NHTSA Complaint #10972088 — 2003 FORD EXPEDITION

THE ENGINE STOPS RUNNING WITHOUT WARNING. I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT 70+ IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. ALL OF A SUDDEN THE ENGINE SHUTS DOWN. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN NEUTRAL AND ENGAGED THE FLASHERS. I TRIED TO RESTART THE VEHICLE WHILE MANEUVERING TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AVOIDING MULTIPLE CLOSE CALLS. ONCE STOPPED, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND TRIED TO RESTART. AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES THE CAR RESTARTED. I TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE AUTOZONE TO SEE IF THERE WERE ANY FAULT CODES. ONE CODE INDICATED THE FUEL PUMP WAS AN ISSUE. THEY ADVISED ME THAT THEY HAVE SEEN THIS BEFORE AND DIRECTED ME TO GO TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP COULD NOT LOOK AT IT IMMEDIATELY SO I HAD MY SON PICK ME UP WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE FOLLOWING DAY THEY RAN A DIAGNOSTICS ($95 FEE THAT WAS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY SINCE THIS IS A WELL KNOW FAILURE) ON THE CAR AND INDICATED THAT IT WAS THE FAULTY CENTRAL JUNCTION FUSE BOX LOCATED INSIDE THE VEHICLE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE NEAR THE FEET. PN 3L1Z-14-A068-AA-A11 @$517. INSTALLATION COSTS $215. WHEN I GOT HOME I SEARCHED THE WEB AND FOUND THAT THIS IS A COMMON FAILURE FOR THIS VEHICLE. THE BLOGS AND COMMENTS ARE OF MULTIPLE NEAR MISSED COLLISIONS AMONG OTHER THINGS. THIS PART FAILURE HAPPENED ON VEHICLES THAT WERE LESS THAN ONE YEAR OLD. IT CAN HAPPEN AT ANYTIME TO ANY 2003 FORD EXPEDITION. THIS PART WAS REDESIGNED FOR LATER FORD EXPEDITIONS BECAUSE FORD KNEW OF THE PROBLEM. IF YOU CONTACT ANY PICK AND PULL SALVAGE YARD YOU WILL FIND THAT ALL OF THESE CENTRAL JUNCTION BOX (FUSE BOXES) ARE NOT AVAILABLE SINCE EVERYONE TRIES TO REPLACE THEM BY THEMSELVES BECAUSE OF THE HIGH COSTS. ALSO, THERE ARE MULTIPLE COMPANIES THAT WILL REPAIR THE FAULTY PART WITH A RE-ENGINEERED CIRCUIT. FORD HAS SINCE MADE A NEW PART WITH A DIFFERENT PN / MODEL NUMBER. THIS SHOULD HAVE BEEN A SAFETY RECALL IN THE FIRST YEAR. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS AND LIVES ARE AT STAKE.