CSR

Ford · NHTSA safety record

2021 Ford Expedition

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

Owners have filed 235 safety complaints about the 2021 Ford Expedition with the US government. Of those, 3 describe a crash, 4 mention a fire, 5 people were injured and no death is recorded. 12 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the power train, named in 111 complaints, 47% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 43,000 miles, the median across the 41 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers August 2021 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

235 complaints on file

235

Complaints

3

Describe a crash

4

Mention fire

5

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
POWER TRAIN 111 · 47%
ENGINE 56 · 24%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 29 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 23 · 10%
VISIBILITY 13 · 6%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 10 · 4%
STRUCTURE 10 · 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 9 · 4%
VISIBILITY/WIPER 9 · 4%
BACK OVER PREVENTION 5 · 2%
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE 4 · 2%
SEAT BELTS 4 · 2%
0 46 92

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 235.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2026 at 56.

60 45 30 15
21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2021 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2021 Ford EXPEDITION, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test SUV 2WD SUV 4WD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 20.8% 19.3%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

12 on file

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

26V402000 · June 24, 2026

The defect
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.
The risk
Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 741,195 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CENTER CONSOLE

26V368000 · June 9, 2026

The defect
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.
The risk
Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 548,463 vehicles across all model years covered

SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER

26V344000 · May 27, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
The risk
Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.

Ford Motor Company · up to 419,967 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

26V204000 · March 31, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.
The risk
Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S24.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 422,613 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY

25V729000 · October 24, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
The risk
A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 174,853 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

25V442000 · June 27, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
The risk
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

Ford Motor Company · up to 200,237 vehicles across all model years covered

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

25V048000 · January 31, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.
The risk
Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S05.

Ford Motor Company · up to 91,580 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

24V852000 · November 8, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
The risk
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

Ford Motor Company · up to 27,678 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

23V420000 · June 9, 2023

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
The risk
Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The remedy
Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

Ford Motor Company · up to 691,133 vehicles across all model years covered

ENGINE

22V346000 · May 17, 2022

Park outside until repaired

The defect
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.
The risk
A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
The remedy
Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 25, 2022. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Currently the remedy is available for vehicles equipped with heavy-duty radiator fan motors, and those letters were mailed July 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S36.

Ford Motor Company · up to 66,221 vehicles across all model years covered

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES

22V250000 · April 14, 2022

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
The risk
Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

Ford Motor Company · up to 652,996 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:SIDE IMPACT

21V805000 · October 15, 2021

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."
The risk
An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.

Ford Motor Company · up to 777 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

1 on file

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.

NU Car rental of vehicles with open recalls

AQ26001

Still open audit query · opened June 9, 2026

none

NHTSA is opening this Audit Query (AQ) to investigate NU Car Rentals (NU Car) for compliance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.The Safety Act requires that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates NU Car rented at least two vehicles to consumers without having performed required recall repairs. The Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) related to this investigation can be found on nhtsa.gov by searching for ID number 11730449 and 11504655. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

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

POWER TRAIN

2 injured

Daily the automatic transmission will erratically and forcefully downshift at highway speed. When changing Driving Modes the transmission display on the dash has numbers disappear and the transmission downshifts with great force which has lead to injuries. After sitting for more than a few hours the transmission will not go into reverse at first but will then violently shift into reverse after several minutes. These issues began not long after we purchased this vehicle new. The service manager at the dealership the vehicle was purchased from when I told him about these problems told me that I don’t understand how a 10 speed transmission works. Sometimes the driver’s seatbelt will not buckle.

NHTSA complaint 11511591. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

1 injured

There is a chrome decorative trim on the interior of the vehicle that surrounds the cup holders and storage areas. This chrome decorative trim is beginning to delaminate and had a razor-sharp edge. When reaching into the storage compartment that is also a phone charging station the delaminating chrome sliced my hand resulting in me requiring stiches from urgent care.

NHTSA complaint 11596373. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

1 injured

The “handless” rear hatch opening activates when not intended. This has caused a concussion to a driver while loading a vehicle. While this is not a “driving” system, it causes injuries to occupants immediately prior to driving. It is entirely possible that a driver could suffer a head injury without knowledge, then begin driving. This causes a dangerous driving environment. In particular the system is supposed to operate when the key is in a persons pocket and the foot is waived in the air by the hitch receiver area. The issues exists because it activates even if an object moves under the vehicle when key is in the correct proximity. This can even pin a driver down with the door over thier

NHTSA complaint 11632591, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE

1 injured · 73,000 miles

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reaching into the center console of the vehicle, a sharp edge on the trim caused an injury to the thumb. The contact stated that the issue reoccurred, and the sharp edge caused a cut on the thumb. No medical attention was needed; however, bandages were used on the cuts. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the issue. The contact associated the issue with NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V368000 (Structure). The approximate failure mileage was 73,000.

NHTSA complaint 11745768. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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

NHTSA complaint 11767381, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS
Both second-row captain’s-chair seat-belt buckle assemblies are separating. The driver-side buckle has separated enough that it will no longer latch, and the passenger-side buckle is beginning to separate in the same manner. These are inflatable second-row seat belts. The vehicle has not been involved in a crash and the restraint system has not deployed. Ford replacement parts JL1Z-7860045-FF and JL1Z-7860044-FF are reportedly discontinued or on indefinite backorder, leaving no available repair for these occupant-restraint failures on a 2021 Ford Expedition. Because both buckle assemblies are showing the same failure, I am concerned this is a common safety defect.

NHTSA complaint 11767073. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
"Catastrophic simultaneous failure of both the Main (front) and Aux (rear) HVAC evaporator cores at 60,000 miles. The component defect causes atomized chemical refrigerant and system compressor oil to leak and vent directly through the dashboard and rear vents into the sealed passenger cabin. This creates an immediate toxic inhalation environment and chemical respiratory hazard. My young child has severe asthma, and this severe component failure makes the vehicle entirely unsafe to transport my family due to acute respiratory irritation risk and cabin air contamination."

NHTSA complaint 11766929. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
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

NHTSA complaint 11763468, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
While trying to pull out of a residential neighborhood onto a state highway (45 mph speed limit), the vehicle refused to accelerate. The transmission couldn't engage into gear and the vehicle struggled to gain momentum. After letting off of the accelerator pedal, and then applying the accelerator again, the transmission was able to engage, and the car began to accelerate. No check engine light or other indication of a problem. The Ford dealer told us that the CDF drum of the transmission needed to be replaced. It is a known defect due to poor engineering design. This is very common problem in 2020 and 2021 Expeditions and F150 vehicle.

NHTSA complaint 11762823. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
My Ford Expedition’s 10-speed automatic transmission experienced repeated slipping and sudden loss of propulsion. While accelerating from a stop and entering the highway, typically around 15–20 MPH, the engine would suddenly rev but the vehicle would stop accelerating, as if the transmission had shifted into neutral. I had to release the accelerator for several seconds and slowly reapply throttle before the transmission would re-engage. This occurred repeatedly and created a serious safety hazard when pulling into or crossing traffic because the vehicle could begin accelerating normally and then unexpectedly lose propulsion with approaching traffic. The transmission also exhibited severe

NHTSA complaint 11760692, quoted in part. 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 10 2 —
2025 36 6 —
2024 76 7 —
2023 65 8 —
2022 113 12 —
2020 417 18 —
2019 505 11 —
2018 375 14 —
2017 357 4 —
2016 217 3 —
2015 164 3 —
2014 72 0 —
2013 92 0 —
2012 118 3 —
2011 71 0 —
2010 58 0 —

Other 2021 Ford models

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

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. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

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