1997 Ford Expedition: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1065 complaints
1065
Total Complaints
119,000mi
Median Mileage
Electrical System
Top Issue
73
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
90,500
25th Percentile
119,000
Median Mileage
155,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Electrical System
50
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
46
Vehicle Speed Control
45
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
31
Engine
29
Rear
29
Steering
28
Suspension
28
Cruise Control
28
Front
27
Severity Assessment
73
Crashes
83
Fires
64
Injuries
19
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"THE CONSUMER HAPPROACHED AN INTERSECTION OTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP, APPLIED ABS BRAKES AND COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK"
"THE CONSUMER HAPPROACHED AN INTERSECTION OTHER VEHICLE RAN A STOP, APPLIED ABS BRAKES AND COLLIDED WITH OTHER VEHICLE, THE AIR BAGS DIDN'T DEPLOY. *AK"
"VEHICLE HAS NO PICK UP WHEN TRAVELING UPHILL."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Electrical System
50 complaints
25th: 98,000 mi
Median: 102,000 mi
75th: 129,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
45 complaints
25th: 119,161 mi
Median: 128,314 mi
75th: 179,026 mi
Engine
29 complaints
25th: 112,683 mi
Median: 128,000 mi
75th: 156,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 116
TX: 83
PA: 57
NY: 49
FL: 47
WA: 43
MI: 40
OH: 38
NJ: 34
MD: 33
Who Files Complaints?
37%
Original Owners
63%
Second+ Owners
Ford Expedition — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (9)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Headlights
Campaign 06E067000 | 01/08/2006
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
Vehicle Speed Control
Campaign 05V388000 | 07/09/2005
A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.
BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 00V168000 | 19/06/2000
THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.
DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
Exterior Lighting
Campaign 06E060000 | 29/06/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH
AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
Trailer Hitches
Campaign 00V073000 | 07/03/2000
THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
Shaft Sector
Campaign 03V196000 | 27/05/2003
THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE IS NOT FULLY SEATED AND BOLT GROOVE AND SPLINE IS VISIBLE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REP
Rear
Campaign 96V252000 | 18/12/1996
IF BOTH BRACKETS SEPARATE, THE REAR AXLE CAN MOVE LATERALLY UNTIL THE TIRES CONTACT EITHER THE FRAME OR THE WHEELHOUSE RESULTING IN EITHER TIRE DAMAGE OR A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN VEHICLE HANDLING PERFORMANCE.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRACK BAR BRACKET REINFORCEMENT KIT AND INSPECTION OF THE AXLE TUBES. THE SUSPECT AXLE TUBES DO NOT HAVE A STAMPED DATE CODE ON THE TUBE. AXLES WITHOUT DATE CODES ON THE TUBES WILL BE REPLACED.
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Campaign 98V095000 | 13/05/1998
THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VE
Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Campaign 97V171000 | 07/10/1997
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.
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.
Maintain Your Electrical System
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Clean battery terminals annually with baking soda and water
- Replace the battery every 3-5 years before it leaves you stranded
- Don't leave accessories running with the engine off
- Check for corroded ground connections if you have intermittent electrical issues
- Replace dim headlights promptly — they're a safety issue and a wiring symptom
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28