NHTSA Complaint #10182220 — 2000 FORD EXPEDITION

MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION HAS CAUSED US NUMEROUS HEADACHES AND NEAR ACCIDENTS AS A RESULT OF RAIN ENTERING THE VEHICLE DUE TO A DEFECTIVE WINDSHIELD INSTALLATION. ONCE THE RAIN WATER ENTERS THE DRIVER SIDE DASH PANEL ( UNDERSIDE ) AND COMES IN CONTACT WITH ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS MOUNTED THERE, NUMEROUS FAILURES OCCUR, SUCH AS : WINDSHIELD WIPERS QUIT WORKING, INTERIOR AND DASH PANEL LIGHTS FLASH ON AND OFF, AND EVENTUALLY QUIT WORKING. THE SAFETY SWITCH WHICH ALLOWS THE VEHICLE TO BE PLACED IN DRIVE WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE ALSO FAILS ONCE THE VEHICLE IS TURNED OFF. THESE PROBLEMS ARE NOT JUST A NUISANCE, BUT A SAFETY HAZARD, AND AFTER SPEAKING TO OTHER EXPEDITION OWNERS AND READING NUMEROUS COMMON STORIES OF THE SAME PROBLEM, I FEEL THAT THIS IS A MANUFACTURER'S DEFECT AND SHOULD BE RECALLED AND REPAIRED ACCORDINGLY. IN CLOSING I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON A VERY BUSY INTERSTATE IN THE RAIN WHEN SHE EXPERIENCED OUR LATEST FAILURE. ALTHOUGH THERE WAS NO ACCIDENT, IT WAS DEFINITELY A CLOSE CALL, AND COULD HAVE BEEN POTENTIALLY FATAL. WE MAY NOT BE SO LUCKY THE NEXT TIME.... *JB