Problems · by component

1997 Ford Expedition power train problems

75 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Expedition cite power train, 9% of all 868 complaints for this model year. NHTSA also lists 1 recall on this component.

Complaints
75
9% of all complaints
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
2
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the power train

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT BOUGHT THE VEHICLE WITH A KNOWN SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE DETAILS OF THE REPAIR WAS UNKNOWN. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 097V171000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 220,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 22, 2015Power trainODI 10767362
“THE VEHICLE 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. HAVE ACCIDENT, THE CAR ROLL OVER TO ANOTHER CAR, I CAN"T PARK DOWN HILL IS TO DANGERS, IS TOT SAFETY . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2015Power train, StructureCrash reportedODI 10703148
“THE VEHICLE 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. HAVE ACCIDENT, THE CAR ROLL OVER TO ANOTHER CAR, I CAN"T PARK DOWN HILL IS TO DANGERS, IS NOT SAFETY . *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 1, 2015Power train, StructureCrash reportedODI 10703149
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT VIEWED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V171000, POWER TRAIN, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) AND STATED THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPERLY SHIFT INTO PARK GEAR. WHEN SHE TRIED TO SHIFT INTO PARK, THE VEHICLE WOULD ROLL. SHE HAD TO APPLY THE BRAKE PEDAL, SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR, GET OUT OF THE VEHICLE AND PUSH IT BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY WHILE FORCING THE GEAR INTO PARK. WHEN SHE TRIED TO START THE VEHICLE IT FAILED TO START UNLESS IT WAS IN NEUTRAL GEAR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THERE WERE NO RECALLS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND STATED THEY WOULD DOCUMENT THE CALL; OTHERWISE, THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 160,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 21, 2012Power trainODI 10459118
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IDLED IN THE DRIVEWAY, HE NOTICED THAT THE EXTERIOR AND INTERIOR LIGHTS WERE FLASHING, THE STEREO WOULD TURN ON AND OFF, AND THE DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK AND UNLOCK. THE CONTACT UNPLUGGED THE BATTERY AND THE VEHICLE OPERATED AS NORMAL. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION COMPLETELY FAILED AND THE CONTACT NOTICED WATER LEAKING IN FROM THE WINDSHIELD ONTO THE DASHBOARD. BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED, BUT DENIED ANY ASSISTANCE WITH REPAIRS OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 197,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 6, 2012Power train, Electrical systemODI 10442635
“THE REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS THAT HOLD THE REAR AXLE IN PLACE ARE MADE TOO THIN AND WITH CORROSION WILL FAIL. THIS WILL CAUSE THE REAR AXLE TO MOVE BACKWARD AND BREAK THE DRIVE SHAFT. *KB”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 14, 2011Suspension, Power trainODI 10425386

Showing 6 of 75 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 28, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Related recalls

1 recall on this component

Power train: gear position indication (prndl)

Free remedy

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."

Power trainReported Oct 7, 1997NHTSA 97V171000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 28, 2026

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