RoadVitals

2000 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.
15
Latest Feb 2, 2020
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.
2%
of 890 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.
1
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 2000 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 15 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

Body & structureEngineExterior lighting
Filed Feb 2, 2020
Fire reported

MY TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE WITH NEW PARTS ON IT. I WENT TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE WENT IN TO SWITCH MY LAUNDRY, LOOKED OUT HER WINDOW AND MY WAS ON FIRE!! TRUCK OFF AND KEYS WERE NOT IN IGNITION AND IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY UNDER A CARPORT. IT POSED NO PROBLEMS ON THE WAY OVER THERE, NO SMELLS, NO SOUNDS, NO NOTHING. AND THEN BAM! HOOD SHOOTING OUT FLAMES.

NHTSA ID
11306520
Incident
Feb 1, 2020
Mileage
195,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lighting
Filed Jan 10, 2018

TRIED TO START WITH KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION. LIGHTS WOULD NOT TURN OF. HAD TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY. THIS WOULD BE LIFE THREATENING IF HAPPENED IN A CLOSED GARAGE

NHTSA ID
11062017
Incident
Dec 29, 2015
Mileage
165,400 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Jun 2, 2014

IT STARTED WITH THE RADIO AND WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING PERIODICALLY THIS WENT ON FOR SEVERAL WEEKS AND THEN ON SATURDAY NIGHT 5/31/14 AT APPROX. 11:30 AM "[XXX]" SHOWED UP AND MY CAR WAS TRYING TO START ITS SELF. IT MADE A CLICKING SOUND FOR ABOUT 30 MINS WITH THE LIGHTS GOING OFF AND ON. THE SOUND WAS LIKE A DEAD BATTERY SOUND. THEN IT WOULD TRY TO START ITSELF. THIS WENT ON FOR ABOUT AND HOUR AND THEN IT FINALLY STOPPED. I ASSUMED THAT THE NEXT MORNING MY BATTERY WOULD BE DEAD BUT WHEN I WENT OUT SUNDAY MORNING IT STARTED RIGHT UP AND I WAS ABLE TO RUN MY ERRANDS. THIS MORNING MONDAY 6/2 I WENT OUT TO GO TO WORK AND IT WOULD NOT START BUT THE LIGHTS CAME ON AND IT CONTINUED TO MAKE A CLICKING SOUND EVEN THOUGH I ASSUMED THE BATTERY WAS DEAD. I AM SCARED TO DO ANYTHING, LIKE JUMP THE BATTERY , FOR FEAR IT WILL EXPLODE OR CATCH FIRE. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

NHTSA ID
10595545
Incident
May 1, 2014
Mileage
150,000 mi
ElectricalInterior & seatsExterior lighting
Filed Sep 27, 2012

INTERIOR LIGHTS AND DIGITAL ODOMETER LIGHT GOES OUT AND THEN COME BACK ON EVERY NOW AND THEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10477274
Incident
Sep 27, 2012
Mileage
158,000 mi
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Mar 19, 2012

DURING RAINY PERIODS THE STEREO AND WINDHSHIELD WIPERS WILL TURN OFF AND ON BY THEMSELVES. IF THE TRUCK IS TURNED OFF THE STEREO AND AC WILL STAY ON AND LOCKS WILL LOCK AND UNLOCK BY THEMSELVES. SMOKE COMES UP FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. THE TURN SIGNALS WILL BLINK A FEW TIMES THEN STOP BLINKIN BUT THE LIGHT WILL STAY ON. *JS

NHTSA ID
10452255
Incident
Feb 15, 2012
ElectricalExterior lightingVisibility
Filed Dec 20, 2011

MULTIPLE INSTANCES FOLLOWING RAIN OF: VEHICLE TURNS OVER BUT WILL NOT START. REMOVING THE KEY ANY OF THE FOLLOWING WILL OCCUR- HEATER FAN BLOWER COMES ON AND WILL ONLY GO OFF WITH THE KEY IN AND IN THE ON POSITION. LIGHTS MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON. RADIO MAY OR MAY NOT COME ON. ALL THIS WITH KEY OUT, VEHICLE EMPTY AND CLOSED. SOMETIMES BLOWER WILL COME ON IN EMPTY VEHICLE. IF THE CAR STARTS SOMETIMES THE WIPERS WILL NOT WORK, THE HORN WILL NOT WORK, RADIO WILL NOT WORK, LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK OR BLINKERS GO ON. ANY OR ALL OF THIS MAY OCCUR. SOMETIMES AND ODER LIKE BURNING OR SOUR GAS WILL OCCUR. IF THE RAIN QUITS AND THE VEHICLE SITS FOR MINUTES TO HOURS ALL THESE SYMPTOMS GO AWAY. I HAVE PULLED THE LOWER KICKER PANEL ON THE DRIVERS SIDE AND FOUND EVIDENCE OF WATER BELOW THE GEM NEAR THE EDGE OF THE CARPET. I BELIEVE THIS TO BE THE PROBLEM REPORTED BY MANY AS THE WATER ENTERING FROM THE WINDSHIELD AND SHORTING AT THE GEM FUSE CONNECTION. I AM CONTACTING THE DEALER, IF THEY WILL NOT TAKE CARE OF IT I WILL HAVE A WINDSHIELD REPLACEMENT COMPANY TRY TO RESEAL AND EXAMINE FOR LEAKS. THIS APPEARS TO BE POTENIALLY DANGEROUS IF ENGINE WOULD DIE WHILE DRIVING, LIGHT GO OUT OR WIPERS STOP WORKING. *TR

NHTSA ID
10440635
Incident
Dec 4, 2010
Mileage
152,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Oct 19, 2007

HEADLAMP SWITCH BLEW/FAILED/CHARRED AND SMOKE CAME OUT OF HEAT/AC DASH VENT WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY.

NHTSA ID
10206325
Incident
Oct 13, 2007
Mileage
112,250 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 16, 2005

AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE CONSUMER COULD SEE SMOKE COMING FROM OUT OF THE HAZARD SWITCH. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK

NHTSA ID
10111608
Incident
Dec 13, 2004
Mileage
150,000 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed Feb 5, 2004

HEADLIGHT DIMMER SWITCH DEFECT CAUSES HEADLIGHTS TO GO OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. *JB

NHTSA ID
10056623
Incident
Feb 5, 2003
Mileage
60,000 mi
Heating & air conditioningDriver assistanceEngine+2 more
Filed Oct 8, 2003

PROBLEMS WITH HEADLIGHTS BLOWING OUT, REPLACED BULB, STILL NO HIGH BEAM. LIGHTS COMPLETELY WENT OUT ONE NIGHT. HAD TO HAVE FAMILY MEMBER FOLLOW ME HOME. BATTERY DETACHED TO GET LIGHTS INSIDE OFF. LIGHTS ORIGINALLY WENT OFF WHEN I PLUGGED MY CELL PHONE IN FOR CHARGING; SOMETHING THAT I HAVE ALWAYS DONE IN MY PRIOR VEHICLES. VEHICLE CUTTING OFF, SHOP STATES THAT IT IS DUE TO PROBLEM WITH EMISSION. AC RUNS HOT WHEN VEHICLE KEEP TURNING OFF. VEHICLE ACCELERATION IS BAD. VEHICLE EVEN WHEN RUNNING ON INTERSTATE APPEAR TO BE HAVING DIFFICULTY MAINTAINING SPEED, APPEARS TO BE WANTING TO CUT OFF. VEHICLE CUTS OFF IN MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC FOR NO PARTICULAR REASON. STARTED PUTTING PREMIUM GAS, BUT GAS SMELLS ARE BAD WHEN I RUN VEHICLE IN GARAGE TO WARM UP. SHOP THINKS THAT ONCE CHARGE AC MAY IMPROVE. *LA

NHTSA ID
10041464
Incident
Sep 8, 2003
Mileage
87,500 mi
Exterior lighting
Filed May 23, 2001

HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF ON AT LEAST THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS WHILE DRIVING ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY AND TOWING A 4X8 FT U-HAUL TRAILER WITH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE AUTOLAMP CONTROL POSITION. I WAS FOLLOWING MY WIFE IN HER VEHICLE AND SHE OBSERVED THE HEADLIGHTS WOULD PERIODICALLY BE OFF FOR A PERIOD OF TIME AND THEN BE ON AGAIN. SHE MENTIONED THIS TO ME WHEN WE STOPPED AT A REST AREA AND I TOLD HER I DID NOT TURN THE HEADLIGHTS OFF OR ON . I HAVE LEFT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH IN THE AUTOLAMP CONTROL POSITION SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW (PAST 19 MONTHS). THAT ALLOWS ME TO START THE VEHICLE AND DRIVE WITH THE LIGHTS ON UPON STARTING AND THE HEADLIGHTS REMAIN ON FOR 12-20 SECONDS UPON TURNING THE IGNITION OFF AND GETTING OUT OF THE VEHILCE. I WILL BE TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER IN FRANKLIN NC ON THURSDAY, MAY 24, 2001 TO HAVE THEM TROUBLESHOOT THE PROBLEM.*AK

NHTSA ID
745774
Incident
May 17, 2001
Exterior lighting
Filed Aug 8, 2000

HEADLIGHTS DO NOT SEEM AS BRIGHT AS OTHER AUTO I HAVE DRIVEN.MUST USE HIGH BEAM IN AREAS WHERE REGULAR BEAM SHOULD BE SUFFICIENT. THIS ISSUE SHOULD BE ADDRESSED BY FORD AS IT CONCERNS ME. IS POWER BEING DRAINED OR ARE LIGHT JUST NOT POWERFUL ENOUGH?

NHTSA ID
726962
Incident
Jul 21, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Apr 11, 2000

WHEN THE SIGNAL LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED THERE IS NO ALERT SOUND TO LET DRIVER KNOW THAT THE BLINKER IS ON AS THERE IS IN THE OLDER MODEL VEHICLES. DEALER CONTACTED, AND STATED THAT THIS VEHICLE MADE THAT WAY. ALSO, 4 WAY HAZARD FLASHERS ARE SILENT. *AK *ML

NHTSA ID
860060
Incident
Mar 5, 2000
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 12, 2000

HEADLIGHTS ARE NOT BRIGHT AS THEY SHOULD BE. MUST BE LENS DESIGN. NOT AS BRIGHT AS 91 & 96 EXPLORER, 96 JAGUAR, 1953 SUNBEAM, 98 F150. NUMEROUS INDIVIDUALS HAVE REMARKED HOW BAD THEY ARE. HAVE BEEN ADJUSTED BY DEALER. *AK

NHTSA ID
720016
Exterior lighting
Filed Mar 5, 2000

THE TURN SIGNAL DOES NOT STAY ENGAGED (CLICK INTO THE ON POSITION) WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY IN EITHER DIRECTION.. THE PROBLEM MAY SEEM MINOR, BUT I CANNOT LET OTHERS KNOW MY INTENTION TO TURN INTO A DRIVEWAY OR STREET WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED SLIGHTLY (AS IS THE CASE WHEN ROUNDING A BEND). THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED TO FORD'S SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND THEY STATE THAT "OPERATION OF SIGNALS IS NORMAL" ON A REPAIR ORDER DATED 02/24/2000. THEY ALSO TOLD ME THAT THIS HAPPENS ON THE FORD RANGER TOO. MY CONCERN SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED BECAUSE I HAVE HAD TO EITHER TAKE ONE HAND OFF THE STEERING WHEEL TO "HOLD DOWN" THE TURN SIGNAL LEVER, OR NOT SIGNAL TO OTHER DRIVERS. WITH THE POPULARITY OF FORD SUV'S , THE NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS INCIDENTS IS VERY HIGH. A MASSIVE RECALL MIGHT BE IN ORDER TO ALLOW DRIVERS TO OPERATE THEIR VEHICLES MORE SAFELY. *AK

NHTSA ID
719731
Incident
Oct 31, 1999

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

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .