1998 Ford Expedition steering problems

“YEARS AGO WHEN PURCHASED THE EXPEDITION I NOTICED THE SHIFT GEAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TRY TO CONTACT THE DEALER AS I HEARD THAT THIS WAS A RECALL; I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. IT HAS KNOW BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND I'M NOW EXPERIENCING WHAT I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHERS WITH AN EXPEDITION WHICH IS TRUCK IS NOT ENGAGING INTO PARKING POSITION AND ROLLS. THIS IS A CONCERN TO ME AS MY DRIVE WAY IS ON A SLIGHT UP HILL. THIS IS AN ENDANGERING TO THE PUBLIC, THE ISSUE HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE HURT BECAUSE OF A ROLL BACK OR FORWARD DUE TO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT FROM THE MANY CASES I'VE READ UP ON SO FAR. FORD DEALER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS THE COIL AND SPARK PLUG WHICH BLOWS OUT OF ENGINE AND AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS COST ME THOUSANDS IN REPAIR,ITS NOT WORTH AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE PRESENT REPAIRS. *TR”

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED IN THE IGNITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT START. THE GEAR INDICATOR WAS NOT IN PARK AND THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO PARK. HE NOTICED A SCREW ON THE FLOOR. THE CONTACT, A MECHANIC, TOOK THE DASHBOARD APART AND NOTICED THAT THE SCREW FELL FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE SCREW WAS REPLACED, BUT IT CONTINUED TO FALL OUT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL). THE PASSENGER SIDE HEADLIGHT WOULD FAIL EVERY THREE MONTHS AND WAS REPLACED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 126,000.”

“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THE DRIVER'S SIDE OUTER TIE ROD BROKE ON HER VEHICLE AS SHE WAS DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY AT 50-60 MPH. THIS HAPPENED ON 8-30-05. SHE REPORTS HAVING NO PROBLEMS PRIOR TO THIS. THERE WAS NOT AN ACCIDENT. SHE HAD RECEIVED A LETTER FROM FORD ON 9-04 TO HAVE THE TIE RODS INSPECTED EVERY 15,000 MILES. SHE HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED IMMEDIATELY AFTER RECEIVING THE LETTER. THE CAR HAD 90,000 MILES AT THAT TIME. BOTH OUTER TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. *JB *NM”

“DT: THE CONSUMER STATED THAT THE 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WAS HAVING A PROBLEM WITH THE STEERING AND WAS MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THERE IS A CLANKING SOUND. THE PROBLEM IS INTERMITTENT. WHEN TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL AT A SLOW SPEED ONE CAN HEAR THE NOISE. THE SPEED IS 5 MPH. THE CONSUMER HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE SHOP THREE TIMES OVER THE NOISE PROBLEM. NO ONE CAN FIND THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. THE ONLY THING THAT THEY KNOW IS THAT IS COMING FROM THE FRONT END. THE CONSUMER HAS NOT CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT IT MAY BE THE STEERING COLUMN OR AROUND THAT AREA.*AK”

“DT: 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE STEERING WHEEL LOCKED WHILE MAKING A TURN. CONSUMER WILL TAKE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP TOMORROW. THE POWER STEERING FLUID WAS CHECKED. ALSO, STATED THAT EVERYTHING WAS CHECKED, AND THE VEHICLE WAS VERY WELL MAINTAINED. *AK”

“DT: CONSUMER WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY AND PREPARED TO EXIT ON OFF RAMP WHEN LEFT DRIVER'S SIDE TIE ROD SEPARATED FROM VEHICLE AND ENTERED THE WHEEL WELL WHICH CAUSED VEHICLE TO COME TO A VIOLENT HALT. VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO DEALER, AND DEALER CONFIRMED TIE ROD BROKE. INSPECTED RIGHT SIDE, AND SAID THAT TIE ROD WAS NEAR FAILURE AS WELL. REPAIRS WERE MADE. THAT WAS SECOND TIME IN 3 YEARS THAT TIE RODS WERE REPLACED. THE FIRST TIME IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY, AND THE SECOND INCIDENT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. CONSUMER WAS UPSET THAT THESE PARTS T FAILED. HAD NOT OCCURRED UNDER NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS WAS STREET AND HIGHWAY DRIVING, NO ROUGH WEAR ON THE VEHICLE. *AK”