Engine
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
NHTSA lists 12 safety recalls and 241 owner complaints for the 2021 Ford Expedition. Most complaints involve power train (113) and engine (57). The EPA rates it 18–19 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Expedition model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1997 | 868 |
| 1998 | 851 |
| 1999 | 970 |
| 2000 | 942 |
| 2001 | 609 |
| 2002 | 383 |
| 2003 | 655 |
| 2004 | 297 |
| 2005 | 315 |
| 2006 | 299 |
| 2007 | 215 |
| 2008 | 146 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 58 |
| 2011 | 71 |
| 2012 | 118 |
| 2013 | 92 |
| 2014 | 72 |
| 2015 | 164 |
| 2016 | 217 |
| 2017 | 358 |
| 2018 | 383 |
| 2019 | 521 |
| 2020 | 426 |
| 2021 | 241 |
| 2022 | 116 |
| 2023 | 65 |
| 2024 | 79 |
| 2025 | 38 |
| 2026 | 10 |
“While driving at highway speeds, specifically during sudden acceleration and lane-change maneuvers, the vehicle experiences a severe dynamic mechanical binding event. The transmission briefly forces a sudden "halt" or engine-braking downshift, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow down in active traffic before entering a temporary limp mode. This sudden loss of propulsion and unexpected deceleration creates an immediate rear-end collision hazard on the highway. This happened to my wife while merging onto a highway almost causing an accident. Diagnostic and Mechanical Verification: The vehicle was taken to an authorized Ford dealership for evaluation. The dealership officially scanned, verified, and documented diagnostic trouble code P0786 (Shift Timing Solenoid "A" Range/Performance). Following an advanced diagnostic review, the certified Ford technician officially diagnosed a failed transmission park solenoid (parking pawl solenoid). Direct Relation to Active Safety Recall: The component failure (park solenoid), diagnostic code (P0786), and severe dynamic highway-speed binding symptoms are identical to the safety defects outlined in Ford Safety Recall 26S48…”
“Vehicle has 84,000 miles at it. It started to jerk when putting it into a gear. I thought it was due to the colder mornings no. I was taking the kids to school and It was skipping gears. I was very leary of driving but had no choice. It would not get up to speed the rpms was suffering. I stopped at a parts store to run the code after the warning popped up. When leaving because I was 30 mins from home it jerked when I placed into gear, I was scared to pull onto the 4 lane due to not being able to get up to speed and being in a high traffice area. Very unsafe. Now the vehicle is at the dealership needing a $7,000 transmission and ford will not assist. I am still financing it through a dealer and there is no Goodwill from Ford. This is known issue that they documented.”
“VIN):[XXX]/Make/Model: 2021 Ford Expedition XLTCurrent Mileage: Approx. 150,000 milesLocation: [XXX] of the Safety Defect:El vehículo presenta un defecto de seguridad crítico y extremo en el tren motriz que pone en riesgo inminente la vida de los ocupantes y de terceros en la vía pública. En dos ocasiones distintas durante los últimos 15 días, el vehículo ha sufrido una pérdida total de comunicación electrónica y un bloqueo mecánico absoluto mientras se encontraba en plena marcha en avenidas de [XXX].Al ocurrir la falla, el tablero activa de inmediato la luz de la llave inglesa (Wrench Light), descontrola la marcha, bloquea la transmisión de 10 velocidades y activa de manera imprevista y automática el freno de emergencia electrónico, deteniendo el vehículo por completo en medio del tráfico.En el primer incidente (ocurrido en sábado), la gravedad del bloqueo mecánico obligó la intervención de los servicios de emergencia en la vía pública, requiriendo la asistencia de la policía y el cuerpo de bomberos para mover el vehículo a una zona segura. El sistema electrónico sufre un colapso total (cortocircuito térmico o fallo de la red CAN Bus) provocado por las…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition 2WD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,400 | 456 |
| Expedition 4WD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 17 | 22 | 19 | $3,400 | 476 |
| Expedition MAX 2WD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | $3,400 | 456 |
| Expedition MAX 4WD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.5 L, Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 21 | 18 | $3,550 | 494 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
12 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 241 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (113), engine (57), electrical system (24). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2021 Ford Expedition at 18–19 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (4 versions rated).
NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2021 Ford Expedition 5 out of 5 stars overall.