1998 Ford Expedition: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 1021 complaints
1021
Total Complaints
110,000mi
Median Mileage
Electrical System
Top Issue
54
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
83,630
25th Percentile
110,000
Median Mileage
144,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Electrical System
59
Engine
58
Vehicle Speed Control
43
Torsion Bar
39
Stabilizer Bar
32
Automatic Transmission
29
Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
29
Engine And Engine Cooling
28
Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
28
Gasoline
28
Severity Assessment
54
Crashes
80
Fires
44
Injuries
1
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"REQUESTING INFORMATION ON FUEL TANK LOCATION."
"VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN RIHGT REAR WHEEL CAME OFF. ALL LUGS AND 3 STUDS WERE ALSO MISSING FROM HUB."
"VEHICLE TRAVELING AT 45 MPH WHEN REAR RIGHT WHEEL FELL OFF."
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
59 complaints
25th: 77,500 mi
Median: 100,000 mi
75th: 153,000 mi
Engine
58 complaints
25th: 88,000 mi
Median: 107,000 mi
75th: 125,000 mi
Vehicle Speed Control
43 complaints
25th: 100,000 mi
Median: 130,000 mi
75th: 161,100 mi
Torsion Bar
39 complaints
25th: 55,000 mi
Median: 86,000 mi
75th: 87,471 mi
Stabilizer Bar
32 complaints
25th: 62,668 mi
Median: 69,800 mi
75th: 82,500 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
CA: 213
TX: 75
MI: 53
GA: 50
FL: 44
OH: 36
NY: 34
NJ: 32
IL: 31
PA: 31
Who Files Complaints?
43.2%
Original Owners
56.8%
Second+ Owners
Ford Expedition — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
Active Recalls (7)
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.
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
Vehicle Rankings
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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