Ford Expedition Engine and Engine Cooling Problems
Owners have filed 1,163 complaints with NHTSA about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Expedition across 23 model years. The 1999 model year has the most (248). The words owners use most often: “spark plug” (38% of reports).
- 1,163engine and engine cooling complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 6mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $4,550typical repair cost reported by owners
- 38%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.
- Spark plug: mentioned in 446 of 1,163 complaints (38%)
- Cylinder head: mentioned in 103 of 1,163 complaints (9%)
- Heard loud: mentioned in 72 of 1,163 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine and engine cooling repair on the Ford Expedition at $4,550, and half of them between $1,600 and $6,200.
Based on 154 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2012), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine and engine cooling problems happen?
Based on 882 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,163 complaints, 6 mention a crash, 103 a fire, 8 an injury.
Ford Expedition engine and engine cooling complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine and Engine Cooling complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 Expedition | 1 | 2% | — |
| 2021 Expedition | 3 | 1% | 14,500 |
| 2020 Expedition | 4 | 1% | 87,017 |
| 2019 Expedition | 31 | 6% | 79,714 |
| 2018 Expedition | 25 | 7% | 85,354 |
| 2017 Expedition | 5 | 1% | 107,500 |
| 2016 Expedition | 3 | 1% | 122,500 |
| 2015 Expedition | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2013 Expedition | 1 | 1% | 95,833 |
| 2011 Expedition | 2 | 3% | 33,500 |
| 2010 Expedition | 3 | 5% | 41,000 |
| 2008 Expedition | 3 | 2% | 31,000 |
| 2007 Expedition | 9 | 4% | 45,000 |
| 2006 Expedition | 75 | 25% | 70,100 |
| 2005 Expedition | 47 | 15% | 72,000 |
| 2004 Expedition | 26 | 9% | 75,000 |
| 2003 Expedition | 127 | 21% | 90,000 |
| 2002 Expedition | 95 | 28% | 95,800 |
| 2001 Expedition | 122 | 21% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Expedition | 116 | 13% | 102,000 |
| 1999 Expedition | 248 | 26% | 98,539 |
| 1998 Expedition | 127 | 15% | 110,000 |
| 1997 Expedition | 89 | 10% | 131,629 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication
Model years: 2024, 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
Risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S30.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubrication
Model years: 2024
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
Risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 23, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S70.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the transmission shifted unusually rough. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud chattering sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the cam phasers and the vehicle was repaired. The…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while depressing the lock panel with the numbers on the driverâs side door, the seat unintendedly moved forward, and the seat belt retracted, and the driver was squeezed in the seat. The contact turned off the vehicle and seat belt…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with camshaft phaser and timing chain failures. The vehicle was repaired…
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rearview camera was intermittently inoperative. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed, and there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Expeditions have engine and engine cooling problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,163 owner complaints about engine and engine cooling for the Ford Expedition. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Expedition engine and engine cooling?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine and engine cooling. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Expedition?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,550 (half paid between $1,600 and $6,200), from 154 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine and engine cooling problems on the Ford Expedition?
The most frequent phrase is “spark plug”, in 446 of 1,163 complaints, followed by “cylinder head” (103).
Other Ford Expedition problems
- Power Train problems (1,573)
- Electrical System problems (1,384)
- Engine problems (861)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (834)
- Tires problems (656)
- Suspension problems (542)
- Visibility problems (534)
- Structure problems (452)
See all Ford Expedition problems.