Problems · by component

2004 Ford Expedition engine problems

29 owner complaints to NHTSA about the 2004 Ford Expedition cite engine, 10% of all 297 complaints for this model year.

Complaints
29
10% of all complaints
Crashes
0
Reported by owners
Fires
4
Reported by owners
Injuries
0
Reported by owners
01 —Owner reports

What owners say about the engine

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact recently purchased the vehicle and stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission hesitated before upshifting with the accelerator pedal depressed. Additionally, while stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle rolled backwards when the accelerator pedal was depressed before responding as needed. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to return the vehicle to the independent dealer where the vehicle was purchased; however, the dealer declined to assist. Recently, the vehicle stalled, and it was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The mechanic retrieved fault codes for the engine and stated that the TCM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 5, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11722224
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut down completely, and the warning messages indicated check gage and check service engine. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,708.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 11, 2022EngineODI 11488840
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that one spark plug exploded and then another spark plug exploded and went through the cylinder head. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the spark plug was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 20, 2022EngineODI 11465508
“The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power without warning and the steering wheel became difficult to steer on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be replicated. The throttle was replaced however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 216,000. The Vin was not available.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 19, 2021EngineODI 11425528
“VEHICLE LOST POWER FOR 3-5 SECONDS AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH ON THREE SEPARATE EVENTS. VEHICLE SLOWED DOWN DUE TO POWER LOSS WHILE IN HEAVY TRAFFIC. THREE OTHER TIMES AT IDLE SPEED IN DRIVE AND IN PARK ENGINE STALLED AND IMMEDIATELY RESTARTED. LOSS OF POWER STEERING DUE TO ENGINE NOT RUNNING WHEN STALL EVENT HAPPENED. I PERFORMED INSPECTION OF FUEL PUMP RELAY WHICH IS INTERNAL TO PASSENGER SIDE FUSE BLOCK. FOUND INADEQUATE SOLDER JOINT ON INTEGRATED RELAY PRINTED CIRCUIT AND BURN MARKS ON OUTSIDE OF FUEL PUMP RELAY. LOCATED SALVAGE FUSE BLOCK SAME MAKE AND MODEL AND INSPECTED. SAME DAMAGE ON SALVAGE FUSE BLOCK ASSEMBLY. REPLACED WITH AFTERMARKET FUSE BLOCK WITH REVISED SOLDER JOINT AND UPDATED RELAY.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 2, 2020Electrical system, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11377472
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A STAND STILL THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE MUFFLER SYSTEM AND STARTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE MUFFLER AREA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED A LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 75,000 MILES AND HE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 22, 2020EngineFire reportedODI 11330124

Showing 6 of 29 reports. Read every report on NHTSA.gov.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page

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