Owner-reported complaints naming the interior system, filed with NHTSA
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Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings. 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. 50 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 50, in the owner's own words
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, THE REAR PASSENGER SIDE DOOR CHILD SAFETY LOCK ACTIVATED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 180,000.
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
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE EXITING THE VEHICLE THE DRIVER SIDE DOOR CLOSED ABRUPTLY WITHOUT INTENTION. CONSEQUENTLY THE DRIVER SUSTAINED MODERATE INJURY TO THE HEAD, AND THE EYE AREA WAS ALSO HEAVILY BRUISED. THE AMBULANCE WAS NOT CALLED TO THE SCENE. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED FOR THE MALFUNCTION AT THIS TIME. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.
1997 FORD EXPEDITION. REAR CHILD DOOR LOCKS. ONE SIDE EVENTUALLY LOCKS BY ITSELF. REAR OCCUPANTS CANNOT GET OUT,MUST OPEN DOOR FROM OUTSIDE. DEALER SAID NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND NO RECALL. AFTER 8 YEARS MY KIDS DID NOT REQUIRE THEM AND I TIED THEM OPEN WITH WIRE. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK WAS DEFECTIVE. HIS CHILDREN ARE AT THE AGE WHERE THEY SHOULD BE ABLE TO UNLOCK THE DOOR FROM INSIDE THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT, WITHOUT THE CONTACT HAVING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THE MANUFACTURER TOOK A COMPLIANT; HOWEVER, THEY STATED THAT THEY DID NOT HAVE ENOUGH COMPLAINTS TO ISSUE A RECALL. THE VEHICLE WILL BE TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR A DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.
THE CHILD SAFETY DOOR LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS OF OUR 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF TO THE ON POSITION, PREVENTING THE REAR PASSENGERS FROM BEING ABLE TO EXIT WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. HAVE ATTEMPTED TO TAPE THE LOCKS IN THE OFF POSITION, BUT THIS HAS NOT WORKED. *TR
THERE IS A SAFETY DEFECT WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE DOORS OF MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE ON POSITION AS VEHICLE IS DRIVEN AND DOORS ARE OPENED AND CLOSED. THE PASSENGER(S) OCCUPYING THE REAR SEAT WILL BE UNABLE TO OPEN THEIR DOORS WITHOUT HELP FROM SOMEONE OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE PROBLEM STARTED ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO AND IS USUALLY NOTICED MORE OFTEN WHILE WE ARE TRAVELING AND OUR TEENAGE SONS ARE GETTING IN AND OUT OF THE VEHICLE FOR REST STOPS, ETC. *TR
LETTER FROM CONGRESSMAN ON BEHALF OF CONSTITUENT, REGARDING A SAFETY DEFECT WITH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOOR OF HIS 1997 AND 2000 FORD EXPEDITIONS. *NJ THE CONSUMER OWNS THE 1997 FORD EXPEDITION AND HIS WIFE OWNS THE 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONSUMER STATED ON BOTH VEHICLES, AFTER 3 OR 4 OPERATIONS OF THE REAR DOOR INSIDE INSIDE HANDLES, THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WILL GRADUALLY MOVE THEMSELVES FROM THE OFF POSITION TO THE ON POSITION. THE NEXT PASSENGER THAT OCCPIES THE REAR SEAT, WHO ATTEMPTS TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR WILL BE LOCKED INSIDE UNTIL SOMEONE OPENS THE REAR DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. *JB
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
TL*- THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT HAD A NUMBER OF PROBLEMS WITH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. WHEN HE PUT SOMEONE IN THE BACK SEAT THE SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGED AND THE PASSENGER COULD NOT OPEN THE DOOR. THE CONTACT SPOKE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND STATED THAT THEY HE SHOULD HAVE THE LOCKS REPLACED AT HIS OWN COST. THE CONTACT FELT THIS WAS SAFETY PROBLEM, IF A CRASH OCCURRED THE BACK PASSENGERS COULD NOTB GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE ON HIS OWN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 10500, AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 105000.*AK UPDATED 03/19/07. *JB
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). *NM
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON BOTH REAR DOORS AUTOMATICALLY ENGAGE AFTER THE DOOR IS SHUT, OR THE CAR IS DRIVEN FOR SEVERAL MILES. SOMETIMES THE SWITCH IS HARD TO FLIP BACK TO UNLOCK WITHOUT JIGGLING THE OUTSIDE DOOR HANDLE. I HAVE MADE SURE BOTH SWITCHES WERE SECURE IN THE UNLOCK POSITION BEFORE PASSENGERS RODE IN THE BACK, ONLY TO HAVE THE DOORS AUTOMATICALLY LOCK WHILE ON OUR WAY TO OUR DESTINATION. VERY HAZARDOUS IN AN EMERGENCY. *JB
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ON THE REAR DOORS ENGAGED THEMSELVES. THE CONTACT MUST EXIT THE VEHICLE AND OPEN THE DOORS FOR PASSENGERS. THE DEALERSHIP REPAIRED THE PROBLEM, BUT IT IS OCCURRING AGAIN.
DOOR AJAR LIGHT COMES ON AND STAYS ON INTERMENTLY. I HAD THIS SAME ISSUE WITH MY 1995 FORD RANGER. ON BOTH VEHICLES THE DOOR LATCH MECHANISM WAS REPLACED AND FIX THE PROBLEM TEMPORARILY. THE ISSUE RETURNS WITH OEM REPLACE PART. MECHANIC MENTIONED THAT THE FORD MOTOR COMPANY USES A VERY THICK LUBRICANT ON THE MECHANISM CAUSING THE ISSUE. I NOW JUST LIVE WITH THE ISSUE AS I AM NOT GOING TO KEEP SPENDING MY MONEY ON LATCH MECHANISM THAT KEEPS GOING BAD. THE ONLY ISSUE IS THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON UNTIL THE DELAY OUT 45 SECONDS LATER. THIS SEEMS TO BE A RECURRING ISSUE WITH FORD VEHICLES ACROSS MULTIPLE MAKES OF VEHICLES. I HAVE COMPLAINED TO FORD DIRECTLY.*AK
THE REAR PASSENGER DOOR CHILD SAFET LOCKS ENGAGE AUTOMATICALLY. THE SWITCH WILL DROP INTO CHILD SAFET LOCK POSITION ON ITS OWN. I HAVE READ THROUGH MANY OTHER COMPLAINTS POSTED TO THIS WEB SITE OF SIMILAR STORY. THE PASSENGER EITHER HAS TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN TO OPEN DOOR FROM GRABBING OUTSIDE HANDLE OR WAIT FOR ANOTHER PASSENGER TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. THIS CAN BE CAUSE FOR CONCERN TO PASSENGERS LOCKED IN THE VEHICLE DURING ACCIDENTS. CHILD SAFETY LOCKING MECHANISM SHOULD BE REPLACED. HAD THIS REPLACED ONCE UNDER EXTENDED WARRANTY TO ONLY HAVE IT FAIL AGAIN. CURRENTLY LODGING THE SWITCH IN PLACE TO KEEP IT IN FROM FALLING INTO PLACE AUTOMATICALLY.*AK
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 EXPEDITIONS AND F-150S IN REGARDS TO ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND FIRES.*AK
PAINT AND FINISH ON ROOF OF VEHICLE PEELING, CRACKING, FLAKING OFF - OXIDATION FROM RUST, RUINING ENTIRE OUTER CAR SURFACE - HAVE BEEN ADVISED THAT PRIMER COAT WAS EITHER MISSED OR SKIMPED DURING THE PRODUCTION PROCESS... FORD WILL NOT ADDRESS THIS ISSUE - ONE MALE REP FROM FORD STATED: "THE PAINT JOB IS ONLY SUPPOSED TO LAST 2 YEARS" NOT AN ACCEPTABLE ANSWER...ALSO, CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGE THEMSELVES, THUS PREVENTING OCCUPANTS IN REAR SEATS TO EXIT VEHICLE, CAN CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH IN AN EMERGENCY SITUATION... ALSO, VEHICLE REAR WHEELS AND OR AXELS "CHATTER" AT LOW SPEED TURNS... ALSO, AN AUDIBLE HUM IN VEHICLE AT NORMAL HIGHWAY SPEEDS...ALSO, AUDIBLE SQUEAKING FROM INTERIOR SIDE PANELS...FORD DEALER STATES: CAUSE CANNOT BE LOCATED...ALSO, LEATHER SEATS HAVE CRACKED AND SHOW SIGNS OF ABNORMAL WEAR - THIS IS APPARANT IN ALL LEATHER SEAT COVERINGS BUT ESPECIALLY IN THE FRONT "BUCKET" OR "CAPTAIN" SEATS...FORD STATES WARRANTY FOR VEHICLE NO LONGER COVERS -ENGINE HAS HAD SEVERAL EPISODES OF "MISFIRING" OF "REVVING" ON IT'S OWN - HAS BEEN EXPLAINED AWAY AS A "COMPUTER" PROBLEM OR A "SENSOR" PROBLEM - ALWAYS AT COST TO CONSUMER..."CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT HAS COME ON ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS, USING PREVIOUS EXPLANATIONS AS STATED PREVIOUSLY. HAVE NUMEROUS INVOICES FOR REPLACEMENTS OF SENSORS, COMPUTER CHIPS, ETC.*AK
CHILD SAFETY LOCKS ENGAGE LOCKING PASSENGER INTO VEHICLE. PASSENGER IS NOT ABLE TO EXIT VEHICLE WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR. LOCKS ARE SET MANUALLY HOWEVER EVEN IF THEY ARE SET TO OFF, ONCE THE DOOR IS CLOSED IT LOCKS ITSELF. IT HAPPENED ON BOTH DOORS EQUIPTED WITH CHILD SAFETY LOCKS. FIRST ON ONE SIDE, THEN ON THE OTHER. *AK
(REFERENCE COMPLAINT 10014138). 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, 4X4, 4.6L. REAR PASSENGER DOOR CHILD LOCKS AUTOMATICLY SET, ON A RANDOM BASIS, NOT ALLOWING THE REAR PASSENGERS TO EXIT THE VEHICLE ON THERE OWN. THIS COULD POSE AN EXTREME SAFETY HAZARD IN AN ACCIDENT SITUATION OR ANY TIME A PERSON MIGHT NEED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. IS THERE A RESOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM? THE NUMBER OF FAILURES IS COUNTLESS. *AK
INTERIOR AND RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS COME ON AND STAY ON, FROM 10 MINUTES TO OVER 1 HOUR. VARIES. INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. SEEMS TO HAPPEN MORE IN WET WEATHER. A REAL HAZARD AS DRIVING AT NIGHT WITH INTERIOR LIGHTS ON IS DANGEROUS. THEY MIGHT TIME OUT AFTER A FEW MINUTES OR IT MAY TAKE AN HOUR OR MORE, YOU NEVER KNOW. FORD SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THIS REGARDLESS OF WARRANTY AS IT IS VERY OBVIOUSLY A DEFECT ON THEIR PART. THIS HAS HAPPENED THE ENTIRE LIFE OF THIS VEHICLE AND CONTINUES TO OCCUR. *JB
WHILE IN THE VEHICLE THE CONSUMER COULD NOT OPEN THE REAR DOORS FROM THE INSIDE ALTHOUGH THE CHILD SAFETY LOCKS WERE NOT ENGAGED. THE DEALERSHIP HAD BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM BOTH OF THE REAR DOORS COULD BE LOCKED FROM THE INSIDE WITHOUT THE CHILD LOCK BEING MANUALLY ENGAGED. THE REAR DOORS WERE OPENED WITH NORMAL USE AND WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM. *SCC *JB
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 ?*AK
ON MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION, THE CHILD LOCKS ON BOTH REAR DOORS ACTIVATE ON THEIR OWN. THIS STARTED A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO ON ONE DOOR, BUT HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE SUCH THAT 70-80 PERCENT OF THE TIME THE CHILD LOCKS ON BOTH DOORS WILL ACTIVATE WHILE DRIVING AND PEOPLE CANNOT EXIT THE SECOND SEAT WITHOUT SOMEONE OPENING THE DOOR FROM THE OUTSIDE. ONCE THE DOOR IS OPENED, THE CHILD LOCK LEVER CAN BE SET TO THE NON-LOCK POSITION, BUT UPON DRIVING THE CAR AGAIN, THE LOCKS ACTIVATE. THIS IS A SEVERE SAFETY PROBLEM, AND BY REVIEWING THE NHTSA WEBSITE AND TALKING TO OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS, IT IS A VERY COMMON OCCURRENCE IN THIS MODEL. *NLM
WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 30 MPH THE DOME LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND STAYED ON. THE DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. *NLM
THE CHILD SAFETY SEAT LOCKS IN VEHICLE ARE DEFECTED SAYS DEALER. CONSUMER STATES' THE ONLY WAY THE REAR PASSENGER CAN EXIT VEHICLE IS TO STICK HAND OUT OF THE WINDOW AND UNLOCK. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY FURTHER INFORMATION. TS
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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