1997 Ford Expedition Electrical System

MISCELLANEOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS CAUSED BY WATER LEAKING FROM DRIVER'S SIDE WINDSHIELD INTO THE FUSE BOX CAUSING, WINDSHIELD WIPERS TO QUIT. DOOR LOCK WON'T WORK, RADIO QUIT. PROBLEM IS NEVER THE SAME, DEPENDS ON WHERE THE WATER LEAK OCCURS. VERY SCARY AND DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING AT NIGHT IN THE RAIN.

I WAS RETURNING HOME FROM WORK AND I HEARD A CLICKING NOISE AS I WAS DRIVING COMING FROM MY DASH ALONG WITH ALL OF MY GAUGES JUMPING RPMS RAN EXTREMELY HIGH AND SPEED GAGE JUMPING FROM ALL OVER FROM 50'S TO 05 MILES A HOUR LIGHTS LIGHTING UP AND THEN POWER LOST IN WHICH MADE IT HARDER TO STOP AND STEER ITS DONE THIS A FEW TIMES ALONG WITH A WITH THE CLICKING THE RADIO WILL TURN ITS SELF ON AND KILLS THE BATTERY AND THERE IS A SMELL OF A HOT PLASTIC SMELL ALONG WITH ALL OF THAT WHEN I START TO LOSE POWER MY HEAD LIGHTS DIM DOWN. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHENEVER THE CONTACT DROVE THE VEHICLE HE NOTICED THAT THE DASHBOARD PANEL OCCASIONALLY FAILED TO FUNCTION. THE VEHICLE FAILURE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR WAS THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MAIN COMPUTER, WHICH WAS HOUSED BEHIND THE MAIN FUSE BOX, WOULD ABSORB MOISTURE WHENEVER IT WOULD RAIN. THE FAILURE CAUSED SEVERAL FAILURES INCLUDING THE FAILURE OF ALL OF THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GAUGES, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK INDEPENDENTLY, THE INTERIOR LIGHTS WOULD ILLUMINATE INDEPENDENTLY, THE STARTER WOULD ATTEMPT TO ENGAGE WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING AND WHEN THE KEYS WERE NOT IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHO MADE SEVERAL REPAIRS TO NO AVAIL. IN ADDITION, THE MAIN COMPUTER WAS ALSO REPLACED B UT THE FAILURE PERSISTED AND WOULD ONLY RECUR WHEN IT RAINED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 150,000. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS ACTIVATED AND SUDDENLY WITHOUT WARNING THE WINDSHIELD WIPERS FAILED TO FUNCTION. IN ADDITION, THE ENTIRE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FAILED WITH A STRONG BURNING ODOR EMITTING INSIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO STATED THERE WAS WATER LEAKING INTO THE FUSE BOX AS A RESULT IT CAUSED A SHORTAGE WITHIN THE GEM MODULE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

1997 FORD EXPEDITION HAS WATER IN STEREO CAUSING ELECTRICAL FIRE IN DASH. NO WATER LEAKS FOUND. WINDSHIELD WAS RESEALED AND WATER TESTED. *TR

VIOLENT SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT FROM ENGINE BLOCK, A REGULAR, YET IGNORED, PROBLEM WITH FORD ENGINES. *TR

START MY TRUCK AS USUAL EVERY MORNING TO LET IDLE BEFORE I GO TO WORK. 5 TO 10 MIN. *TR

ON DECEMBER 6 2005 MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 2:30 A.M. THE VEHICLE WAS OFF AND WE WE'RE ASLEEP. THE POLICE HAD TO CALL MY HOME AND AWARE ME OF THE FIRE AND ASK ME TO EVACUATE MY RESIDENCE BECAUSE SOMEONE HAD REPORTED THE FIRE OUTSIDE MY HOME. PART OF MY HOME WAS ALSO DAMAGED. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE FRONT DRIVER SEAT. SHE REMOVED HER DAUGHTERS FROM THE REAR SEATS AND WHEN SHE RETURNED, THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE WAS ENGULFED IN SMOKE AND THE FRONT SEAT WAS IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. THE VEHICLE IS CURRENTLY AT THE SAME LOCATION. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 150,000.

MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION CAUGHT ON FIRE IN THE PARKING STRUCTURE AT MY OFFICE. THE SPRINKLER SYSTEM PREVENTED THE FIRE FROM SPREADING TO THE OTHER CARS. VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. *JB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. ON JULY 23, 2007, THE IGNITION SWITCH FAILED TO TURN AS THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO START THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER AND THEY STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH CYLINDER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. SHE WAS NOT INFORMED OF ANY RECALLS AT THAT TIME. UPON RETURNING HOME, THE CONTACT REALIZED THAT SHE HAD TWO DIFFERENT INVOICES; ONE STATED THAT THERE WAS A SAFETY RECALL ON THE VEHICLE AND THE OTHER CHARGED HER FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE PURCHASE DATE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,695.

IN 1998, MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION BEGAN HAVING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS. WINDOW LOCKS GOING UP AND DOWN ON THEIR OWN, RADIO PLAYING WHEN NO ONE WAS IN THE CAR, CLICKING FROM UNDER THE DASH, SEATBELT LIGHTS COMING ON WHEN SEATBELTS WERE BEING WORN, WIPERS WORKING ON THEIR OWN. I HAD THIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP MULTIPLE TIMES FOR THESE ISSUES. AFTER HAVING HIS VEHICLE IN THE SHOP NUMEROUS TIMES TO NO AVAIL, I THREATENED A LAW SUIT IF SOMETHING WASN'T DONE. THE DEALERSHIP CALLED IN A CREW THAT THEY REFERRED TO AS THE RAIN DOCTORS. COME TO FIND OUT, THE WINDSHIELD WAS LEAKING ON THE GEM MODULE AND SHORTING OUT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS UNDER WARRANTY AT THAT TIME. NOW, IN 2007, I AM STILL DRIVING THE SAME 1997 EXPED. IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS, ALL THESE PROBLEMS HAVE STARTED ALL OVER AGAIN. THIS TIME, THE 4X4 CLUSTER LIGHTS COMING ON AND GOING OFF, CLICKING UNDER THE DASH AGAIN, HEATER COMING ON BY ITSELF WHEN CAR ISN'T RUNNING AND RUNNING THE BATTERY DOWN, BEEPING UNDER THE DASH ON PASSENGER SIDE, RADIO PLAYING ON ITS OWN. THE WHOLE SCENARIO HAPPENING ALL OVER AGAIN. I AM CURRENTLY PARKING THE VEHICLE 100 YARDS FROM MY HOUSE FOR FEAR IT MAY CATCH ON FIRE BY ITSELF AS I HAVE READ MANY, MANY INSTANCES IN WHICH THE 1997 EXPED. CAUGHT FIRE WHILE PARKED. THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL BY NOW. SEVERAL RECALLS ON THIS VEHICLE BUT ALL THESE WERE CHECKED OUT. HOWEVER, I CANNOT FOR THE LIFE OF ME UNDERSTAND WHY THIS LEAKY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM IS NOT BEING RECALLED. NOW TEN YEARS LATER, WHEN THIS PROBLEM IS DISCUSSED AT GARAGES AND PARTS STORE IN MY COMMUNITY, THE TECHNICIANS IMMEDIATELY ARE FAMILIAR WITH THE PROBLEM. AGAIN, I CANNOT IMAGINE WHY THIS HAS NOT BEEN A RECALL ISSUE. THE FIRST TIME I WENT THROUGH THIS NIGHTMARE, IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY. THIS TIME, I GUESS IT IS COMPLETELY UP TO ME TO REPAIR THIS FAULTY WINDSHIELD PROBLEM. I SINCERELY HOPE NO ONE DIES OR HAS DIED DUE TO ONE OF THESE EXPEDITIONS CATCHING FIRE. RECALL WHERE ARE YOU???!!!!! *JB

I'M HAVING SERIOUS ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS WITH MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. DURING HEAVY RAINS THE TRUCK WILL NOT START, WHEN I DO GET IT RUNNING THE DASH LIGHTS FLASH OFF AND ON. THE TRUCK STOPS RUNNING IN THE MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. CLICKING NOISES ARE COMING FROM THE DASH, THE OVERDRIVE LIGHT FLASHES OFF AND ON THE DOORS WANT LOCK. I'M CONCERNED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY. A POSSIBILITY OF THE TRUCK CATCHING ON FIRE. FORD NEEDS TO DO A RECALL ON THE VEHICLES. *JB

MY 1977 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF MY HOUSE OFF FOR AN HOUR.IT THEN STARTED ON FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND QUICKLY ENGULFED THE FRONT OF THE CAR IN FLAMES DESTROYING THE CAR.THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT I COULDNT PUT IT OUT WITH A FIRE EXTIGUISHER THE FIRE DEPT HAD TO PUT IT OUT.

ELECTRICAL DEVICES IN THE CAR HAVE TURNED ON WITHOUT KEYS EVEN IN THE IGNITION. CONCERNED WITH FIRE HAZARD IF SUCH THINGS AS LIGHTS AND BLOWER MOTORS TURN ON ON THEIR OWN, PERHAPS FOR EXTENDED PERIODS. ALSO CONCERNED AS TO WHAT OTHER ELECTRICAL MALFUNCTIONS WILL PRESENT THEMSELVES IN UNATTENDED VEHICLE. FAILURE IS APPARENTLY DUE TO LEAKING WINDSHIELD SEALS DRAINING WATER ONTO GEM (ELECTRONIC MODULE) AND THE FUSE PANEL FOR THE VEHICLE, SHORTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTION AND CORRODING THE UNITS OVER THE LONG TERM. THE FUSE BOX AND GEM WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED TO ELIMINATE THE DANGEROUS CONDITION (AFTER HAVING RE-SEALED THE FAULTY SEAL). *NM

97 EXPEDITION THAT HAS MULTIPLE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, AIR BAG LIGHT STAYS ON, CLICKING UNDER DASH WET CARPET ON DRIVERS SIDE. LOCAL FORD DEALER TELLS ME OH THAT'S AN EASY FIX, ONLY $1200.00 TO REPLACE THE GENERIC ELECTRIC MODULE AND REMOVE AND REINSTALL THE WINDSHIELD! WENT ON TO TELL ME THEY DO THIS ALL THE TIME ON EXPEDITIONS! I ASKED WHY AND THEY TOLD ME THAT "THE FACTORY SCREWED UP WHEN THE WINDSHIELDS WERE INSTALLED AND THEY LEAK"! I THOUGHT THAT WAS WHY WE HAD RECALLS! IF THIS IS THE FACTORIES FAULT THEN WHY MUST I PAY FOR IT? *JB

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE PARKED. THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE CONTACTED BUT WOULD NOT INVESTIGATE THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM TO DETERMINE IF IT WAS CAUSED BY A RECALL OR DEFECT. PICTURES OF THE INCIDENT WERE TAKEN.*AK

I HAVE EXPERIENCED A PROBLEM WITH MY 97 FORD EXPEDITION NOT STARTING AFTER SITTING FOR LONGER THAN TWO DAYS FOR OVER A YEAR NOW. I HAVE HAD THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP ATTEMPT TO FIND THE DRAW KEEPING THE VEHICLE FOR OVER A MONTH TOTAL. WHEN IT RAINED THE PROBLEM SEEMED TO BE WORSE. EVENTUALLY I WAS LEFT WITH HAVING TO HAVE A BATTERY BOOSTER IN THE BACK AND JUMP THE CAR AS IT NEEDED WITH NO SOLUTION FROM THE DEALER. TODAY I WENT OUT TO THE CAR ALMOST A YEAR LATER OF DEALING WITH THIS AND THE CAR WOULDN'T START AFTER LESS THAN 24 HOURS OF NOT DRIVING IT. THE CAR WAS NOT COMPLETELY DEAD AS THERE WAS CLICKING NOISES UPON TURNING THE IGNITION BUT DID NOT TURN OVER. REMOVED THE KEYS FROM IGNITION AND GOT OUT OF CAR TO GET BATTERY BOOSTER FROM THE BACK AND HEARD POPPING AND STATIC NOISE FROM PASSENGER FRONT SPEAKER VERY LOUD. AGAIN, KEYS WERE NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION. NOISE CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE SPEAKER FOR OVER 30 MIN UNTIL I JUMPED THE CAR. WHEN STARTED THE CLOCK AND RADIO WOULD NOT WORK AND NOISE CONTINUED TO COME FROM THE SPEAKER, ALSO NOTICED WATER LEAKING DOWN PASSENGER SIDE HANDLE LOCATED BY THE WINDSHIELD. DROVE IMMEDIATELY TO GARAGE SPECIALIZING IN ELECTRICAL AND WAS TOLD OF WATER LEAKING FROM WINDSHIELD SEAL FAILURE VERY COMMON IN THIS VEHICLE AND POSITION OF FUSE AND GEM MODULE ALLOWING WATER TO LEAK IN AND POOL ACTING AS A CONDUCTOR RESULTING IN COMPONENTS COMING ON AND MALFUNCTIONING WITHOUT VEHICLE ON IS VERY COMMON. RESOLUTION, REPLACE WINDSHIELD AS SEAL NEEDS TO BE CORRECTED (APPROX. $280.00) AND REPLACE FUSE AND GEM MODULE (APPROX. $600.00). I LEFT THE GARAGE AND CALLED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS TOLD THE SAME AND SERVICE MANAGER SAID WITH OUR RECENT RAIN OF 25 DAYS RUNNING HERE IN WA THEY WERE SEEING A LOT OF THIS AND IS COMMON BUT THERE IS NO RECALL FOR THIS. AFTER DOING RESEARCH ONLINE THIS EVENING I AM SHOCKED HOW MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS I HAVE FOUND FOR THIS AND A COUPLE OF OTHER PROBLEMS I HAVE NOTICED. *JB

CRUSE CONTROLL BRAKE SWITCH BURNED UP WHILE ATTEMPTING TO BACK CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. WHEN THIS SWITCH BURNED UP IT CAUSED THE STOP LIGHT FUSE TO ALSO BURN OUT AND AND THIS CAUSES THE SHIFT LEAVER TO LOCK IN THE PARK POSITION. NOW WE HAVE AN ELECTRICAL FIRE AND CAN'T GET THE CAR OUT OF THE GARAGE. A GOOD FRIEND OF MINE HAS HIS OWN SHOP AND HE USED TO A CHIEF MECHCANIC FOR FORD SO I CALLED HIM AND HE CORECTED THE PROBLEM. HE GAVE ME THE PARTS THAT BURNED UP AND TOLD ME TO CALL FORD BECAUSE THEY HAD A RECALL OUT FOR THIS PROBLEM ON THIER 2000 & 2001 MODLES. MY CAR IS A 1997 AND THEY SAID THEY COULD NOT HELP ME. ANY SUGGESTIONS. P.S. I STILL HAVE THE PARTS FROM THE CAR.

SPARK PLUG #6 BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. RESULTED IN BEING STRANDED ON THE ROAD AND IMPEDING THE FLOW OF TRAFFIC. DEALER WAS NOT HELPFUL REGARDING REPAIR.

JUNE 7, 2005, I PICKED UP MY SON AT SCHOOL; WE DROVE HOME AND GOT OUT OF THE TRUCK. WE WERE IN THE HOUSE 3-4 MINUTES WHEN I HEARD A VERY LOUD NOISE AND THEN STARTED TO SMELL SMOKE. I LOOKED OUTSIDE AND MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION WAS ENGULFED IN FLAMES. I IMMEDIATELY CALLED THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WHO ARRIVED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAID IT WAS A FIRE THAT STARTED UNDER THE HOOD AND BURNT THE ENTIRE TRUCK UP.

VEHICLE WAS PARKED INSIDE OF THE DRIVEWAY AND HORN WAS BLOWING. THEN THERE WERE FLAMES COMING FROM UNDERNEATH THE HOOD. VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE, AND WAS TOTALED. *AK FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THE HOOD BEFORE THE HORN STARTED TO BLOW. THERE WAS NO WARNING OF ANY PROBLEM BEFORE FIRE. TRUCK HAD NOT BEEN DRIVEN FOR HOURS PRIOR TO FIRE. IT WAS DETERMINED THAT THE FIRE WAS DUE TO AN ELECTRICAL SHORT NEAR THE POWER DISTRIBUTION BOX. *TT

DT: FORD EXPIDITION CAUGHT FIRE THIS PAST SATURDAY ON JULY 16, 2005. NO KEYS WERE IN IGITION, IT HAD BEEN SITTING FOR ABOUT 5 MINUTES, GOT IN AND BEGAN TO DRIVE IT, BACKED IT UP AND SMELLED SOMETHING FUNNY, SO LEFT IT THERE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT HAD A HARD TIME PUTTING OUT THE FIRE. THEY SAID FIRE WAS SO BAD THEY COULDN'T DETERMINE WHAT STARTED IT OR WHERE IT STARTED FROM. COULDN'T EVEN TELL THERE WAS AN ENGINE IN THE TRUCK. IT BURNT THE FRONT OF THE VEHICLE. CONTACTED DEALER, THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. . AT THIS POINT HAVE NOT CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER.*AK

WHILE VEHICLE WAS PARKED A FIRE STARTED UNDER THE HOOD. THE FIRE WAS PUT OUT. DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED, BUT DID NOT RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. *AK THE CONSUMER STATED THAT HE DID NOT KNOW IF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS OPERATING PROPERLY BECAUSE HE RARELY USES IT. *TC