10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 1 / 2
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 0 / 7
- Average Mileage:
- 83,747 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
I own a 1997 eddie bauer Ford Expedition that I bought in 1998 as a demo model it has run great until it started to blow the spark plug from the heads the first time was last year while my family and I were driving back form Texas we were in a remote part of the country when it blew and spent over $500 for towing not to mention the $1200 dollar bill that the dealership tagged on. I was never informed that this was a problem that could re-occur we have taken other trips but did not have issue until just recently it blew another plug and of course the bill in the thousands. Ford needs to take some ownership for the product that they build if they want to keep some of as customers...
- Albuquerque, NM, USA
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving 60 mph, the dashboard components failed. Within seconds, the vehicle stalled. The dealer advised that the failure was due to fluid leaking into the engine. The vehicle was neither diagnosed or repaired. The current and failure mileages were 128,000.
- Everrt, WA, USA
#4 spark plug blew thru head.
- Mountain Top, PA, USA
While driving my 1997 Ford Expedition XLT 5.4L V8 truck a spark plug blew out of the head of the engine. This is the second time that is happened, the first being in August, 2007. This same problem occurred on 2 different spark plugs. Each time, the plug blew out and the engine made a popping sounds like a badly tuned lawnmower. I was able to get to a dealer the second time, the first time I had to be towed. Throughout the time I had to drive the car this way, gas vapors were coming out of the cylinder at each turn of the piston. This sounds to be a common problem with the 5.4L engines from Ford.
- Griffith, IN, USA
Was driving home from work, heard a loud noise and truck got really loud. Got it home checked it out. The spark plug blew out. Had to take it to a dealer and get a new insert put in cause it was stripped.
- Columbia, PA, USA
Spark plug blew out of cylinder #6 while traveling at highway speed. This resulted in a loud noise and a check engine light, strong smell of gasoline. Due to outside temperatures of -10 deg F car was driven to nearest exit, lucky there was no fire.
- Madison, WI, USA
I have a 1997 Ford Expedition with a 5.4L V-8 engine. Within the past 2 months, on 2 separate occasions, the same spark plug blew off the engine. The 2nd incident occurred on Oct 22, 2008 when I started the truck in a parking lot. I needed a tow to get the truck and my family home. Now, a new spark plug can't be screwed in because the threads are stripped. I have not taken it to a mechanic but based on the numerous complaints in the consumeraffairs.com website, it seems this problem could cost me thousands of dollars. Depending on the cost, I may not repair this since this could happen again with the other 7 spark plugs. I will not buy a Ford truck again and will advise my family and friends to get rid of theirs.
- Lancaster, CA, USA
1997 Ford Expedition--aluminum heads are engineered incorrectly. The problem is the spark plug recess bore is to thin, the spark plug does not have enough material to properly seat in the head and after awhile the plug will back out. The pressure from the combustion will eventually blow the plug out. This will lead to costly damage to fuel injection damage, piston, intake manifold, etc. The problem is ranging from 96' to 2005 Triton engines. Ford will not help you nor will the engine manufacturer until someone dies! repairing this problem...... low cost-heili coil insert $100 to $1000 depending on your service tech. Or a complete head replacement (steel heads) $3000 to $5000.
- Port Orchard, WA, USA
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving approximately 10 mph, the contact heard a loud noise underneath the vehicle. She pulled to the side of the road and inspected underneath the vehicle and hood. The contact smelled a burning odor underneath the hood. There were no warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they stated that the failure was related to a disconnected spark plug in the engine. The vehicle was repaired for the malfunction. On two separate occasions, the vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic for identical failures, but there were no resolutions. The VIN was unknown. The failure mileage was 96,000.
- Toms River, NJ, USA
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the spark plugs are being blown out of the engine head. The spark plugs have been replaced twice. All the repairs to the vehicle have been performed by the contact because the dealer could not guarantee successful results. The current mileage was 239,000 and failure mileage was 230,000.
- Knoxville, TN, USA
In a matter of 9 months, my 1997 Ford Expedition has misfired and blown out spark plug 4 times now. Has cost me over $3,000 in repairs. The last time it happened my truck smelled like fire, but never ignited. My check engine light is now on for a 5th time, the truck is misfiring again and it is only a matter of time before another blowout occurs.
- Staten Island, NY, USA
Spark plug failure and damage on 97 Expedition.
- Edgewood, MD, USA
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle fails to start when he turns the ignition and the power locks fail to operate. The vehicle has been jump-started and tested and all of the components appeared to be working normally. The contact stated that the four wheel drive feature fails to engage, although the indicator on the instrument panel illuminates. He has not notified a local dealer or the manufacturer because the failures are intermittent. The engine size was unknown. The current mileage is 114,000 and failure mileage was 110,000.
- Exton, PA, USA
While driving at approximately 65 mph # 2 spark plug pops out of the head.
- Childress, TX, USA
#3 spark plug ejected from the engine, which resulted in significant power loss. I nearly was rear-ended by a gas truck, but was eventually able to pull off the freeway. The spark plug threads were stripped from the head, the spark plug boot was split and the coil mount was broken off.
- Clovis, CA, USA
Spark plug blown out of head by force of the engine, loss of power an major damage.
- Cincinnati, OH, USA
The contact stated that the 1997 Ford Expedition blew out plug a spark plug in the engine and stripped the head and the coil. This happened while driving at 35 mph. The contact has been in contact with Ford, and they told him to take the truck to the dealer and call them back. The dealership did a diagnostic testing, and said that it would take $4,850 to repair the engine. When the contact called Ford back the person to whom the contact talked to did not understand why he was calling them back. The contact spoke to two different people and they did not know what he was talking about. The contact said that he planned to fix the truck when he has the money available.
- Cleveland, OH, USA
On June 17, 2005 our 1997 Expedition blew its first spark plug. We at the time that it was an uncommon occurence so we had a local mechanic fix the problem at the cost of $388. Not even a month later on July 15, 2005 our expediton blew another spark plug different cylinder but on the same side. We are looking into options to see which is the best option for us to go with. While researching we found that this problem is not so umcommon with a 5.4 liter engine whether in a Expedition, F-150, etc and does not matter how many miles either. I saw the numerous compliants on Consumer Affairs.com which is where I found your number and called today. I think that Ford Motor Company needs to start accepting responsibility for their defects in their engines. As of right now we are not sure how much it will cost to repair our truck. An estimate given to my husband was for $3600 to redo the heads or $4700 to replace the engine but if they replace with the same defected engine even with a warranty it will do us no good considering the warranty will not cover for this specific repair. This has also caused our family vacation to be put in limbo and trying to figure out how to pay for the repairs. My family does not have that type of money just lying around waiting to be used. Me and my husband both work to support our six children, and it seems like Ford Motor Company needs to pick up the pace and help us considering they are not willing to come out and recall their defected engine.
- Climax, NC, USA
1997 Expedition 5.L Triton. Blew #3 plug 18000 miles after having it replaced. Research shows that this is a common failure though Ford does not acknowledge any design flaw.
- Denver, CO, USA
- Milwaukee, WI, USA