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U.S. public vehicle records

1998 Ford EXPEDITION problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

643 owner complaints analyzed

5 distinct recall campaigns

110,000 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1998 model year. Data snapshot: . 310 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 58 of 643 complaints (9.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Braking behavior599.2%
Transmission and shifting406.2%
Steering behavior284.4%
Electrical and battery issues253.9%
Engine operation142.2%
Fuel system concerns101.6%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Electrical System
58
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
58
Vehicle Speed Control
34
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar
31
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
28
Engine And Engine Cooling
27
Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar
25
Tires
23
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Electrical System58
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine58
Vehicle Speed Control34
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar31
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control28
Engine And Engine Cooling27
Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar25
Tires23

Electrical System: 58; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 58; Vehicle Speed Control: 34; Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar: 31; Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control: 28; Engine And Engine Cooling: 27; Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar: 25; Tires: 23

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
6
25,000 to 49,999
14
50,000 to 74,999
36
75,000 to 99,999
73
100,000 to 149,999
113
150,000 and above
68
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0006
25,000 to 49,99914
50,000 to 74,99936
75,000 to 99,99973
100,000 to 149,999113
150,000 and above68

Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 14; 50,000 to 74,999: 36; 75,000 to 99,999: 73; 100,000 to 149,999: 113; 150,000 and above: 68

100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (113). 333 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2000
74
2001
90
2002
64
2003
79
2004
61
2005
90
2006
22
2007
21
2008
29
2009
20
2010
21
2011
16
2012
15
2013
6
2014
16
2015
2
2016
7
2017
3
2018
3
2019
2
2020
1
2023
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
200074
200190
200264
200379
200461
200590
200622
200721
200829
200920
201021
201116
201215
20136
201416
20152
20167
20173
20183
20192
20201
20231

2000: 74; 2001: 90; 2002: 64; 2003: 79; 2004: 61; 2005: 90; 2006: 22; 2007: 21; 2008: 29; 2009: 20; 2010: 21; 2011: 16; 2012: 15; 2013: 6; 2014: 16; 2015: 2; 2016: 7; 2017: 3; 2018: 3; 2019: 2; 2020: 1; 2023: 1

Pattern summary

Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 59 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 40 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 28 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10002702 · 2003-01-15 (January 15, 2003)

THIS HAS OCCURRED 8 OR 9 TIMES IN THE LAST 4 WEEKS' (THE MOST RECENT BEING 01/14/2003) MY 98 E/B 4X4 RECENTLY BEGAN OVER ACCELERATING AT INTERMITTENT TIMES. (I LIVE IN MN, AND HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM IS WORSE WHEN THE TEMP IS BELOW ZERO.) I HAVE HAD 2 MINOR ACCIDENTS ALREADY BECAUSE OUT OF THE BLUE MY VEHICLE TAKES OFF AS THOUGH IT IS GOING 70 MILES AN HOUR. THE BRAKES DO NOT SEEM TO WORK WHEN THIS IS OCCURRING. IN ORDER TO STOP THIS FROM OCCURRING, I NEED TO QUICKLY SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL, WHICH CAUSES THE ENGINE TO REV UP TO 4500 RPM…

Owner-reported narrative. 56,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10002702 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044164 · 2003-10-17 (October 17, 2003)

CONSUMER INDICATED THAT FRONT AND BACK ROTORS WERE WEARING OUT PREMATURELY. DEALERSHIP CHANGED THE BRAKES ON FOUR SEPARATE OCCASIONS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10044164 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046414 · 2003-11-05 (November 5, 2003)

CONSUMER COMPLAINED ABOUT AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION INDICATOR LEVER GEAR PROBLEM. VEHICLE HAD BEEN DIAGNOSED WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AS THE ONE MENTIONED IN A RECENT RECALL. HOWEVER, THIS VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL DUE TO VIN. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 70,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046414 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002221 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SWAB BAR LINKS. ALSO STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THAT IT CAUSES THE STEERING TO NOT BE THE WAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEMS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002221 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10002222 · 2003-01-07 (January 7, 2003)

CONSUMER CALLED COMPLAINING ABOUT HAVING PROBLEMS WITH SWAB BAR LINKS. ALSO STATED THAT BECAUSE OF THAT IT CAUSES THE STEERING TO NOT BE THE WAY THAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE. DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND HAVE NOT FOUND ANY PROBLEMS. TS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10002222 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10108170 · 2005-01-28 (January 28, 2005)

OUR 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WAS DESTROYED BY A ELECTRICAL FIRE THAT DAMAGED OUR HOME.THE TRUCK WAS LAST DRIVEN AT 9:30PM AND AT 11:30PM IT STARTED ON FIRE.THE TRUCK WAS TOTALED BY THE INSURANNC COMPANY.*AK

Owner-reported narrative. 72,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10108170 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10109472 · 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)

VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE AND CONSUMER SMELLED SMOKE. CONSUMER WENT TO THE GARAGE, AND UPON ARRIVING NOTICED THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN ON FIRE AND SMOLDERED OUT. *AK. VEHICLE WOULD NOT STEER. AAA TOWED VEHICLE REPAIR SHOP, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH WIRING BURNED, ALONG WITH FUSE AND BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10109472 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044233 · 2003-12-10 (December 10, 2003)

WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE DRIVER PULLED OVER ONTO THE SHOULDER AND ATTEMPTED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE BUT IT WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT THE MECHANIC COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK *NLM *PH

Owner-reported narrative. 73,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044233 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10071811 · 2004-04-29 (April 29, 2004)

WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD KNOCKING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE FRONT, THEN VEHICLE STALLED. CONSUMER TRIED TO RESTART VEHICLE BUT WAS UNABLE TO DO SO. CONSUMER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER FOR INSPECTION, AND MECHANIC DETERMINED THAT THE THIRD SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT, AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. DRIVER INFORMED THE MECHANIC THAT THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED MORE THAN ONCE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10071811 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10031758 · 2003-07-31 (July 31, 2003)

CONSUMER NOTICED FUEL UNDER VEHICLE DUE TO FUEL TANK LEAKAGE. PLEASE PROVIDE FURHER INFORMATION. *PH

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10031758 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10127177 · 2005-06-30 (June 30, 2005)

DT: THE VALVE INSIDE THE GAS TANK THAT KEEPS THE GASOLINE FROM EVAPORTAING IN THE AIR BROKE. CONTACTED THE DEALER, AND THEY SAID THIS PART VERY RARLEY BREAKS AND THERE WERE GOING TO CHARGE CONSUMER TO HAVE IT FIXED. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 160,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10127177 at NHTSA ↗