10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 0 / 18
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 5 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 88,676 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.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
The blower in the front dash would keep blowing even when I took the key out. I had to leave it blowing all night at the apartment complex....I was worried that it might catch N fire. In the morning, the battery was dead. I called my repair shop, they came and jump-started my Expedition. They have not worked on it, yet. I have found and recall that there has been a recall on this make and model (first noted in 2002).
- Fort Worth, TX, USA
Safety related electrical problems during rainy conditions, including failure of windshield wipers.
- Concord, NC, USA
On the morning of 12/1/08 my 2001 Ford Expedition would not start, battery was dead. I jumped it off and drove it to the dealer. The ac fan and radio remained on even with the key out of the ignition. I have also learned the ABS system could be affected. Also; due to the electrical system shorting out there is the potential for fire. It has been determined that the windshield leaked water onto the fuse box/GEM. Ford issues a special service message #15773, in April of 2002. I bought this Expedition from B&B Ford at barnwell, SC 29812, 803-259-5524 on 2/21/2004. No one mentioned the ssm to me. Now my vehicle is sitting in the middle of the dealership with the under wheel dash removed. They are telling me the it will be over $600 for the repair. This includes resealing the windshield, replacing the fuse box and GEM. I feel that I have been driving in a vehicle that is poised to cause my family harm or death. Purchasing from a dealer one would have to agree that these issues should be resolved before the vehicle was sold to me. Once again, I was never made aware of any issues now a possible $600 plus bill. They ordered the parts today. This is definitely a Ford problem not an ed problem. How many others are riding around in these time bombs? thanks for your time. Ed corley
- Barnwell, SC, USA
During wet weather my 2001 Ford Expedition will have various electrical problems including windshield wipers not working, radio turning on/off, door locks not working and windows not working. Sometimes car will not start at all.
- Virginia Beach, VA, USA
Have owned my 2001 Ford Expedition for almost three years. Have replaced the battery and when in rains, I have to keep towels in the vehicle because of leaking windows. It does not always leak in the same spot. Many times I have attempted to start my vehicle and the battery is dead. Now when I shut my vehicle off, the blower fans turns on and runs until the battery is dead. I also will be driving, and all my dash lights will blink on and off. I am concerned about the GEM module and the possibility that this electrical activity could cause a fire, even when not running. I am hearing estimates for repair of up to $1,500. In my research on this, it is not an isolated event, nor an inexpensive one to fix.
- Redmond, OR, USA
Windshield leaking water causing erratic and unpredictable intermittent electrical failures in a 2001 Ford Expedition. This is dangerous.
- Cuba, NY, USA
Water leaked through windshield. Car stays on when key is out at times wasting all gas. Blower and dash lights stay on at times draining battery.
- Jacksonville, FL, USA
Car was parked caught on fire in the middle of the night. Had city of seattle fire department and fire marshal investigator showed up also he determined fire was electrical. He gave me a report number I also reported incident to my insurance company. My car is a 2001 Ford Expedition. After reading on the internet all the other reports I have no doubt it was because of problems with the cruise control mentioned on many, many other sites. I am now stuck in a position where I have to buy another car, I have lost all the money I have invested into this vehicle. If I was aware of this problem when I brought it in 05 I could have had it turned around. The thing that really sticks out is that the recall was in 05 and makes me question why wasn't this fixed before I purchased the vehicle.
- Seattle, WA, USA
2001 Ford Expedition has electrical malfunction wipers don't work when vehicle is put in gear. Lights stay on after vehicle is turned off and light switch is off. Radio comes on when vehicle is off.
- Windsor, VA, USA
1. the air bag system fails when I turn the truck off and the rear end lowers to the ground. I have to wait a long time with the ignition on when I am parked for the truck to raise up. It also lowers while driving and I have to pull over and wait for it to raise up again. This happens throughout every day. I have not tried to get it fixed because it is very expensive. 2. when it rains the electrical systems goes haywire. The starter engages when the key is not in the ignition and when the truck is already running; the lights flicker or remain on; the blower turns on when the truck is shut off; the radio won't work; the windshield wipers won't work; when the car is shut down everything stays on and the battery runs down.
- Rialto, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2001 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the electrical system activates continuously. The dealer stated that a new electrical box, which controls the horn and all other electric instruments, needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure continues. The dealer advises her to bring the vehicle in for repair; however, they never repair it correctly. The contact does not want to continue paying the dealer for incorrect repairs. The current and failure mileages were 108,000.
- Hattiesburg, MS, USA
After rain or heavy fog we experienced many electrical issues on our 01 Expedition incl. Horn not working normal, front & rear wipers not working or coming on by themselves, door locks locking/unlocking while driving, interior & exterior lights not working, alarm system going off while SUV was being driven, fan blower on after SUV was turned off, radio working intermittently, etc. The latest occurred 1/16/08 after heavy rains the prior night. SUV wouldn't start in the morning and had to be jumped. It was driven that day with only issue being interior lights coming on themselves. On 1/17/08 SUV wouldn't turn over and again was jumped. There was clicking noise from engine compartment that seemed to be coming from kelsey hayes black box. We immediately took SUV to dealership and asked for tech to witness issue. Tech confirmed noise coming from the K-H ABS module, said problem was probably due to windshield leak into fuse box & GEM module which was sending current to ABS module and also causing interior lights to turn on/off by themselves. On 1/18/08 dealership said tech did pressure test on windshield and it leaked and needed to be resealed. Fuse box and GEM module would also need replaced. Since problems were caused by water leak Ford ext.warranty won't cover repairs. I spoke to srv mgr, who said he would call zone mgr.and get back to me. I called Ford customer relations (crc) to document issues. Called dealership on 1/21/08 and srv. Mgr. Said zone mgr. Said nothing could be done to resolve situation and we were responsible for repairs. Due to ongoing electric issues with SUV we fear other safety features may malfunction compromising our safety. Ford issued ssm 15773 on 4/05/02 to dealerships addressing unusual electrical issues after rain or snow resulting from a windshield water leak. The ssm included actions to be taken in that situation. Our vehicle was back to dealership many times after release of ssm for electrical issues and ssm work was never done.
- Metairie, LA, USA
I was coming home from church in heavy rain in 2001 Expedition when the windshield wipers and radio quit. I was forced to pull over due to not being able to see road ahead. I shifted into park and the radio and wipers came on. But as soon as I shifted back into drive they quit again. So I waited out the rain. When rain ceased I made it home with no wipers or radio. When I switched the ignition to off and removed the key the radio and wipers started to work again. The reading on the speed odometer was little dashes, and three warning light were own. Turn key back on and tried to crank SUV. It would only turn the engine over (not starting it). I disconnected the battery to keep from running battery down. If this had happen in heavy rain on a crowded highway there would have been a major accident and probably death. It seem that the 2001 Expedition has a history of windshield leaks letting the rain get on the fuse panel junction and GEM module. What will it take to get Ford to fix this problem, death and property damage?
- Perdido, AL, USA
Unwanted electrical activity. The blower motor comes on (sometimes) when the ignition is turned off. Also heard a clicking sound under the hood, may be the ABS. Will not start as battery is low.
- Erie, PA, USA
Every time it rains, my car won't start, front dash lights will turn on automatically, wipers won't work, radio won't work, ABS and theft light comes on, it has smoked and sometimes smells like an electrical fire. Water pools in the front left of my dash, it is completely rusted underneath my dash on the left side.
- Leland, NC, USA
I am having the same water leak problems that I've seen on here before. Water is getting into my fusebox every time it rains. I don't have the money to repair this so it is an ongoing safety hazard for me. I cannot believe this has not already been recalled after viewing all the complaints on the internet.
- Stillwater, OK, USA
I have a 2001 Ford Expedition and 1 year ago the heater would stay on after I would remove the key from the ignition and the battery would be dead every morning. 4 months ago I was driving in the rain and when I put my car into park the radio would turn on and I would put it into drive and it would turn off. Two days ago I was at work and I had gone to my car to retrieve something and I could hear across the parking lot that my car was trying to start without my key in the ignition I was freaking out, how can a car start without a key. I opened my car and put my key in the ignition, not knowing what to do I tried to start it to turn it off and when it was off I closed the door and started to walk back into work and it all the sudden was trying to start itself again. I went into work to get a man to come and unplug my battery. After work I reconnected the battery and it started I picked up my children and on the way home my car started grinding making weird noises then the radio was going on and off. I pulled over and grabbed my children out of the car thinking it was going to start an electrical fire. I had to stand in the rain and wait for a ride to pick us up and take us home. This only seems to happen in the rain. I was so scared for my self and my children. I went home and called a friend who knows a lot about cars and he said that this is common in Ford Expedition the windshield window leaks. He says I have to get a new windshield and a GEM module and a fuse box and a junction box. How can this be such a problem and Ford has not recalled the leaky windshields. My husband is very ill and we do not have any money to fix this. I now have no way to get him back and forth to the hospital. We all pay so much money for our cars and we have to worry about possible fires and unwanted elecrical activity when the car is unattended. I really hope Ford can help me and many others out their.
- Wauconda, IL, USA
Windshield wipers, rear window wiper, windows, interior lights and moon roof quit working, apparent cause was GEM module due to leaking windshield?
- Bridgeton, NJ, USA
The electrical system on my 2001 Ford Expedition was compromised and required repair due to a leaking front windshield. During heavy rainstorms the windshield leaked and soaked my electrical box causing shortages in all of my electrical systems. Driving the vehicle to the dealership, the vehicles electrical components were malfunctioning which caused some unsafe moments on the highway. Dealer replaced electrical box under my extended warranty but I (owner) had to replace front windshield at my own cost.
- Littleton, CO, USA
- Windsor, VA, USA