NHTSA Complaint #10146304 — 2001 FORD EXPEDITION

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. *JB