NHTSA Complaint #707483 — 1997 FORD EXPLORER

IN FEBRUARY 1998 THE NUMBER 40 AND 50 BEGAN TO DIM IN THE SPEEDOMETER. THE DIMMING HAS SPREAD TROUGHOUT THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. AFTER SEVERAL REPAIR ATTEMPTS THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WAS REPLACED IN OCTOBER 1998. THE NEW ONE IS WORSE THAN THE ORIGINAL. THE PROBLEM HAS CONTINUED TO SPREAD. AT THE PRESENT TIME ALL NUMBERS IN THE SPEEDOMETER ARE EITHER DIM OR DO NOT LIGHT UP. THE PROBLEM HAS SPREAD TO CONTROLS ON THE STEERING WHEEL, CONTROLS ON THE DOOR, AND THE RADIO. CONTROLS THT DO NOT LIGHT UP AT ALL ARE POWER WINDOW ADJUSTER ON DOOR, KNOB TO TURN ON LIGHTS, GAUGES FOR CONTROLLING THE LIGHT FOR OFF, LOW, OR HIGH, AND THE KNOB TO ADJUST DIMNESS OF INSTRUMNET CLUSTER. FORD HAD AN ENGINEER TO LOOK AT MARCH 31, 1999. HE CONCLUDED NO REAPIRS WERE NEEDED. THE PROBLEM WORSENS DAILY. I AM NOW GOING THROUGH A CASE WITH A DISPUTE SETTLEMENT BOARD. IF THAT FAILS I WILL HAVE TO CONTACT AN ATTORNEY. FORD REFUSES TO MAKE REPAIRS. RENTAL VEHICLES I HAVE RECEIVED FROM THEM HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM. FORD MOTOR COMPNAY CONTINUES TO STATE THEY HAVE SEEN NO OTHER VEHICLE PRODUCED BYTHEM WITH THIS PROBLEM. YOUR DATABASE SUGGESTS OTHERWISE. I WOULD LIKE THE NHTSA TO INVESTIGATE BEFORE SOMEONE IS KILLED DUE TO THIS VEHICLE FAILURE. *AK