1997 Ford Expedition window and wiper problems

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check ABS" messages were displayed on the instrument panel along with the oil, brake, and battery warning lights being illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the part needed to repair the steering wheel was no longer in stock. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as from the dealer. The contact also stated that moisture had begun to leak from the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.

NHTSA complaint #11591275 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE BEGAN TO ROLL THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN. WHILE ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN, IT DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW DETACHED FROM ITS TRACK, ALLOWING IT TO DROP DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 09/19/11

NHTSA complaint #10410188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, HE BEGAN TO ROLL THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE WINDOW DOWN. WHILE ROLLING THE WINDOW DOWN, IT DROPPED DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE WINDOW DETACHED FROM ITS TRACK, ALLOWING IT TO DROP DOWN INTO THE DOOR PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. UPDATED 08/01/11*LJ UPDATED 09/19/11

NHTSA complaint #10410188 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

AFTER RAIN, WATER LEAKED THROUGH WINDSHIELD ON 1997 FORD EXPEDITION RESULTING IN ELECTRICAL ANOMALIES. THIS COULD POSE A FIRE HAZARD.

NHTSA complaint #10254336 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FINISH ON THE REAR OF BOTH EXTERIOR SIDE MIRRORS IS PEELING. HE CAN SEE THE PRINTED CIRCUIT BOARD AS A RESULT OF THE FAILURE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THEY WILL REPAIR THE MIRRORS AT THE CONTACTS EXPENSE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 80,034. UPDATED 09/26/07

NHTSA complaint #10201028 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH IN REVERSE, BOTH BRACKETS DETACHED OFF THE BACK WINDOW, CAUSING THE WINDOW TO FALL OUTWARD. THE GLASS DID NOT BREAK, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE.

NHTSA complaint #10166832 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

REAR WINDSHIELD WIPER WILL NOT TO TURN ON MOST TIMES. IF WIPER ASSEMBLY IS JARRED HARD ENOUGHT (EITHER BY BUMP OR BANGING ON IT) WILL CAUSE IT TO WORK FOR A WHILE. THIS PROBLEM WAS ORGINALLY FIXED BY DEALER, BUT WARRANTY HAS PASSED AND THE PROBLEM HAS RETURNED. I HAVE TAKEN THE UNIT APART, BUT BELIEVE THE UNIT WAS NEVER CHANGED AND BELEIVE THE CONTACTS WERE CLEANED. I BELIEVE THE WIRING IS BEING CORRODED CAUSING FOR GOOD CONTACT OF THE WIRES.

NHTSA complaint #10114417 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

MIRROR GLASS BROKE . *AK THE INTERNAL BACKING ON BOTH REAR VIEW MIRRORS IS PEELING AND CRACKING FROM THE GLASS AND CAUSING POOR VISIBILITY.

NHTSA complaint #10083664 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

THE WINDSHIELD WIPER WASHER ASSEMBLY WAS DEFECTIVE. IT WORKED INTERMITTENTLY, AND HAD BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES. *AK

NHTSA complaint #10059877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

WHEN I TAKE OFF THE GAS IS STICKY AND TAKES ALOT TO GET IT GOING, WHEN TURNING FROM STOP MY REAR END VIBRATES LIKE IT'S GOING TO FALL OFF. AREADY HAD THE TRANSMISSION REPLACED BY THE DEALER SHIP I GOT THE CAR FROM. DRIVER SIDE WINDOW CLUNKS WHEN ROLLING DOWN, MOTOR MAKES A KNOCKING NOISE WHEN COLD. I JUST DON'T EXPECT THIS KIND OF PROBLEMS WHEN YOU PAY ALOT OF MONEY FOR A NICE CAR.

NHTSA complaint #10021395 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW BLEW OUT.

NHTSA complaint #10010053 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

WHEN DRIVING IN THE RAIN, WATER LEAKS AROUND WINDSHIELD, WHICH SHORTED OUT THE FUSE BOX. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER SEVERAL TIMES, BUT PROBLEM WAS NOT REMEDIED. TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER IN MARYLAND AND HAD WINDSHIELD REPLACED, DEALER FOUND FUSE BOX HAD RUSTED.

NHTSA complaint #8007133 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

SIDE MIRRORS CONTAIN EMBEDDED TURN INDICATORS. ASSEMBLY IS FAULTY CAUSING MIRROR TO BECOME UNUSABLE WHEN LIGHT SHINES DIRECTLY IN, I.E. WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE. GLUE, ASSEMBLY COMPONENTS, ETC. BECOME VISIBLE THROUGH MIRRORED SURFACE.

NHTSA complaint #753228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH WHICH CONTROLS WINDSHEILD WASHERS AND WIPERS HAS FAILED 5 TIMES IN LESS THAN 5 YEARS AND THE RESULT OF THE FAILURE IS THE INABILITY TO ACTIVATE THE WASHER SYSTEM. AT ANY GIVEN TIME, IF THE WINDSHEILD BECOMES FOULED, I DO NOT KNOW IF I WILL BE ABLE TO CLEAN IT OR IF MY VISION WILL BE SERIOUSLY IMPAIRED.

NHTSA complaint #748400 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

BOTH DOOR REARVIEW MIRRORS HAD TO BE REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY DUE TO BACKING PEELING OFF, MAKING MIRRORS USELESS. AT THIS TIME, BACKING WAS PEELING AGAIN. CONSUMER FELT HE SHOULD NOT HAVE TO HAVE THESE MIRRORS REPLACED EVERY 2 YEARS.*AK *SLC

NHTSA complaint #887310 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

BOTH EXTERIOR MIRRORS ARE NOT USABLE. THESE ARE REPLACEMENTS THE FIRST SET FAILED AFTER A YEAR AND A HALF. IT SEEMS THAT THE MIRRORS DESIGNED FOR MY MODEL EXPEDITION HAVE A MAXIMUM TWO YEAR LIFE. FORD SAYS NO DEFECT, COME TAKE A LOOK AT MY SECOND SET OF MIRRORS ON A FOUR YEAR OLD VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #744189 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:HEATER CORE

THE FIREWALL HEATER HOSE CONNECTORS IN THE AREA OF THE #4 COIL PACK ON MANY EXPEDITION WITH THE 5.4L V-8 WILL LEAK HOT COOLANT ON THE #4 CYLINDER COIL PACK. THIS WILL LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THIS COIL PACK. FAILURE OF THIS COIL PACK CAUSES A SEVERVE ENGINE MISS AND LOSS OF PERFORMANCE. FAILURE ON HIGHWAY CAN MAKE VEHICLE UNSAFE. FORD IS AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT IS NOT PROVDING A PERMANENT FIX.

NHTSA complaint #741665 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

MECHANIC SAID FORD CHANGED DESIGN BECAUSE OF FAULTING PLACEMENT OF THE VENT. FORD SAID THEY WOULD HAVE REPLACED IF MILEAGE WAS UNDER 50K AND I WAS THE ORIGINAL OWNER.

NHTSA complaint #739945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

BOTH ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT EXTERNAL REAR VIEW MIRRORS ARE ALMOST COMPLETELY UNUSABLE AT THIS POINT. THE MIRRORS ARE NOT USABLE AT NIGHT. I CAN'T BELIEVE THAT FORD HASN'T REPLACED THE MIRRORS. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION. THANK YOU.

NHTSA complaint #736855 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

ON OUTSIDE MIRROR REFLECTION MATERIAL IS COMING OFF, OBSTRUCTING DRIVER'S VISION. *AK THE MANUFACTURER HAS REDESIGNED THE MIRRORS 3 TIMES.

NHTSA complaint #869804 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

TINT WINDOWS REFLECT ALL LIGHTS COMING IN, AND THIS IMPAIRS DRIVERS VISIBILITY OF ANYTHING THAT LIGHTS UP ITEMS, EVEN A SHINY BOOK IN THE SEAT. SMOKE TINT IS FINE, BUT REFLECTIVE TYPE TINT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA complaint #860497 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR

AFTER TRAVELING 10 MILES AND PARKED VEHICLE, WITHIN 2-3 MINUTES HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FOUND REAR WINDOWS SHATTERED GLASS BOTH IN / OUT OF VEHICLE, NO KNOWN REASON COULD BE FOUND FOR THE INCIDENT. DEALER NOTIFIED.

NHTSA complaint #855966 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

I AM UNDER 5'. THE ABILITY TO SEE USING THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS IS NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE. DURING DAYLIGHT HOURS, I WEAVE MY HEAD BACK AND FORTH, LOOKING THROUGH THE HIGH SEATS. HOWEVER, NIGHT DRIVING IS A TERROR! THE SIDEVIEW MIRRORS--REGARDLESS OF POSITIONING, DO NOT GIVE A CLEAR VIEW OF VEHICLES OR HEADLIGHTS. FURTHER, SINCE IT IS DARK, IF A CAR IS A DARK COLOR IT CAN NOT BE SEEN! MY HUSBAND, WHO IS 5'8" DOES NOT HAVE A PROBLEM. THANK YOU FOR LISTENING.

NHTSA complaint #714329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM

BRAKES WERE SQUEAKY AND FELT SPONGY, ADDRESSED TWICE, ROTORS WERE OUT BY -0.05. ENGINE EXIHIBIT 'PISTON SLAP' DOCUMENTED FROM DAY ONE, DEALER STATED IT MAY BE ATTRIBUTED TO OCTANE LEVEL, INFORMED BY SECOND DEALER TO DOWNSHIFT, THAT IT WILL NOT HARM ENGINE, ROAD TEST BY TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THE PCM WAS ADJUSTING TO LOAD!!NOWHERE TO SECURE CHILD SEAT IN THIRD ROW.HEATER REPLACED TWICE WITH WINDOWS FOGGING CREATING POOR VISIBILITY.SECOND ROW SINGLE SEAT FELL BACK UPON ACCELERATION,KNOCKING PASSENGER'S HEAD BACK, WAS STUCK AND WOULD NOT RESET UNTIL PUSHED VERY, VERY HARD. INTERIOR DASH AND HEADLINER SQUEAKS, HORSESHOE MOLDING TABS AROUND STEREO WORE THROUGH AND RATTLES

NHTSA complaint #713724 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, ALIGNED REPEATEDLY AND RE-CHECKED, CONTINUES TO DRIFT, CREATED OUTSIDE WEAR ON DRIVE TIRES. REAR WIPER FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. POWER MIRROR WORKS INTERMITTENLY. POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN KEY IS OUT MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AS PER RECALL. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT 'CLUNKS' WITH MEDIUM TO HARD STOP OR ACCELERATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA complaint #713727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, ALIGNED REPEATEDLY AND RE-CHECKED, CONTINUES TO DRIFT, CREATED OUTSIDE WEAR ON DRIVE TIRES. REAR WIPER FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. POWER MIRROR WORKS INTERMITTENLY. POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN KEY IS OUT MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AS PER RECALL. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT 'CLUNKS' WITH MEDIUM TO HARD STOP OR ACCELERATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA complaint #713727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, ALIGNED REPEATEDLY AND RE-CHECKED, CONTINUES TO DRIFT, CREATED OUTSIDE WEAR ON DRIVE TIRES. REAR WIPER FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. POWER MIRROR WORKS INTERMITTENLY. POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN KEY IS OUT MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AS PER RECALL. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT 'CLUNKS' WITH MEDIUM TO HARD STOP OR ACCELERATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA complaint #713727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER

VEHICLE DRIFTS TO THE RIGHT, ALIGNED REPEATEDLY AND RE-CHECKED, CONTINUES TO DRIFT, CREATED OUTSIDE WEAR ON DRIVE TIRES. REAR WIPER FAILED DURING RAIN STORM. POWER MIRROR WORKS INTERMITTENLY. POWER WINDOWS DO NOT OPERATE WHEN KEY IS OUT MAKING IT DANGEROUS TO EXIT IN AN EMERGENCY. WINDSHIELD WIPER WORKED SPORADICALLY, REPLACED MULTI-FUNCTION SWITCH AS PER RECALL. DRIVER'S POWER SEAT 'CLUNKS' WITH MEDIUM TO HARD STOP OR ACCELERATION, MAKING IT DIFFICULT TO STEER.

NHTSA complaint #713727 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.