1999 Ford Expedition equipment problems

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 1999 EXPEDITION THAT HAS A PISTON THAT IS SLAPPING. IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE 1999 EXPEDITIONS. I WANTED TO ASK IF THERE ARE ANY RECALLS ON THE HORIZON FOR THIS CONSISTENT PROBELM.

NHTSA complaint #10127342 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

AN IGLOO COOLER WAS PLUGGED INTO THE CIGARETTE LIGHTER. THE FUSE TO THE IGLOO COOLER BLEW AND MELTED THROUGH, BLOWING OUT ALL OF THE RELATED FUSES. (THIS WAS NOT THE FAULT OF THE VEHICLE) *AK UNABLE TO SEE THE YEAR OF THIS VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #10114892 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

IN JUNE I PURCHASED MY EXPEDITION AND NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A RUMBLING NOISE AND PULLING TO ONE SIDE AT A SPEED OF 55 ABOUT TWO WEEKS LATER. I HAD TAKEN IT BACK TO THE DEALER HE SAID THEY CHECKED IT OUT CAN NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. WHILE TURNING IN TO A PARKING LOT IN SEPT. I HEARD A CRACK AND MY STEERING WAS NOT GOOD. I THOUGHT NOTHING SERIOUS ,WELL WHEN I WENT TO LEAVE I COULD NOT BACK UP MY FRONT WHEEL WAS DRAGGING RESULTS WAS A BROKEN TIE ROD. VERY LUCKY TO NOT BE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD WITH MY 3 CHILDREN. THE FRONT END IS STILL MAKING THE NOISE IN WHICH DEALER SAID FRONT WHEEL BEARINGS NOW THAT MY WARRANTY IS EXPIRED ! IS THERE A RECALL ?

NHTSA complaint #10107539 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

INTERIOR LIGHTS MALFUNCTIONING, DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY, HEATING/COOLING SYSTEM NOT WORKING PROPERLY; STAYS ON EVEN WHEN KEY IS NOT IN IGNITION. WHEN IGNITION IS TURNED ON OR OFF, THE WOOFER MAKES A LOUD THUMPING SOUND. WOOFER INOPERABLE. RIGHT SIGN WING NEVER WORKED PROPERLY/ WILL NOT OPEN OR CLOSE. BRAKING SYSTEM IS DOUBTFUL, IT SQUEAKS, AND WHEN GAS IS RELEASED ENGINE AND BRAKING ARE NOT COORDINATED SMOOTHLY . CONSTANT SQUEAKING WHEN IN MOTION. DEALERSHIPS SERVICE REPAIR PERSONAL NEGLECT AND REFUSE TO FIND THE CAUSES, EVEN THOUGH VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. *NLM

NHTSA complaint #10022999 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT

1999 EXPEDITION SPARE TIRE CABLE FAILED. BROKE WHILE PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT CAUSING THE SPARE TIRE TO FALL TO THE GROUND. COULD HAVE CAUSED A FATALITY IN ANOTHER VEHICLE IF IT OCCURED AT HIGH SPEED. A TIRE SHOP WAS THE LAST TO REPLACE THE SPARE. THEY SAY THEY ARE NOT RESPONSIBLE. I HAVE ALWAYS TIGHTENED IT FULLY IN THE PAST. I ASSUME THAT IT MAY HAVE BEEN A BIT LOOSE AND WORE THROUGH THE CABLE OVER TIME AS IT RUBBED ON THE WHEEL.

NHTSA complaint #10003573 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

RETAINING CABLE THAT HOLDS SPARE TIRE SNUG AGAINST UNDERCARRIAGE FAILED IN APPARENT OVERLOAD; CABLE WAS SEPARATED AT POINT WHERE IT ATTACHED TO METALLIC END KEEPER, AND WHERE IT PASSES THRU CROSSPIECE THAT APPLIES PRESSURE TO TIRE RIM. CRANK MECHANISM WHICH JACK HANDLE ATTACHES TO AND IS USED TO RAISE/LOWER SPARE TIRE FROM ITS POSITION UNDER THE VEHICLE, IS SUPPOSED TO (ACCORDING TO OWNER'S MANUAL) "RATCHET" WHEN TIRE IS SNUGGED AGAINST UNDERCARRIAGE, AND "IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO OVERTIGHTEN." SUSPECT RATCHETING MECHANISM NOT FUNCTIONING PROPERLY, ALLOWING EXCESSIVE PRESSURE TO BE APPLIED TO CABLE, PRECIPITATING FAILURE---OR CABLE IS SUB-STANDARD. NO SIGNS OF RUST/CORRISION.IRE AND RIM. DEALER HAD REPLACED SPARE TIRE 10/2001 DURING TIRE RECALL/REPLACEMENT, OTHERWISE, THE MECHANISH HAD NEVER BEEN USED. OF GREAT IMPORTANCE: THERE IS NO REDUNDANCY IN SYSTEM; IT IS A SINGLE-POINT FAILURE. IF CABLE FAILS, TIRE COULD FALL DIRECTLY ONTO ROADWAY INTO ON-COMING TRAFFIC, OR CAUSE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL IF IT WEDGES UNDER VEHICLE AND ROADWAY.

NHTSA complaint #757280 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

SAFETY INSPECTION OF FACTORY INSTALLED TRAILER HITCH RECEIVED ONE BOLT ONLY FINGER TIGHT.

NHTSA complaint #561735 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

CABLE SEPARATED FROM BOLT AND SPARE TIRE FELL OFF IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD WHILE I WAS DRIVING. COULD HAVE BEEN A MAJOR PROBLEM IF IT OCCURED ON THE FREEWAY OR A MAJOR ROADWAY. LUCKY THAT THE PROBLEM OCCURED ON A SIDE STREET.

NHTSA complaint #738887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TIRES: HAD A BLOWOUT ON THE HIGHWAY IN APRIL OF THIS YEAR. I WENT TO THE NEAREST FIRESTONE DEALER. HE INSPECTED THE TIRE AND REPORTED THAT IT WAS DEFECTIVE AND NOT REPAIRABLE, SO I BOUGHT A NEW ONE. EVER SINCE THIS HAPPENED, THE VEHICLE VIBRATED TERRIBLY AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. REPORTED (3TIMES) TO DEALERSHIP SINCE APRIL. EACH REPORT IS DOCUMENTED. ALLEGEDLY FIXED EACH TIME. FINALLY ON 8/04/00 THE TIRE WAS DECLARED DEFECTIVE BY THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS REPLACED.(I HAVE DOCUMENTATION/RECEIPTS ON ALL WORK). PROBLEM IS THAT THE TRUCK STILL VIBRATES AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS ALTHOUGH AT LOWER MPH THAN PREVIOUSLY REPORTED. AIR CONDITIONING: FIRST REPORTED STRONG MOLDY ODOR BACK IN JAN 1999. WAS TOLD BY FORD SERVICE REP. THAT IT WAS DUE TO THE TRUCK'S HAVING BEEN IDLE IN THE HOT SUN/PARKING LOT PRIOR TO MY PURCHASING IT. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD DISSIPATE IN TIME. IT DID NOT. I BROUGHT IT IN THREE TIMES SINCE THEN. EACH TIME I ASKED THAT THE CAUSE BE FIXED AND NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS. ON THE 4TH VISIT, I INVOLVED THE OWNER AND HIS DEALERSHIP HIRED AN OUTSIDE COMPANY TO REMOVE THE MOLD FROM THE SYSTEM. THEY CLAIMED TO HAVE DONE SO BUT DURING THE CLEANING PROCESS THEY ADDED A CHEMICAL/PERFUME THAT IS SO STRONG, ONE CANNOT TELL IF THE ACTUAL PROBLEM IS STILL PRESENT OR NOT. I WAS TOLD (BY THE SERVICE REP) THE OWNER WAS SO OFFENDED BY THIS SMELL THAT HE HAD THE COMPANY COME BACK OUT & REDO THE TRUCK TO REMOVE THE ADDED CHEMICAL. THEY WERE UNSUCCESSFUL AS IT SMELLS VERY STRONG EVEN TODAY (2 WEEKS LATER). MY CONCERN IS AS FOLLOWS; IF THEY REMOVED THE MOLD AND SMELL THEN WHY WOULD THEY NEED TO ADD A CHEMICAL/PERFUME? I BELIEVE THAT THEY ADDED THIS CHEMICAL TO MASK THE FACT THAT THE MOLD IS STILL PRESENT. I THINK THAT ALL THEY WERE ABLE TO DO WAS OVERPOWER THE STENCH OF MOLD BY ADDING THIS FRAGRANCE. I WANT THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM FIXED, NOT JUST THE SYMPTOMS. HAVING MOLD SPORES BLOWN INTO MY FACE IS A RISK TO MY HEALTH AND IS OF SERIOUS CONCERN TO ALL. MY TRUCK IS NOT THE ONLY ONE.

NHTSA complaint #728351 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:ACCESSORY SCISSOR/SCREW/BOTTLE JACK/LIFT

JACK WHICH IS THE ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT PURCHASED WITH THE VEHICLE IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO HOLD VEHICLE WHEN CHANGING A TIRE.

NHTSA complaint #868998 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

PRIOR TO RECALL HITCH FASTENER KIT FAILED (00V-073). YH

NHTSA complaint #552893 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:MECHANICAL:CARRIER/RACK

WHEN PULLING INTO TRAFFIC SPARE TIRE CABLE BROKE, CAUSING SPARE TIRE TO FALL OFF FROM UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. CONSUMER HAS CONTACTED DEALER. *AK

NHTSA complaint #863489 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

NHTSA RECALL 00V073000 AND MANUFACTURER'S RECALL 00S05/ TRAILER HITCH AND ATTACHMENTS. NO PARTS WERE AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #863154 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO DEALERSHIP SEVEN TIMES SINCE PURCHASE FOR WARRANTY SERVICE PROBLEMS AND RECALLS. IN MAY OF 99 THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE WHEEL LUGS: NUTS. IN SEPTEMBER 99, NOVEMBER 99, AND MARCH 2000 IT WAS IN FOR WINDSHIELD WIPER PROBLEMS; MOULDING REPLACEMENT; TWICE FOR FRONT END ALIGNMENTS (STEERS TO RIGHT); AND TRAILER HITCH RECALL. THE CONSTANT SMELLL OF BURNING OIL HAS JUST BEEN DIAGNOSED ON LATEST VISIT TO DEALERSHIP 5/15/00 AS NEEDING A NEW CYLINDER HEAD. VEHICLE HAS BEEN IN ON THREE OTHER OCCASIONS FOR THIS SAME PROBLEM, BUT THEY COULD NEVER FIND IT. NOW PARTS ARE ON ORDER---WILL TAKE 3-4 DAYS TO OBTAIN PARTS BEFORE THEY CAN REPAIR IT. REGARDING THE "WINDNOISE" DEALER SAYS ITS "NORMAL" YET SERVICE BULLETINS HAVE BEEN ISSUED ON THIS PROBLEM (996780 & TSB 99-6-5). IN NOVEMBER OF 1999, THE LEFT "TIE ROD" BROKE OFF WHILE WE WERE IN PHOENIX. A PHOENIX DEALERSHIP DID A SAME DAY REPAIR FOR US.

NHTSA complaint #722762 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

RECALL 00V0730/TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY:VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALER AND INFORMED THAT THERE WERE NO PARTS AVAILABLE.

NHTSA complaint #861964 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

THIS IS A REPLACEMENT VEHICLE FROM FORD FOR MY 1999 FORD EXPEDITION. THE REPLACEMENT VEHICLE HAS MANY OF THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE STALLING WHEN ACCELERATING IN AN INTERSECTION IS A SERIOUS SAFETY PROBLEM. WE WE'RE NEARLY T- BONED. FORD SOMETIMES ADMITS THAT THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEMS AND THEN AT TIMES WILL DENY THEM. PLEASE INVESTIGATE

NHTSA complaint #711449 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

TRAILER HITCHES

REPORTING TRAILER HITCHES FASTENER FAILURE. CONSUMER NOTICED COUPLE OF BOLTS MISSING, ONE FELL OFF IN HAND, AND THE OTHERS WERE LOOSE. CAN NHTSA PROVIDE INFORMATION ON THIS MATTER.

NHTSA complaint #844720 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.