1998 Ford Expedition Electrical System

TAKATA RECALL MY TRUCK HAS A BURNING SPELL AND WAS SOME SMOKE IT WAS PARK I WAS ABOUT TO PULL OFF ON MY STREET WHERE I LIVE

THE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT FOR THE SECOND TIME IN2 MONTHS. IT SOUNDED LIKE THE MOTOR WAS KNOCKING . FORD ONLY PUT 3 THREADS IN THE CYLINDER HEAD TO HOLD THE SPARK PLUG BUT THE SPARK PLUGS HAVE 10 THREADS. I CALLED FORD AND THEY ACTED LIKE THEY NEVER HEARD OF THIS BEFORE. THERE ARE FORUMS GOING BACK TO 2002 THAT I WAS READING YESTERDAY ABOUT THIS ISSUE SO CLEARLY THEY WERE LYING. OWNERS REPORT ENGINE FIRES WHEN THE PLUG BLOWS OUT. MY VEHICLE DIDN'T CATCH FIRE .THEY REFUSE TO FIX THIS DEFECT AND DENY ITS THEIR FAULT.

VEHICLE DRAINING POWER AFTER IGNITION SHUT TO OFF. POWER IS ON TO VEHICLE DUE TO WATER DAMAGE FROM VEHICLES EXTERIOR DEFECT DRAINING WATER DIRECT TO THE FUSE PANEL. WHAT IS IT GOING TO TAKE BEFORE THIS DANGEROUS CONDITION IS ADDRESSED BY OUR NHTSA, DEATHS? I HAVE FOUND THIS TO BE A PROBLEM IN ALMOST EVERY ONE IF NOT EVERY ONE OF THESE VEHICLES, IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF WHEN THESE PROBLEMS START. DO YOUR RESEARCH AND YOU WILL FIND COUNTLESS COMPLAINTS, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR? WILL THIS BE ANOTHER STOP SIGN INSTALLED AFTER SOMEONE IS KILLED. IS THAT WHAT WE ARE WAITING ON? PLEASE STEP UP AND PROTECT THE PEOPLE THAT NOW OWN THESE VEHICLES BEFORE SOMEONE REALLY GETS HURT. *TR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS TRAVELING 20-30 MPH WHEN THE ANTI-THEFT WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AS THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESTART AFTER THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME AND WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 200,000.

OUR 1998 EXPEDITION ONLY HAS 93,000 MILES AND IT IS POSING ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS, THE MECHANIC HAS TOLD US IT NEEDS A NEW GEM MODULE. I HAVE READ AT LEAST 50 COMPLAINTS ABOUT FORDS WINDSHIELD LEAKING AND CAUSING SAME SYMPTOMS. WHY WOULD FORD DO A RECALL. OR MAYBE THEY HAVE. CAN YOU TELL ME IF THEY HAVE. THIS COULD CAUSE A FIRE WHICH COULD CAUSE A SEVER ACCIDENT. ALL THE COMPLAINTS ARE VERY SIMILAR SO IT IS A MANUFACTURED DEFECT. *TR

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION HAD A RECALL AND THEY WANTED TO KEEP MY CAR FOR THREE DAY MINIMUM OF THREE DAYS. I HAVE TO WORK SO I WAITED UNTIL I HAD A LONG WEEKEND. I WAITED TO LONG I GUESS BECAUSE I CAME OUT OF THE BANK AND MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I CALLED AUTO FAIR FORD IN MANCHESTER,NH AND THEY SAID BECAUSE I DID NOT BRING IT IN IMMEDIATELY THAT THEY WOULD REPLACE THE PART THAT STARTED THE FIRE BUT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR EVERYTHING ELSE DESTROYED BY THE RECALLED PART. I WILL NEVER BUY OR DEAL WITH FORD OR FORD VEHICLES AGAIN! *TR

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION BEGAN HAVING SEVERE ELECTRICAL PROBLEMS AFTER HEAVY RAINS. THE STARTER WILL CYCLE WHEN THE KEY IS NOT EVEN IN THE IGNITION, THE AC BLOWER REMAINS ON WHEN TRUCK IS SHUT OFF, SPEEDOMETER FAILS TO WORK, TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ROUGHLY, INTERIOR LIGHTS COME ON, TRUCK SHUTS OFF UNEXPECTEDLY. RESEARCHED ON INTERNET AND APPARENTLY MANY FORD TRUCKS MADE IN 1998 HAVE SIMILAR PROBLEMS DUE TO LEAKY WINDSHIELDS, ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER FUSE BOXES. THIS PROBLEM COULD BE VERY DANGEROUS PARTICULARLY THE CONSTANT CYCLING OF THE STARTER IN AN UNATTENDED TRUCK, AND SHUTTING OFF WHILE DRIVING. I WOULD IMAGINE ENGINE FIRES ARE ALSO A POSSIBILITY GIVEN THE RANGE OF ELECTRICAL ISSUES THIS IS CAUSING. REPAIRS INCLUDE A NEW WINDSHIELD AND GEM BOX, RUNNING APPROXIMATELY $1,000. *TR

FORD SPECIAL MESSAGE #15773. WHY IS THERE NOT A RECALL FOR THIS? THIS IS DESPICABLE. THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE THIS CAUSES IS HORRIBLE. THE AIR BAGS CAN DEPLOY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM. HOW MANY CHILDREN ARE IN DANGER BECAUSE OF THIS? HOW MANY FIRES CAN BE STARTED? ANY VECHICLE THAT FALLS UNDER THIS MESSAGE SHOULD BE REPAIRED BY FORD AT FORD EXPENSE. I HAVE SPENT A LOT OF MONEY TRYING TO FIND OUT WHY THIS HAS HAPPENED WHEN FORD HAS KNOWN THE ENTIRE TIME. MULTIPLE PEOPLE WITH SAME ISSUE. SEE LINK: HTTP://WWW.MY3CENTS.COM/SHOWREVIEW.CGI?ID=15119

MY SUV CAUGHT FIRE PARKED IN A PARKING LOT AND NOT RUNNING AT THE TIME. *TR

CORROSION ON BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR COMPONENTS AND THERMAL EVENT ON WIRING HARNESS TO BLOWER MOTOR RESISTOR. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE IN HER DRIVEWAY. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE AND A REPORT WAS FILED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COVERAGE WAS CANCELLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WANTED POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE IN ORDER TO PERFORM AN INSPECTION; HOWEVER, IT WAS NO LONGER AVAILABLE BECAUSE THE INSURANCE COMPANY DISPOSED OF THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WOULD NOT ASSIST WITH ANY REIMBURSEMENT AND STATED THAT THEY WERE NOT LIABLE FOR THE REPAIRS. THEY FURTHER STATED THAT THE CUSTOMER'S CLAIM WILL BE CLOSED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

WHILE DRIVING MY VEHICLE MY SPARK SHOT OUT AND I HAD TAKE TO THE AUTO REPAIR FOR THEM TO REPLACE THE HALO COIL IN WHICH IT HAPPEN TWICE. *CN

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION XLT HAS THE LEAKING WINDSHIELD PROBLEM, WHICH HAS LED TO MISDIAGNOSIS BY THE DEALER AND BY INDEPENDENT MECHANICS. THE LIGHTS, FANS, AND SWITCHES RANDOMLY TURN ON AND OFF, THE POWER WINDOWS WORK INTERMITTENTLY, THE BLOWER FAN AND RADIO STAYS ON, AND THE BATTERY HAS GONE DEAD THREE TIMES. TODAY IS THE MOST RECENT OCCURRENCE OF THE PROBLEM, AND I FOUND IT AS NOTED IN AN ONLINE FORUM. FORD IS/HAS BEEN AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, YET WILL ONLY FIX IT IF THE CAR HAS LESS THAN 75,000 MILES ON THE ODOMETER, WHICH WORKS INTERMITTENTLY AS WELL. APPARENTLY THE REPAIR WILL RUN IN EXCESS OF $1,000, EVEN THOUGH FORD HAS MULTIPLE REPORTED CASES OF THE SAME PROBLEM. *TR

THE BATTERY KEEPS RUNNING DOWN. CAN'T FIND ANYTHING LEFT ON INSIDE TRUCK. HAVE REPLACED BATTERY THREE TIMES. BATTERY HAS THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF CRANKING AMPS. STILL KEEPS RUNNING DOWN. HEARD THAT THERE MAYBE PROBLEMS WITH THE BATTERY CABLES OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF ELECTRICAL WIRING. *JB

1998 FORD EXPEDITION INTERIOR LIGHTS STAYING ON, DOOR AJAR LIGHT STAYING ON, RADIO TURNING ON AND OFF BY ITSELF, TRAILER LIGHTS NOT WORKING, DASH LIGHTS FLASHING OFF AND ON. I FOUND OUT THERE ARE A LOT OF PROBLEMS WITH THESE CARS HAVING LEAKING WINDSHIELDS ALLOWING WATER TO ENTER THE VEHICLE AND CAUSE ELECTRICAL SHORTING ON THE GEM AND FUSE BOX. FORD DEALERSHIP SAID THIS IS A WELL-KNOWN ISSUE WITH A TSB 98-9-13 !!! I DID A QUICK SEARCH ON THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT THESE CAN CAUSE ELECTRICAL FIRES OR CAUSE CARS TO START BY THEMSELVES, LOSING ELECTRICAL STABILITY WHILE DRIVING RESULTING IN SEVERAL NEAR ACCIDENTS. (NO BRAKE LIGHTS, ETC..) *JB

MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION XLT CAUGHT FIRE WHEN PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT OF GEORGIO'S RESTAURANT AFTER DRIVING FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES. FIRE STARTED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND REMAINED LOCALIZED THERE. ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT FLAMED UP, BURNED A HOLE THROUGH THE HOOD, AND DAMAGED EVERYTHING FORWARD OF THE VEHICLES FIREWALL. FLAME WAS CONTAINED AND EXTINGUISHED USING INDUSTRIAL FIRE EXTINGUISHERS AVAILABLE AT THE RESTAURANT GEORGIO'S WHERE MY WIFE, DAUGHTER, AND I WERE MEETING MY PARENTS FOR DINNER. THE VEHICLE HAS A GOOD SERVICE RECORD AND HAS BEEN SERVICE AT THE LOCAL FORD DEALER A FEW TIMES, SO THIS WAS A HUGE SURPRISE. I AM FAIRLY CONFIDENT THE VEHICLE WILL BE DECLARED "TOTALED" BY MY INSURANCE CARRIER GEICO. MY WIFE AND I DEPEND ON HAVING A SECOND VEHICLE BECAUSE I DRIVE OUR OTHER VEHICLE 60 MINUTES AWAY EVERY DAY FOR WORK. SINCE SHE SPENDS HER TIME RAISING OUR DAUGHTER, I AM THE SOLE SOURCE OF INCOME, BUT WE'RE UNSURE THAT INCOME CAN ACCOMMODATE A CAR PAYMENT (BOTH OF OUR VEHICLES ARE PAID FOR). *NM

MY WIFE DRIVING THE VEHICLE A 98 FORD EXPEDITION ON U.S HIGHWAY 27 ABOUT 5 MILES EAST OF CLEWISTON AND THE CAR STARTED TO SMOKE, SHE STOPPED IT , GOT OFF AND THEN THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE. *NM

I ARRIVED AT HOME AND PARKED VEHICLE IN GARAGE ~5:15PM. MY WIFE WALKED ON THE TREADMILL (WHICH IS IN THE GARAGE) FROM 7:15 ? 7:45PM AND DID NOT SMELL OR NOTICE ANYTHING UNUSUAL. AT 10:00 PM I LOOKED THROUGH GARAGE DOOR TO MAKE SURE LIGHTS WERE OUT AND GARAGE DOORS SHUT. I NOTICED A SMALL RED LIGHT BELOW THE TRUCK. AFTER FURTHER INVESTIGATION, I FOUND IT WAS A FLAME. I CAME BACK IN THE HOUSE TOLD MY WIFE TO NOTIFY THE FIRE DEPT. I USED A HOSE AND FIRE EXTINGUISHERS TO EXHAUST FLAME AS THE FIRE DEPT. ARRIVED. THE HEAT WAS SO INTENSE IT MELTED THE GARAGE LIGHT LENS ABOVE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO NEUTRAL DUE TO DAMAGE, SO I USED MY NEIGHBOR?S TRUCK TO PULL THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE GARAGE. IT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN THE DEFECTIVE CRUISE SWITCH ACCORDING TO A FIRE INVESTIGATOR. THE DAMAGE TO THE VEHICLE IS OBVIOUS I CAN EMAIL PHOTOS (EXCEPT I DID NOT PHOTO DAMAGED WINDSHIELD). WE ALSO HAVE SMOKE DAMAGE TO OUR GARAGE. I HAVE FILED A COMPLAINT WITH FORD ORIGINALLY THEY TOLD ME IT WOULD BE 5 DAYS UNTIL THEY CONTACT ME, NOW THEY SAY IT COULD BE 10 DAYS. I ASKED THEM TO EXPEDITE, SINCE I AM CURRENTLY WITHOUT A VEHICLE. FORD HAS NOT DONE ANYTHING AT THIS POINT TO REVIEW OR RESOLVE THE ISSUE.*AK

VEHICLE PARKED APPROX 10 HOURS, HORN BLOWING INTERMITTENTLY, SMELLED SMOKE, INTERIOR GARAGE DOOR TO HOUSE HOT, GOT FAMILY OUT - DID NOT WITNESS VEHICLE FIRE AS OUTSIDE GARAGE DOOR WAS SHUT ----- CRUISE CONTROL QUIT WORKING 1 MONTH PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE

VEHICLE PARKED APPROX 3 HOURS, FLAMES FRONT OF DASH AT WINDSHIELD, TRIED TO PUT OUT VEHICLE FIRE HIMSELF --- INJURED ---- NO PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE PRIOR TO VEHICLE FIRE

VEHICLE INADVERTENTLY CAUGHT ON FIRE WHILE BEING PARKED. THE CAUSE OF THIS WAS UNDETERMINED.*AK

DT: THERE IS AN INVESTIGATION # PE05033 FOR THE 1099-2002 MODELS, BUT IT DOES NOT INCLUDED THE 1998 MODEL THAT WAS HAVING THE SAME EXACT PROBLEMS AS DESCRIBED IN PE05033.. TOOK VEHICLE TO A MECHANIC SHOP, AND THEY HAVE REPLACED A JAMMED MODULE ON AUGUST 30, 2004, AND ON SEPTEMBER 13, 2005 THEY REPLACED THE ALTERNATOR. HAD NO TROUBLE UNTIL IT RAINED AGAIN AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THEN, THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING FOR ABOUT THIRTY MINUTES AND IT STARTED. AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE, TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF, AND TAKING THE KEY OUT OF THE IGNITION THE DOOR CHIME WAS CLICKING ,/THE RADIO WAS GOING, AND THE AIR CONDITIONER WAS RUNNING WITH NO KEYS IN THE IGNITION. *AK

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT FROM ENGINE. NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS, FAILURE CAUSED LACK OF DRIVING POWER. IF INCIDENT HAD OCCURRED DURING RUSH HOUR, ACCIDENTS WOULD HAVE OCCURRED. THE ENGINE BLOCK HAD TO BE RE-TAPPED, PLUG AND COIL REPLACED. *NM

SPARK PLUGS BLOWN OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD OF FORD EXPEDITION 5.4 LITER ENGINE. *AK

SPARK PLUG BOWN OUT OF POORLY DESIGNED CYLINDER HEAD ON 5.4 LITER ENGINE. *AK