NHTSA Complaint #10176853 — 1997 FORD EXPEDITION

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. *NM