Problems · NHTSA complaints

1997 Ford Expedition problems

Owners filed 868 complaints about the 1997 Ford Expedition with NHTSA between Feb 1996 and May 2024. The most-cited component is suspension (136).

Complaints
868
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
52
Reported by owners
Fires
76
Reported by owners
Injuries
50
People reported injured
Deaths
11
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Suspension136
  2. Service brakes, hydraulic97
  3. Electrical system96
  4. Steering95
  5. Engine and engine cooling93
  6. Vehicle speed control78
  7. Power train75
  8. Visibility44
  9. Structure39
  10. Wheels38
  11. Tires37
  12. Air bags26
  13. Latches/locks/linkages26
  14. Equipment20

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
19963
199775
199891
1999100
2000104
2001124
200247
200347
200428
200568
200622
200727
200834
200917
201014
201118
20129
20134
20148
201512
20163
20173
20184
20190
20204
20210
20221
20230
20241

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Suspension

136 reports5 crashes1 related recall
“WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AS SOON AS I GO FASTER THAN 55MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN BY THE WHEELS, STARTS SHAKING. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I SUSPECT IT'S THE BALL JOINTS BUT NOT SURE. IT ALSO WOBBLES WHEN TURNING GOING AS SLOW AS 25 MPH.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 29, 2018SuspensionODI 11090884

Service brakes, hydraulic

97 reports7 crashes2 fires
“WHILE DRIVING ON A EXPRESSWAY TRAVELING AT 55MPH, MY WIFE FELT A THUMPING AND HEARD NOISE COMING FROM UNDER THE TRUCK. WHEN I LOOKED UNDERNEATH, I NOTICED 2 HOLES PUNCHED THROUGH THE BACKING PLATE OF THE REAR BRAKES ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. I PULLED THE WHEEL AND THE ROTOR OFF AND THE PARKING BRAKE SHOES AND HARDWARE FELL OUT ONTO THE GROUND. AFTER TALKING TO A FORD DEALERSHIP I LEARNED THAT THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH EXPEDITIONS. I RESEARCHED IT ON LINE AND FOUND OTHER REPORTS OF THE SAME ISSUE INCLUDING SOME INSTANCES OF WHEELS LOCKING UP. THIS COULD CAUSE SERIOUS ACCIDENTS. WHY HAS FORD NOT ISSUED A RECALL? I HAVE ALSO HAD 2 LEAKING EXHAUST MANIFOLD GASKETS THAT I AM TOLD IS ALSO COMMON. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 9, 2011Service brakes, hydraulic, Engine and engine coolingODI 10439189

Electrical system

96 reports2 crashes35 fires
“WHEN EXAMINING MY VEHICLE WHICH SUPPOSEDLY HAD A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL SENSOR ON BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER, FOUND THAT FORD ONLY ADDED A FUSABLE LINK TO PREVENT FIRE AS THE SENSOR MAY NOT HAVE BEEN LEAKING AT THE TIME. IT HAS SINCE LEAKED AND THE ADDED BIT OF WIRE WITH THE BLUE TAG HAS BLOWN IT'S FUSES BUT I BELIEVE THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS NOW DISABLED MY HORN DURRING OPERATION. I AM REQUESTING MY VEHICLE BE SERVICED PROPERLY AS THE RECALL WAS NOT DONE CORRECTLY TO MY UNDERSTANDING. I WAS LOOKING ONLINE AND JUST REALIZED THIS SO I LOOKED AT MY VEHICLE AND SAW IT IS THE OLD DESIGN.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 25, 2020Electrical system, Vehicle speed controlODI 11325759

Steering

95 reports4 crashes1 related recall
“The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check ABS" messages were displayed on the instrument panel along with the oil, brake, and battery warning lights being illuminated. The contact called a local dealer and was informed that the part needed to repair the steering wheel was no longer in stock. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was provided the same information as from the dealer. The contact also stated that moisture had begun to leak from the sunroof. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 171,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 29, 2024Steering, VisibilityODI 11591275

Engine and engine cooling

93 reports1 crash8 fires
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, A LOUD BANGING NOISE WAS HEARD AND THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME AND THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT ONE OF THE SPARK PLUGS FRACTURED AND DESTROYED THE MOTOR. THE MOTOR AND SPARK PLUGS WERE REPLACED. THE FAILURE HAD SINCE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE, BUT OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 18, 2011Engine and engine coolingODI 10430645

Vehicle speed control

78 reports11 crashes27 fires1 related recall
“I KNOW FOR A FACT THERE WAS A MASSIVE RECALL ON THE MODEL. THE CRUISE CONTROL MALFUNCTIONS AND CATCHES ON FIRE WHEN THE KEY IS NOT IN THE IGNITION. MOST OF THE F-150 ENGINE FIRES WERE TRACED BACK TO A FAULTY CRUISE CONTROL. THE VEHICLES USUALLY BURNED WHEN THE VEHICLE HAS 160-180,000 MILES ON THE SPEEDOMETER. MY 2000 FORD EXPEDITION BURNED CAUGHT MY HOME ON FIRE AND NEARLY KILLED THREE PEOPLE AND SEVERAL PETS. THE VEHICLE IN QUESTION BELONGS TO A GOOD FRIEND. THEY MENTIONED IN PASSING THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL IS MALFUNCTIONING. THIS VEHICLE IS EXHIBITING THE EXACT SAME SYMPTOMS THAT MY EXPEDITION DID JUST BEFORE IT CAUGHT FIRE. I UNPLUGGED MY FRIENDS EXPEDITION CRUISE CONTROL. I AM SHOCKED THIS VEHICLE IS NO LONGER ON THE RECALL LIST. IF THIS VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED DURING THE RECALL IT WOULD NOT BE MALFUNCTIONING NOW.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 20, 2017Vehicle speed controlODI 11006506
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.