2021 Ford Expedition Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 112 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the 2021 Ford Expedition, 47% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 65,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “10r80 transmission” (7% of reports).
- 112power train complaints
- 65,000median miles at failure
- 2mention a crash
- 1mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- 58%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- 10R80 transmission: mentioned in 8 of 112 complaints (7%)
- Cdf drum: mentioned in 7 of 112 complaints (6%)
- Off gas: mentioned in 6 of 112 complaints (5%)
At what mileage do power train problems happen?
Based on 19 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 112 complaints, 2 mention a crash, 1 an injury.
Ford Expedition power train complaints by model year
| Model year | Power Train complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 Expedition | 5 | 14% | 16,000 |
| 2024 Expedition | 5 | 6% | — |
| 2023 Expedition | 11 | 17% | 79,409 |
| 2022 Expedition | 15 | 13% | 25,000 |
| 2021 Expedition | 112 | 47% | 65,000 |
| 2020 Expedition | 266 | 63% | 65,300 |
| 2019 Expedition | 222 | 43% | 76,000 |
| 2018 Expedition | 148 | 39% | 80,000 |
| 2017 Expedition | 51 | 14% | 65,000 |
| 2016 Expedition | 36 | 17% | 74,000 |
| 2015 Expedition | 29 | 18% | 72,500 |
| 2014 Expedition | 34 | 47% | 124,000 |
| 2013 Expedition | 43 | 47% | 90,500 |
| 2012 Expedition | 64 | 54% | 108,000 |
| 2011 Expedition | 21 | 30% | 37,500 |
| 2010 Expedition | 10 | 17% | 30,479 |
| 2009 Expedition | 4 | 14% | 65,500 |
| 2008 Expedition | 14 | 10% | 41,000 |
| 2007 Expedition | 27 | 13% | 11,420 |
| 2006 Expedition | 22 | 7% | 86,900 |
| 2005 Expedition | 44 | 14% | 80,512 |
| 2004 Expedition | 27 | 9% | 34,500 |
| 2003 Expedition | 50 | 8% | 40,000 |
| 2002 Expedition | 18 | 5% | 54,943 |
| 2001 Expedition | 40 | 7% | 44,000 |
| 2000 Expedition | 42 | 5% | 77,367 |
| 1999 Expedition | 67 | 7% | 78,500 |
| 1998 Expedition | 70 | 8% | 119,000 |
| 1997 Expedition | 76 | 9% | 116,500 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Power train:automatic transmission
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My 2021 Ford Expedition MAX XLT with the 10R80 automatic transmission has experienced repeated momentary âneutral-outâ events while driving. The transmission/park-system components are available for inspection upon request. The most serious incident occurred in September 2026 while I was…
Vehicle has 84,000 miles at it. It started to jerk when putting it into a gear. I thought it was due to the colder mornings no. I was taking the kids to school and It was skipping gears. I was very leary of driving but had no choice. It would not get up to speed the rpms was suffering. I stopped at…
VIN):[XXX]/Make/Model: 2021 Ford Expedition XLTCurrent Mileage: Approx. 150,000 milesLocation: [XXX] of the Safety Defect:El vehÃculo presenta un defecto de seguridad crÃtico y extremo en el tren motriz que pone en riesgo inminente la vida de los ocupantes y de terceros en la vÃa pública. En…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2021 Ford Expeditions have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 112 owner complaints about power train for the 2021 Ford Expedition (47% of the 237 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2021 Ford Expedition power train?
Yes: 1 safety recall list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do power train problems start?
The median reported mileage is 65,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
What do owners say about power train problems on the 2021 Ford Expedition?
The most frequent phrase is “10r80 transmission”, in 8 of 112 complaints, followed by “cdf drum” (7).
Other 2021 Ford Expedition problems
- Engine problems (56)
See all 2021 Ford Expedition problems or power train problems across all Expedition years.