Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Ford Expedition problems

Owners filed 71 complaints about the 2011 Ford Expedition with NHTSA between Jun 2011 and Jun 2026. The most-cited component is power train (21).

Complaints
71
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
2
Reported by owners
Fires
1
Reported by owners
Injuries
3
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train21
  2. Engine11
  3. Structure10
  4. Seats8
  5. Electrical system7
  6. Vehicle speed control7
  7. Fuel/propulsion system4
  8. Wheels3
  9. Latches/locks/linkages2
  10. Visibility/wiper2
  11. Engine and engine cooling2
  12. Visibility1
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Steering1

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 30, 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
20118
201211
20133
20142
20155
20168
20176
20185
20197
20205
20211
20223
20231
20243
20251
20262

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

Power train

21 reports1 crash
“So my 2011 expedition has a lead frame problem it is stuck in 4th gear and all the warning lights are on associating the lead frame. The shop I left told me it Is the lead frame. The problem is the ford f150 with the exact same transmission as mine has a recall for that exact part. But no recall on the expiration with the exact same transmission as mine. This is a safety problem as it is stuck in fourth gear and completely unsafe to drive. This is a ford factory problem and needs to be addressed before it gets someone gravely injured of killed I talked with ford and they sY since there is no recall there is nothing they can do I've beennout a vehicle for 2 weeks already and now they say they have no clue when they can find the part. So I'm just out a vehicle that I payed thousands of dollars for. This is Unacceptable as I need the vehicle to get to work I don't know if this will help but I have to try something. There should be a recall on the expeditions as well”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled May 8, 2024Power trainODI 11587640

Engine

11 reports
“I bought this vehicle early 2023. From the moment I bought it I’ve had a loud ticking sound come from the dash or the motor when I start the car also when it’s really hot out. It also didn’t blow cold air. So I had to save up enough money to replace the AC components in my 2011 expedition. After I got it “repaired” It only lasted about six months and that’s being conservative. $2000 later and it’s blowing hot air and still making you loud ticking sound. I pretty much replaced all the components that deal with the AC and the blower. I don’t know what to do anymore, but it makes a loud ticking sound when I’m driving, when I start the car, anytime. And I also don’t have cold air anymore.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2025Unknown or other, EngineODI 11703218

Structure

10 reports
“DRIVERS RETRACTABLE RUNNING BOARD MALFUNCTIONS GOING UP AND EXTENDING. THE RUNNING BOARD HAS STOPPED MIDWAY DURING EXTENSION AND HAVE CAUSED OCCUPANTS TO FALL DUE TO THE RUNNING BOARD SUDDENLY COLLAPSING TO NORMAL HEIGHT WITH WEIGHT OF THE OCCUPANT ON THE RUNNING BOARD. RETRACTION OF THE RUNNING BOARDS IS ROUGH AND MAY TAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS TO RETRACT. THE VEHICLE IS WELL MAINTAINED BY THE DEALERSHIP. THERE ARE NO LUBRICATION POINTS TO ENABLE MAINTENANCE OF THE RUNNING BOARDS. AT THIS TIME THE RUNNING BOARDS ARE TURNED OFF AND ARE IN THE RETRACTED POSITION. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS STATIONARY ON A STREET OR PARKING LOT AND THE DRIVER AND LEFT PASSENGER DOORS ARE OPENED/CLOSED FOR ENTERING OR EXITING THE VEHICLE. THIS ONLY HAPPENS TO DRIVER SIDE RUNNING BOARD. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN ON-GOING FOR THE PAST YEAR. THE DEALERSHIP HAS USED A SPRAY LUBRICANT ON THE HINGES OF THE RUNNING BOARD BUT IT IS A SHORT TERM FIX FOR A LONG TERM ISSUE. THERE HAS BEEN NO DAMAGE TO THE RUNNING BOARDS, NO ADJUSTMENT TO THE RUNNING BOARD MOTOR OR MECHANISM. THE RUNNING BOARD MOTOR APPEARS TO OVER OR UNDER TRAVEL AND DOES NOT MOVE THE RUNNING BOARD TO THE CORRECT LOCATION IN THE MOVEMENT CYCLE. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 9, 2020StructureODI 11328022

Seats

8 reports
“THE VEHICLE HEAD REST IS PERMANENTLY TILTED FORWARD AND CANT BE ADJUSTED. THIS PRESENTS AN UNCOMFORTABLE AND UNSAFE CONDITION WHEN OPERATING THE VEHICLE FOR LONG PERIODS OF TIME. IN ORDER TO GET SOME TYPE OF RELIEF DURING EXTENDED DRIVING PERIODS THE SEAT HAS TO BE TILTED BACK, WHICH COULD CREATE ANOTHER UNSAFE POSITION. *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 4, 2013SeatsODI 10550774

Electrical system

7 reports1 fire
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2011 Ford Expedition. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the vehicle mileage was 136,000, and at the time of registration, it was discovered that the mileage was 336,000. The contact called the seller, who advised that the sale was final and to end communications. An Attorney General and private attorney were contacted.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jun 11, 2026Electrical systemODI 11743503

Vehicle speed control

7 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY SHUT-OFF AND WENT INTO LIMP MODE. THE CONTACT PULLED OVER AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CONTINUED DRIVING TO HIS DESTINATION. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE THROTTLE BODY POSITIONING SENSOR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT FAILURE RECURRED WHILE ACCELERATING AT APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME MECHANIC BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 179,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 13, 2020Vehicle speed controlODI 11364062
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026

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