TroubleCAR
78
Trouble

1997 Ford Expedition

Complaints: 853Avg mileage: 124,149 miSince: Nov 1996
11 deathsCrashFire48 injured

Problem Areas

Electrical System
50
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
46
Vehicle Speed Control
43
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
30
Suspension:Rear
29
Engine and Engine Cooling:Engine
29
Steering
28
Suspension
28
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
28
Suspension:Front
27

Complaints Over Time

Recent Complaints

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
100,000 miNov 6, 2010MILWAUKEE, WI
7 deathsCrashFire

1997 FORD EXPEDITION LOST #7 SPARK PLUG. ALL 7 PEOPLE ON-BOARD DIED IN ENSUING FIRE. DEFECT KNOWN BY NHTSA AND FORD FOR MANY YEARS. NHTSA IS THE HEADLINE YOUR WAITING FOR? THIS IS YOUR RESPONSIBILITY. DO YOUR JOB. UPDATED 11/29/10 *BF UPDATED 12/07/10 *TR

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD
Mar 11, 2001JOHNSTOWN, PA
CrashFire1 injured

DUE TO ICY ROAD CONDITIONS, THE VEHICLE SLID OFF THE ROAD, IMPACTING THE PASSENGER SIDE AT A POINT BETWEEN THE FRONT FENDER AND FRONT DOOR. A FIRE STARTED IMMEDIATELY AT POINT OF IMPACT, UNDER THE HOOD. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE, ONLY TO NOTICE THAT THE ENGINE WAS STILL RUNNING. SHE REACHED BACK INTO THE VEHICLE AND TURNED OFF THE ENGINE. THE FIRE SPREAD VERY RAPIDLY AND ENVELOPED THE ENTIRE VEHICLE, DESTROYING IT COMPLETELY. IT IS OUR UNDERSTANDING THE VEHICLE'S INERTIA SWITCH SHOULD HAVE SHUT OFF THE FUEL SYSTEM, KILLING THE ENGINE. OBVIOUSLY THE INERTIA SWITCH DID NOT WORK BECAUSE THE ENGINE CONTINUED TO RUN AFTER IMPACT. THE DRIVER WOULD PROBABLY HAVE BEEN BURNED TO DEATH HAD SHE BEEN RENDERED UNCONSCIOUS BY THE IMPACT, AS THERE WAS NO ONE PRESENT WHEN THE ACCIDENT OCCURRED IN A WOODED SECTION OF STATE ROUTE 271, CAMBRIA COUNTY, PA.*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Sep 8, 1997RIALTO, CA
1 deathCrash

DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE, RAN OFF THE ROAD INTO AN EMBANKMENT AND DRIVER WAS EJECTED OUT OF VEHICLE. THE AIRBAG DIDN'T DEPLOY. ALSO, TRANSMISSION SHIFT INDICATOR HAS A LOT OF PLAY AND IS OFF WHEN SELECTING A GEAR. *AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
Feb 25, 2005EDNA, TX
1 deathFire

THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN IT CAUGHT FIRE ON ITS OWN. RESULTS SHOWED THAT THE THERE WAS A SHORTAGE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH. MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN INFORMED BY CONSUMER.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CRUISE CONTROL
67,250 miMar 24, 2005COLORADO SPRINGS, CO
1 death1 injured

WHEN ATTEMPTING TO DISENGAGE CRUISE CONTROL BY APPLYING BRAKE VEHICLE ACCELERATES UNCONTROLLABLY NO MATTER HOW HARD BRAKES ARE APPLIED. THE OFF BUTTON FOR THE CRUISE CONTROL MUST BE PRESSED TO STOP ACCELERATION. MY WORRY IS IF SOMEONE SHOULD PANICK WHEN THIS OCCURS IT COULD RESULT IN A REAR END COLLISION OR RUN THROUGH A INTERSECTION.

AIR BAGS
3 miDec 17, 2020HAWKINSVILLE, GA
Crash2 injured

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AND THE INTERSECTION OF LONGSTREET AND HIGHWAY 82. I PRESSED ON THE BRAKE PEDDLE AND THE BRAKES LOCKED UP AND I SLED THROUGH THE INTERSECTION INTO A DITCH. I WAS TRAVELING THE SPEED LIMIT OF 50 MPH. THE PASSENGER AIR BAG DEPLOYED BUT THE DRIVERS DID NOT DEPLOY. I HAVE A BROKEN NOSE FROM HITTING STEERING WHEEL. SEAT BELTS WERE ON FRONT SEAT DRIVER AND PASSENGER.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 6, 2012LITHONIA, GA
Crash1 injured

ON 03/05/2012, MY FORD EXPEDITION EXEMPLIFIED SUDDEN ACCELERATION UPON IGNITION. THE TRUCK STARTED AND, IMMEDIATELY, ACCELERATED WITH EXTREME RPM. THE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARKED GEAR BUT THE TRUCK GUNNED FORWARD EXPLOSIVELY. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED IN THE PARKING LOT OF MY JOB AT THE END OF MY SHIFT. THE TRUCK ROCKETED FORWARD ABOUT 60 FEET THEN COLLIDED WITH A BRICK, SIX FEET HIGH RETAINING WALL. THE FRONT BUMPER OF THE EXPEDITION WAS ABOUT FOUR FEET FROM A GROUND-LEVEL POWER TRANSFORMER. THE RETAINING WALL WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT DAMAGE TO THE TRANSFORMER. I'VE SUFFERED NECK AND BACK INJURIES AND WAS HOSPITALIZED. THE TRUCK SUSTAINED SIGNIFICANT FRONT END AND UNDER CARRIAGE DAMAGE. *TR

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
155,000 miJul 18, 2007OKLAHOMA CITY, OK
Crash1 injured

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE DRIVER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL AND SUFFERED INJURIES TO HIS HEAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE ROAD CONDITIONS WERE DRY. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 155,000. THE CONSUMER PROVIDED PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 09/05/07 *TR UPDATED VIN. 09/05/07. *JB

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
May 26, 2002HASTINGS ON HUDSON, NY
Crash2 injured

AFTER MAKING A RIGHT TURN OFF A MAJOR PARKWAY IN WESTCHESTER COUNTY NY, WHERE WE HAD BEEN TRAVELING AT 60 MPH, I MADE A RIGHT TURN AT EXIT . AFTER PROCEEDING 25 FEET, A HORRIFIC NOISE WAS HEARD, THE CAR LOST STEERING ABILITY AND SHOOK AND BUCKED WILDLY. HIT A TREE ON ROADSIDE AND CAME TO REST. FOUND THAT THE LEFT TIE ROD BALL JOINT COMPLETELY SEPARATED AND THE LEFT WHEEL HAD NO STEERING AT ALL. THE INCIDENT WOULD HAVE KILLED MY ENTIRE FAMILY HAD IT HAPPENED AT HIGHWAY SPEED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE. PRIOR TO THIS, LAST YEAR, BOTH SWAY BAR LINKS FRACTURED, ALSO RESULTING IN A NEAR CRASH SITUATION. THIS VEHICLE NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED. IT IS A DEATH MACHINE ON WHEELS!!!!*AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Feb 25, 2002HOUSTON, TX
Crash1 injured

THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED IN REVERSE FOR PARALLEL PARKING. THE ACCELERATOR WAS TAPPED FOR MOMENTUM. THE ENGINE RACED, AND THE VEHICLE SURGED BACKWARD. APPLICAITON OF THE BRAKE PEDAL DID NOT SLOW THE VEHICLE. THE CAR JUMPED THE CURB AND SLAMMED INTO A COLUMN (INSURANCE ADJUSTER ESTIMATED SPEED AT 10 MPH OR MORE).*AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Dec 24, 2001BAYTOWN, TX
Crash2 injured

AIR BAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY AFTER AUTO LEFT ROAD JUMPING CULVERTS AND LANDING FORCEFULLY IN A LARGE DITCH AT APPROX 50 MPH. VEHICLE SUFFERED EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO LEFT AND RIGHT SIDES INCLUDING FRONT DAMAGE. WRECK CAUSED DAMAGE TO STEERING COLUMN AND ENGINE. VEHICLE IS LOCATED AT BATES CUSTON COLLISION IN BAYTOWN, TEXAS. *AK

TIRES
Aug 8, 2001ORANGE PARK, FL
Crash1 injured

THEY HAVE NOT FIX MY TRUCK AND I'M HAVING A LOT OF PROBLEMS CONTACT THEM I'M IN THE MILITARY AND DUE TO TRANSFER TO JAX, FL AND MY TRUCK STILL IS NOT FIX, THEY WANT ME TO HAVE A EXPERT LOOK AT THE TIRE AND I DON'T HAVE THE MONEY FOR AND EXPERT SO THEY TOLD ME I HAVE 45 DAYS BEFORE THE DROP MY FILE. HELP. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Jun 7, 2001BIXBY, OK
Crash1 injured

REAR ENDED WHILE SITTNG STILL AND WAS HIT AT 45 MPH. AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY WHEN HE RAN ME INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND SHOVED MY BUMP[ER UNDER 3 INCHES. ALSO THE FRONT SEAT BROKE BACKWARD ON IMPACT THIS WAS SECOND TIME.

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Nov 11, 2000WILTON, CT
Crash1 injured

UPON IMPACT, REAR THIRD SEAT DISLOGGED IN THE AIR, HITTING THE ROOF AND THRUSTED FOWARD. IF MY CHILDREN WOULD HAVE BEEN SITTING THERE, WHICH THE THIRD SEAT IS USED MOSTLY BY CHILDREN, THEY WOULD HAVE BEEN FATALLY INJURED. THIS NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, AS THIS IS CLEARLY UNSAFE. *AK

AIR BAGS
Sep 1, 2000ONALASKA, WI
Crash1 injured

AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. I AM LOOKING FOR INFORMATION CONCERNING OTHER FORD 'S WHERE AIRBAG FAILED TO DEPLOY.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Mar 15, 2000SAN YSIDOR, CA
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING AT 40-45 MPH HIT A TRUCK WITH FRONT END , AND DUAL AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY,CAUSING INJURIES CONSUMER WILL CONTACT MANUFACTURER.PLEASE PROVIDE FURTHER INFORMATION. *AK

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Mar 12, 2000DUBUQUE, IA
Crash1 injured

BUMPED POST WITH REAR BUMPER, ENGINE REVVED IN REVERSE, I APPLIED BRAKES, PUT INTO DRIVE, CAR SPED FORWARD VERY FAST AND UNCONTROLLABLY INTO SEVERAL PARKED CARS. *AK

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Feb 17, 2000WOODLANDS, TX
Crash1 injured

WHILE TRYING TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT CONSUMER HIT A DITCH, AND AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH. VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. *AK.ET.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Feb 17, 2000WOODLANDS, TX
Crash1 injured

BOTH AIRBAGS FAILED TO DEPLOY IN MAJOR ACCIDENT. POLICE SAID THEY SHOULD HAVE.

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
Feb 15, 2000EAST STROUDBURG, PA
Crash1 injured

WHILE DRIVING UNDER ICY CONDITIONS VEHICLE SLID INTO A TELEPHONE POLE AT 20 MPH. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND SETA BELT RIPPED, CAUSING RUG TO BURN TO DRIVER'S NECK. DEALER HAS NOT BEEN CONTACTED. *AK

Other Expedition Years

Other Ford Models