2000 FORD EXPEDITION Structurebody Problems

MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION WAS PARKED AT MY JOB PARKING LOT FOR 3HRS, WHEN IT CAUGHT FIRE UNDERNEATH THE HOOD NEAR THE MASTER CYLINDER, DRIVERS SIDE, NEAR THE FIREWALL. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BBB, AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS, WHICH ALL ATTEMPTS WERE IGNORED.

MY TRUCK HAS BEEN RUNNING FINE WITH NEW PARTS ON IT. I WENT TO MY FRIEND'S HOUSE WENT IN TO SWITCH MY LAUNDRY, LOOKED OUT HER WINDOW AND MY WAS ON FIRE!! TRUCK OFF AND KEYS WERE NOT IN IGNITION AND IT WAS PARKED IN A DRIVEWAY UNDER A CARPORT. IT POSED NO PROBLEMS ON THE WAY OVER THERE, NO SMELLS, NO SOUNDS, NO NOTHING. AND THEN BAM! HOOD SHOOTING OUT FLAMES.

MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE DRIVEWAY AND I WAS ALERTED BY MY DOGS BARKING. I OPENED MY GARAGE DOOR TO SEE THE ENTIRE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. THE FIRE WAS SO INTENSE THAT EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD HAD MELTED.THE FIRE MARSHALS SAID THE ALTERNATOR CAUSE IT

VEHICLE CAUGHT FIRE AROUND 10:25 PM. VEHICLE WAS PARK AND COLD SINCE THE LAST TIME IT WAS USED WAS AROUND 1:00 PM THE SAME DAY. MY WIFE GOT HOME AND WAS PARKING HER CAR A SUDENLY SAW THE FORD EXPEDITION CACHING FIRE AND FLAMES COMING OUT OF THE ENGINGE COMPARTMENT. VEHICLE IS TOTAL THERE ARE NO POSSIBILITY OF REPAIR.

BODY RUST AND ROT, ALONG THE ROCKER PANELS, BOTTOMS OF ALL DOORS AND RADIATOR SUPPORT. THIS WAS POINTED OUT TO LOCAL FORD DEALER WHERE PURCHASED, RESPONSE WAS IT WASN'T OUTER BODY RUST THRU, SO NO COVERAGE. THE RUST HAS PROGRESSED THAT ALL THE BOTTOM OF THE DOORS ,ROCKER PANELS AND RADIATOR SUPPORT HAVE RUSTED AWAY. I HAVE NOTICED THIS PROBLEM ON MANY OTHER EXPEDTIONS. IT SEEMS TO AFFECT THE 2000 MODEL YEAR ONLY. I HAVE MANY OTHER , OLDER AND HIGHER MILEAGE FORDS WITH A LITTLE OR NO RUST AT ALL. I DON'T THINK THE VEHICLE WILL PASS THE NEXT INSPECTION AND THIS HAS MADE THE VEHICLE WORTHLESS FOR TRADE OR SELLING. *KB

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS AN EXHAUST LEAK, THE ELECTRICAL ODOMETER FLICKERS ON AND OFF, AND THERE IS RUST AT THE BOTTOM OF EVERY DOOR ON THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE FUEL GAUGE DOES NOT WORK AND THE VEHICLE WOULD STALL WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE CONTACT WOULD BE LIABLE FOR 50% OF THE REPAIR COSTS, AND THE OTHER 50% WOULD BE COVERED UNDER WARRANTY. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 109,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 109,150, WHICH WAS DIFFICULT TO DETERMINE DUE TO THE FAILED ODOMETER.

PAINT BEGAN TO BUBBLE AND PEEL FROM THE ROOF. VEHICLE WAS LEASED (3YEARS) AND PURCHASED AT END OF LEASE. WHEN I BROUGHT UP THE PAINT DEFECT WITH DEALER, THEY INDICATED THAT I WOULD HAVE TO PAY FOR PAINT JOB. NOW BEGINNING TO FLAKE ON THE HOOD. *AK

11/01 VEHICLE STALLS NO POWER VALLEY FORD CHANGES KEY AND RE-CODES ,3/20 VEHICLE STALLS CAN'T RESTART/ TROUBLE SHOTS BY VALLETY FORD THEY REPLACE A NEW BATTERY FOR A NEW BATTERY. 3/25/02 BACK IN SERVICE OFFICERS STALLS WHILE DRIVING , HE BELEIVES IT TO BE THE FAULT OF AN ELECTRONIC GAS KEY ON RING, REMOVES KEY TO GLOVE BOX, RESTARTS VEHICLE 1 HOUR LATER VEHICLE STALLS ,REMOVES KEY RE-STARTS VEHICLE OPERATING/ EMSG SENT TO WINNER FORD AND VALLEY FORD REGARDING CONTINUAL PROBLEM GROWING WORSE WITH NO SOLUTION. *AK

AUXILIARY POWER POINT ON LOWER REAR OF CENTER CONSOLE BETWEEN FRONT SEATS HAS THE POWER POINT MOUNTED ON THE REAR OF THE CONSOLE ABOUT ONE INCH FROM THE FLOOR. WHEN THE SECOND ROW OF SEATS ARE FOLDED DOWN AS MANY PEOPLE DO WHEN TRAVELING, THE TOP OF THE SECOND SEAT BACKS BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE POWER POINT. TYPICALLY OWNERS PLUG IN A COOLER OR OTHER AUXILIARY ITEMS HERE. WHEN YOU TRY TO PLUG IN THE ITEM, YOU MUST FORCE THE TOP OF THE 2ND ROW SEAT BACK AWAY FROM THE REAR OF THE CENTER CONSOLE AND FORCE THE PLUG IN AT AN ACKWARD ANGLE AND ONCE PLUGGED IN, THE WIRES LEADING TO THE PLUG ARE SEVERLY BENT AT RIGHT ANGLES TO THE PLUG AND THEN THE 2ND SEAT BACK PRESSES DIRECTLY AGAINST THE WIRES WHERE THEY ENTER THE PLUG. THIS HAS CAUSED THE WIRE INSULATION TO BREAK AND PEEL OFF...

WHEN FORD MANUFACTURED VEHICLE THERE WAS NO STABALIZER INSTALLED IN ROOF OF VEHICLE. NOT INSTALLING STABILIZER, CAUSES A LOUD BOOMING NOISE TO BE HEARD WHEN WINDOWS ARE ROLLED UP, AND ROOF OF VEHICLE IS CAPABLE OF BEING PRESSED DOWN. DEALERSHIP IS NOW IN POSSESSION OF VEHICLE, AND IS GOING TO TAKE TOP HALF OF VEHICLE OFF AND INSTALL A STABALIZER, THEN, REWELD COMPONENTS OF VEHICLE BACK TOGETHER. PLEASE PROVIDE ANY ADDITIONAL INFORMATION/ATTACHMENTS.*AK