NHTSA Complaint #763795 — 1999 FORD EXPEDITION

THE ENGINE STARTS NORMALLY AFTER THE KEY IS TURNED BUT DIES WHEN I SHIFT INTO GEAR. AFTER THE FIRST FAILURE, THE TRUCK WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO PERFORMED DIAGNOSTICS. THE TESTS DID NOT SHOW ANY ABNORMALITIES. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY COULD NOT IDENTIFY THE FAULTY PART THEREFORE COULD NOT REPLACE ANYTHING. THEY SAID IT COULD JUST BE A FLUKE AND MIGHT NEVER HAPPEN AGAIN. THIS WAS WHILE THE TRUCK WAS UNDER MANUFACTURER'S WARRANTY. THE SECOND FAILURE OCCURED TWO DAYS AGO, APPROX. 6 MONTHS AFTER THE FIRST INCIDENT. I WAS EVENTUALLY ABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE STARTED ON MY OWN AND DROVE STRAIGHT TO THE DEALER. AGAIN, THEY WERE UNABLE TO FIND ANY FAULTY PARTS. THE VEHICLE IS NOW OUT OF MANUFACTURER WARRENTY BUT IS UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR SHOP SAID THAT THEY COULD NOT JUST START REPLACING PARTS WITHOUT A CLEAR CUT DIAGNOSTIC BECASUE THE INSURER WOULD NOT PAY. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE ANY DISTANCE FROM MY HOME OR OFFICE IN CASE THE DEFECT STALLS THE CAR AGAIN OR MANIFESTS ITSELF IN SOME OTHER, MORE DESTRUCTIVE WAY. I CANCELLED MY TRIP FOR THE FOURTH OF JULY AND AM WAITING ON A DEALER CALL BACK. I AM ASSUMING THIS IS A GLITCH IN A COMPUTER CHIP OR SOMETHING RELATIVELY MINOR, BUT DIFFICULT TO FIND. HOWEVER, THE PROBLEM IS A MAJOR ONE IN MY LIFE AS I DO NOT FEEL SAFE DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. THE DEALER HAS BEEN RESPONSIVE AND IS RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM. I DO NOT KNOW IF THEY HAVE ACCESS TO A DATA BASE OF OTHER EXPEDITION/F110 OWNERS WHO MAY HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM, SO I AM TRYING TO DISTRIBUTE MY INFORMATION TO A CENTRAL ORGANIZATION THAT MIGHT BE ABLE TO RECOGNIZE A PATTERN OF FAILURE AND IDENTIFY IT'S CAUSE. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN MAINTAINED PER THE MANUFACTURER'S RECOMMENDATIONS.*AK