1998 Ford Expedition Interior & seats Problems

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

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. EVERYTIME THE CONTACT ENTERS THE VEHICLE, THE INTERIOR LIGHTING REMAINS ILLUMINATED EVEN AFTER THE DOOR IS CLOSED. SHE MUST MANUALLY TURN OFF THE LIGHT. AS A CONSEQUENCE, THE BATTERY EVENTUALLY FAILS AND HAS TO BE RECHARGED IN ORDER TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IS IN THE PROCESS OF NOTIFYING THE DEALER TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 143,000. UPDATED 07/15/08 *BF UPDATED 07/15/08

NHTSA ID

10229643

Incident

Aug 24, 2007

Mileage

120,000 mi

1998 FORD EXPEDITION INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON, DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON, RADIO TURNING ON AND OFF BY ITSELF, TRAILER LIGHTS NOT WORKING, DASH LIGHTS FLASHING OFF AND ON. I FOUND OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS HAVING LEAKING WINDSHIELDS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL SHORTING ON THE GEM AND FUSE BOX. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH A TSB 98-9-13 !!! I DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THESE CAN CAUSE ELECTRICAL FIRES OR CAUSE CARS TO START BY THEMSELVES, LOSING ELECTRICAL STABILITY WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. (NO BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC..) *JB

NHTSA ID

10183908

Incident

Jan 6, 2006

Mileage

110,000 mi

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE POWER SEAT MECHANISM DOES NOT WORK PROPERLY, RESULTING IN DRIVER'S INABILITY TO VIEW THE ROAD. THE SEAT MOVES UP AND DOWN, BUT WILL NOT GO FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE DEALERSHIP DETERMINED THE MECHANISM NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. UPDATED 3/17/2006 - RIGHT FRONT AXLE LEAKED, WINDSHIELD WASHERS FAILED. THE GLASS IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE WINDOW WOULD NOT GO UP. THE DOOR LOCKS LOCKED THE CONSUMER OUT OF THE VEHICLE. THE HORN WAS DIFFICULT TO LOCATE. THE REAR TAILGATE WINDOW EXPLODED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10150989

Incident

Oct 1, 2005

Mileage

27,900 mi

DT: CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT HAD A LOT TROUBLE WITH THE DRIVER'S SEAT. IT GETS STUCK AND WON'T GO FORWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

10139991

Incident

May 15, 2005

Mileage

160,640 mi

INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING AND LOCKING SYSTEM; LIGHTS STAY ON INSIDE VEHICLE WHILE DRIVING - DISTRACTING AT NIGHT. SOMETIMES CAN TAKE UP TO 30 MINUTES TO "DECIDE" TO TURN OFF - OTHER TIMES WITHIN A FEW MINUTES OF DRIVING... NO REAL PATTERN HAS BEEN ESTABLISHED. "DOOR AJAR" LIGHT NEVER GOES OFF EVEN THOUGH NUMEROUS CHECKS OF ALL DOORS HAVE BEEN DONE AND NONE ARE OPEN. RUNNING BOARDS AND INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AFTER CAR HAS BEEN TURNED OFF (WHETHER LOCKED OR UNLOCKED). THESE LIGHTS DO NOT SHUT OFF FOR OVER 1 HOUR AFTER VEHICLE HAS BEEN EXITED LAST. DOOR LOCKS WILL SPONTANEOUSLY LOCK AND UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. "BEEPING" SOUND WILL ALARM WHILE DRIVING ALERTING THAT DOORS ARE UNLOCKED OR POSSIBLY AJAR - THEN DOORS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK - SOMETIMES ONCE, OTHER TIMES FOUR OR FIVE TIMES IN A ROW. LIGHTING ISSUE OCCURS EVERY TIME CAR IS EXITED. INTERIOR LIGHTING ISSUE (WHILE RUNNING) OCCURS 3 TIMES WEEKLY, IF NOT MORE AT TIMES. LOCKING ISSUE OCCURS AT LEAST TWICE WEEKLY. NOT UNDER WARRANTY... AFTER INQUIRING WITH DEALER THEY RESPONDED, "NEVER HEARD OF THIS PROBLEM BEFORE". HOWEVER, I HAVE ASKED RANDOM EXPEDITION OWNERS IN PARKING LOTS AND GAS STATIONS - ALL HAVE CONFIRMED THE SAME PROBLEM. *LA

NHTSA ID

10080836

Incident

Sep 5, 2002

Mileage

87,000 mi

WARNING LIGHT FOR SUSPENSION SYSTEM WITH AIR LEVELER ON 4X4, SUSPENSION WARNING LIGHT COMES ON SEVERAL TIMES A WEEK SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW. VEHICLE NEVER LEVELED WITH A LOAD ON THE HITCH. THE AIR COMPRESSOR RUNS A LOT AND BECAME VERY NOISY OVER THE YEARS. THE VEHICLE ROCKS BACK AND FORTH, IN, RIGHT SIDE GOES UP AND DOWN A FEW INCHES, WILL NOT LEVEL UNDER LOAD. NEVER FELT SAFE TO TOW ANYTHING WHICH WAS THE PURPOSE FOR BUYING THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER WHERE I PURCHASED THE VEHICLE REFUSES TO ACCEPT THE VEHICLE FOR SERVICE. TOOK IN 3 - 4X A YEAR FOR SAME AND THEY REFUSED TO LOOK AT ANYTHING EXCEPT THE COMPUTER READOUT. PRESENTED LIST OF RELATED NHTSA REPORTS AND FORD SAID THEY DO NOT USE THEM UNDER WARRANTY. PURCHASED FORDS BEST EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH WILL EXPIRE IN 3 MONTHS AND THE PROBLEM STILL EXISTS. COMPRESSOR PUMP BROKE A WEEK AGO AND THEY REFUSE TO LOOK AT ANYTHING ELSE. INITIAL RECOMMENDATION WAS TO DISCONNECT WARNING LIGHT. SECOND RECOMMENDATION WAS TO SELL VEHICLE IF I DIDN'T LIKE IT. NO OBLIGATION FOR THE 45,000.00 PAID. CANNOT SELL VEHICLE BECAUSE THE WARNING LIGHT COMES ON ALL THE TIME AND VEHICLE NEVER LEVEL. *CB

NHTSA ID

10054229

Incident

Jan 1, 2004

ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT AFTER ALL DOORS ARE CLOSED AND VEHICLE IS STARTED. AS YOU BEGIN DRIVING, THERE IS NO WAY TO TURN THEM OFF. THEY EVENTUALLY WENT OFF. SOMETIMES THE LIGHTS WILL GO ON BY THEMSELVES. IN ALL CASES THE 'DOOR OPEN' LIGHT SHOWS ON THE DASHBOARD, BUT AFTER OPENING AND CLOSING ALL DOORS, TAILGATE AND TAILGATE WINDOW THE LIGHTS "DOOR OPEN" LIGHT REMAINS ON, AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WILL NOT GO OUT. *LA

NHTSA ID

10047536

Incident

Nov 1, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

1998 FORD EXPEDITION AFTER REVIEWING ALL THE COMPLAINTS LISTED I REALIZED I HAD EXPERIENCE SIMILAR ONES FOR INSTANCE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT IN DEC/02. IN AUG./03 THE TIE ROD BROKE. WE HAVE HAD TROUBLE WITH 4X4 WORKING OR IN THIS CASE NOT. WHEN SWITCHED IN WHILE LIFTED ON A HOIST IT REGISTERS, BUT WHEN ON THE GROUND IT DOESN'T WORK. SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE WEIGHT. ALSO THE DOOR LOCKS NO LONGER WORK, SOMETHING TO DO WITH A SENSOR. INTERIOR LIGHT STAYS ON IN HOT WEATHER. AND THE LIST GOES ON. *LA

NHTSA ID

10045078

Incident

Dec 10, 2002

WHILE CHECKING FRONT SUSPENSION CONSUMER OBSERVED THAT DRIVER'S SIDE LINKAGES BROKE. DEALER NOTIFIED, AND INFORMED CONSUMER THAT VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER A RECALL. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK

NHTSA ID

10021937

Incident

May 18, 2003

I OWN A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION, WHEN IT RAINS ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON,THE PANEL IS SAYING DOOR AJAR(WHEN IN FACT THERE IS NO DOOR AJAR).THERFORE ALL INTERIOR LIGHTS STAY ON AS IF THERE WERE A DOOR AJAR. I FIND THIS VERY DANGEROUS TO DRIVE WITH ALL THE INTERIOR LIGHTS ON EXPECIALLY AT NIGHT.FORD TOLD ME IT WAS A FAULTY SWITCH.I VE SPOKEN WITH OTHER PEOPLE WITH THE SAME ISSUE.ALSO 128 FORD SOLD ME THIS VEHICLE WITH A RECALL THAT WAS NEVER CHECKED. THEY NEVER DID A SAFETY CHECK AS THEY STATED. WHEN I PICKED UP THE VEHICLE IT WAS NEVER MOVED FROM THE SPOT WHERE I LEFT IT, AND THEY NEVER PUT A INSPECTION STICKER ON THE VEHICLE AND NEVER LOOKED IT OVER.

NHTSA ID

10005522

Incident

Jan 5, 2003

Mileage

50,000 mi

INTERIOR LIGHT (DOME LIGHTS) STAYED ON WHILE DRIVINGVEHICLE, EVEN WHEN CONSUMER WAS NOT DRIVING. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *TR

NHTSA ID

10006143

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

CONSUMER STATES THAT THE CHILD LOCKS ARE ENGAGING THEMSELVES INTERMITTENTLY WITHOUT WARNING. DEALER ADVISED THAT LOCKS ARE MECHANICAL AND THEREFORE CAN NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. CONCERNED ABOUT SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IF THEY NEED TO EXIT VEHICLE IN AN EMERGENCY. TS

NHTSA ID

10003902

Incident

Jan 1, 2002

INTERRIOR LIGHT FAILS TO GO OFF, EVEN WITH VEHICLE RUNNING. ON ONE INSTANCE, IT BEGAN FLASHING. THIS WAS VERY DISTRACTING AND DANGEROUS AS IT WAS AT NIGHT. I WAS ONLY ABLE TO TURN THE INTERIOR LIGHT OFF BY PULLING THE RELAY. THIS IS A KNOWN ISSUE WITH 1999-2000 EXPEDITIONS, BUT APPARENTLY IT AFFECTS 1998 VEHICLES AS WELL.

NHTSA ID

10000539

Incident

Dec 31, 2002

Mileage

88,000 mi

FUSE BOX KEEPS FAILING/ TAIL LIGHTS KEEP GOING OUT, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL MALFUNCTIONS. CONTACTED DEALER, AND THE DEALER HAS REPLACED A SWITCH IN VEHICLE, BUT PROBLEM STILL OCCURS.*AK

NHTSA ID

8014215

Incident

Jan 2, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE CHILD SAFETY LOCK ON BOTH REAR DOORS WOULD ENGAGE IT SELF EVERY TIME THE DOORS ARE CLOSE SHUT, DEALER NOTIFED. NLM *YH

NHTSA ID

8006453

Incident

Dec 25, 2001

THE REAR PASSENGER CHILD LOCK BEGAN TO ENGAGE INTERMITTENTLY, IT THEN PROGRESSED TO FULL TIME PREVENTING EXITING FROM THE VEHICLE ON THE RIGHT REAR SIDE, NOW THE DRIVERS SIDE IS DOING THE SAME THING. NLM

NHTSA ID

785512

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

LATCH ON SECOND ROW SEAT IS BROKEN, BACK OF SEAT FALLS FORWARD AND BACKWARD. *AK

NHTSA ID

883395

Incident

Mar 1, 2001

DRIVING 70 MPH ON INTERSTATE AND LOST POWER STEERING, WHILE PASSING SLOWER VEHICLE. CJ

NHTSA ID

559443

LEATHER SEAT IS WEARING OUT AND LEATHER STEERING COVER IS WEARING BADLY. COLOR IS COMING OFF BOTH. ALSO COLOR COMES OFF BACK SIDE PANELS EASILY.

NHTSA ID

722644

Incident

Feb 20, 2000

WINSHIELD WIPERS. DOOR STICKS. POWER WINDOW IS NOISY.

NHTSA ID

609814

Incident

Mar 1, 1998

FOLD DOWN SEAT.

NHTSA ID

609544

Incident

Nov 1, 1998

DOOR LOCKS DO NOT CONSISTENTLY WORK.

NHTSA ID

609521

SEAT COVER REPLACED SEVERAL TIMES DUE TO CUTS.

NHTSA ID

543677

SEAT BELT ADJUSTER FAILED. YH

NHTSA ID

608768

Incident

Oct 7, 1998