1997 Ford Expedition: water leaks into the cabin

Filed Dec 14, 2015 · Electrical · 190,000 miles · WA

Miscellaneous electrical problems caused by water leaking from driver's side windshield into the fuse box causing, windshield wipers to quit. Door lock won't work, radio quit. Problem is never the same, depends on where the water leak occurs. Very scary and dangerous when driving at night in the rain.

Filed Jan 6, 2012 · Electrical, Transmission · 140,000 miles · FL

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idled in the driveway, he noticed that the exterior and interior lights were flashing, the stereo would turn on and off, and the door locks would lock and unlock. The contact unplugged the battery and the vehicle operated as normal. In addition, the contact stated that the transmission completely failed and the contact noticed water leaking in from the windshield onto the dashboard. Both the dealer and manufacturer were notified, but denied any assistance with repairs of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 140,000 and current mileage was 197,000.

Filed Dec 5, 2011 · Electrical · 170,000 miles · MS · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. The contact was driving approximately 60 MPH with the windshield wipers activated and suddenly without warning the windshield wipers failed to function. In addition, the entire electrical system failed with a strong burning odor emitting inside of the vehicle. The failure occurred intermittently. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who stated there was water leaking into the fuse box as a result it caused a shortage within the gem module. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 170,000.

Filed Feb 11, 2009 · Electrical · 184,000 miles · IL · fire

1997 ford expedition has water in stereo causing electrical fire in dash. No water leaks found. Windshield was resealed and water tested.

Filed Jan 9, 2009 · Electrical, Visibility · 98,000 miles · VA

After rain, water leaked through windshield on 1997 ford expedition resulting in electrical anomalies. This could pose a fire hazard.

Filed Dec 20, 2007 · Body · 130,000 miles · CA

Tl*the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. While it was raining, water began to drip on the driver's leg. The water came from under the dashboard on the driver's side. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined that the water entered through the air vent duct located outside the vehicle by the windshield. The stereo and instrument panel malfunctioned while the vehicle was parked. The contact smelled something burning. The vehicle would not restart. The manufacturer stated that the vent duct needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.

Filed Dec 22, 2006 · Electrical, Transmission · PA

I have a 1997 ford expedition which has had the following symptoms: the fan blower stays on while truck is off, the battery dies for no apparent reason after truck has sat unused for short periods, various lights on instrument panel come on and off while driving(including ABS, airbag, all 4wd related lights, low wash, check engine), overdrive light blinks, speedometer doesn't work, truck doesn't accelerate and shift properly, radio comes on when truck is off. Clicks and beeps can be heard sometimes when in use and off. The dealer said the gem and fuse box were damaged by water leaking from windshield. They replaced parts(for $600 and told me that I had to go and get the windshield fixed. I asked how they knew the water was certainly coming from windshield, and they said because of location etc. And I asked them what will happen if it rains after I pick it up and before it gets looked at. They said I'd be fine if it's within a few days ("just don't wait a month"). Well I picked it upon the evening, and made an appointment for the next day for windshield. It rained overnight, though I even covered the area as best I could. I woke up to the radio blaring from my truck. I turned the truck on, shut it back off, radio still played so I shut its power off. As I drove to work, some of the other things started to happen again as well. I am not happy that (a) I have had to pay for ford's inadequate workmanship and (b) I now have to fight with them about what is going to happen now since the rain has already screwed it up again because they left it in my hands before the leak was fixed. That truck never should have left their garage until it was taken care of. I don't know why they couldn't do it themselves, but they could have at least had the glass company come and do it there. This clearly is a common problem with expeditions, and I think ford should be forced to do something about it. Electrical malfunctions are not something to let.

Filed Feb 12, 2006 · Electrical · 93,000 miles · TN

97 expedition that has multiple electrical problems, air bag light stays on, clicking under dash wet carpet on drivers side. Local ford dealer tells me oh that's an easy fix, only $1200.00 to replace the generic electric module and remove and reinstall the windshield! Went on to tell me they do this all the time on expeditions! I asked why and they told me that "the factory screwed up when the windshields were installed and they leak"! I thought that was why we had recalls! If this is the factories fault then why must I pay for it?

Filed Jan 14, 2006 · Electrical · 129,000 miles · WA

I have experienced a problem with my 97 ford expedition not starting after sitting for longer than two days for over a year now. I have had the local ford dealership attempt to find the draw keeping the vehicle for over a month total. When it rained the problem seemed to be worse. Eventually I was left with having to have a battery booster in the back and jump the car as it needed with no solution from the dealer. Today I went out to the car almost a year later of dealing with this and the car wouldn't start after less than 24 hours of not driving it. The car was not completely dead as there was clicking noises upon turning the ignition but did not turn over. Removed the keys from ignition and got out of car to get battery booster from the back and heard popping and static noise from passenger front speaker very loud. Again, keys were not even in the ignition. Noise continued to come from the speaker for over 30 min until I jumped the car. When started the clock and radio would not work and noise continued to come from the speaker, also noticed water leaking down passenger side handle located by the windshield. Drove immediately to garage specializing in electrical and was told of water leaking from windshield seal failure very common in this vehicle and position of fuse and gem module allowing water to leak in and pool acting as a conductor resulting in components coming on and malfunctioning without vehicle on is very common. Resolution, replace windshield as seal needs to be corrected (approx. $280.00) and replace fuse and gem module (approx. $600.00). I left the garage and called the local dealer and was told the same and service manager said with our recent rain of 25 days running here in wa they were seeing a lot of this and is common but there is no recall for this. After doing research online this evening I am shocked how many similar complaints I have found for this and a couple of other problems I have noticed.

Filed Mar 21, 2005 · Electrical · 42,000 miles · OH

The interior dash lights of my 1997 expedition go out every time it rains or the vehicle gets wet. The cause of this appears to be in the electrical system connect with the dimmrer switch that cause a short that then blows the 5 amp fuse. I have replaced this multiple times and is fine as long as it is dry (ohio isn't a very dry climate). I have gone through many 5 amp fuses. I have delayed getting anything done since the first occurance back in 2000 due the costly expense of just trying to diagnose the problem. This seems similar to other complaints that I have read posted on this web site due to water leaking from windshield. I have even had my windshield replaced and still have this problem to date. I have now stopped replacing the fuse and live with no dash lights at night. Very dangerous when you don't know what speed your going. In my professional engineering opinion there appears to be a water leak issue in the windshield/firewall area. This water leak issue should be looked into as the root cause to other failures that have been seen on expeditions and f-150s in regards to electrical issues and fires.

Filed Apr 9, 2002 · Electrical, Visibility · OH

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.