TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT ON THREE DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE FRONT DRIVER, REAR AND PASSENGER FRONT DOOR HANDLES FRACTURED, CAUSING THE CONTACT TO HAVE TO OPEN THE WINDOW AND OPEN THE DOOR WITH THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THEY ADVISED HIM THAT HE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE DOOR HANDLES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 52,000. UPDATED 12/16/11 *BF THE CONSUMER STATED THREE OUT FOUR DOOR HANDLES FAILED WHICH WERE MADE OUT OF CHEAP PLASTIC. A FEW MONTHS AGO, BOTH FRONT REGULATORS FOR THE POWER WINDOWS FAILED. UPDATED 12/23/11
2008
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:ANTILOCK:CONTROL UNIT/MODULE
DRIVER FIRST NOTICED THE SMELL OF BURNING BRAKES WHEN COMING TO A STOP AFTER EXITING THE HIGHWAY, ALL AT LOW SPEEDS (SPEED LIMIT WAS 35MPH OR LESS). AT THE NEXT INTERSECTION, DRIVER NOTICED WHITE SMOKE COMING FROM RIGHT FRONT WHEEL. DRIVER GOT OUT TO INSPECT THE WHEEL, AND NOTICED THAT THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE CALIPER AND BRAKE ROTOR WERE EXTREMELY HOT AND SMOKE AND FLAMES WERE COMING FROM THEM. OTHER THREE WHEELS WERE COOL (NORMAL). THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS, ETC. TURNED OFF CAR, BACK ON, IN THE HOPE OF E.G. RESETTING THE ABS CONTROLLER -- NO CHANGES. BRAKES WERE SO HOT THAT DRIVER DECIDED TO DRIVE SOME NEARBY FRONTAGE ROADS AT LOW SPEEDS, WITHOUT USING THE BRAKES, IN AN ATTEMPT TO COOL THE RIGHT FRONT BRAKE. MADE LITTLE DIFFERENCE. EVENTUALLY PARKED THE VEHICLE (BRAKING CONTINUED TO BE IMPAIRED), CAME BACK AROUND 1 HOUR LATER, BRAKE HAD COOLED DOWN, WAS ABLE TO DRIVE AWAY. SIMILAR INSTANCE RECURRED ON 2012-12-18 -- AGAIN, RIGHT FRONT BRAKE, THIS TIME IN CITY DRIVING, ROTOR WAS GLOWING ORANGE (NOT YET ON FIRE) ON A COLD NIGHT WHEN DRIVER STOPPED TO LOOK AT IT AND PARK THE VEHICLE. THIS IS OF COURSE A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION, AND COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF LIFE DUE TO FRONT BRAKE FAILURE. DRIVER IS AWARE THAT THERE IS A RECALL ( 07E105000) ASSOCIATED WITH THIS YEAR OF THE VEHICLE. FORD CLAIMS THAT THIS PARTICULAR VIN IS NOT AFFECTED BY THIS RECALL. HOWEVER, DRIVER (WHO IS EXPERIENCED WITH BRAKE SYSTEMS) FEELS THAT THESE TWO EVENTS ARE VERY SUGGESTIVE OF A FAILURE IN THE BRAKE SYSTEM TO RETURN FLUID FROM THE CALIPER, LEADING TO EXCESSIVE PRESSURE IN THE CALIPER, LEADING TO THESE PROBLEMS. DRIVER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO GET INFORMATION FROM FORD OR CONTINENTAL (OEM MANUFACTURER) THAT WOULD UNAMBIGUOUSLY SHOW THAT THE ABS AND BRAKE MODULES IN THIS PARTICULAR VEHICLE ARE FREE FROM DEFECTS AND ARE NOT SUBJECT TO THIS RECALL. FORD SHOULD FIX THIS! *TR
