CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2011 Ford Expedition

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

71

Complaints

2

Crashes

1

Fires

3

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2011 Ford Expedition have filed 71 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2011 and June 2026. The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 21 of them (30%). The typical failure was reported at 55,000 miles, the median across the 58 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

No recall campaign was matched to this year, make and model. That is not the same as a clean vehicle: recalls are issued against production ranges, and the only reliable check is your own VIN.

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Unexpected Transmission Downshift

RQ17010

Closed recall query · opened December 25, 2017 · closed October 22, 2019 · led to recall 19V075000

the power train

The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of transmissions unexpectedly downshifting to a lower gear without input from the driver on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. ODI has received 455 unique reports related to the alleged problem that were not covered under a previous recall for this issue (16V-248).Expedition and Navigator complaint rates are lower than F-150 complaints. Of those 455 reports, 34.7% claimed that the rear wheels locked up when the transmission downshifted. There were 4 accident claims with no injuries. There are many instances where drivers report leaving their lane or the road because of this issue.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter, Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 783 unique reports related to the alleged problem. There were 6 accident claims with 3 injuries. Ford also submitted 1206 warranty claims related to transmission downshifting failures. The failure can occur at any time, but typically at higher speed, and include symptoms such as sudden transmission downshifting, loss of speedometer, erratic shifting of transmission, and transmission stuck in one gear. The failures typically occur without warning and may result in the rear wheels momentarily locking up. The driver often had to fully stop the vehicle and restart it to get the vehicle to shift properly.On February 2nd, 2019 Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (19V-075) to remedy transmission downshifting failures on all 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles. Ford will also offer extended warranties to 2011-2013 Expedition and Navigator vehicles with the same issue. Per Ford, some vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of Transmission Output Speed Sensor (OSS) signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary unintended downshift into first gear. Ford will reprogram the PCM with software that will prevent an unintended downshift into first gear and illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Light in the event of an intermittent OSS signal loss.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer appears to address the safety risks of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers found in the attached list.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 71.

POWER TRAIN 21 30%
ENGINE 11 15%
STRUCTURE 10 14%
SEATS 8 11%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 7 10%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 7 10%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 4 6%
WHEELS 3 4%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 2 3%
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES 2 3%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 2 3%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2012 at 11.

2011 2012 2026
2011 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

STRUCTURE:BODY

1 injured · 17,000 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE DOOR WAS AJAR, THE RETRACTABLE RUNNING BOARDS RETRACTED AND CAUSED A PASSENGER'S FOOT TO BE CUT BY THE RUNNING BOARDS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO THE DEALER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 18,000.

NHTSA complaint 10445103. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEATS

1 injured · 11,800 miles

THE STANDARD HEADREST IN THE 2011 FORD EXPEDITION PROTRUDES FORWARD SO MUCH THAT I CANNOT SIT WITH MY BACK AND SHOULDERS LEANING TO THE BACK OF THE SEAT WITHOUT PUSHING MY HEAD FORWARD, CAUSING UPPER BACK AND NECK PAIN. I'VE DRIVEN THE CAR TWO DAYS AND MY NECK HURTS. THE DEALERSHIP OFFERED NO SOLUTION TO THE PROBLEM AND MY INTERNET RESEARCH SHOWED THAT MANY OTHER FACE THE SAME CHALLENGE. SOME ARE REMOVING THE HEADREST, WHILE OTHERS ARE BENDING THEM BACK. NEITHER SOUNDS SAFE TO ME AND IT SEEMS FORD COULD CORRECT THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA complaint 10512019. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

1 injured

I EXPERIENCE HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS WHEN DRIVING THERE HAS BEEN TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO AVOID CRASHING. I BELIEVE CARBON MONOXIDE MAY BE THE RESULT OF THESE SYMPTOMS.

NHTSA complaint 11014941. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

fire · 177,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 FORD Expedition. The contact stated that while driving, there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact stated at the time she did not see any smoke coming from her vehicle, so she assumed it was the outside. The contact stated that once she parked her vehicle, she sat inside the vehicle for approximately one hour before she exited the vehicle. The contact stated that when she came back to her vehicle, it was filled with smoke. The contact stated that the wires from the rear, middle row, passengers seat, on the driver's side of the vehicle had been burning. The contact stated that it did not cause a fire, however, it did melt the foam inside the seat.

NHTSA complaint 11453503, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:INSTRUMENT PANEL:SPEEDOMETER/ODOMETER

336,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11743503. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
Hard, delayed, jump from idle when accelerator is pressed. Hard shift from park to reverse.

NHTSA complaint 11722361. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
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.

NHTSA complaint 11703218. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:COMPRESSOR

towed · 153,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front blower system was seized. The vehicle was driven to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed HVAC blower motor. The contact was informed that the HVAC blower motor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of Technical Service Bulletin: 10163573; however, the contact was informed that the vehicle repair was not covered under the bulletin. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 153,000.

NHTSA complaint 11617690. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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

NHTSA complaint 11587640, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES

115,000 miles

The contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the locking assembly on the driver’s side door was frozen and failed to operate as designed. Due to the issue, the contact was unable to enter the vehicle without using a hair dryer to warm up the lock. However, once the door was opened, the door was unable to close until the lock was heated up again. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer and was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.

NHTSA complaint 11566568. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Expedition

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 8 1
2025 29 5
2024 71 7
2023 64 8
2022 110 12
2021 228 12
2020 386 18
2019 478 11
2018 370 14
2017 356 4
2016 213 3
2015 164 3
2014 71 0
2013 92 0
2012 118 3
2010 58 0

Other 2011 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 348 vehicles, 1210 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst