Ford Expedition problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 1,762 owner complaints and 45 safety recalls for the Ford Expedition. That averages 36.5 complaints per year on the road — a typical number of complaints (index 0.87 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Full-size SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 34.5.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 68% above the 2018 and 2019 models (41 early complaints per model year versus 28).
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (63.1 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (17.4). Model years 2019 and 2020 run at least 50% above the model's own average — the ones to research most carefully. The 2023 model year sits well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (36.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (21.9%) and Interior & equipment (8.1%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 3.1 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “cam”, “shifting” and “phasers”. 64 complaints (3.6%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 116 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 445 complaints versus 475 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2019 model year generated the most recent reports (107). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 53 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 45 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (16), 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls” (opened 2026-06-09, still open).
Every other tracked model among Full-size SUVs has fewer complaints per year, including Chevrolet Tahoe.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 372 | 42.9 | 1.02 | 37 | 0.42 | 58 | 14 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2019 Years to research carefully | 484 | 63.1 | 1.5 | 19 | 0.24 | 107 | 11 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2020 Years to research carefully | 400 | 59.9 | 1.42 | 18 | 0.32 | 104 | 18 ⚠ | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 | 230 | 40.5 | 0.96 | 52 | 0.85 | 67 | 12 ⚠ | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 | 111 | 23.8 | 0.57 | 34 | 0.46 | 36 | 12 | Electrical | View › |
| 2023 Fewest complaints | 64 | 17.4 | 0.41 | 28 | 0.34 | 22 | 8 | Electrical | View › |
| 2024 | 71 | 26.5 | 0.63 | 54 | 0.77 | 26 | 7 | Electrical | View › |
| 2025 | 30 | 17.9 | 0.43 | — | — | 25 | 5 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 445 · Previous 12 months: 475 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
636 · 36.1% · 3.1 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission481
- gear278
- shifting181
- accelerate127
Interior & equipment ›
143 · 8.1% · 0.91 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- chrome10
- sunroof20
- children17
- center console9
Airbags & seat belts ›
137 · 7.8% · 2.04 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- seat belt78
- belts47
- seatbelt49
- pretensioner31
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
49 · 2.8% · 1.12 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- struts21
- leaking19
- shocks11
- nuts7
Lighting ›
40 · 2.3% · 1.45 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- headlights16
- daytime running11
- running light9
- drl8
Other
34 · 1.9% · 1.07 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- hair5
- seat13
- row5
- accelerated6
Driver-assist systems
33 · 1.9% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- cruise17
- control18
- collision11
- adaptive7
Fuel system
25 · 1.4% · 0.33 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- fuel22
- pump15
- gasoline9
- recall14
Steering
13 · 0.7% · 0.11 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- steering10
- wheel7
- lights illuminated4
- lane5
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- transmission598
- gear329
- cam176
- shifting230
- phasers109
- hotline157
- diagnosed358
- loud182
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 53 months
What owners report
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belt). The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH with his wife seated in the passenger’s seat, the check engine warning light illuminated.
My 13 year old daughter and I were driving home from softball practice, and mid conversation, without warning, it felt like something rammed into us from the side of my car. We were coasting at a cool 40 miles per hour and were winding down after a long day.
The car has recalls since 2024? Some are serious safety issues if in an accident. Way too long for a remedy from FORD.
The car will lose power when trying to accelerate on the highway. The car’s transmission will completely shift out of a high gear while traveling 50+ mph at a time when you are trying to accelerate onto the highway or speed up to avoid another vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V368000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Full-size SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chevrolet Tahoe | 1,210 | 32.5 | 0.77 | Worsening | Steady | 27 | Engine |
| 2 | Ford Expedition | 1,762 | 36.5 | 0.87 | Worsening | Steady | 45 | Transmission / powertrain |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 45
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 2
- Over-the-air fix: 0
Safety recalls: 2018 (14) · 2019 (11) · 2020 (18) · 2021 (12) · 2022 (12) · 2023 (8) · 2024 (7) · 2025 (5)
Investigations
- NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls Open
NHTSA is opening this Audit Query (AQ) to investigate NU Car Rentals (NU Car) for compliance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.The Safety Act requires that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates NU Car rented at…
- Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment Closed
On November 22, 2023, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE) PE23021 to investigate complaints of front seat belt retractor pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints alleged hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seat belt tightening around …
- Low-pressure fuel pump failure Closed
On July 29, 2024, the Oï¬ce of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE24019 to investigate complaints of low-pressure fuel pump failures in MY 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles. Some consumers reported that the failure occurred without warning while driving, resulting in a complete loss of motive power with no ability to restart the engine. Ford determined that several other vehicle models contain low-pres…
- Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment Closed
On November 22, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-021 to investigate instances of seat belt pretensioner inadvertent deployment in model year (MY) 2019 Ford Expedition vehicles manufactured by Ford Motor Company. Some complaints allege hearing a loud, explosion-like sound immediately followed by the seatbelt tightening around the occupantâs torso area. The complaints do…
- Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance Open
On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles for a noncompliance with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 111, Rea…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Expedition model year has the most complaints?
The 2019 model year has the highest rate (63.1 complaints per year) and the 2023 model year the lowest (17.4).
Is the Ford Expedition getting better or worse?
The trend is worsening. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 68% above the 2018 and 2019 models (41 early complaints per model year versus 28). In the last 12 months owners filed 445 complaints versus 475 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Ford Expedition problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (36.1% of complaints), followed by Engine (21.9%) and Interior & equipment (8.1%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “transmission”, “gear”, “cam”, “shifting” and “phasers”.
How does the Ford Expedition compare with other Full-size SUVs?
Within the Full-size SUVs segment it ranks #2 of 2 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 34.5. Every other tracked model among Full-size SUVs has fewer complaints per year, including Chevrolet Tahoe.
Does the Ford Expedition have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 45 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (16), 2 with a do-not-drive or park-outside warning. 5 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls” (opened 2026-06-09, still open).