2001 Ford Expedition Visibility Problems

WIPERS FAIL, CAME WITHIN INCHES OF MAJOR CRASH SEVERAL TIMES, DUE TO POOR OR NO VISIBILITY FROM RAIN OR SNOW BECAUSE OF WIPERS COMPLETE FAILURE. ALSO, POWER WINDOWS FAIL, INTERIOR LIGHTS FAIL, RADIO FAILS, 4 WHEEL DRIVE FAIL AND IT WAS STATED ON LINE THAT AIR BAG FAILURE IS ALSO A PROBLEM. CAN NOT DRIVE IN RAIN OR SNOW! WHEN LOOKING UP THE GEM MODULE PART (GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE) IT WAS STATED IN SEVERAL ONLINE PARTS SOURCES THAT THE 2001 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A WINDSHIELD IMPROPERLEY SEALED AT THE FACTORY ON THE ASSEMBLY LINE. THUS WATER LEAKS ON THE GEM MODULE SHORTING IT OUT; AND IT WAS STATED THAT IN SEVERAL OF THE SAME VEHICLES THAT THEIR ENTIRE FUSE BOX FAILS WHICH IS LOCATED DIRECTLY UNDER THE GEM MODULE WHICH IS MOUNTED ON TOP OF THE FUSE BOX CAUSING ENTIRE ELECTRICAL FAILURE. I FEEL IT IS THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FORD TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES AND FIX THE PROBLEM. IT IS AN ASSEMBLY LINE FAILURE, I CAN NOT RENEW MY LICENCE DUE TO SAFETY STANDARDS UNTIL THIS ISSUE IS ADDRESSED AND FORD CORRECTS THE PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

10721159

Incident

May 10, 2014

Mileage

112,000 mi

WATER APPEARS TO HAVE LEAKED INTO THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM CAUSING THE WIPERS TO NOT FUNCTION AT ALL. WHEN THE WIPERS ARE TURNED ON, WE HEAR THE WIPER MOTOR CLICK; BUT WIPERS DO NOT CLEAR THE WINDSHIELD. *JS

NHTSA ID

10616857

Incident

Jan 1, 2012

Mileage

240,000 mi

THE LIGHT FOR THE WIPERS SYSTEM HAS BEEN ON SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THE DEALERSHIP. IT HAS NEVER BEEN ABLE TO SPRAY FLUID.

NHTSA ID

10541719

Incident

Dec 29, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM MALFUNCTIONED, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WOULD ILLUMINATE SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARRANT, THE RADIO WOULD ENGAGE INDEPENDENTLY, AND THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD ACTIVATE WITHOUT THE KEYS BEING IN THE IGNITION. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS WOULD NOT ENGAGE WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS TURNED ON. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT WATER WAS LEAKING INTO THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD AND THE WINDSHIELD WOULD NEED REPLACING. THE WINDSHIELD WAS REPLACED YET THE FAILURE PERSISTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALER BUT THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE OR DIAGNOSE WHERE THE LEAK WAS COMING FROM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY COULD OFFER NO ASSISTANCE WITHOUT AN ACCURATE DIAGNOSIS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 98,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 121,000.

NHTSA ID

10362595

Incident

Jul 19, 2009

Mileage

98,000 mi

LEAKING WINDSHIELD CAUSING DIFFERENT SYSTEMS TO ACT UNPREDICTABLY. CURRENTLY AC BLOWER FAN CIRCUIT BLOWN (FIXED 4X), CRUISE CONTROL DEAD AFTER INTERMITTENTLY WORKING (HIGH POTENTIAL OF FATALITY IF ACCELERATION OUT OF CONTROL). RADIO COMES ON AN OFF. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON CONTINUOUSLY. NUMEROUS CODES SHOWING UP EVEN AFTER DELETING. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN OCCURRING FOR YEARS ( AT LEAST 4 YEARS). THE WINDSHIELD HAS TO BE REPLACED AS PER TECHNICIAN BUT I STRONGLY FEEL THAT FORD SHOULD JUST PLUG THE LEAK FOR ALL THE EXPEDITIONS AND NAVIGATORS BEING AFFECTED BY THIS. OTHERS HAVE HAD MORE SERIOUS PROBLEM - WINDOWS OPENING AND CLOSING AUTOMATICALLY (NO USER ACTION). *TR

NHTSA ID

10341566

Incident

Jul 2, 2010

Mileage

90,000 mi

DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW ACTUATOR FAILED CAUSING WINDOW TO SUDDENLY DROP INTO DOOR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IN 25 DEGREE WEATHER. THIS IS MY FIRST OCCURRENCE WITH THIS HAPPENING (BUT I JUST BOUGHT THIS USED TRUCK LESS THAN A WEEK AGO) BUT IN DOING RESEARCH IT APPEARS TO BE A VERY COMMON PROBLEM RESULTING IN NUMEROUS ACCIDENTS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10314006

Incident

Feb 24, 2010

Mileage

130,108 mi

LEAKING WINDSHIELD AND ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS ON OUR 2001 EXPEDITION, WORRIED ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10310378

Incident

Feb 12, 2010

Mileage

73,700 mi

WAS DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD IN HEAVY RAIN WHEN WINDSHIELD WIPERS STOPPED WORKING. COULD NOT SEE 2 FEET INFRONT OF ME, SO I WAS FORCED TO PULL OVER ON A BUSY ROAD. PUT THE TRUCK IN PARK, AND WIPERS STARTED WORKING. PUT BACK IN DRIVE AND THEY STOPPED. FINALLY THE RAIN SLOWED ENOUGH FOR ME TO DRIVE WITH OUT THE WIPERS, VERY UNSAFE! WHEN I GOT HOME, I TURNED THE KEY OFF, PULLED THEM OUT OF THE IGNITION AND THE HEATER KEPT RUNNING. I HAD TO TURN IT TO OFF POSITION. LIGHTS ON GAUGE CLUSTER WERE FLICKERING TOO. OPENED DRIVER SIDE DOOR AND RADIO STAYED ON. HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THAT OFF AS WELL. SMELLED SOMETHING BURNING, SO I QUICKLY UNHOOKED THE BATTERY. CAME BACK A COUPLE HOURS LATER, CONNECTED BATTERY, NOW VEHICLE WONT START! WILL TURN OVER, BUT WONT CRANK. DID SOME RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM WITH MANY DIFFERENT FORD VEHICLES! PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY A FAULTY WINDSHIELD, ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK INTO THE CAB, BEHIND THE DASH, AND GET WATER ON THE GEM AND FUSEBOX, CREATING CORROSION. THESE PROBLEMS COULD BE VERY UNSAFE! POSSIBLE FIRE FROM ELECTRIC SHORT, POSSIBLE INJURY/DEATH FROM WIPERS QUITTING WHILE DRIVING. FORD SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR FAULTY DESIGN! *TR

NHTSA ID

10301857

Incident

Jan 21, 2010

Mileage

102,000 mi

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A WINDSHIELD LEAK ON MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS HAS LEAD TO UNWANTED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS UNATTENDED. THIS HAS INCLUDED THE RADIO COMING ON OR THE BLOWER MOTOR RUNNING AND EVEN THE STARTER ENGAGING WITH THE KEY REMOVED. I AM VERY CONCERNED ABOUT A POSSIBLE FIRE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10277693

Incident

Jul 10, 2009

Mileage

99,750 mi

WINDSHIELD LEAKING WATER CAUSING ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WINDSHIELD WIPER OPERATION IS EFFECTED BY WATER INTRUSION INTO THE FUSE PANEL AND GEM AS STATED IN FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADVISORY. WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED INTO DRIVE IT OPERATION OF THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS IS EITHER NON OPERATIONAL OR ONLY OPERATIONAL WHEN VEHICLE IS PLACED BACK INTO PARK. THIS A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE WHICH HAS BEEN SWEPT UNDER THE RUG BY FORD MOTOR COMPANY. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED BY NUMEROUS COMPLAINT ON THIS WEB SITE ALONE. BUT UNTIL SOMEONE IS INJURED OR KILLED WELL THIS ISSUE COME TO LIGHT AND ACTION TO CORRECT THE PROBLEM WHICH EFFECT MANY FAMILIES THAT USE THESE VEHICLES EVERYDAY RAIN OR SHINE. THESE INCIDENTS HAVE BEEN GOING ON FOR MORE THAN THREE YEARS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10262179

Incident

Mar 16, 2009

Mileage

50,000 mi

SAFETY RELATED ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS DURING RAINY CONDITIONS, INCLUDING FAILURE OF WINDSHIELD WIPERS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10259381

Incident

Feb 18, 2009

Mileage

130,000 mi

DURING WET WEATHER MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITION WILL HAVE VARIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS INCLUDING WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, RADIO TURNING ON/OFF, DOOR LOCKS NOT WORKING AND WINDOWS NOT WORKING. SOMETIMES CAR WILL NOT START AT ALL. *TR

NHTSA ID

10250213

Incident

Nov 30, 2008

Mileage

140,000 mi

WINDSHIELD LEAKING WATER CAUSING ERRATIC AND UNPREDICTABLE INTERMITTENT ELECTRICAL FAILURES IN A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS IS DANGEROUS. *TR

NHTSA ID

10247112

Incident

Sep 9, 2008

Mileage

70,000 mi

WATER LEAKED THROUGH WINDSHIELD. CAR STAYS ON WHEN KEY IS OUT AT TIMES WASTING ALL GAS. BLOWER AND DASH LIGHTS STAY ON AT TIMES DRAINING BATTERY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10235592

Incident

Jul 24, 2008

Mileage

89,000 mi

WATER LEAK IN THE FRONT WINDSHIELD (FOLLOWING A FEW CONSECUTIVE RAINY DAYS), CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE DOME LIGHT, WIPERS, RADIO AND GEAR SELECTOR. FORD SERVICE ADVISED REPLACING THE FUSE BOX AND GEM MODULE FOR $1,100. THIS IS MY FAMILY VEHICLE AND I AM DEEPLY CONCERNED THAT THIS MAY CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE OR UNWNATED ELECTRICAL ACTIVITY WHEN THE CAR IS UNATTENDED. MY CAR IS JUST UNDER 80K MILES. I HAVE DONE SOME RESEARCH AND CAN SEE THAT THERE ARE MANY OTHERS THAT ARE EXPERIENCING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. THIS IS A SAFETY CONCERN THAT SHOULD SHOULD BE ATTENDED TO IMMEDIATELY. I HOPE THIS CAN BE RESOLVED WITHOUT TAKING LEGAL ACTION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219686

Incident

Feb 20, 2008

Mileage

79,500 mi

IN THE LAST FEW MONTHS, I HAVE NOTICED THAT WHEN IT RAINS, MY BLOWER MOTOR WILL RUN ON HIGH-SPEED AND MY LIGHTS WILL FLICKER AFTER I TURN THE VEHICLE OFF. AT FIRST IT WOULD STOP AFTER A FEW SECONDS, HOWEVER THIS LAST TIME, IT RAN FOR ABOUT 10 MINUTES AND FINALLY SHUT OFF. I HAVE A CO-WORKER WHO HAS THE EXACT SAME EXPEDITION AND ASKED HIM IF HE'S HAD THIS HAPPEN TOO HIM, WHICH HE STATED YES AND HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR AROUND 6 MONTHS. I CALLED FORD MOTOR CO TO INQUIRE ABOUT A RECALL, SINCE THIS IS VERY UNIQUE IN NATURE, AND (OF COURSE) THEY HAVE NO RECORD NOR KEEP ANY DATA ON ANYTHING (ACCORDING TOO THE REP). NOT QUITE SURE WHAT THEIR JOB IS! SO I CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND THEY WERE 'FAMILIAR' WITH MY PROBLEM AND HAD A 'FEW' FIXED. WELL, AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH ON THE INTERNET, IT TURNS OUT THERE'S MORE THAN JUST A 'FEW' INCIDENTS.. THERE ARE SEVERAL!!! THE PROBLEM APPEARS TOO START WITH A WATER LEAK IN THE WINDSHIELD, GOING TO THE FUSE BOX AND GEMODULE WHICH IN TURN SENDS ELECTRICAL CURRENTS TO THE ABS MODULE WHICH CAUSE ALL SORTS OF PROBLEMS. NOW IF THIS ISN'T A FORD MANUFACTURERS DEFECT VERSUS NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR, THAN I GUESS MY COLLEGE EDUCATION MEANS NOTHING. FROM MY RESEARCH AND THE LOCAL DEALERS QUOTE, THE COST OF THIS REPAIR STARTS A $1000.00.!! AS OF TODAY, I HAVE NOT FIXED IT, I'M DECIDING IT I WANT TO GET A DIFF VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10219661

Incident

Feb 16, 2008

Mileage

94,000 mi

AFTER RAIN OR HEAVY FOG WE EXPERIENCED MANY ELECTRICAL ISSUES ON OUR 01 EXPEDITION INCL. HORN NOT WORKING NORMAL,FRONT & REAR WIPERS NOT WORKING OR COMING ON BY THEMSELVES,DOOR LOCKS LOCKING/UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING, INTERIOR & EXTERIOR LIGHTS NOT WORKING,ALARM SYSTEM GOING OFF WHILE SUV WAS BEING DRIVEN,FAN BLOWER ON AFTER SUV WAS TURNED OFF, RADIO WORKING INTERMITTENTLY, ETC. THE LATEST OCCURRED 1/16/08 AFTER HEAVY RAINS THE PRIOR NIGHT. SUV WOULDN'T START IN THE MORNING AND HAD TO BE JUMPED. IT WAS DRIVEN THAT DAY WITH ONLY ISSUE BEING INTERIOR LIGHTS COMING ON THEMSELVES. ON 1/17/08 SUV WOULDN'T TURN OVER AND AGAIN WAS JUMPED. THERE WAS CLICKING NOISE FROM ENGINE COMPARTMENT THAT SEEMED TO BE COMING FROM KELSEY HAYES BLACK BOX. WE IMMEDIATELY TOOK SUV TO DEALERSHIP AND ASKED FOR TECH TO WITNESS ISSUE. TECH CONFIRMED NOISE COMING FROM THE K-H ABS MODULE, SAID PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY DUE TO WINDSHIELD LEAK INTO FUSE BOX & GEM MODULE WHICH WAS SENDING CURRENT TO ABS MODULE AND ALSO CAUSING INTERIOR LIGHTS TO TURN ON/OFF BY THEMSELVES. ON 1/18/08 DEALERSHIP SAID TECH DID PRESSURE TEST ON WINDSHIELD AND IT LEAKED AND NEEDED TO BE RESEALED. FUSE BOX AND GEM MODULE WOULD ALSO NEED REPLACED. SINCE PROBLEMS WERE CAUSED BY WATER LEAK FORD EXT.WARRANTY WON'T COVER REPAIRS. I SPOKE TO SRV MGR,WHO SAID HE WOULD CALL ZONE MGR.AND GET BACK TO ME. I CALLED FORD CUSTOMER RELATIONS (CRC) TO DOCUMENT ISSUES. CALLED DEALERSHIP ON 1/21/08 AND SRV. MGR. SAID ZONE MGR. SAID NOTHING COULD BE DONE TO RESOLVE SITUATION AND WE WERE RESPONSIBLE FOR REPAIRS. DUE TO ONGOING ELECTRIC ISSUES WITH SUV WE FEAR OTHER SAFETY FEATURES MAY MALFUNCTION COMPROMISING OUR SAFETY. FORD ISSUED SSM 15773 ON 4/05/02 TO DEALERSHIPS ADDRESSING UNUSUAL ELECTRICAL ISSUES AFTER RAIN OR SNOW RESULTING FROM A WINDSHIELD WATER LEAK. THE SSM INCLUDED ACTIONS TO BE TAKEN IN THAT SITUATION. OUR VEHICLE WAS BACK TO DEALERSHIP MANY TIMES AFTER RELEASE OF SSM FOR ELECTRICAL ISSUES AND SSM WORK WAS NEVER DONE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10215619

Incident

Jan 18, 2008

Mileage

80,000 mi

AFTER A RAIN AND ICE STORM WATER LEAKED AROUND THE WINDSHIELD CAUSING ELECTRICAL FAILURES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS AND THE HEADLAMPS. WATER ENTERED THE ENGINE OF THE VEHICLE THROUGH AN IMPROPERLY SEALED WINDSHIELD CAUSING THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX AND THE GENERIC ELECTRONIC MODULE TO GET WET. THESE COMPONENTS CONTROL VARIOUS ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS IN THE VEHICLE. THIS CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO STOP RUNNING. ELECTRICAL DAMAGE HAD TO BE REPAIRED AND A NEW WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE INSTALLED. THIS CAUSED THE OWNER TO PAY OVER $2000 IN OUT OF POCKET EXPENSES. *NM

NHTSA ID

10183446

Incident

Jan 15, 2007

Mileage

159,900 mi

MY WINDSHIELD ON MY 201 FORD EXPEDITION IS LEAKING AND HAS CAUSED MY GEM MODULE TO ACT UP. MOST NOTABLY WINDSHIELD WIPERS NOT WORKING, RADIO ON AND OFF. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178876

Incident

Jul 23, 2006

Mileage

86,000 mi

HVAC BLOWER MOTOR RUNS WHEN ENGINE IS OFF. NUMEROUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH THIS 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WATER ALSO GETS IN THE CAB SOMEHOW WHEN IT RAINS. *NM

NHTSA ID

10178724

Incident

Jan 12, 2007

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT WINDSHIELD LEAKED RAINWATER INTO THE VEHICLE AND THE DASH PANEL AREA. AFTERWARDS, THE POWER AND ELECTRICAL FEATURES DID NOT WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY A DEALER WHO DETERMINED DUE TO THE HEAVY RAIN THE WINDSHIELD SEAL LEAKED AND THE WATER CAUSED AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE CENTRAL JUNCTION BOX.

NHTSA ID

10159811

Incident

Jun 14, 2006

Mileage

78,000 mi

WINDSHIELD ON 2001 EXPEDITION LEAKS AND GEM MODULE HAS SHORTED OUT. *NM

NHTSA ID

10156657

Incident

Mar 1, 2006

Mileage

109,375 mi

FORD EXPEDITION 2001 WINDSHIELD LEAKING THROUGH HAND HOLDS ON RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE. DIAGNOSED AS WINDSHIELD SEALANT FAILURE BETWEEN THE HAND AND THE GLASS OVER APPROXIMATELY 75% OF THE SEALANT BAND AREA. SOLUTION: REMOVE GLASS, STRIP ALL SEALANTS, PRIME BODY, PRIME GLASS, REPLACE GLASS (BROKEN DURING REMOVAL). *JB

NHTSA ID

10154518

Incident

Mar 30, 2005

LEAKY WINDSHIELD CAUSED ELECTRICAL FAILURE OF THE GENERAL ELECTRONIC MODULE, CAUSING MOST SYSTEMS IN VEHICLE TO MALFUNCTION, INCLUDING TRANSFER CASE SWITCHING, TRANSMISSION SHIFTING. FORD, NOR ADVANTAGE WARRANTY COMPANY WOULD STAND BEHIND THE COST OF THIS FAILURE BROUGHT ON BY POOR QUALITY IN MANUFACTURING. *NM

NHTSA ID

10152697

Incident

Dec 9, 2005

Mileage

50,000 mi

2001 FORD EXPEDITION LEAKAGE FROM WINDSHIELD INTO INTERIOR OF VEHICLE ON BOTH DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDES. SERVICED BY CELLA FORD NEW BERN NC ON 10-12-05. COST OF REPAIR $225.00. *JB

NHTSA ID

10151494

Incident

Oct 12, 2005

Mileage

60,000 mi