Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 1997 Ford Expedition, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Suspension138
- Service brakes, hydraulic96
- Electrical system95
- Steering94
- Engine and engine cooling89
- Vehicle speed control79
- Power train76
- Visibility44
- Wheels41
- Structure38
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 48 injuries and 11 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Fatal crashes in the US
From 2020 to 2023, 29 1997 Expedition vehicles were involved in crashes on US public roads in which someone died; 32 people died inside them, and 16 of the vehicles rolled over. This is a count, not a crash rate: it grows with the number of cars on the road.
NHTSA Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS), crash years 2020–2023 (public domain)
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 1997 Ford Expedition failed the safety check 1.16% of the time — 28% less often than the average 1997 passenger car (1.60%). Median odometer at inspection: 174,122 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In New Zealand
2 1997 cars are on the New Zealand register; 100% arrived as used imports, 0% were sold new in New Zealand.
NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi, Motor Vehicle Register (March 2026) · CC BY 4.0
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 15.7–17.6 L/100 km (about 13–15 mpg US), CO₂ 361–405 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Expedition · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 17.9 | 13.0 | 15.7 |
| Expedition · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 18.8 | 13.9 | 16.6 |
| Expedition 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 19.0 | 13.9 | 16.7 |
| Expedition 4X4 · Sport utility vehicle · Regular gasoline | 20.1 | 14.6 | 17.6 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
8 Transport Canada recalls for the 1997 Ford Expedition.
| 2005028 14 Feb 2005 | Electrical On certain vehicles, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn, potentially resulting in an underhood fire. The condition may occur ei… |
| 2004164 18 May 2004 | Steering On certain vehicles, Ford has issued a scheduled maintenance guide update which specifies that every 20 000 kms, the steering linkage, which includes tie-rod en… |
| 2003141 27 May 2003 | Steering On certain vehicles, the intermediate steering shaft yoke may not have been properly seated onto the steering gear input shaft during installation. In this con… |
| 2000079 20 Mar 2000 | Structure On certain vehicles, the trailer hitch assembly attachment bolts may lose clamp load. If the operator does not notice the condition due to rattle or other loos… |
| 1998095 12 May 1998 | Suspension ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE. … |
| 1997180 17 Oct 1997 | Structure ON CERTAIN VEHICLES, THE AUTOMATIC SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED AND COULD SEPARATE FROM THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET. SHOULD THIS OCCUR, THE O… |
| 1997098 8 May 1997 | Other THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH C.M.V.S.S 115 - VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER. THE FOURTH CHARACTERS OF THE V.I.N. PLATE WHICH IS AFFIXED TO THE INSTRUMENT P… |
| 1997011 21 Jan 1997 | Suspension THE REAR AXLE TRACK BRACKET MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO MISSING WELDS OR A WELD PATTERN THAT IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THE DESIGN OF THE BRACKET. ALSO, THE … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
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.
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, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
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.
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 OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."
THE REAR AXLE TRACK BAR BRACKET CAN SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO MISSING WELDS OR INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Ford told its dealers about the 1997 Ford Expedition: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 637848 | CONCERNS WITH SPEED BODY BOOM. *TT |
| 637787 | THIS BULLETIN STATES THAT SOME 4.6L FQR ENGINE ASSEMBLIES MAY HAVE A SMALLER OR LARGER KNOCK SENSOR THREADED HOLD THAN THE ONE IN THE ORIGINAL ENGINE ASSEMBLY. *TT |
| 637779 | SUBJECT REGARDING DRIVELINE ANGLE-RELATED VIBRATION AT VARIOUS SPEEDS AND LOAD CONDITIONS. *TT |
| 637511 | SOME 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH P275/60/R17 CONTINENTAL-GENERAL TIRES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGHWAY SPEED TIRE VIBRATION. *TT |
| 636384 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH 4 WHEEL DRIVE MAY EXHIBIT A NOTCHY OR STICKING FEELING IN SLOW SPEED TURNS WITH NO EFFECT ON STEERING EFFORTS OR ASSIST WHILE IN THE AUTOMATIC 4X4 POSITION. *TT |
| 636371 | SOME 4X2 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH P275/60/R17 CONTINENTAL GENERAL TIRES MAY EXHIBIT A HIGHWAY SPEED TIRE VIBRATION. *TT |
| 636344 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT WHEELS THAT SEIZE TO THE HUBS AND ARE DIFFICULT TO REMOVE DURING SERVICE. *TT |
| 636326 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SQUEAK, SNAP, RATTLE, OR CLUNK IN THE FRONT END WHEN TURNING OR GOING OVER BUMPS. *TT |
| 636202 | SOME VEHICLES WITH AIR SUSPENSION MAY EXHIBIT AN INITIAL OR REPEAT COMPRESSOR DRYER FAILURE. *TT |
| 630704 | SOME VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH AIR SUSPENSION MAY EXHIBIT AN AIR LEAK AND/OR OVERNIGHT BLEED DOWN OF THE AIR SUSPENSION. *TT |
| 630702 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SLOW FUEL FILL CONDITION AND/OR PREMATURE SHUTOFF OF THE GAS PUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING REFUELED. *TT |
| 630653 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DRIVEABILITY CONDITIONS AND / OR CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE P0455 (GROSS LEAK DETECTED). *TT |
| 630585 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT A SLOW FUEL FILL CONDITION AND/OR PREMATURE SHUTOFF OF THE GAS PUMP WHEN THE VEHICLE IS BEING RE-FUELED. *TT |
| 630515 | ENGINE OIL SYSTEM PRIMING PROCEDURES, SERVICE TIPS FOR REPORTS OF PREMATURE ENGINE FAILURE. *TT |
| 630374 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AIR SUSPENSION MALFUNCTION. *TT |
| 630081 | INFORMATION REGARDING POP/THUMP NOISE FROM POWER WINDOW. *YH |
| 630059 | SUBJECT REGARDING AIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR QUALITY. *YD |
| 630055 | SUBJECT REGARDING INOPERATIVE RUNNING BOARD LIGHTS.*YD |
| 630043 | SUBJECT REGARDING EXAGGERATED ENGINE BRAKING ON DECELERATION. *YD |
| 630026 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT DRIVEABILTY CONDITIONS AND/OR CHECK ENGINE LAMP ILLUMINATED WITH A DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODE P0455 (GROSS LEAK DETECTED). *TT |
| 630001 | SOME ENGINE ASSEMBLIES WITH ALUMINUM CYLINDER HEADS REPAIRED IN-VEHILE HAVE BEEN FOUND TO LEAK COOLANT AND/OR OIL FROM THE CYLINDER HEAD GASKET AREA. *TT |
| 627927 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT VACUUM OR AIR LEAKS IN THE INTAKE MANIFOLD AND / OR ENGINE SYSTEM CAUSING DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES P0171 AND OR P0174. *TT |
| 627762 | A CONDITION MAY EXIST, WHERE THROTTLE STICKING MAY OCCUR ON A FEW VEHICLES IN VERY COLD AMBIENT TEMPERATURES AFTER OPERATING AT STEADY SPEED OR EXTENDED IDLE FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. *TT |
| 625715 | BRAKE SHIFT INTERLOCK.*JB |
| 624915 | SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT COURTESY RAIL LAMPS ABOVE THE 2ND ROW SEATS THAT DO NOT OPERATE PROPERLY OR CAUSE A BATTERY DRAW. *ET |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD
ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES
STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION
FRONT STABILIZER LINK
FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIO
TIE ROD END FAILURES
INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation