Ford Expedition 1997–2002 problems by year and mileage
1st generation · UN93 (derived from the PN96 F-150)
NHTSA data through 24 September 20264,443 complaints, 2,025 with mileageMethod
Which year is yours? Tap it to see what breaks on it.
The 1997 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 120,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 853
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 1997
- Suspension138 reports
- Hydraulic brake circuit96 reports
- Electrical system95 reports · median 105,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 1997: Vehicle speed control; Steering — gear box; Exterior lighting. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 1998 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 110,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 836
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 1998
- Suspension144 reports
- Engine and its cooling system127 reports · median 110,000 mi
- Electrical system115 reports · median 100,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 1998: Vehicle speed control; Exterior lighting; Trailer hitches. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 1999 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 99,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 946
- Recalls naming this year
- 5
Most reported on the 1999
- Engine and its cooling system248 reports · median 99,000 mi
- Tyres184 reports
- Visibility equipment123 reports · median 60,000 mi
5 recall campaigns name the 1999: Vehicle speed control; Trailer hitches; Wheels — lugs/nuts/bolts/studs. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2000 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 91,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 890
- Recalls naming this year
- 7
Most reported on the 2000
- Electrical system214 reports · median 97,000 mi
- Tyres172 reports
- Throttle and speed control124 reports · median 109,000 mi
7 recall campaigns name the 2000: Vehicle speed control; Vehicle speed control — cruise control; Structure. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2001 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 90,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 578
- Recalls naming this year
- 6
Most reported on the 2001
- Engine and its cooling system122 reports · median 100,000 mi
- Electrical system118 reports · median 84,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control101 reports · median 100,000 mi
6 recall campaigns name the 2001: Vehicle speed control; Structure; Visibility — windshield wiper/washer. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
The 2002 Ford Expedition
Close- Median failure report
- 84,000 mi
- Complaints filed
- 340
- Recalls naming this year
- 2
Most reported on the 2002
- Engine and its cooling system95 reports · median 96,000 mi
- Throttle and speed control58 reports · median 63,000 mi
- Electrical system46 reports · median 84,000 mi
2 recall campaigns name the 2002: Vehicle speed control; Structure. Not every car in a campaign is affected — check the VIN at NHTSA. Recall repairs are free.
Each tile shows the median mileage at which that model year’s failures were reported. The 1997 reports latest and the 2002 earliest, but part of that gap is age: the 1997 has had 5 more years on the road to accumulate mileage.
The short answer
“Is the 1997–2002 Ford Expedition reliable?”
- Median of reported failures
- 100,000 mi
- 90% of reports came by
- 174,000 mi
- Reports with mileage
- 2,025
- Recalls
- 17
Most reported
- Engine and its cooling system17.9% of complaints · median 104,000 mi
- Electrical system15.9% of complaints · median 98,000 mi
- Tyres11.6% of complaints · median 62,000 mi
Owners filed 4,443 complaints with NHTSA about the 1997–2002 Ford Expedition; the engine and its cooling system leads with 17.9% of them, and half of the 2,025 that record an odometer reading came by 100,000 miles. A count like this can’t rate reliability on its own: NHTSA records what owners chose to report, not how many of each car were sold.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 66,000 and 133,000 miles.
Before-you-buy checklist ↓At your mileage ↓Check this VIN — NHTSA ↗
How many miles does a 1997–2002 Ford Expedition last?
Complaint records can’t measure how long a car lasts; they show when reported failures happened. On the 1997–2002 Ford Expedition, half of the 2,025 complaints that record an odometer reading were filed by 100,000 miles and 90% by 174,000 miles.
377 reports came in past 150,000 miles and 101 past 200,000 — each one proof that an Expedition reached that mileage, not that it failed there.
Figure 1 · Ford Expedition 1997–2002 · 2,025 reports with mileage
Mileage at failure
Complaints per 5,000-mile bin, 0 to 200,000 miles, equal bins on a linear scale. Tallest bar = 101 complaints.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 200,000+ — 101 complaints (5.0%), plotted separately
- 10%
- 40,000
- 25%
- 65,500
- Median
- 99,950
- 75%
- 133,000
- 90%
- 174,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–5,000 | 19 | 0.9% |
| 5,000–10,000 | 11 | 0.5% |
| 10,000–15,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 15,000–20,000 | 10 | 0.5% |
| 20,000–25,000 | 18 | 0.9% |
| 25,000–30,000 | 33 | 1.6% |
| 30,000–35,000 | 51 | 2.5% |
| 35,000–40,000 | 39 | 1.9% |
| 40,000–45,000 | 42 | 2.1% |
| 45,000–50,000 | 56 | 2.8% |
| 50,000–55,000 | 57 | 2.8% |
| 55,000–60,000 | 53 | 2.6% |
| 60,000–65,000 | 79 | 3.9% |
| 65,000–70,000 | 77 | 3.8% |
| 70,000–75,000 | 65 | 3.2% |
| 75,000–80,000 | 86 | 4.2% |
| 80,000–85,000 | 73 | 3.6% |
| 85,000–90,000 | 64 | 3.2% |
| 90,000–95,000 | 76 | 3.8% |
| 95,000–100,000 | 86 | 4.2% |
| 100,000–105,000 | 99 | 4.9% |
| 105,000–110,000 | 65 | 3.2% |
| 110,000–115,000 | 87 | 4.3% |
| 115,000–120,000 | 61 | 3.0% |
| 120,000–125,000 | 77 | 3.8% |
| 125,000–130,000 | 59 | 2.9% |
| 130,000–135,000 | 75 | 3.7% |
| 135,000–140,000 | 29 | 1.4% |
| 140,000–145,000 | 48 | 2.4% |
| 145,000–150,000 | 35 | 1.7% |
| 150,000–155,000 | 59 | 2.9% |
| 155,000–160,000 | 31 | 1.5% |
| 160,000–165,000 | 40 | 2.0% |
| 165,000–170,000 | 25 | 1.2% |
| 170,000–175,000 | 26 | 1.3% |
| 175,000–180,000 | 26 | 1.3% |
| 180,000–185,000 | 24 | 1.2% |
| 185,000–190,000 | 15 | 0.7% |
| 190,000–195,000 | 17 | 0.8% |
| 195,000–200,000 | 13 | 0.6% |
| 200,000+ | 101 | 5.0% |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain. Complaint counts reflect what owners reported and are not a measure of failure rate per vehicle sold.
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Common Expedition problems, and when they happen
Figure 2 · Ford Expedition 1997–2002
When each system fails
Bar spans the middle half of reports; the notch inside each bar is the median. Miles at failure on a proportional scale — equal distances are equal ratios, not equal miles.
- Tyres515 reports62,00035,000–102,000Tyres: 515 reports, median 62,000 miles, middle half 35,000 to 102,000 miles.
- Visibility equipment337 reports70,00048,000–98,000Visibility equipment: 337 reports, median 70,000 miles, middle half 48,000 to 98,000 miles.
- Transmission and driveline313 reports90,00051,000–134,000Transmission and driveline: 313 reports, median 90,000 miles, middle half 51,000 to 134,000 miles.
- Electrical system705 reports98,00068,000–130,000Electrical system: 705 reports, median 98,000 miles, middle half 68,000 to 130,000 miles.
- Suspension432 reports100,00065,000–133,000Suspension: 432 reports, median 100,000 miles, middle half 65,000 to 133,000 miles.
- Engine and its cooling system797 reports104,00076,000–132,000Engine and its cooling system: 797 reports, median 104,000 miles, middle half 76,000 to 132,000 miles.
- Throttle and speed control499 reports109,00072,000–140,000Throttle and speed control: 499 reports, median 109,000 miles, middle half 72,000 to 140,000 miles.
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it in “Where your car sits”
Ordered by median mileage, earliest first. The first 12,000 miles are shaded: that is the boundary this site uses between a manufacturing defect and ordinary wear, not a property of the world.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
All systems in a table
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 797 | 17.9% | 104,000 | 76,000–132,000 |
| Electrical system | 705 | 15.9% | 98,000 | 68,000–130,000 |
| Tyres | 515 | 11.6% | 62,000 | 35,000–102,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 499 | 11.2% | 109,000 | 72,000–140,000 |
| Suspension | 432 | 9.7% | 100,000 | 65,000–133,000 |
| Visibility equipment | 337 | 7.6% | 70,000 | 48,000–98,000 |
| Transmission and driveline | 313 | 7.0% | 90,000 | 51,000–134,000 |
| Hydraulic brake circuit | 229 | 5.2% | 83,000 | 55,000–116,000 |
| Steering | 220 | 5.0% | 91,000 | 60,000–134,000 |
| Body structure | 169 | 3.8% | 90,000 | 61,000–130,000 |
System by system, in words
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 100,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The engine and its cooling system accounts for 17.9% of complaints (797 reports, 553 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 104,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 76,000 and 132,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 15.9% of complaints (705 reports, 465 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 98,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 68,000 and 130,000 miles.
The tyres account for 11.6% of complaints (515 reports, 92 of them with a mileage figure), and they fail early — a median of 62,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 102,000 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 11.2% of complaints (499 reports, 257 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 109,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 72,000 and 140,000 miles.
The suspension accounts for 9.7% of complaints (432 reports, 121 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 100,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 65,000 and 133,000 miles.
Visibility equipment accounts for 7.6% of complaints (337 reports, 126 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 48,000 and 98,000 miles.
Known problems with the 1997–2002 Expedition
Engine 1997–2002
Two-valve Triton spark plug ejection. The aluminum cylinder head carries only about four threads of engagement; plugs work loose under cylinder pressure and blow out, stripping the head threads and requiring insert repair or head replacement.
Cruise Control / Electrical 1997–2002
Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch mounted on the master cylinder leaks brake fluid onto energized contacts, overheats and ignites — fires occur with the engine off and key out. Covered by Ford's large speed-control switch recall campaigns (05V-388 and successors).
Suspension
Rear air suspension air spring and compressor leaks causing rear-end sag and compressor burnout.
Before you buy a 1997–2002 Expedition: the 3-minute check
Generated from 2,025 mileage-tagged complaints, 17 recall campaigns, 3 documented problem areas. Print this page — the checklist survives print.
- Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 17 campaigns cover this generation; an open recall is a free repair you can make the seller's problem.
- Check engine on 1997–2002 cars. Two-valve Triton spark plug ejection. The aluminum cylinder head carries only about four threads of engagement; plugs work loose under cylinder pressure and blow out, stripping the head threads and requiring insert…
- Check cruise control / electrical on 1997–2002 cars. Texas Instruments speed control deactivation switch mounted on the master cylinder leaks brake fluid onto energized contacts, overheats and ignites — fires occur with the engine off and key out. Covered by Ford's large…
- Check suspension. Rear air suspension air spring and compressor leaks causing rear-end sag and compressor burnout.
- End with a pre-purchase inspection of this car. Aggregate data describes the population; the example in front of you has its own history.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 66,000 and 133,000 miles, with a median of 100,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the engine and its cooling system and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The electrical system in particular shows a median failure mileage of 98,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Expedition problems by mileage: where your car sits
Type your odometer reading, or read the common mileages in the table. Your marker lands on the timing chart above and on the curve below.
| System | Middle half of reports, mi | At 60k mi20% below | At 90k mi42% below | At 120k mi65% below | At 150k mi81% below | At 200k mi95% below |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine and its cooling system | 76,000–132,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Electrical system | 68,000–130,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Tyres | 35,000–102,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Throttle and speed control | 72,000–140,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Suspension | 65,000–133,000 | later | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
| Visibility equipment | 48,000–98,000 | in window | in window | earlier | earlier | earlier |
| Transmission and driveline | 51,000–134,000 | in window | in window | in window | earlier | earlier |
Figure 3 · Ford Expedition 1997–2002 · 2,025 reports with mileage
Share of reports below each mileage
Share of mileage-tagged reports filed at or below each odometer reading. Steps rise only at bin edges, by exact counted shares.
- 60,000 mi — 20% of reports below
- 90,000 mi — 42% of reports below
- 120,000 mi — 65% of reports below
- 150,000 mi — 81% of reports below
- 200,000 mi — 95% of reports below
- Median — the staircase crosses the 50% line here
- Your odometer — appears after you enter it above
The staircase tops out at 95%: the remaining 5.0% of reports (101) came above 200,000 miles.
Nothing is smoothed or interpolated. Linear axis, same as Figure 1.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, public domain.
1997–2002 Ford Expedition recalls (17)
NHTSA records 17 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around throttle and speed control (2), equipment (2), the wheels (2). Several campaigns against one area can mean a remedy that did not hold, or separate defects in parts filed under the same heading; the summaries below name each defect.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Sep 2005 · 1997–2002 · Vehicle Speed ControlA fire at the switch could occur.
The defect. On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
What can happen. A fire at the switch could occur.
The free fix. By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed…
Jan 2005 · 2000 · Vehicle Speed ControlThis condition could lead to a fire.
The defect. On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
What can happen. This condition could lead to a fire. Fires have occurred while the vehicles were parked with the ignition 'off.'
The free fix. As an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. As soon as replacement parts are available (early…
May 2003 · 1997 · SteeringThis could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The defect. On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
What can happen. This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is…
Mar 2003 · 2000–2002 · StructureThis overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
The defect. Certain pickup truck, van, and MINI van conversions equipped with southern comfort built running boards that contain certain courtesy lights manufactured by american technology components, inc. These units contain a courtesy light or lights that might…
What can happen. This overheating condition can cause the running board to melt or cause a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the wiring harness on these running boards. Owner notification began march 7, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do…
Sep 2002 · 2000 · EquipmentCustomers may inflate their rear tires based on the incorrect tire pressure information on the certification…
The defect. Certain 4x2 sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, "Tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars." The rear tire pressure is incorrectly listed on the label for 4.2…
What can happen. Customers may inflate their rear tires based on the incorrect tire pressure information on the certification label.
The free fix. A supplementary label will be sent to customers to place near the certification label to identify the appropriate rear tire pressure. The customer may also have the dealer install the label on the…
Aug 2001 · 2000–2001 · VisibilityLoss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger cars, sport utility vehicles, and light and medium duty pickup trucks. A switch located in the plastic cover of the wiper motor gear case could malfunction and overheat, potentially resulting in loss of intermittent wiper…
What can happen. Loss of visibility while driving increases the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the date code on the wiper motor. Motors built with the suspect time frame will have the wiper motor gear case cover replaced. Owner notification began august 20, 2001. Owners…
Jul 2001 · 2001 · Seat BeltsIn the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the…
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and minivans. Equipped with seat belts supplied by trw. It is possible that the driver's and/or front passenger's outboard seat belt buckle may not fully latch. Ford crown victoria…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the restraint system may not provide adequate occupant protection, increasing the risk of personal injury to the seat occupant.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect the front outboard seat belt buckles and if the buckle fails the inspection process, it will be replaced. Owner notification began july 25, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles…
Mar 2001 · 2001 · Air BagsIn the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in…
The defect. Vehicle description: passenger and sport utility vehicles. The inflator canister in the driver air bag module may have an inadequate weld near the igniter.
What can happen. In the event of a vehicle crash, the driver air bag may not deploy as intended, potentially resulting in reduced occupant protection, or a burn injury.
The free fix. Dealers will install a driver air bag module. Owner notification began march 19, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Nov 2000 · 2000–2001 · EquipmentIn the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the…
The defect. Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles, pickup trucks, and passenger vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of fmvss 225, "child restraint anchorage systems." The affected Expedition/navigator owner guides do not identify the locations of…
What can happen. In the event of a crash, the child seat may not be properly attached increasing the risk of injury to the child.
The free fix. Owners will be provided with owner guide inserts revised to provide the required information, and instructions for affixing these inserts to their owner guides. Customers will also be advised that if…
Jun 2000 · 1997–1998 · Exterior LightingThe light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.S.
The defect. Vehicle description: MINI vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices…
What can happen. The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.S. Standards.
The free fix. Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Mar 2000 · 1997–2000 · Trailer HitchesThe trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
The defect. Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
What can happen. The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
The free fix. Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
Apr 1999 · 1999 · WheelsLoss of lug nut torque can cause vibration or separation of a wheel and tire from the vehicle.
The defect. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles equipped with four-wheel-drive (4x4), 17" chrome steel wheels. The clamp load can be lost on the wheel lugs due to insufficient wheel contact area with the hub. In some cases, the contact area can deform, resulting…
What can happen. Loss of lug nut torque can cause vibration or separation of a wheel and tire from the vehicle.
The free fix. Dealers will re-torque the wheel lugs to proper specifications and also install a label that specifies that the wheel lugs be torqued to 110 lb-ft any time the wheel is removed.
Dec 1998 · 1999 · Fuel System, GasolineFuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
The defect. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The fuel line assemblies may have been damaged by the supplier during manufacturing, allowing leakage.
What can happen. Fuel leakage in the presence of an ignition source can result in a fire.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect these vehicles and, if necessary, replace the front and rear fuel line assemblies.
Nov 1998 · 1999 · Service Brakes, HydraulicIncreased brake stopping distance can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
The defect. Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. These vehicles may have a missing or partially installed retainer clip that holds the master cylinder push rod to the brake pedal arm.
What can happen. Increased brake stopping distance can occur, increasing the risk of a crash.
The free fix. Dealers will inspect these vehicles to see if the retainer clip was installed, and repair, if necessary.
May 1998 · 1997–1998 · WheelsThis can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation…
The defect. Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
What can happen. This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The free fix. Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim…
Oct 1997 · 1997–1998 · Power TrainThe condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper…
The defect. Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle…
What can happen. The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake…
The free fix. Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Dec 1996 · 1997 · SuspensionIf both brackets separate, the rear axle can move laterally until the tires contact either the frame or the…
The defect. The rear axle track bar bracket can separate from the frame due to missing welds or inadequate weld penetration.
What can happen. If both brackets separate, the rear axle can move laterally until the tires contact either the frame or the wheelhouse resulting in either tire damage or a significant reduction in vehicle handling…
The free fix. Dealers will install a track bar bracket reinforcement kit and inspection of the axle tubes. The suspect axle tubes do not have a stamped date code on the tube. Axles without date codes on the tubes…
Crashes, fires and injuries owners reported
What owners reported alongside the failure itself, out of 4,443 complaints against this generation:
- Crashes
- 259 (5.8%)
- Fires
- 587
- Injury reports
- 216
- Fatality reports
- 14
These flags are self-reported by complainants and unverified by NHTSA; one report can carry several flags, so the counts overlap and do not sum to a total. They are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. No chart is drawn here on purpose: overlapping counts spanning very different magnitudes cannot be honestly encoded as lengths.
Expedition problems by model year
The 1999 drew the most complaints of this generation, 946, most of them about the engine and its cooling system, and the 2002 the fewest, 340. A typical year drew about 844.
| Year | Complaints | With mileage | Median miles | Most reported | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | 853 | 238 | 120,000 | Suspension (138) | 7 |
| 1998 | 836 | 310 | 110,000 | Suspension (144) | 5 |
| 1999 | 946 | 400 | 99,000 | Engine and its cooling system (248) | 5 |
| 2000 | 890 | 441 | 91,000 | Electrical system (214) | 7 |
| 2001 | 578 | 374 | 90,000 | Engine and its cooling system (122) | 6 |
| 2002 | 340 | 262 | 84,000 | Engine and its cooling system (95) | 2 |
What Expedition owners reported
The contact owns a 2000 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 30 MPH, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring increased effort to prevent oversteering. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who…
2000 · 315,000 miles · Steering
The contact's fiancée owns a 2002 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was smoke coming from the driver's side front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that while his fiancée was attempting to drive the vehicle the following day, the brake pedal was depressed but was firm, requiring the contact's fiancée…
2002 · 164,000 miles · Hydraulic brake circuit
The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check ABS" messages were displayed on the instrument panel along with the oil, brake, and battery warning lights being…
1997 · 171,000 miles · Steering
The contact owns a 2002 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, it caught fire. The fire started from under the hood of the vehicle. The contact was able to extinguish the fire with water. An independent mechanic came to the contact's residence and diagnosed that the failure was related…
2002 · 146,000 miles · Firerelated
Built from 2,025 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-09-26 · open data · how it is built
Other Expedition generations
- Expedition 2003–2006 1,240 reports with mileage, most about the engine and its cooling system
- Expedition 2007–2017 1,014 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline
- Expedition 2018–2024 509 reports with mileage, most about the transmission and driveline