Ford Expedition Power Train Problems
Owners have filed 1,571 complaints with NHTSA about power train problems on the Ford Expedition across 29 model years. The 2020 model year has the most (265).
- 1,571power train complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 70mention a crash
- 21mention an injury
- 9related recalls
- $3,600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical power train repair on the Ford Expedition at $3,600, and half of them between $1,200 and $7,100.
Based on 58 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (1999–2026), 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 power train problems happen?
Based on 644 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 1,571 complaints, 70 mention a crash, 9 a fire, 21 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 | 265 | 63% | 65,300 |
| 2019 Expedition | 222 | 43% | 76,000 |
| 2018 Expedition | 147 | 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 (9)
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021
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.
Power train:axle assembly
Model years: 2023
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which can cause it to fracture.
Risk: A fractured pinion can result in a loss of 4-wheel drive and may cause the front wheels to lock up, increasng the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the front axle pinion gear set. If there is a broken front axle pinion, the entire axle assembly will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S07.
Electrical system: instrument cluster/panel; power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2019
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.
Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S21.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2020
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ranger and F-150 vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions and certain 2020 Expedition vehicles equipped with a "police" package. The transmission shift cable lock clip may not be fully seated, allowing the transmission to actually be in a different gear than the gear shift position selected by the driver.
Risk: If the transmission selection does not match the indicated gear selection, and the parking brake is not applied, unintended vehicle movement can occur, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the shift cable locking clip installation, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began April 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S18.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 2018
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console). The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
Risk: If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2018
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Power train:automatic transmission
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
Risk: An unexpected downshift into first gear can cause the vehicle to slow down suddenly without warning and the rear tires may slide or lock, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the powertrain control module with updated software, free of charge. The recall began on September 19, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S19.
Exterior lighting:back up lights; power train:automatic transmission:control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Model years: 2012
Problem: Ford is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 ford f-150, 2012 expedition and lincoln navigator, and 2012-2013 mustang vehicles, for failing to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard nos. 102, "transmission shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect" and 108 âlamps, reflective devices and associated equipment.â these vehicles may have a transmission range sensor (trs) that was calibrated out of specification for reverse gear.
Risk: If this condition exists, the transmission may not go into reverse or when the driver pushes the shift lever in the reverse ârâ position and the vehicleâs transmission does go in reverse, the ârâ may not illuminate on the dashboard of the f-150, expedition, or navigator models and/or the backup lamp on the rear of the f-150, expedition, navigator, or mustang vehicles may not illuminate. These conditions increase the risk of a crash or a pedestrian being struck due to the vehicleâs not signaling it is in reverse.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the trs as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on june 11, 2012. Owners may contact ford motor company customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Model years: 1997, 1998
Problem: Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
Risk: The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
Fix: Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
When the vehicle is in motion, the transmission shifts very hard (with a loud audible "bang") between gears 4 and 5, and intermittently power is lost to the wheels (again, while the vehicle is in motion, you depress the accelerator, the engine revs up, but the vehicle does not accelerate). Once you…
The 10 speed transmission has ALWAYS slipped and never shifted correclty. Taken to shop multiple times and was told thats just how the transmission changes on the newer Ford 10 speed transmissions. Had the car 3 years and now I got a code saying the transmission is slipping in between 9-10 gears…
TCM component major failure as diagnosed by dealership. Vehicle has inadvertently tried to go into park on multiple occasions when trying to speed up/ overtake. This failure has also caused the transmission to need a complete overhaul.
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…
Was trying to merge into traffic by accelerating but the transmission was not shifting properly or slipping which caused me to almost be in a wreck due to this problem. Took vehicle to dealer and was told the transmission needs replaced due to a cdf drum inside transmission. Said there is a tsb for…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Expeditions have power train problems?
No. NHTSA has 1,571 owner complaints about power train 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 power train?
Yes: 9 safety recalls list power train. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix power train problems on the Ford Expedition?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,600 (half paid between $1,200 and $7,100), from 58 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
Other Ford Expedition problems
- Electrical System problems (1,384)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,163)
- Engine problems (860)
- Vehicle Speed Control problems (834)
- Tires problems (656)
- Suspension problems (542)
- Visibility problems (534)
- Structure problems (452)
See all Ford Expedition problems.