NHTSA Complaint #10067688 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

PURCHASED 2003 EXPEDITION XLT IN 9/03 AND HAD THE FOLLOWING PROBLEMS WITHIN ONE WEEK OF PURCHASE: A/C NOISE & DECREASED VOLUME WHEN MAX A/C IS ON; RATTLING NOISE FROM SIDE PANELS (WHICH ALSO SHOWED FADING WITHIN 3 MONTHS AND WERE REPLACED); WASHER FLUID LIGHT SHOWED LOW WHEN FULL; FOAM LOOSE AROUND DEFROSTER. BY 12/03, STEREO SYSTEM REPLACED DUE TO LOUD WHINING NOISE; HAS BEEN REPLACED 3 TIMES (PROBLEM STILL RECURRING); 2/04 SUN ROOF LEAKING PROFUSELY INTO 2ND ROW SEAT AREA (SAME PROBLEM OCCURRED A MONTH LATER THOUGH REPAIRED). WHEN DEALER'S SUBCONTRACTOR REPAIRED MOONROOF THE SECOND TIME, THE TECHNICAN NEGLECTED TO SCREW REAR SEATBELT BOLT TIGHTLY BACK TO SIDE PANEL. SEATBELT BOLT BROKE AWAY FROM SIDE PANEL WHILE CHILD WAS SITTING IN SEAT! DEALER REPAIRED AND CHECKED ALL SEAT BELT ATTACHMENTS AT MY REQUEST BUT DID NOT OFFER TO DETERMINE SOURCE OF PROBLEM UNTIL I INSISTED. SERVICE MGR INITIALLY REPORTED HE THOUGHT IT WAS A FACTORY DEFECT, UNTIL THEY RESEARCHED THE PROBLEM IN DETAIL. I STRONGLY RECOMMEND THAT FORD HAVE A POLICY THAT ANY SAFETY DEVICES REMOVED OR TAMPERED WITH DURING ANY REPAIR SHOULD BE DOUBLE CHECKED FOR PROPER OPERATION PRIOR TO RETURNING VEHICLE TO OWNER. *AK