What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Expedition

WHILE DRIVING IN A HEAVY RAIN STORM, THE RUBBER PART OF THE WIPER CAME OFF. THIS CAUSED A HUGE SCRATCH IN THE WINDSHIELD. VISIBILITY WAS VERY POOR, TRAFFIC WAS HEAVY AND WE COULDN'T PULL OFF IMMEDIATELY. THE WINDSHIELD HAD TO BE REPLACED, FORD DECLINED TO COVER THIS AS A WARRANTY OR DEFECT. THE SERVICE MANAGER MENTIONED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED "A LOT". *TR

NHTSA ODI 10535525

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 ODI 10512019

TRAVELING DOWN THE HIGHWAY GOING APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH WHEN THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO RAPIDLY DECELERATE AND REAR END TO SWERVE. FORTUNATELY THERE WERE NO VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY BEHIND THE VEHICLE AS THIS WOULD HAVE RESULTED IN A MAJOR REAR END COLLISION. THE REAR WHEELS UNLOCKED AFTER APPROXIMATELY THREE TO FOUR SECONDS AND I WAS ABLE TO COAST THE VEHICLE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD. THE POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION WRENCH WAS LIT ON THE DASHBOARD AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ANY GEAR. I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, SHUT OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED THE VEHICLE. THE WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD EXTINGUISHED AND I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALERSHIP UTILIZING SECONDARY ROADS. THE DEALERSHIP HAD THE VEHICLE FOR THREE DAYS AND CONTACTED FORD ENGINEERING FOR TECHNICAL ADVICE. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE MECHATRONIX UNIT AND INSPECTED THE DRIVE TRAIN FOR IRREGULARITIES. *TR

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A FUSE THAT HAS THE DRIVER SIDE WINDOW, SUNROOF, COMPASS, TV'S AND BACK WINDOW'S CONNECTED TO IT KEEPS GOING OUT. WE REPLACED THE FUSE OURSELVES FOR THE FIRST TIME AND THEN IT BLEW AGAIN IN ABOUT 2 WEEKS. THEN I TOOK IT TO A FORD DEALERSHIP THAT IS CLOSER TO OUR HOME TOWN AND THEY REPLACED THE FUSE AGAIN AND SAID THEY COULDN'T FIND ANYTHING THAT IS CAUSING IT TO KEEP BLOWING. ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER IT BLOWS AGAIN. SO I TAKE IT BACK TO THE SAME FORD DEALER AND THEY WERE HESITANT TO TRY TO FIX IT AGAIN. THEY SAID IT COULD POSSIBLY SPARK FIRE IF THEY KEEP CHANGING IT OUT AND THEY WOULD TAKE IT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE IT CAME FROM. SO WE REPLACE IT AGAIN AND IT BLOWS 1 WEEK LATER THIS TIME. REMIND YOU THAT WE SPECIAL ORDERED THIS VEHICLE IN FEBRUARY 2011, IT HAS 47,000 MILES ON IT. SO I TAKE IT TO THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE PURCHASED IT. THEY DID A DIAGNOSTIC TEST AND CAN'T FIND ANYTHING EITHER. THEY WANT ME TO KEEP MONITORING IT (AS IF I HAVEN'T BEEN DOING THAT ALREADY) TO SEE IF I CAN TELL WHEN IT BLOWS. I TOLD THEM THERE IS NOTHING THAT MY FAMILY OR I AM DOING OTHER THAN DRIVING WHEN IT BLOWS. THEY DON'T THINK IT IS NECESSARY TO TAKE THE CAR APART AND TRY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. I GUESS THEY WANT TO WAIT UNTIL IT'S TOO LATE AND CATCHES FIRE. *TR

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WHILE ON A FAMILY TRIP FROM TX TO FL, THE "LIMP HOME MODE" WRENCH CAME ON. PULLED OVER, CHECKED WHAT I COULD. GOT BACK ON THE ROAD, ABOUT 20 MILES DOWN THE ROAD, A FINE MIST STARTING BLOWING OUT THE BACK AND THE SUV LOST ALL POWER. PULLED OVER AND CALL FORD. IT WAS TOWED TO A FORD DEALER ABOUT 5 MILES AWAY. THE DEALER CALLED MONDAY MORNING, TO SAY THE TRANSMISSION WAS BLOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. WELL FORD HAD A DIFFERENT PLAN, THEY TOLD THE DEALER TO REBUILD. ABOUT 60 DAYS AND 5000 MILES LATER, "LIMP HOME MODE" WRENCH CAME ON AGAIN. DROVE IT ABOUT 8 MILES TO THE PURCHASING DEALER. WHILE AT THE DEALER AND A FORD TECH CAME OUT TO LOOK AT IT. HAD THE DEALER, RUN A BUNCH OF TEST AND ONLY AUTHORIZED A PART REPLACEMENT. EVEN AT THE REQUEST OF MYSELF AND THE SELLING DEALER TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION, FORD SAID NO. IT ONLY HAS 16,500 MILES ON IT WITH A TRANSMISSION THAT'S HAD PROBLEMS TWICE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10476558

WE WERE DRIVING ON 95 WHEN WE HEARD A THUD-TYPE NOISE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY UPON US AND SAFELY PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FLAT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL TURN ON AND RUN (SO WE KNEW IT WASN'T THE ALTERNATOR), BUT IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US IT WAS THE MEXTRONICS ELECTRONIC PORTION OF THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE BEGAN TO SHAKE VIOLENTLY. THE CONTACT HAD DIFFICULTY CONTROLLING THE STEERING WHEEL AND SWERVED INTO THE NEXT LANE WITH THE ILLUMINATION OF THE MECHANICAL FAILURE WARNING LIGHT. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO COAST ONTO THE SHOULDER. THE VEHICLE WAS LATER TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED, WHICH LOCATED THE FAILURE AT THE TRANSMISSION SOLENOID. THE DEALER REPROGRAMMED THE COMPUTER SYSTEM TO CORRECT THE FAILURE HOWEVER, TO NO AVAIL. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,500.

NHTSA ODI 10473028

AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 5,000 MILES, WE STARTED NOTICING A DECREASE IN OUR FUEL EFFICIENCY. AROUND THAT SAME TIME IS WHEN WE ALSO BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BETWEEN 30 MPH AND 40 MPH, THE RPMS OSCILLATE UP TO +/- 250 RPMS. BETWEEN THOSE SPEEDS, THE ENGINE IS CONSTANTLY REVVING UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE HAD OUR VEHICLE SERVICED BY FORD ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS RECORDED AND DOCUMENTED ON THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 11,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE, AND NO RESOLVE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10472389

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION EL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS SHIFTED INTO REVERSE, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WHEN THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED AND STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AFTER THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT WHILE TRAVELING 50 MPH, THE TOW HAUL LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE FAILURE RECURRED THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TEN TIMES. THE DEALER CONFIRMED THAT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED TO BE RE-CALIBRATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 19,400.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 20 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT WAS A MECHANIC AND PERFORMED A DIAGNOSTIC TEST THAT INDICATED A TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANGLE OF THE HEAD REST DESIGN WAS CAUSING PAIN TO HER NECK. THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND SUGGESTED TO THE CONTACT THAT THE HEAD REST BE TURNED AROUND OR REMOVED COMPLETELY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 200.

NHTSA ODI 10460996

AFTER DRIVING THE VEHICLE 2011 FORD EXPEDITION EL FOR APPROXIMATELY 5 HOURS AT 70MPH ON INTERSTATE 95 AT 2:30AM IN THE STATE OF GEORGIA WITH NO OTHER VEHICLES NEARBY SUDDENLY WITHOUT ANY WARNING THE CAR WENT INTO A VIOLENT SKID CAUSING IT TO SWERVE AND SPIN OUT OF CONTROL UNTIL COMING TO REST AT THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. AT THIS TIME THE TRANSMISSION DID NOT RESPOND TO EITHER FORWARD OR REVERSE,THERE WAS NO THROTTLE RESPONSE AND THE ENGINE WAS AT LOW IDLE WITH 0 OIL PRESSURE REGISTERING. THE WRENCH INDICATOR WAS LIGHTED ON THE DASH. OWNERS MANUAL INDICATED THE VEHICLE WAS IN " LIMP MODE ". I TURNED OFF THE IGNITION AND A SHORT TIME LATER RESTARTED THE CAR WITH ALL SYSTEMS OPERATING NORMAL WITH THE WRENCH INDICATOR NO LONGER LIGHTED. SUBSEQUENTLY THE CAR WAS DRIVEN WITHOUT FURTHER MALFUNCTION TO THE SELLING DEALER ABOUT 400 MILES AWAY. THE SERVICE MANAGER SIMPLY STATED THE CODES WOULD BE CHECKED AND THE APPROPRIATE INDICATED REPAIR MADE WITH NO FURTHER CONCERN FOR THE OBVIOUS LIFE SAFETY EVENT WHICH EASILY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A TRAGIC FATAL ACCIDENT IF OTHER VEHICLES WERE IN CLOSE PROXIMITY.DIAGNOSTICS FOUND DTC P0975. REPAIR INVOICE INDICATED REPLACE SSE SOLENOID (7G136/ 7G383 7G484 7J136 ) & ROAD TESTED OK..IN VIEW OF THIS TRAUMATIC INCIDENT & WITH NO FURTHER CONFIDENCE TO DRIVE THIS CAR I CHOSE TO REPLACE IT WITH A NEW 2012 MODEL WITHOUT ANY SIGNIFICANT CONSIDERATION REGARDING THE NEW CAR COST. CONTACT WITH FORD MOTOR CO CASE # [XXX] RESULTED IN THEIR OPINION THAT "MALFUNCTIONS HAPPEN AND NO CONSIDERATION FOR VEHICLE REPLACEMENT. FORD WILL APPARENTLY RESELL THIS VEHICLE TO AN UNSUSPECTING CUSTOMER. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

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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 ODI 10445103

VEHICLE NEVER BEFORE IN COLLISION. FRONT BUMPER FULLY CONTACTED WITH SMALLER SUV, SUSTAINING SIGNIFICANT FRONT-END DAMAGE. ONLY PASSENGER FRONT AIRBAG DEPLOYED, DESPITE THERE BEING NO PASSENGER IN SEAT (POCKETBOOK WEIGHING ONLY FEW POUNDS ON THE SEAT, CERTAINLY NOT ENOUGH TO TRIGGER OCCUPANCY SENSORS). MY QUESTION IS TWO-FOLD: WHY DID AIRBAG DEPLOY IN EMPTY PASSENGER SEAT? AND MORE IMPORTANTLY, WHY DID IT NOT DEPLOY IN OCCUPIED DRIVER SEAT? IS THERE EVER A NON-OFFSET FRONT-END COLLISION WHERE FORCE OF IMPACT REQUIRES ONLY ONE OF TWO AIRBAGS TO DEPLOY? *TR

NHTSA ODI 10436690

AFTER PICKING UP THIS NEW VEHICLE DRIVING DOWN THE HWY THIS VEHICLE MADE A LOUD NOISE COMING FROM THE TRANSMISSION AREA.. SECONDS LATER THE VEHICLE LOCK UP AND SENT ME INTO A SPIN.THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO INTO GEAR SO I CALLED A TOW TRUCK AND HAD THE VEHICLE TAKE TO THE DEALERSHIP. THE DEALERSHIP REPLACED THE TRANSMISSION MECHATRONIX UNIT AND THE TCM UNIT.AFTER PICKING THE VEHICLE I 600 MILE MORE ON THE VEHICLE AND IT DID THE SAMETHING. SO I HAD TAKE IT IN TO ANOTHER DEALERSHIP THEY FOUND THAT THEY HAD TO REPLACE THE TRANSMISSION PUMP GEAR. SO I'M WONDERING IS THERE A RECALL ON THESE EXPEDITIONS. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10436112

SEVERE NECK PAIN DUE TO DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER HEAD RESTS IN 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE EXTREME ANGLE OF THE FRONT HEADRESTS IN THE NEW FORD EXPEDITIONS CAUSE EXCESSIVE STRESS AND STRAIN ON THE NECKS OF INDIVIDUALS OCCUPYING THESE SEATS. FORD HAS TURNED THE HEADRESTS AROUND TO ALLEVIATE THIS CONDITION WHICH IS UNSAFE AND POTENTIALLY LIFE THREATENING. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10434416

DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER HEAD RESTS AT VERY ACUTE ANGLES. WITHOUT ALTERING THE HEAD RESTS IT APPEARS ANY CRASH IMPACT WOULD CAUSE BOTH DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEVERE INJURY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 10432546

THE HEADREST ON THE 2011 FORD EXPEDITION ARE HORRENDOUS AND UNCOMFORTABLE. I WORK FOR THE FIRE DEPT. AND I USE THIS VEHICLE 12 TO 16 HOURS A DAY, ALONG WITH OTHER EMPLOYEE'S. THE ANGLE OF THE NEW HEADREST IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE AND THERE IS NO POSSIBLE ADJUSTMENT TO GET INTO A COMFORTABLE POSITION. I HAVE TRIED TO RAISE/LOWER THE SEAT AND CHANGE THE POSITION OF THE SEAT TO NO AVAIL. THANKS TO THIS "NEW DESIGN" ON THE HEADREST I AM TAKING IBUPROFEN DAILY AT WORK. MY CHEVY TAHOE IS MORE COMFORTABLE. MY DEPT HAS 3 OTHER FORD'S WITH THIS STYLE HEADREST AND EVERYONE COMPLAINS ABOUT IT. FORD NEEDS TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM AND REPLACE THE HEADREST AT NO COST TO THE BUYERS. FYI.. ALSO OUR FIRST RESPONDER CAR WAS PURCHASED IN JUNE 2011 - AT 850 MILES WE HAD TO REPLACE THE MAIN COMPUTER ALREADY!!!! GREAT JOB FORD. *TR

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED MOMENTARILY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED DURING ONE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL AGENCY AFTER STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EVER TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 10412280

THE HEADREST ANGLE OF MY 2011 FORD EXPEDITION IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. SHOULD FORD BE REQUIRED TO GIVE OR SELL ME A HEADREST THAT DOES NOT HURT ME? *TT

NHTSA ODI 10411864

TL -THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ANGLE ON THE HEADREST WAS MAKING IT DIFFICULT FOR THE CONTACT TO POSITION HIMSELF COMFORTABLY WHILE DRIVING. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE BUT DID NOT ASSIST THE CONTACT. THE FAILURE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,000. KMJ

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