Problems · by component

1997 Ford Expedition structure problems

39 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Expedition cite structure, 4% of all 868 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
39
4% of all complaints
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the structure

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND NOTICED CORROSION UNDERNEATH THE UNDERCARRIAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 27, 2015Steering, StructureODI 10721634
“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 STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP BECAME SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME AREA. THE AREA THAT WAS ATTACHED TO THE STRAP TO THE SECURE THE FUEL TANK WAS THE AFFECTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260,000. UPDATED 09/05/14*LJ”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10615968
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUEL TANK STRAP SEPARATED FROM THE VEHICLE DUE TO RUSTING OF THE SUB FRAME AREA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE BUT NO SOLUTION WAS OFFERED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 260.000. UPDATED 9/4/14*CN”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 24, 2014Fuel system, gasoline, StructureODI 10615972
“HUSBAND DROVE CAR ALL DAY LONG WITH NO ISSUE. THE CAR WAS RUNNING FINE. HE PARKED IT ABOUT 10PM. WE ALL WENT TO BED. AT 3:15 AM WE WERE AWAKENED BY NEIGHBORS SCREAMING OUR CAR WAS ON FIRE. IT HAD STARTED ON FIRE. NOT SURE WHY OR HOW, WHEN IT WAS RUNNING JUST FINE DURING THE DAY. THE WHOLE FRONT END WAS BURNT UP, THE TIRES WERE MELTED, IT WAS RUINED. THE FIRE SCORCHED PART OF THE HOUSE ON THE FRONT. IT WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF THE GARAGE AND MELTED AWAY SOME OF THE SIDING AND THE DOOR. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2012StructureFire reportedODI 10477155

Showing 6 of 39 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

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

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