While driving at low speed, the number three spark plug shot out rendering my 2001 ford expedition unusable. Fortunately, I was able to pull off to the side of the heavily traveled road. Upon further research, this appears to be a very common problem.
2001 Ford Expedition electrical complaints
Page 4 of 5: complaints 71 to 100 of 118, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Experienced failure of several electrical components - electric door windows on right front, rear windshield wiper, cruise control, interior lights would not turn off, battery wore down, sunroof window. The dealer stated that water got into the car and had to replace the fuse box and computer and the switch for the front right window. Returned with right front door window, and rear wiper not working again and have to replace the motor for these.
Today (7/21/06) I again contacted the ford customer relationship center concerning a problem with the electrical system in my 2001 expedition. It has continually eaten batteries and the battery saver relay due to a windshield leak that ford claims they are not aware of, yet the federal safety agency has been receiving regular complaints on this problem. Initially the drawdown was diagnosed by ford as relating to rhe cruise control recall. Guess what? That's fixed but the frying of the battery saver relay and battery drawdown continue. I did not appreciate dale at the ford consumer relationship number referring me to a ford dealership in carson city, I'm sure if I drove the vehicle from hawaii the leak would get worse. Meanwhile, what is the federal safety agency doing about complaints you've been receiving for years? This defect is well documented and caused injuries and economic stress. Would you please take some action?
Dt*: the contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH, the check engine light illuminated, and the vehicle lost speed and began to buck. The vehicle was taken to a private mechanic shop, where it was determined that there was an electrical shortage. The number 8, 7, 5, and 4 engine coils have been replaced on the vehicle. The consumer stated the number 7 & 5 coil has been replaced twice. Updated 07/25/06.
Dt*: the contact stated the front windshield leaked rainwater into the vehicle and the dash panel area. Afterwards, the power and electrical features did not work. The vehicle was inspected by a dealer who determined due to the heavy rain the windshield seal leaked and the water caused an electrical failure of the central junction box.
I own a 2001 ford expedition. For about the last 3 months, when it rains, the electrical system has numerous problems. It started about 3 months ago when the heater fan would continue to blow on high after the key was removed from the ignition. It would continue to run until the battery died. It gradually got worse over the last 3 months with a new symptom being added to the list. Currently the radio and windshield wipers will not work when the car is in drive after it has been raining heavily for awhile. Also the fan problem continues when the car is turned off. All this happens when it has been raining heavily for a while. I have seen reports from other owners that this is happening to them so I'm reporting it to you. Since the windshield wiper doesn't work when it is raining, this could be a bad problem.
Windshield wipers, radio, clock, all stop working due to water leak. It was raining for several hours. In addition, the AC blower was running with the engine off and with no keys in the ignition. Dealer fixed winshield water leak and installed sop parts gem module and cjb; also replaced central junction box. Despite all this, in two other occasions, the AC continued to run without the key in the vehicle. This was finally fixed. Old parts are not available.
On may 18 2005 my 2001 ford expedition VIN #[xxx] stopped working while at a local walmart store I had to call roadside assistance to tow my vehicle to my home being that it was about 11 pm and no shops were open I had the vehicle towed to my address and parked in the driveway. The next evening while parked in the driveway undriven or started for 24 hours a neighbor ran into my home to get myself and my children out of our home. Screaming that our truck was on fire in the driveway parked directly in front of the garage. After pulling my family out we then called 911. Where the local fire dept was sent out to our home to put out the fire. The fire marshall at that time told us where the hot point was and that we should contact ford. I contacted ford immediately that morning and they denied any part of a recall for that or my other 98 ford expedition. We then contacted sherry pullen at the federal safety agency to try to get asst. In this matter we also had our 98 ford expedition towed to the local ford dealer after this in fear of this happening again. And they replaced the switch at no charge to us and said there was a recall sent to them by ford. I faxed the work order and all info to sherry pullen. And weeks later saw on the news that ford did expand there recall to include both of my vehicles. I have contacted ford on numerous occasions with no response and have also filed complaints with the bbb as well as that attorney general's office. *jb updated 07/17/2012 *js information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6)
2001 ford expedition windshield leaking into fuse box and gem module , causing electrical problems and shorts.
2001 ford expedition ignition coils continue to short out when wet and always after a rain - water seeps into the engine compartment and inevitably that an ignition coil will begin to short out / begin missing and lose power while driving. Because this always seems to happen during inclement weather the danger factor is heightened. I have spoken to other 2001 expedition owners and they all have experienced the exact same dangerous and expensive problem. Another issue of consumer concern is that ford motor co. And it's service representatives are keenly aware of this and in fact have repaired the continuous problem during the first 75,000 miles. I personally have had the coils go out on me while driving in dangerous weather and have now had five(5) ignition coils go out on me at this time. Ford motor co needs to take responsibility for this inherent mechanical problem and finally correct this problem before any accidents and deaths occur.
For the past 3 years since I owned my vehicle it malfunctions when it rains. The electrical components go haywire and they continues to run when I turn the car off and take the keys out. Eventually the battery dies and it does not go away until the rain stops for at least 3 days. I cannot drive the car when it is like this.
My ford expedition was purchased in august of 2001. By november of '01 the battery had died. To shorten the story, I hit the highlights. Basically it was determined by myself and ford that if the vehicle was untouched for more than 2 weeks, the active power drain on the vehicle was substantial enough to drain the battery. After 9 instances of taking the vehicle to ford over a 3 year period, towing the vehicle in, and working with them on what was wrong, I was told that top ford engineers said it was acceptable that if a ford vehicle had a substantial power drain that it was okay if the vehicle could hold a charge for 2 weeks. Basically admitting fault and telling me it was my responsibility to work around this issue by installing a battery charger. Since the expedition is my 2nd vehicle I only drive it once a month or so. If I do not keep the battery charged via external charger the battery will die. One note here is that the amperage draw to ground on the vehicle at all times is enough to cause substantial sparking if the battery cables are loose or removed. This also was deemed okay by ford. This causes me enough concern that I will not park this vehicle in the garage of my home due to fear of fire. But the vehicle cost enough that I can't simply replace it. I've notified many ford dealerships and contacts including calling, emails, and written letters on this subject and they simply accept the fact that they manufacture unsafe vehicles. Hopefully this form will cause statistical notification of their shortfalls.
Incident: 2001 ford expedition 1. Windshield wipers would not work, radio would go off when vehicle was put in gear, blower, compass, thermometer lets & bells would not work, vehicle would not start, battery eventually went dead, etc 2. Had to service the vehicle for safety and performance reasons 3. Expedition was serviced at a local ford dealership. Service department advised us that there was a water leak around the windshield. Water was leaking into an electrical box - had to replace fuse panel and reseal glass at a cost of $456.96.
There was a heavy rain the expedition was parked outside. There was water on the floor mat. The headlights, windshield wipers, radio worked when the expedition was off. Yet would not work when the car was on. The expedition acted on its own. We took the expedition to the dealership (jim keim ford) where we purchased the vehicle. They charged us 893.00 to fix the fuse panel, sensor panel and reseal the entire front window. Then jim keim told me it would be another 200.00 if they broke the windsheild. I paid the money and have not had a problem since.
Since I got the truck the electric system has been failing, also the brakes failed to operate while on the freeway and almost had us killed. The back door locks by itself and can't be opened. Air comes in from the front windshield and it also leaks when it rains. All four tires were very wasted, also I was lied about the interest rate. I was told that my interest would be 6.78% and in the contract it appears as 12.15%.
Dt: contact states the car takes a long time to start, it's like the battery is dead. When vehicle was inspected the contact was told that the battery was good. When hitting the alarm the horn will sound very low, sometimes it will not make a sound at all. The automatic locks will not engage until the vehicle is already down the road. They suppose to engage when taking foot off the brakes. When starting the car the gauges will flash on/off, and then go back to normal. Also, when starting the vehicle the headlights will flash on as if the alarm has sounded, then , they will go off. The light that indicates if the car is in overdrive or regular drive no longer works. The contact received a recall letter last month regarding the scds. He reports having no problems with the cruise control. He believes the aforementioned problems are related to the defective scds. He has not taken the car to dealer to have the scds disconnected as stated in the recall. He plans to do so as soon as possible.
Vehicle was left outside during several rainy days. Upon starting vehicle, wipers, fans would not work. Radio would not operate. When vehicle was left in auxiliary position, the vehicle would start itself without turning the key. If the car was left running and in park, the vehicle would try to start while running. This has happened several times, during wet rainy weather. The vehicle, a 2001 ford expedition was taken to the dealership and problem explained. By this time the area affected had dried out and vehicle returned to normal operating systems. The dealer said it could not be diagnosed until it occurred again.
I have been having the same problem with my 2001 ford expedition since march 2004. The problem is with the fuse that displays lights on the dash board. This fuse repeatedly blows. So I took the vehicle to allan vigil ford in morrow, georgia and the repeatedly could not find the problem. At this present time the problem still has not been solved therefore I am forced to be inside before night fall.
Truck was just sitting there when it caught on fire
Fuse box and module all kinds of electrial problems also car will start on its own the car will jump into reverse
Dt: contact states the windshield is leaking, causing the computer in the fuse panel to short out. The stereo, windshield wipers, and the air conditioner come on when the vehicle was not in use. Windshield was replaced. Warranty expired , and electronic panel had not been replaced. Ford manufacturer has been contacted.
This expedition starts up with no key wipers start and stop door lokes open and close 4 wheel drive engages and disengages in park or neutral the car tries to start again when it is already running . The car was parked while I went into the store my wife was in the car it jumped into reverse she jumped out of the car the door hit her nocked her down and almost ran her over this can be repeated the fuse box and module were replaced at a cost of about $1,000.00 also I had to replace the front windshield as it was leaking they said the car was out of warrenty the car has never been in a accident .
I had complete failure of electrical systems due to water leak around front windshield and/or moon roof
Vehicle caught fire while parked, completely engulfed in flames
Vehicle parked for approx. 22 hours, cc quit working 1 week prior, one day before vehicle fire would not get out of park
2001 ford expedition caught on fire in the steering wheel area underneath the hood. *mr the vehicle was parked the day before the incident occurred. Around 9 am the consumer viewed smoke coming form the vehicle. The vehicle was totaled. *sc
Vehicle parked in garage and started on fire. Cruise control quit working prior to fire. Vehicle severely destroyed and fuses obliterated. Cruise control deactivation switch componenets recovered and xrayed. Internal contacts arced and splattered. Also arcing on wiring harness adjacent to vacuum booster.
This is the second spark plug in less than 4 months that has blown out of the cylinder head out of our 2001ford expedition. Please investigate this problem as it is occurring to many people. It is definitely a flaw in design and is costing people too much money to continue to fix. Ford has been no help. As the last time, while driving the spark plug just blows through the cylinder head on a vehicle that has been impeccably maintained.
Electronic shortages is causing malfunctions in the ignition switch, wipers, running lights and radio. These malfunctions seem to worsen when it rains. The vehicle starts by its self while unattended. When driving if the wipers dont work, I have to shift the transmission to neutrl for them to operate and the same for the radio. I have spent several hundred dollars to have this problem looked at and the ford dealership stated that they have had several vehicles come in with the same problem, but I would have to pay around $1000.00 more dollars to change out the fuse box and still this may not the cure the problem. The technition stated that water was getting in behind the fuse box some how. He told me to silicone the cow down to the windsheild to reflect the water, so I did and it did not work. Every morning my preganent wife as to use a battery jumper box to just start the vehicle because the electronics on the vehicle stays on all the time as if the key was insertered and turned to auxillary. The vehicle attempts to start during the night by its self. It does not start, the starter just turns over as if it is trying to start until the battery goes dead. I am scared that the vehicle is going to catch fire or even blow up in front of my residence. Dealership said that they could not fix the problem until enough people came in asking for the same help. I hope there is something that can be done about this 36,000.00 vehicle. I have carried the vehicle to several other mechanics and they cannot figure out the problem but they still charge me for looking.
I own a 2001 ford expedition, I was parked in front of my parents home for approx. 2 1/2 hours, when my fiance walked outside an saw that my car was on fire. The fire started on the driver side engine compartment. I have reported the incident to my insurance carrier. But I heard of the recalls that have been reported on the ford SUV's. The engine was completely destroyed. I feel this is related to the cruise control unit, after examination after the fire was extinguished. The fire department reported to the scene, and report was filed.
VIN decoder
See the problems and recalls for an exact car
Buying a used 2001 Ford Expedition?
Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.
Check its history