NHTSA Complaint #745827 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN BACK TO THE DEALER IN A 6 MONTH PERIOD FOR ENGINE TROUBLES DUE TO A DEFECTIVE ENGINE BLOCK. THE DEALER HAS STATED THAT FORD MOTOR CO. IS AWARE OF THIS DEFECT, HOWEVER THEY HAVE NOT NOTIFIED CONSUMERS THAT PURCHASED AFFECTED VEHICLES. THIS DEALER HAS MADE REPAIRS USING A "REBUILT, REMANUFACTURED" ENGINE BLOCK. THIS REPAIR IS NOT SATISFACTORY AS I PURCHASED ANEW VEHICLE AND EXPECT THE REPAIRS TO BE DONE WITH BRAND NEW NOT REFURBISHED PARTS. HAD I NOT TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO THE SELLING FORD DEALER FOR ROUTINE MAINTENANCE, I WOULD NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM UNITL MY ENGINE FAILED AND POSSIBLY AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED. I BELIEVE THAT OTHER CONSUMERS MAY BE CHARGED FOR WORK THAT IS A RESULT OF THIS SAME TYPE OF ENGINE DEFECT THAT FORD IS AWARE OF AND HAS SENT TECHNICAL MEMO'S TO THE DEALERS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM. THE DEALER STATED THAT FORD MOTOR CO. WON'T ALLOW THE DEALERS TO NOTIFY CONSUMERS ABOUT THIS DEFECT AS IT COULD COST SIGNIFICANT AMOUNTS FOR FORD WARRANTY WORK. THIS IS A SERIOUS DEFECT AND A SAFETY ISSUE AS ENGINE FAILURE CAN RESULT IF NOT REPAIRED. THE FIRST TIME MY VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL, AND THE SECOND TIME IT WAS LEAKING ENGINE COOLANT DUE TO THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE BLOCK. I FEEL AS THOUGH FORD MOTOR CO. AND IT'S DEALERS ARE KEEPING THIS INFORMATION FROM CONSUMERS THAT HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW THEIR VEHICLES MAY BE DEFECTIVE BEFORE THEY HAVE AN ACCIDENT OR INCIDENT DUE TO ENGINE FAILURE.*AK