRIVER BEHIND THE WHEEL MINIMIZED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. *TR
I HAVE A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, ENGINE COILS WERE REPLACED , CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THERE WAS NO JUMP IN ACCELERATION. 2 WEEKS LATER CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BACK ON. *TR
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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