RoadVitals

1997 Ford Expedition Exterior lighting Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the exterior lighting system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Exterior lighting reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest Mar 5, 2012
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
1%
of 853 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting. 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. 12 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.

Owner reports naming exterior lighting

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Mar 5, 2012

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
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 27, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY AT 35 MPH, THE CONTACT WAS PULLED OVER BY A POLICE OFFICER BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS WERE NOT FUNCTIONING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DID NOT NOTICE A FAILURE WITH THE FUSES OR THE RELAY. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 113,000.

NHTSA ID
10449454
Incident
Feb 26, 2012
Mileage
113,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Dec 12, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS AT NIGHT, THE CONTACT'S VISIBILITY IS IMPAIRED BECAUSE THE HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SHINE BRIGHTLY. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06E060000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING). HE HAS NOT MADE ANY REPAIRS TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 174,000.

NHTSA ID
10211552
Incident
Jun 13, 2007
Mileage
170,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 25, 2006

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS TO THE EXTERIOR LIGHTS MELTED CAUSING THE LIGHTS TO BECOME INOPERABLE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THE CONNECTOR HAS BEEN REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME THE CONNECTOR FOR THE LOW BEAMS WAS REPLACED. AS A RESULT THE VEHICLE ONLY HAD DAY TIME RUNNING LIGHTS. THE SECOND TIME THE CONNECTOR FOR THE BLINKERS AND THE HAZARDS FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS WERE REPLACED. THE DEALERSHIP WAS ALERTED HOWEVER THEY ARE UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN ALERTED.

NHTSA ID
10156070
Incident
Apr 24, 2006
Mileage
120,000 mi
Driver assistanceExterior lighting
Filed Feb 18, 2005

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH, THE DRIVER NOTICED THAT THE HEADLIGHTS WERE INOPERATIVE. THIS CAUSED THE DRIVER POOR VISIBILITY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A BODY SHOP FOR INSPECTION. THE MECHANIC INFORMED THE DRIVER THAT THE MULTIFUNCTION SWITCH NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *NM COMBO SWITCH WAS REPLACED. CONSUMER WAS CONCERNED THAT THE DEACTIVATION SWITCH, WHICH WAS KNOWN TO CAUSE FIRES, WAS NOT RECALLED FOR HER VEHICLE. *TT

NHTSA ID
10107389
Incident
Dec 29, 2004
Exterior lightingSteering
Filed Oct 29, 2003

CONSUMER STATED THAT STEERING MADE A CLICKING SOUND,AND HEADLIGHTS MALFUNCTIONED. ALSO, HIGH BEAM LIGHTS DID NOT WORK UNLESS CONSUMER HELD THEM . CONSUMER WILL BE TAKING VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR IT TO BE CHECKED OUT.*AK

NHTSA ID
10045040
Incident
Oct 29, 2003
Exterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jul 13, 2001

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS WINDSHEILD WASHERS AND WIPERS HAS FAILED 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE IS THE INABILITY TO ACTIVATE THE WASHER SYSTEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF THE WINDSHEILD BECOMES FOULED, I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT OR IF MY VISION WILL BE SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED.*AK

NHTSA ID
748400
Incident
Jul 12, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed May 31, 2001

FOIL BACKING OF MIRROR I PEELING, BUBBLING. THIS DOES NOT PROVIDE A REFLECTION FOR VIEWING. ALL MAKES FROM 1997-1999 FORD VEHICLES THAT HAVE THE FLASHER BUILT IN THE MIRROR ARE EXPERIENCING THIS AND FORD ONLY REPLACES UNDER WARRANTY. *AK

NHTSA ID
746181
Incident
Mar 3, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 12, 2000

WHILE TRAVELING ON THE INTERSTATE AT NIGHT AT APPROXIMATELY 65MPH, I SWITCH THE HEADLIGHTS FROM HIGH BEAM TO LOW BEAM AND THE HEADLIGHTS WENT OUT COMPLETELY. THE ONLY WAY I COULD SEE TO DRIVE WAS TO HOLD THE WIPER, HEADLIGHT DIMMER ARM FULLY TO THE REAR. THIS ITEM WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY AFTER IT DEFECTED ONCE BEFORE. *AK

NHTSA ID
731195
Incident
Aug 9, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Jun 9, 2000

HEADLIGHTS WILL NOT FUNCTION. TOLD MECHANIC CANNOT LOCATE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
723823
Incident
May 15, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 14, 1999

WINDSHIELD WIPERS WORKS INTERMITTENTLY. THE MULTIPLE FUNCTION SWITCH IN THE STEERING COLUMN HAS SHORT CIRCUIT. *AK

NHTSA ID
847622
Incident
Aug 28, 1999
Exterior lighting
Filed Sep 15, 1998

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH/WIPER FAILE.

NHTSA ID
540039
Incident
Oct 1, 1996

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .