1998 Ford Expedition Visibility Problems

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

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH IN RAINY WEATHER, WATER BEGAN TO LEAK INTO THE VEHICLE FROM THE WINDSHIELD AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 81,000.

NHTSA ID

10562633

Incident

Oct 8, 2013

Mileage

81,000 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

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

WHEN IT RAINS WATER LEAKS ONTO THE GEM MODULE AND FUSE BOX UNDER THE DASHBOARD LEFT OF THE STEERING COLUMN. SOME OF THE EFFECTS ARE, WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPING, TRANSMISSION GOING INTO LIMP MODE WITH OD LIGHT FLASHING, BATTERY GOING DEAD IF RAINING OVERNIGHT, SPEEDOMETER NOT WORKING, HEATER FAN RUNNING WHILE OFF, LEFT FRONT POWER WINDOW NOT WORKING, AND INSTRUMENT PANEL WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING ON AND OFF. EVERYTHING COMES BACK TO NORMAL AFTER IT DRIES OUT. I HAD THE WINDSHIELD REPLACED. I HAD THE NEW WINDSHIELD RESEALED TWICE. I HAD TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. I STILL CAN SEE WATER DRIPPING NEXT TO THE PARKING BRAKE. I HAVE BROWSED THE NET AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPEDITIONS AND F150'S. I WOULD LIKE FORD TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY AND REPAIR THIS DEFECT.

NHTSA ID

10129916

Incident

Jul 25, 2005

Mileage

95,200 mi

BOTH OUTSIDE MIRRORS SEPARATED FROM THE OUTSIDE, MAKING VISUAL CONTACT VERY POOR. OWNER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT WAS INFORMED THAT BECAUSE THE VEHICLE IS OUT OF WARRANTY, THERE WAS NOTHING ELSE THEY COULD DO. *AK SIDEVIEW MIRRORD WERE DELAMINATING,CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY. *AK SIDE MIRRORS ARE DELAMINATING CAUSING POOR VISABILITY.*SB

NHTSA ID

10119345

Incident

Nov 12, 2004

Mileage

45,000 mi

OUTSIDE MIRRORS ON BOTH SIDES OF AUTO HAVE SHOWN LINES IN THE MIRRORS AND THEY SHOW UP IN SUNLIGHT AND WHEN IN TRAFFIC AT NIGHT. THEY CAUSE YOU TO LOSE SOME VISION. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION FOR SOME TIME BUT THE DEALERS TOLD ME THIS WAS NORMAL. THIS AUTO HAS ONLY 500 MILES NOW BUT THIS STARTED BACK IN 2000. I JUST WENT IN FOR SERVICE 3/17/05 AT FORD AND THEY SAID ITS UP TO ME TO PAY FOR REPLACEMENT. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. PLEASE LET ME KNOW IF THIS IS COMMON ON FORD SUV. THANK YOU R VUSICH. *JB

NHTSA ID

10115954

Incident

Mar 20, 2005

Mileage

10,000 mi

FRONT WINDSHIELD/WIPER FLUID DISPENSER: CROSS-COUNTRY ROAD TRIP - FAILURE TO DISPENSE WIPER FLUID. SPORADIC DISPENSING OF WIPER FLUID ON ROAD TRIP AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. PUSHING BUTTON HARD & AT DIFFERENT ANGLES SOMETIMES WORKS. *JB

NHTSA ID

10107599

Incident

Jun 25, 2003

Mileage

40,000 mi

HEATER COIL WAS REPLACED FIVE TIMES. THE DEALER STATED THAT RADIO WAS MAKING THE PART DEFECTIVE. THE COIL WENT OUT AGAIN, AND THE VEHICLE WAS DOWN. MANUFACTURER STATED NO MORE REPLACEMENTS. *AK

NHTSA ID

10101971

Incident

Nov 30, 2004

Mileage

86,000 mi

THE TURN SIGNAL INDICATORS FAILED. A RECALL WAS ISSUED. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK THE VEHICLE'S WIPER ALSO FAILED. *NM

NHTSA ID

10090299

Incident

Aug 17, 2004

Mileage

100,000 mi

BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS GLASS BROKE OFF FROM THE INSIDE. THIS CAUSED POOR VISIBILITY TO THE DRIVER. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT BOTH PASSENGER AND DRIVER SIDE MIRRORS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID

10079601

Incident

Apr 25, 2004

POWER WINDOWS, FRONT AND BACK FAIL TO OPERATE. DRIVERS SIDE WILL POWER DOWN, BUT WILL NOT POWER UP. SOMETIMES WHEN I CONTINUOUSLY OPERATE THE SWITCH I CAN HEAR A CLICKING NOISE ALMOST LIKE SOMETHING IS NOT CONNECTING. I HAVE NOT YET TAKEN IT TO A DEALER TO INVESTIGATE BECAUSE I AM AFRAID THE COST TO 'FIX' WILL BE HUGH. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLES WITH THE REAR WINDOW WIPER. IT HAS NEVER WORKED CONSISTENLY. I HAD IT WORKED ON ONE TIME, THE DEALER SAID IT WAS LOCKED UP AND FIXED IT. IT WORKED ABOUT TWICE AND HAS NOT WORKED SINCE, THAT WAS ABOUT A YEAR AGO.*AK

NHTSA ID

10032748

Incident

Mar 4, 2003

Mileage

70,000 mi

DRIVER AND PASSENGER POWER DOOR LOCK SWITCHES DO NOT WORK. *JB

NHTSA ID

10023652

Incident

Jan 1, 2003

CONSUMER WAS HAVING PROBLEM WITH WIPER BACK AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE, WERENOT WORKING AT ALL. DEALER HAS BEEN NOTIFIED. PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION.*AK *TR

NHTSA ID

10006142

Incident

Jan 31, 2003

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

FRONT AND REAR WIPERS AND WASHERS STOP WORKING. WILL WORK IF TURN SIGNAL IS ACTIVATED. DT

NHTSA ID

768730

Incident

Jan 1, 2001

CONSUMER STATES THE ENGINE HAS BEEN REPLACED WITH A REMANUFACTURED ENGINE 3 TIMES ONCE BEING DUE TO A FAULTY CONNECTION ROD, AND AN OUT OF BALANCE CRANKSHAFT, THE SERPENTINE BELT, THERMOSTAT AND GASKET HAVE ALSO BEEN REPLACED, ALSO, THE ENGINE LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATING, DEALER REPLACED SPARK PLUGS.*JB *YH

NHTSA ID

566825

Incident

Oct 26, 1999

WHILE DRIVING DURING DAY LIGHT CAN'T SEE VEHICLE IN REAR OUT OF SIDE MIRRORS. CAN ONLY SEE INSIDE OF MIRROR. DEALER CONTACTED. *AK

NHTSA ID

8009147

REAR WIPER MOTOR (RWM) HAS FAILED AND BEEN REPLACED 4 TIMES WITHIN 36K MILES, 39 MOS FROM PURCHASE AS NEW. PURCHASED TRUCK ON 9/12/98; RWM REPLACEMENT #1 ON 6/3/99 AT 8530 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #2 ON 9/25/99 AT 11965 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #3 ON 7/13/00 AT 20413 MI; RWM REPLACEMENT #4 ON 12/12/01 AT 35419 MI. WHY HAS THIS COMPONENT FAILED SO OFTEN? DEFECTIVE DESIGN? DEFECTIVE COMPONENTS? IMPROPER INSTALLATION? ALSO SEE RWM FAILURE COMPLAINTS MADE BY OTHER CONSUMERS TO NHTSA. PLEASE REFER TO THOSE ODI #'S: 540834; 608809; 608715; 607562; 609271; 609531; 544197. THERE APPEARS TO BE A PATTERN OF RWM FAILURE. CONSIDER HOW MANY OTHERS HAVE NOT BOTHERED TO REPORT THIS PROBLEM. I CAN PROVIDE ANY DOCUMENTATION NEEDED. I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING WITH YOU IN YOUR EFFORTS TO HAVE FORD MOTOR COMPANY CORRECT THE REAR WIPER MOTOR FAILURE PROBLEM. THANK YOU.*AK

NHTSA ID

757163

Incident

Jun 3, 1999

CLAMP ON HEATER HOSE IS NOT STRONG AND IT BROKE, CAUSING FLUIDS TO LEAK INTO ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. VEHICLE DOES NOT RUN PROPERLY. CONTACTED DEALER,AND DEALER STATED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, AND IT NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. PLEASE ADD VIN #. *AK

NHTSA ID

899884

Incident

Dec 4, 2001

SIDE MIRRORS DETERIORATION .HARD TO LOOK FOR TRAFFIC.UNSAFE TO DRIVE. *AK

NHTSA ID

754297

DOOR BELT MOLDING WAS WORN.

NHTSA ID

563693

Incident

Dec 8, 1999

WHILE DRIVING, TIRE BLEWOUT, STEERING COLUMN LOCKED AND CONSUMER WAS UNABLE TO STEER VEHICLE, CONSUMER STATES A WEEK PRIOR TO THIS, THE FRONT TIRES BEGAN SPINNING BEFORE THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE AND THE PAVEMENT WAS NOT WET, FIRESTONE AFFINITY, P215/60R15, CLAIM 20-5363-226. *SLC

NHTSA ID

6900308

Incident

May 1, 2001