Problems with 2000 Ford Expedition ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

My family and i were awaken in the middle of the night with our home fully engulfed in flames. it was determined by ford investigators and our local fire department that the fire originated from my ford expedition that was parked in the garage along with my wife's vehicle. it turned out there was a recall on a cruise switch on my vehicle. my wife or i never received any letter or phone call from ford notifying us of this dangerous condition. we were blessed to escape with our lives. *tr

I went out to my truck to start it and the radio was on. no keys in ignition. starter engages while running in park and neutral. wipers come on and off no keys in ignition. locks and unlocks by itself no keys in ignition. while driving have to put in neutral to roll window down and up. all this happens when it rains or snows. *tr

I went to work on sunday morning,at 4:30 am i got off work and went by the wal mart to pick up a few things and went home from there, my husband was barbecuing so i left the garage up. it was super bowl sunday. well we went in to catch some of the game, our neighbor came to the back door and said the truck in the garage is on fire,my said what and this was about a hour and a half after i gotten home. so my husband grabbed some shop towels and put out the fire and he got burned on his hand in the process of putting out the fire. ford will not talk to us are return any calls. im calling my lawyer...

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. the windshield wipers, radio, rear windshield wiper, and interior lighting in the vehicle have all stopped working. the failures would occur on rainy days. the contact took the vehicle to the dealer and they stated that the failures were caused by the generic electronic module and the fuse box. both of these components needed to be replaced. the vehicle has not been repaired, but the contact believes the manufacturer should be responsible for the repairs. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 135,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. while driving approximately 40 mph, the vehicle began to vibrate and the abs indicator illuminated on the instrument panel. immediately following, the odometer, heat, and radio became inoperable and the vehicle began idling loudly. upon entering her driveway, the vehicle stalled. the brake pedal was depressed, but there was no reaction. the contact rear ended another vehicle in the driveway. the vehicle did not sustain any damages; however, the vehicle that was rear ended sustained damage to the rear bumper. there were no injuries or a police report. the vehicle was towed to a local repair shop and the mechanic stated that water entered through the windshield and drained into the fuse box, which damaged the g.e.m module. the dealer was not notified. the manufacturer stated that they were not liable for the repairs. the current and failure mileages were 120,000.

We recently had a snow storm in our area. after the storm our expedition started having problems. the first problem to occur was the front blower motor for the climate control would turn on high when the ignition was turned to the off position. i started researching this problem and started finding many similar stories on the internet. the next day many other problems popped up several dash light were flashing on and off, when this was happening you could here relays under the dash clicking on and off. when the truck was having its episode of flashing lights i found that my window controls and windshield wipers also did not work. i parked the car and turned it off that day and it had one more surprise for me. when the light switch was turned to the automatic day time running lights and the key was off you could here relays under the dash opening and closing at a fast rate. i turned the switch to off and it stopped. i talked to my stepfather who is a mechanic. he told me that he has seen this before he said it probably was my gem module, he said that this type of vehicle is prone to these modules malfunctioning. i did more research on line and found that a investigation was done on this issue by nhtsa the action number was ea05015 it was conducted in 2005. from the looks of it this has been a problem for a long time that has affected many people but still no action has been taken. this is one of two problems i have had with this otherwise good vehicle which is making it an unreliable and unsafe vehicle. how can i feel safe letting my family drive around in this vehicle when it rains or snows which is for the most part all the time in washington? in conclusion i hope this is taken seriously and will have some kind of impact on getting this problem solved not just for me but for all the owners of this vehicle with the same problem. *tr

Leak in windshield area. shorts out he fuse box and gem. once this happens there are multiple electrical problems. ford does not cover the cost for this obvious defect. have heard and read of many other people with same issue. this can make the vehicle shut off while driving, windshield wipers to stop functioning, vehicle trying to start with know keys in it. it can effect all facets of the electrical system. *tr

Please reopen 1000's of emails to ford. doors locking and unlock with children in back set. gauge and lights not working correctly, windshield wipers not working correctly while it raining please don't make me have to die in an accident before you do something we bought this vehicle for safety. and no one will accept problem and we don't have money to fix ford screw up please read emails on this issue if you say there aren't any you lying to yourselves nhtsa action number : ea05015 nhtsa recall campaign number : n/a make / models : model/build years: ford / expedition 1999-2001 manufacturer : ford motor company component : electrical system exterior lighting visibility:windshield wiper/washer date investigation opened : october 13, 2005 date investigation closed : december 6, 2006. *tr

Alarm went off and truck caught a fire; local fire department put fire out. *tr

First the blower would turn on high after the key was turned off. then the dash warning light would flash on and off along with relays. the the abs relays would click on and off after key has been turned off. the wipers would stop will the vehicle was running. now when the key is turned off and removed the car is still in the start position,radio,fuel inj.,heater,wipers. all stay on. the only way to keep battery from dying is to disconnect the negv. post. then the theft light flashes sometimes when battery is re-connected causing the car not to start. i have checked and replaced many relays. i am at a loss,what can i do? *tr

Recurrent issue with my 2000 ford expedition. when it rains, the electrical system shorts out, causing the battery to drain, making it undriveable. various electrical components go on and off without the key in the ignition, and some go out while driving. extremely dangerous for windshield wipers to fail during a rainstorm!!! sometimes, there is a burning smell coming from below the steering wheel. *tr

I have a 2000 ford expedition and i have problems when it rains or snows with the windshield leaking and then the car starts doing things like windows going up and down wipers not working or the car will just stop working this has happened twice the first time i wasn't driving when it happened i was in my driveway. then today i started my car up and it had been raining but everything seemed fine then the windows went down and the care shut down i could not steer and i hit a parking sign i tried to find out if the windshield was recalled i no a few people that have had the same problem with leaking wind shield and the electrical wires getting wet thank you for your time. *tr

A 2000 ford expedition parked in the yard for 3 hours and suddenly started burning under the hood. we didn't smell anything burning .it just started to burn after 3 hours. is there a recall on this truck? it has cruise control. thank you. *tr

Gem module failure causing rear windshield wiper and radio display not to work and heat/ac only to work in defrost mode. *tr

2000 ford expedition caught on fire and burned. *tr

When i turned my trucks engine off last night and removed the key, the ac blower continued running. of course it drained my battery. i replaced the battery. i researched the situation on the internet and found that hundreds of other ford expedition owners have the same problem. due to a mal-fitting windshield, water drains into the fuse box. it shorts out the fuse box and gem module. my truck is now not working and estimates range about $1000 to fix. clearly this should have been a recall issue, since ford admits that the windshield is the cause of the problem. *tr

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.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. while driving at various speeds with the key in the ignition, the vehicle would attempt to restart itself. there was an opened and closed investigation (ea05015) regarding this failure. the vin was unknown. the failure mileage was 98,000.

I have a 2000 expedition that is experiencing electrical failure, dead battery every week, clicking from under the dash, lights flashing on the interior, radio/clock lights fail, drivers side back side window fails to open and rear window wiper stopped working. the flashing, clicking and other various electrical quirks happen at random times but the drained battery happens every week. i can jump start the truck but when it sits for a few days undriven and i try to start it...dead battery. i have replaced the battery several times until i realized it wasn't a faulty battery, it is an electrical malfunction. i took it to our local ford dealership to have it checked. i had also informed them of the leaking windshields/gem module problem i had read about. they informed me that they had several expeditions serviced with the same electrical malfunctions. they called me and said it was a dead battery after i did their job and informed them of the leaking windshield/gem module. i asked them to please check the module and whatever else was needed to fix my truck. they later said they checked it and found no corrosion in the gem module. they also said since it wasn't "coding" they had no clue what was causing the electrical failure. they said this without further investigation into other possible causes such as moisture in the keyless entry pad which is known to be faulty and a replacement part available. all that was done was to put a new battery in my truck, told my problem was a dead battery because it's their policy that when a vehicle comes in for service, to find the most logical reason for malfunction when it wont code and sent home with a truck that i know will not start in a week, possibly catch fire due to electrical problems, possibly kill someone or burn my house down. *tr

I have a 2000 eddie bauer ford expedition when it rains hard i have problems with my electrical system eg; motor runs when car is turned off, odometer comes on and off, 4x4 light flashes on and off... dealer informed me that the problems stems from a windshield leak, the leak has been repaired by a windshield professional, he then informed me that i need to replace my gem module and fuse box. i'm concerned of possible fire. i only have one car my children lives might be in danger. ford needs too take care of this problem. these are major defects that needs too be address. ford motor company faulty or defective designs that has caused this leakage that's causing electrical problems to the gem module and fuse box is putting not only me but other drivers in danger also. *tr

Heavy rains yesterday. on the way home from work, stopped at a store, turned off the key, but the heater blower did not turn off. turned the heater control to off and heard many rapid clicks from under the dashboard to the right of the steering wheel. on arriving home, blower did the same thing. vehicle parked in garage overnight. next morning, several series of five beeps came from under the dash. heater blower still stays on when key is out. we had water leaking around the windshield a couple years ago that caused the odometer to go out. had the windshield re-sealed. odometer intermittently comes back on since then. it would appear the leak is happening again, and water is getting down into the gem module and fusebox. have not attempted to replace these yet. i'm afraid this electrical problem will cause a fire in the expedition, which in my attached garage could likely burn down the entire house and threaten my family's safety. www.ford-forums.com, townhall-talk.edmunds.com, and www.automotiveforums.com all have many posts of similar water-leaking-causing-electrical-problems. *tr

Windshield wipers, dash lights, 4x4, door locks, interior lights, sound system, all operate intermitanly after rain or snow. heater fan comes on after taking key out. mechanic estimates $1000 to remove fuse panel and replace. said windshield has leaked and caused water damage in fuse box.

I posted a complaint earlier and would like to follow up on it. i had several electrical problems after the rain. this last time caused my battery to completely die and all of my electrical stopped working. i had aaa come out and jump start the battery and i let it idle for about 45 min. until the electrical shop opened. during the idling i heard a loud noise that sounded very strange and unfamiliar so i jumped in and when i put it in gear to leave the noise stopped and i continued to the electrical shop. as soon as i parked and put it in park the noise began again. the guys at the shop heard it and immediately recognized it as the starter engaging. this was a result of my electric system malfunctioning. after a whole day of diagnosing where the electrical problem came from, they found that the main fuse box located inside the vehicle below the drivers side had a lot of moisture, rust and corrosion on the back side. they were not able to locate where the water is leaking from because it stopped raining. i am familiar with the windshield seal and the drain hole of the wiper blade as being the suspected origin of the leak, so as soon as it rains again i will go back to the shop so they can try and find the leak. they ordered a new fuse box from the dealership and it was around $145 but will take 4 days to ship, so they cleaned the back of the fuse box to hold me over. it runs fine and seems to be back to normal. so i would check that fuse box if you're having trouble. the high power fuse box in the engine compartment was not damaged. i'll update again if i find out where the leak is coming from. *tr

I've had several problems with the electrical system of my 2000 ford expedition after it rains. today my alarm would not work so i had to use the keyless pad to unlock my vehicle, but it does not work to lock the vehicle. when i open the door there are dinging noises and you can hear the fan running in the motor. the suv will not start, it tries to turn over but ends up failing and ending with clicking noise. the air bag light will stay lit and give me warning chimes. this has happened several times and i have managed to start it once it dries up . i've read many complaints on this issue and it is time that ford does a recall........we can not all be lying!! *tr

I own a 2000 ford expedition and after a hard overnight rain an electrical problem began. when i got into it the next morning the radio was playing and the heater display was on. when i started it all seemed normal until i put it into gear and the radio stopped, the heater stopped, the windshield wipers wouldn't work, and the windows wouldn't lower and when put back into neutral or park everything went back to normal. i brought it into the ford dealer who does all my repairs and he told me it was the gem module and it would cost $1000.00 for repair. i have no choice so i authorized the repair. he then informed me that when i pick it up i need to take it to a windshield repair shop to get the windshield resealed due to a defective seal that caused a leak that caused the gem module to malfunction. it seems that this is a large burden to put on the consumer since it is a known defect and there is no assurance that it won't happen again. i also believe this could be dangerous causing the vehicle to stall while driving or wipers to malfunction in the rain or any number of other problems since this module controls so many of the vehicles controls and instruments. *tr

windshield leaks water on to gem module and fuse box. after rain or snow vehicle will try to start while already running wipers, radio, door locks, power windows, lights flashers will not work. dummy lights on dash will come on that water level low, no oil pressure and low battery. now it will not shift out of park. filed a formal complaint three months ago with ford motor compny and they have yet to acknowledge that i ever filed report. *tr

My 00 ford expy has several electrical problems when ever there's rain this latest incident happen on 1/6/08 i came out of my house because i keep on hearing like someone was trying to start the truck and yeah it had been raining all night i open the truck and the radio was on the lights were coming on i started the truck and when it was on the starter was still spinning hitting the fly wheel i had to disconnect the battery i think if there's water leaking everytime it rains it could create a short and cause a fire on the truck i will like someone to look into this thanks *tr

Rain/snow cause water to leak into the gem module & fuse box under driver's side dashboard causing complete electrical failure, wacky electrical things like fan motor running without key in ignition, strange "stupid lights" periodically on dash, etc. have replaced these twice, very expensive. *tr

My husband bought me a 2000 expedition 9/15/2007, on 10/26/2007 after a rain, the electrical system went crazy. when i open the door, the radio was on and the chirp like i had a key in the ignition, not only to say, i just replace the battery this morning. the blower motor will not cut off even though the key is out. and the radio will turn off when i put the car in drive or reverse. *tr

We recently had a specialist inspect the 2000 eddie bauer ford expedition because of repeated electrical problems. he found a technical service bulletin for ford on the failure of windshield seals. he further advises that the repairs will be in excess of $1000. we have experienced failure of the vehicles electric system as outlined on at least 5 separate occasions. all times were preceded by moisture. the interior lights malfunctioned, the windshield wipers stopped, the blower motor was on high with ignition off, the radio shuts off, the interior dash lights remained on, etc. i have had my mechanic replace several items including the fuses and relays for the electronics. *tr

Our 2000 ford expedition has an electrical problem that was described in ford special notice 15773. when it rains, water leaks into the gem/cjb and causes the electrical system to short out. this results in blowers running while the key is not in the ignition, the car to stall out while in use, and the car to not start at all at sometimes. since it is an electrical problem, it may also lead to vehicle fire. this occurs every time there is rain/snow. the dealership has looked at the problem before, but has not been able to find the problem. i discovered the problem searching on the internet and finding many other owners with the same problems. finally, one post referenced ford special notice 15773 which describes exactly what is happening to our vehicle. this needs to be recalled before fires and worse occur. *tr

2000 ford expedition - when it rains - the electrical system goes crazy. sometimes the defroster will be on (no key in the ignition). other times, lights, radio, wipers control themselves. tonight 9/4/07 - thought someone was trying to steal it - however - (no key in the ignition) it was trying to crank(start) over. we had to remove a battery cable for it to stop. *jb

I am having severe electrical problems with the 2000 ford eb expedition. these problems were caused by a defect in the seal of the factory installed windshield leaking water into the cab of the vehicle. there have been many incidents where the vehicle has become incapacitated, and one instance when smoke emerged from the driver's side of the front dashboard water was seeping into the cab and accessing the fuse box. upon contact a short was created, causing the climate control unit, heater and a/c unit fan to begin blowing when the key was removed from the ignition. this problem occurred anytime the vehicle was exposed to rain or snow. *ak

2000 ford expedition caugth on fire while truck was park at midnigth

I have a 2000 ford expedition, the windshield is leaking onto my gem module and fusebox behind the dash and causing all kinds of electrical problems. the dealership has quoted me over $1000 to fix this problem, and i have read many forums and alot of complaints about this exact same problem all over the country. sounds like this problem should be made into a recall. it is costing people lots of money to fix one of fords screw-ups. *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. after being parked for one hour, the entire front end of the vehicle suddenly caught fire. prior to the fire, the vehicle was driven at 55 mph for approximately one hour. the inspector stated that the cause of the fire was electrical. the engine size was unknown. the current and failure mileages were 176,000.

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. the vehicle caught on fire without warning while parked. the fire department extinguished the fire and there were no injuries. a fire report was available. the current and failure mileages were unknown.*ak the consumer provided an incident report from the fire department. updated 05/23/07 *tr

Tl*the contact owns a 2000 ford expedition. the contact witnessed smoke ascending from the fuse panel and disconnected the battery. water was leaking into the vehicle, but the source was unknown. the cause of failure has not been diagnosed. the current and failure mileages were 110,000. ak

I have a 2000 ford expedition that has an electrical problem. i have researched online and discovered many others with similar problems. it is apparently due to a windshield leak that causes the gem module to short out. this first happened to me a month after i purchased the vehicle in february 2007. the vehicle wouldn't start, dash clicking noise , locks unlocking and locking continuously, lights on dash wouldn't go out, after key is removed dash info lights still on. when vehicle did start radio wouldn't work and by the way it was raining/icy. this problem has occurred several other times. windshield wipers not working properly, radio not working all problems happen only when it is raining. i personally cannot afford the $1,000. or so dollars it is apparently going to cost to fix this problem, which is obviously a factory defect. i have 4 children and have come to depend on this vehicle, i am afraid this short could cause and engine fire. *tr

Electrical problems on 2000 ford expedition. blinker lights inop. speedometer tuning on and off, radio station/clock lights don't work. radio sometimes wont work. rear windshield wipers don't work. *nm

Tl* - the contact called regarding 2000 ford expedition. the contact stated that he had driven the vehicle earlier and approximately 3-4 hours later the contact noticed that the vehicle was on fire. the contact stated the fire department extinguished the fire. the fire department took pictures of the vehicle. the contact stated that some of the vinyl siding on his home was damaged by the fire. there were no injuries. the contact stated he received the recall notice in nov 2006. he had attempted to get the recall work done, however the ford dealer did not have any available appointments. the manufacturer has denied the claim stating the consumer did not respond to the recall letter. the current and failure mileage was 90,000 miles.

I own a 2000 ford expedition. within the last month, i would turn the key to crank my truck and no sound. nothing would turn on. the electrical, totally dead. i would jump it off and it ran fine for 2 days and then the same would happen again. i have researched this problem and have found that a leaking windshield is the problem. it is leaking and causing my gem module and fuse box to get wet. this can cause a fire as everyone knows as well as unwanted electrical activity when the truck is unattended. it is also affecting my radio which will not turn on then turn on by itself. this is a manufacturing defect and i have read where many expedition owners are having the same problem with windshield leakage causing no starts and electrical problems. this should be fixed at fords expense considering it was not the fault of the owner ford has a manufacturing issue with their windshields. as you must know this is a fire hazard that could result in the death of innocent people. it is a defect from ford motor company that needs to be recalled now to prevent further damage or possible death by fire. if ford stands by their products this would be a good time to prove that to their loyal customers. *jb

On january 16, 2007 my wife drove our 2000 eddie bauer expedition to work as usual parked n a covered parking garage and went to work. at the end of the day she attempted to start her car and it was totally dead and would not start. she therefore had to get jump started in order to get home. on 1-17-07 i took the vehicle to a certified ford service department and had them evaluate and diagnose the problem. seems that the gem and cjb were water damaged and creating significant electrical shorts throughout the vehicles operating system. when the car was turned off the fan motor would actually continue to blow even with the keys out of the ignition. also the car at times would not turn off with the key. you can take the key out of the ignition and the car would still run. anyway, the dealer indicates that the windshield would have to be replaced and sealed as this was the source of the water damage. i questioned the validity of the diagnosis and the service advisor indicated that they were working on 2 more trucks with the same problem. the total cost of the repair is going to be $1150 to replace the windshield the gem and cjb. i have been reading up on this problem and fine that this problem is pretty wide spread in ford expeditions and want to make my particular situation a matter of record with the nhtsa in an effort to add to the number of consumers experiencing this problem. my vehicle has a long history of electrical problems which were corrected under a extended warranty. i am certain that this windshield leak problem is the source of my long standing problems. *jb

1. vehicle operating normally, stalled and would not start on interstate. 2. gem failed due to water, carpet and behind firewall wet. potentially fatal due to total immobilization of vehicle. towed. 3. gem and fuse box replaced, see below looks like nhtsa investigation and engineering study started. 39 cases reported nhtsa action number : pe05033 nhtsa recall campaign number : n/a make : ford model: expedition manufacturer : ford motor company year : 2000 component : electrical system date investigation opened : june 15, 2005 date investigation closed : open summary: complainants allege that when it rains or snows, water leaks into the vehicle around the windshield. the water seeps into the fuse box and ford's gem (generic electronic module) causing the wipers and other electrical components to malfunction. the gem controls multiple functions, including, among other things, wipers and lighting. *jb

I took my 2000 ford expedition xlt in to huntington beach ford to be serviced due to r.p.m. fluctuation and a service engine soon light. they conducted a diagnosis and stated i would need a i.a.c. part. the new i.a.c. did not fix the problem so i took it back to h.b. ford and they stated i would need a d.p.f.e. sensor. i had them replace that which did not fix the problem because the service engine light illuminated and the r.p.m. fluctuation was still evident. i went back to h.b. ford and they diagnosed a new throttle body. i gave them the o.k. to replace the throttle body. they called me a couple days later to inform me that that did not solve your problem so i will need to pay an extra $400 for a diagnostic fee so they can check all the wiring. the manager has stated they believe it is coming from the wiring system? why do i have to pay for everything else when they cannot pinpoint the problem? *nm

Leak in driver side windshield which leaks into fuse box causing several electrical problems, engine revs on its own, starts by itself, windshields wipers turn on and off, radio works than turns off, head lights turn off while driving note have had it into dealership and repaired and it still doing the problems, was told by the tech it was a leak and they would not be able to guarantee the work. happens every time it snows or rains heavily. *jb

My 2000 ford expedition leaks from the windshield during heavy rains, and water comes into the cabin area. the water also has caused my gem (general electronic module) to malfunction, making my hvac blower to spontaneously turn on after i turn off the vehicle and remove the key from the ignition. this causes my battery to run down. i would expect that this kind of malfunction could lead to more serious problems and possible fires due to unwanted electrical activity. *jb

Rain or snow causes multiple failures in the electrical system. most recently, the blower fan failed to operate while the vehicle was running. once the ignition was switched off the blower fan would run. in addition, the wipers and radio would only work when the truck was in park or neutral. needless to say that i had to pull over and wipe the inside of the windshield. this is the 3rd year in a row that these issues have occurred. i would like to add my name to the list of vehicles that have this problem with the leaking windshield. nhtsa defect investigation #ea05015. *jb

After the truck 100,000 miles service and was giving a green on all areas of ford quality report, i had to take the car back three days later after it rain our area, i was told the coil needed to be replaced. since the truck was not driving properly i had no choice but to have the coil replace. it worked for another three weeks until we had another down pour of rain, while driving i heard continuous beeps a minute or two later there was a burn smell in the truck it seems to come from under the dashboard on the driver side, being scared i had to park the truck and have it tow. i am now being told by the dealer that there is a water leak from the windshield which has caused a short with the electrical system and the cost would be $1400 to have it replace. this truck have had regular service every 3000 to 5000 miles since we bought it, this truck have not been involve in any accident. *nm

I have had many of the same complaints as those listed on the net. wipers coming on at any given time, speedometer not working, lights on radio not working, wipers come on when i try to let the driver window down. there are some other things as well. have not taken to shop yet, but will soon. *nm