Problems · by component
1998 Ford Expedition suspension problems
144 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 1998 Ford Expedition cite suspension, 17% of all 851 complaints for this model year.
Complaints
144
17% of all complaints
Crashes
1
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
Reported by owners
What owners say about the suspension
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“WHEN WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE IT HAD 22 INCH CHROME WHEELS AND TIRES. IT ALSO WANDERED ALL OVER THE ROAD. WE BOUGHT NEW STOCK SIZED RIMS AND NEW STOCK SIZED TIRES. IT STILL WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. WE HAD IT ALIGNED. IT STILL WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD. GOOGLE SHOWS MANY, MANY COMPLAINTS REGARDING THESE VEHICLES' SUSPENSION, BLAMING RUSTING REAR LOWER TRAILING ARMS AND IN ONE CASE A LEFT STABILIZER LINK BROKE. I HAVE NOT CRAWLED UNDER THE CAR AS IT IS MY SISTER'S AND SHE LIVES A WAYS AWAY, BUT SHE WANTS TO SELL IT AND IS WORRIED IF IT IS SOMETHING MAJOR SOMEONE MAY GET HURT. WE CAN BE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD FROM 25MPH TO 60MPH AND THE VEHICLE JUST SORT OF FEELS LIKE THE BACK END IS NOT IN LINE WITH THE FRONT OR SOMETHING AND IT JUST TRIES TO CHANGE LANES ON ITS OWN.”
“I GOT IN MY 1997 EXPEDITION AND THE BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN HAVING THE BACK BRAKES INSTALLED THE MECHANICS NOTICED THE LOWER ON TROLL ARM WAS RUSTED OUT. HE THE LOOKED AT MY 1998 AND IT IS THE SAME WAY. HE SAID I CANNOT DRIVE THEM LIKE THIS. I DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE DAILY.”
“THE REAR LOWER AND UPPER CONTROL ARMS HAVE RUST HOLES AND OR COMPLETELY RUSTED THROUGH. THIS IS OBVIOUSLY A VERY BIG PROBLEM WITH ALL EXPEDITIONS AROUND THE SAME YEARS. COMPLAINTS FROM HUNDREDS IF NOT THOUSANDS OF OWNERS ON FORUMS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. THIS WILL CAUSE A CRASH AND OR FATALITIES IF NOT CORRECTED OR FOUND BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE. I FOUND MINE TO BE VERY RUSTY WITH HOLES AND ALSO ONE RUSTED ALL THE WAY THROUGH AFTER A 400 MILE HIGHWAY TRIP WITH MY FAMILY. THIS IS SOMETHING THAT FORD SHOULD STEP UP TO THE PLATE AND RECALL AND FIX FOR FORD OWNERS. THIS IS A REPORTED PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE REPAIRED BY FORD ASAP. *TR”
“AS I WAS EXAMINING THE REAR BRAKE PADS ON MY TRUCK, I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS A HOLE IN THE RIGHT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM. FURTHER EXAMINATION SHOWED THAT THE PROTECTIVE COATING ON THE CONTROL ARM HAD NOT ONLY FAILED BUT WAS HOLDING MOISTURE AND SALT AGAINST THE METAL OF THE CONTROL ARM. THEREFORE THIS LOWER CONTROL ARM IS ALSO QUITE THIN IN ONE SPECIFIC AREA AND APPEARS TO BE IN DANGER OF IMMINENT FAILURE. LIKEWISE I FOUND A HOLE AND THIN SOUND METAL ON THE LEFT REAR LOWER CONTROL ARM. IF DRIVEN, THIS VEHICLE COULD EASILY HAVE A MAJOR LOSS OF CONTROL AND A CATASTROPHIC ACCIDENT WITH LOSS OF LIVES. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT BECAUSE THE COATING THAT WAS DESIGNED TO PROTECT THIS VULNERABLE PART HAS ACTUALLY HASTENED ITS FAILURE. *TR”
“WHILE DRIVING THROUGH A PARKING LOT THE DRIVE SHAFT DROPPED OUT. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE REAR LOWER TRAILING SUPPORT ARMS ON BOTH THE LEFT AND RIGHT SIDE HAD RUSTED THROUGH CAUSING THEM TO BREAK APART. THIS RESULTED IN THE REAR AXLE SHIFTING AND THE DRIVE SHAFT SNAPPING AWAY FROM THE REAR AXLE. IF THIS HAPPENED AT A HIGH SPEED THIS INCIDENT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN LOSS OF LIFE, SEVERE INJURIES AND PROPERTY DAMAGE. *TR”
“YEARS AGO WHEN PURCHASED THE EXPEDITION I NOTICED THE SHIFT GEAR OUT OF ALIGNMENT. I TRY TO CONTACT THE DEALER AS I HEARD THAT THIS WAS A RECALL; I WAS TOLD THAT THE RECALL IS NOT FOR MY VEHICLE. IT HAS KNOW BEEN A FEW YEARS SINCE I BOUGHT THE TRUCK AND I'M NOW EXPERIENCING WHAT I'VE NOTICED MANY OTHERS WITH AN EXPEDITION WHICH IS TRUCK IS NOT ENGAGING INTO PARKING POSITION AND ROLLS. THIS IS A CONCERN TO ME AS MY DRIVE WAY IS ON A SLIGHT UP HILL. THIS IS AN ENDANGERING TO THE PUBLIC, THE ISSUE HAPPENS UNEXPECTEDLY. I WOULD NOT LIKE TO SEE SOMEONE HURT BECAUSE OF A ROLL BACK OR FORWARD DUE TO WHAT IS SUPPOSED TO BE A MANUFACTURE DEFECT FROM THE MANY CASES I'VE READ UP ON SO FAR. FORD DEALER NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AS WELL AS THE COIL AND SPARK PLUG WHICH BLOWS OUT OF ENGINE AND AIR SUSPENSION PROBLEMS. THIS VEHICLE HAS COST ME THOUSANDS IN REPAIR,ITS NOT WORTH AND CAN NOT AFFORD THE PRESENT REPAIRS. *TR”
Showing 6 of 144 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 29, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.