1998 Ford Expedition Electrical Problems

PARKING ON THE STREET IN IS GONE

NHTSA ID

11300577

Incident

Jan 15, 2020

TAKATA RECALL: THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE BLOCK. THEY HAVE BEEN REPAIRED 3 TIMES. EACH TIME, IT SMELLS OF AN ELECTRICAL LINE IS BURNING, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER GOES ERRATIC AND THEY ZEROS OUT AND DOESN'T MOVE. THIS HAS HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING ON CITY AND HIGHWAYS.

NHTSA ID

11206618

Incident

Jun 13, 2015

Mileage

98,710 mi

TAKATA RECALL MY TRUCK HAS A BURNING SPELL AND WAS SOME SMOKE IT WAS PARK I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF ON MY STREET WHERE I LIVE

NHTSA ID

11075758

Incident

Feb 22, 2018

Mileage

220,447 mi

THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN2 MONTHS. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MOTOR WAS KNOCKING . FORD ONLY PUT 3 THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUG BUT THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE 10 THREADS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ACTED LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. THERE ARE FORUMS GOING BACK TO 2002 THAT I WAS READING YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO CLEARLY THEY WERE LYING. OWNERS REPORT ENGINE FIRES WHEN THE PLUG BLOWS OUT. MY VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE .THEY REFUSE TO FIX THIS DEFECT AND DENY ITS THEIR FAULT.

NHTSA ID

10971476

Incident

Apr 8, 2017

Mileage

209,000 mi

(TAKATA RECALL) I HAVE PURCHASED MY TRUCK FROM A LEGAL CAR DEALERSHIP IN RENO NV HAD 135000 MILES WEN BOUGHT IVE HAD TO REPLACE FUEL PUMP HAD TO BUY DIFFERENT RIMS/TIRES DUE TO WEAR OF STOCK RIMS .. EXHAUST PROBLEMS REPLACED FUEL INJECTOR. . WEAR OF THING CAUSING WATER DAMAGE WHEN RAINING OUTSIDE. SPARK PLUG EJECTED FROM ENGINE WAS IN MOTION 45 MPH STATIONARY MOVING PROBLEMS ALSO N WEN TURNING.

NHTSA ID

10949552

Incident

Oct 1, 2014

WENT TO STORE, CAME OUT BATTERY DEAD, CAR WOULDN'T START. HAD NOT LEFT LIGHTS OR ANY ACCESSORIES ON. GOT A JUMP, DROVE TO AUTO PARTS STORE. THEY CHECKED ALTERNATOR AND BATTERY AND SAID BATTERY DEAD, NEEDED AN OVERNIGHT CHARGE. LET THEM CHARGE BATTERY, PUT BACK IN CAR, HORN STARTED BLOWING AND WOULD NOT STOP DESPITE MY USING BOTH THE KEY AND KEY FOB. HORN BLEW FOR 5 HOURS BEFORE I FOUND OUT HOW TO DISCONNECT FROM GOOGLE. GOT HORN TO STOP, AND CAR WOULDN'T START. FORD DEALER SAID ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM HAD TO BE REPROGRAMMED AT COST OF $250 PLUS TOW TO DEALER. I NEVER ARMED THE SYSTEM AND IT SHOULD NOT HAVE SHUT MY TRUCK DOWN AND PREVENTED ME FROM DRIVING IT. I DON'T HAVE $250 AND THEN I FOUND OUT THE REPAIR IS ONLY $100 AT MOST. BUT THIS ACCORDING TO MY DEALER HAPPENS TO ANY FORD ANYTIME THE BATTERY GOES DEAD AND IS REPLACED, ANTI-THEFT SYSTEM IS MAKING PEOPLE PAY $250 TO FORD TO REPROGRAM WHAT SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BE REPROGRAMMED. PLEASE HELP ME. THANK YOU. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10852469

Incident

Mar 17, 2016

Mileage

203,538 mi

WHEN IT RAINS EVERYTHING INSIDE GOES DEAD AND IT WILL NOT CRANK. CAN BE GOING DOWN THE ROAD AND IT SHUTS OFF ON YOU . THIS WILL CONTINUE FOR A FEW DAYS UNTIL EVERYTHING DRIES OUT OR ITS NOT DAMP OUTSIDE ANYMORE.I HAVE LOOKED THIS UP ON COMPUTER AND IT LOOKS LIKE IT IS COMING BACK TO THE FUSE PANEL GETTING WET BECAUSE OF POOR DRAINAGE COMING FROM WINDSHIELD , SOME PEOPLE ARE SAYING THAT IT HAS CAUSED FIRES. IHAVE ONLY OWNED THIS VEHICLE FOR 11/2 YEARS AND DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN ANY RECALLS OR ANYTHING FIXED ON IT. PLEASE LET ME KNOW . THANKS. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID

10638720

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHEN IN PARK. IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHILE IT IS ROLLING UNLIKE A PARKING PAWL MAKES. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10615294

Incident

Jul 21, 2014

Mileage

170,000 mi

WE HAVE OUR EXPEDITION FOR A WHILE AND WE KNOW THE PEOPLE WHO OWNED IT BEFORE US. WHILE IT IS RAINING AND DAYS AFTER THE POWER TO THE TRUCK DOES NOT TURN OFF. THE RADIO WILL TURN ON, THE BLOWER FOR HEAT OR AIR WILL KEEP BLOWING, THE LIGHTS WILL TURN ON, THE FOUR WHEEL DRIVE WILL STOP, ABS WILL STOP, AND THE WIPER BLADES WILL NOT WORK. SO BECAUSE THE ELECTRICAL ITEMS WILL TURN ON AT RANDOM, THEY DRAIN THE BATTERY AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT START THE NEXT DAY. WE FOUND OUT THAT DUE TO MANUFACTURING ERROR, THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER INTO THE GENERAL ELECTRIC MODULE. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE PART NOT ONLY EXPENSIVE, BUT IF YOU BUY ONE AND IT DOES NOT WORK, IT IS NOT RETURNABLE. AND THAT WAS TOLD TO US BY MULTIPLE DEALERSHIPS. SO BASICALLY FORD KNOWS OF THE PROBLEM AND IT IS A SAFETY ISSUE AND HAS DONE NOTHING ABOUT IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10572858

Incident

Mar 1, 2011

Mileage

100,000 mi

VEHICLE DRAINING POWER AFTER IGNITION SHUT TO OFF. POWER IS ON TO VEHICLE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE FROM VEHICLES EXTERIOR DEFECT DRAINING WATER DIRECT TO THE FUSE PANEL. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS ADDRESSED BY OUR NHTSA, DEATHS? I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM IN ALMOST EVERY ONE IF NOT EVERY ONE OF THESE VEHICLES, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF WHEN THESE PROBLEMS START. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU WILL FIND COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WILL THIS BE ANOTHER STOP SIGN INSTALLED AFTER SOMEONE IS KILLED. IS THAT WHAT WE ARE WAITING ON? PLEASE STEP UP AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT NOW OWN THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10488728

Incident

Dec 12, 2012

Mileage

161,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20-30 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

NHTSA ID

10458556

Incident

Apr 30, 2012

Mileage

200,000 mi

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A RECALL AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP MY CAR FOR THREE DAY MINIMUM OF THREE DAYS. I HAVE TO WORK SO I WAITED UNTIL I HAD A LONG WEEKEND. I WAITED TO LONG I GUESS BECAUSE I CAME OUT OF THE BANK AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED AUTO FAIR FORD IN MANCHESTER,NH AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING IT IN IMMEDIATELY THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART THAT STARTED THE FIRE BUT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE DESTROYED BY THE RECALLED PART. I WILL NEVER BUY OR DEAL WITH FORD OR FORD VEHICLES AGAIN! *TR

NHTSA ID

10349255

Incident

Jul 25, 2010

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION BEGAN HAVING SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFTER HEAVY RAINS. THE STARTER WILL CYCLE WHEN THE KEY IS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION, THE AC BLOWER REMAINS ON WHEN TRUCK IS SHUT OFF, SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO WORK, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, TRUCK SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET AND APPARENTLY MANY FORD TRUCKS MADE IN 1998 HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS DUE TO LEAKY WINDSHIELDS, ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER FUSE BOXES. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS PARTICULARLY THE CONSTANT CYCLING OF THE STARTER IN AN UNATTENDED TRUCK, AND SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD IMAGINE ENGINE FIRES ARE ALSO A POSSIBILITY GIVEN THE RANGE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES THIS IS CAUSING. REPAIRS INCLUDE A NEW WINDSHIELD AND GEM BOX, RUNNING APPROXIMATELY $1,000. *TR

NHTSA ID

10341540

Incident

Jun 14, 2010

Mileage

180,000 mi

FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS? THIS IS DESPICABLE. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THIS CAUSES IS HORRIBLE. THE AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS? HOW MANY FIRES CAN BE STARTED? ANY VECHICLE THAT FALLS UNDER THIS MESSAGE SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD AT FORD EXPENSE. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN FORD HAS KNOWN THE ENTIRE TIME. MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. SEE LINK: HTTP://WWW.MY3CENTS.COM/SHOWREVIEW.CGI?ID=15119

NHTSA ID

10321683

Incident

Apr 2, 2002

OUR 1998 EXPEDITION ONLY HAS 93,000 MILES AND IT IS POSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW GEM MODULE. I HAVE READ AT LEAST 50 COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORDS WINDSHIELD LEAKING AND CAUSING SAME SYMPTOMS. WHY WOULD FORD DO A RECALL. OR MAYBE THEY HAVE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THEY HAVE. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT. ALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE VERY SIMILAR SO IT IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10318418

Incident

Mar 1, 2010

Mileage

93,000 mi

FIRST, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS AND RUNNING LIGHTS WOULD NOT POWER OFF WHILE ALL DOORS WERE CLOSED, DOOR AJAR INDICATOR WAS ON. TOOK TO DEALER PROBLEM RESOLVED FOR A MONTH OR SO. NOW NEED TO SPRAY WD40 ON LATCHES RELIGIOUSLY. DEALER ALSO REPLACED CRUISE CONTROL HARNESS AT THIS TIME. THEN CAME THE RADIO AND HEATER RUNNING WITH THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. BEEPS AND CLICKS AND BAD SMELLS COMING FROM UNDER DASH. AGAIN TO THE DEALER, NO CODES FOUND FOR THE ISSUES I WAS HAVING. BATTERY DRAINING OCCURRING FREQUENTLY NOW AND NO RESOLUTION. I NOW HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY EVERYNIGHT. NOW WHEN I DRIVE DOWN THE ROAD I GET THE MANY FAILURE LIGHTS FLASHING ON THE DASH, THE WINDOWS WON'T WORK, SPEEDOMETER FAILS, TRUCK LOSES POWER AND THE TRANSMISSON SHIFTS STRANGELY. I WAS HOURS FROM HOME AND DOING 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY WHEN EVIDENCING DECIDED TO NOT WORK AT THE SAME TIME. THEN I REALIZE THAT THIS IS OCCURRING ONLY WHEN IT RAINS OR IS VERY WET OUT. AND I WAS TRULY AFRAID FOR MY LIFE AND THE OTHERS THAT WERE ON THE ROAD WITH ME. I HAD TO DRIFT ACROSS A LANE OF TRAFFIC WITH NO POWER TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. I PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK AND PUT MY HEAD DOWN, WHEW, AND THE MOTOR POWERED BACK UP AND ALL THE FAILURE LIGHTS WERE OFF. ONLY AFTER INVESTIGATING ON THE INTERNET TODAY DO I FIND OUT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM. AND THE FIX... REPLACE THE WINDSHIELD SEAL! AND POSSIBLE DAMAGED FUSE BOX AND GEM! NOW WHY DIDN'T THE FORD DEALER HELP REMEDY THIS PROBLEM ONE OF THE MANY TIMES I WAS IN? THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR SEVERAL YEARS. NEW WINDSHIELD $165 AND THEY COME TO THE HOUSE. I PAID BIG MONEY FOR "NO CODES MATCH YOUR ISSUES, MISS." TW*

NHTSA ID

10303088

Incident

Jan 28, 2010

Mileage

169,000 mi

I HAVE A 98 EXPEDITION, WINDOWS ROLL DOWN, STEREO COME ON HEAT TURNS ON, ALL DASH PANEL WARNING LIGHTS COME ON AND OFF,THE AIR BAG LIGHT GO ON AND OFF,AND THE WIPERS AND OVERDRIVE GO ON AND OFF ,THE STARTER TRIES TO START WHILE RUNNING IT STARTED FEW YEARS AGO ON OCCASION WHEN IT WOULD RAIN NOW EVERYTIME ,FOUND OUT THE WINDSHIELD LEAKS WATER ON THE FUSE BOX AND SOME OTHER GENERIC BOX, I FEEL FORD SHOULD FIX THE EXPEDITION ITS THERE DEFAULT LOOK ON THE INTERNET ,THERE ARE LOTS OF OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE EXACT SAME PROB. PLEASE HELP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296517

Incident

Dec 1, 2003

Mileage

65,000 mi

I HAVE A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION EB MODEL. I JUST HAD TO TAKE IT INTO THE DEALER BECAUSE THE WINDSHIELD IS NOT SEALED PROPERLY AND THE GEM MODULE HAS BEEN GETTING WET AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED ALONG WITH THE FUSE BOX. APPARENTLY THIS IS QUITE COMMON WITH THIS YEAR AND MODLE.I HAVE TO SPEND 885 TO HAVE IT FIXED AND NOW HAVE TO HAVE THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED AS WELL. THE CAR WOULD NOT START AND THE LIGHTS FLICKERS ON AND OFF WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE POWER LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THE WINDOWS WOULD GO UP AND DOWN WHILE I WAS DRIVING. THIS IS NOT SAFE! IT DIED IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERSECTION ONCE THEN THE ENGINE REVVED UP AND IT WOULDN'T STOP. THE ONLY WAY TO STOP IT IS TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THE DASH STARTED SMOKING AND A BEEPING NOISE CAME FROM UNDER THE DASH SOMEWHERE. I WAS LUCKY ENOUGH TO GET THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED BEFORE THERE WAS ANY REAL FIRE DAMAGE. IF I HAD KNOW NOTHING ABOUT CARS I WOULD HAVE KEPT DRIVING AND COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10296394

Incident

Dec 17, 2009

Mileage

132,456 mi

CORROSION ON BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR COMPONENTS AND THERMAL EVENT ON WIRING HARNESS TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10282607

Incident

Sep 1, 2009

Mileage

197,400 mi

MY SUV CAUGHT FIRE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. *TR

NHTSA ID

10279904

Incident

Dec 18, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED A LARGE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A CARPORT. SUDDENLY, THE VEHICLE ERUPTED UNCONTROLLABLY IN FLAMES AND EXPLODED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO WARNINGS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. THE TWO PET DOGS THAT WERE OUTSIDE WHEN THE MASSIVE FIRE ERUPTED SUSTAINED SEVERE BURNS. THERE WERE NO PERSONAL INJURIES. THE PROPERTY DAMAGE CONSISTED OF THE CARPORT AND PORTIONS OF THE HOUSE, SUCH AS THE ROOF, SIDING, AND A COUPLE OF ROOMS INSIDE. THE VEHICLE WAS COMPLETELY DESTROYED AND CURRENTLY REMAINS AT THE SCENE FOR INVESTIGATION PURPOSES. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE MANUFACTURER. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS NOTIFIED, BUT THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT YET BEEN DETERMINED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 181,000. UPDATED 05/08/09 *BF UPDATED 05/12/09.*JB UPDATED 06/09/09.*JB

NHTSA ID

10262901

Incident

Mar 19, 2009

Mileage

181,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COVERAGE WAS CANCELLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WANTED POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION; HOWEVER, IT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DISPOSED OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY REIMBURSEMENT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE CUSTOMER'S CLAIM WILL BE CLOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID

10249903

Incident

Oct 14, 2003

Mileage

60,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE MY SPARK SHOT OUT AND I HAD TAKE TO THE AUTO REPAIR FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE HALO COIL IN WHICH IT HAPPEN TWICE. *CN

NHTSA ID

10216351

Incident

Dec 11, 2007

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION XLT HAS THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD PROBLEM, WHICH HAS LED TO MISDIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER AND BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE LIGHTS, FANS, AND SWITCHES RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF, THE POWER WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THE BLOWER FAN AND RADIO STAYS ON, AND THE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD THREE TIMES. TODAY IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I FOUND IT AS NOTED IN AN ONLINE FORUM. FORD IS/HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, YET WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHICH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. APPARENTLY THE REPAIR WILL RUN IN EXCESS OF $1,000, EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS MULTIPLE REPORTED CASES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID

10210025

Incident

Nov 27, 2007

Mileage

145,000 mi

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE SPREAD FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL TO THE RADIATOR AND FINALLY TO THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT STATED THAT THE FIRE MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL SOURCE FROM THE ENGINE. THE POLICE AND FIRE DEPARTMENTS FILED A REPORT. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER HAVE NOT BEEN NOTIFIED. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 220,000.

NHTSA ID

10197048

Incident

Jul 18, 2007

Mileage

220,000 mi