What 71 owners told NHTSA about the 2014 Ford Expedition

I bought this 2014 ford expedition. I didn't know at the time the Triton 5.4 had a transmission Lead Frame defect. I asked them to cover it under NHTSA 26V237 but they refused because they dsaid it wasn't part of the recall although this vehicle shares the same exact components. I also asked them to cover it under Safety Recall 26S28. I ended up having to pay $1842.00 to get this fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11747325

While driving on interstate at highway speeds (70mph), the transmission experienced sudden downshift, which increased the engine RPMs to redline and rapidly decelerated the vehicle. Occupant safety was put at risk while other drivers were forced to quickly avoid collision due to our much slower speed. Transmission would not select proper gear which made it difficult to proceed to a safe pull-off point. After restarting the vehicle, the situation repeated itself several times while attempting to drive home. Reoccurring problems include rapid deceleration and high engine revs when transmission suddenly shifts at high speeds, or stalling & lack of acceleration when transmission shifts improperly at low speeds (which makes moving the vehicle safely from the roadway difficult). Researching the problem, it appears to be an issue with the leadframe internal to the 6R80 transmission. Apparently there are safety recalls for other Ford SUVs and trucks with the same leadframe part all related to unexpected transmission shifts.

NHTSA ODI 11733946

While driving the truck will shift into 1st gear. It will also shift back and forth between gears randomly. When this happens, the wheels may lock up or just skid. The service engine light will come on, the speedometer will drop to zero while still moving and the "miles to empty" will show at zero miles. Sometime the tire indicator will turn on as well. This may/may not reset when the vehicle turns off and back on. Other times the vehicle will stick in first gear when leaving from a stop. It will also stick in 3rd or 4th gear as well. There have been times where it seems to stick like it was on cruise control but will disengage when the brake it tapped. This all occurs anywhere between a stop position and 50 MPH. The problem has been confirmed by a shop as the "Molded lead Frame" in the 6r80 transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11726391

Minor side impact. All repairs were make and no issues noted

NHTSA ODI 11695111

Was driving 80MPH down the highway when instantly the rear wheels locked up, green wrench came on dashboard and my car came to a screeching halt. Complete loss of power, and am VERY lucky it did not create a major pile up on the highway! Had to "bunny" hop it over 4 lanes of traffic and barely survived the most terrifying experience of my life. Had it towed and the mechanic shop said the throttle body/actuator had magnetic problem which is VERY common, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?! But there are no recalls on it, and they had to replace the entire unit, and now I am scared to death to drive the vehicle ever again. I am also very lucky it did not happen on snow, ice, or rain!!!!! SO DANGEROUS and SO SCARY!!!! And I could barely hop it out of oncoming traffic.... How can a vehicle go from 80MPH to ZERO in .02 seconds due to a faulty part and there is no recall???? SO GRATEFUL TO BE ALIVE!!!! Ford needs to take some responsibility before there are deaths from a very simple preventative measure due to a part completely failing. After looking it up online I read hundred's of people having the same issue.

NHTSA ODI 11687286

Backup camera intermittently blacks out or becomes distorted.

NHTSA ODI 11687179

While driving at highway speeds very quickly the speedometer went to 0 , the fuel low warning came on , the transmission locked up dragging the rear wheels and engine goes to high rpm , this has happened numerous times , I’ve checked with local ford dealership and they tell me there are no updates for my vehicle , when this situation happens I pull over to the side of the road and shut vehicle off , count to ten and restart , drive away and wait for the next instance. I have read where earlier ford products have had this same issue. One additional item on this unit , it has a sporadic 1.5 amp drain that will kill the battery sometimes , very sporadic. Myself and two others have tried to find this drain but unsuccessfully , took to dealership and $500 later still same issue so I found a electronic battery shutoff with a key fob that disconnects the battery to prevent battery draw , but doing this prevents codes from storing , I have recently started leaving vehicle hooked up to automatic tricle charger to prevent battery from being drained so I can get codes stored up for dealership to troubleshoot at a cost to me off $150 to plug up and read codes. Does that come with lube or will that cost extra ?

NHTSA ODI 11667713

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted. The contact stated that the check engine and Advancetrac warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission lead frame needed to be replaced. The contact researched and was became aware of an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 148,000.

NHTSA ODI 11660526

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the contact noticed an abnormal burning smell while the blower motor was engaged. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to a recall that did not include the year of the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.

NHTSA ODI 11654049

While traveling at 40 mph the car suddenly shifted into first gear. At that time the speedometer, trip odometer, and gas mileage indicator all quit working and the service wrench appeared on the reader. The rear tires locked up sending the car into a skid that took the vehicle into the on coming lane luckily not resulting in an accident thanks to the quick reaction of the driver occupying that line. The car was pulled over and shutdown and the system went into limp mode on start up. After taking it to an independent mechanic I was informed that the code P0720 indicating a fault in the Output Speed Sensor, popped when hooked up to computer by the head mechanic. They directed me to Ford as their is a current recall on this model of transmission for 2014 Ford F-150s and 2013 Ford Expeditions and that I should submit an incident to the NHTSA so they are aware that this issue is present in more vehicles with the 6R80 transmission than those currently on the Ford recall.

NHTSA ODI 11648939

The key to start/stop the vehicle engine could not be removed from the ignition steering column due to a problem with the gear shifter. The gear shifter (on the floor, not the column) thought the car was not in park even though the engine was off and IN park. The auto is available for inspection and I took it to Christian Brothers and they are replacing the shift assembly, FORD part number BL1Z-7210-CA. The vehicle only has 75,500 miles on it and I am the original owner and bought it new. The key not being able to be removed when the car is off and in park causes confusion for the driver and concern that the car could be stolen, even with a spare key to access the locked vehicle with the other key in the ignition. Two days prior to the key being locked in the steering column, the shifter began to have a mushy feel to it. My other concerns were the steering wheel to be placed in a locked position while driving the car due to problems with the shifter. The vehicle has not be inspected by the manufacturer or insurance company, just Christian Brothers who is replacing the entire shift assembly, with a cost around $945.

NHTSA ODI 11629697

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while at the car wash, the running boards extended downward and fractured. The contact stated that the running boards failed to retract as intended. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the running boards were extending and retracting independently. The contact engaged the running boards to extend down. The contact stated that the front driver's side window became inoperable. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who repaired the window motor. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

NHTSA ODI 11627649

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the transmission downshifted to first gear unexpectedly, causing the rear tires to lock-up. The vehicle drove off the road into a ditch. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact had not sustained any injury and was able to drive to the nearby residence. The contact is an independent mechanic. The contact scanned the vehicle and retrieved DTC code: P1500, indicating a rear output speed sensor failure. The contact determined that the TCM needed to be replaced. The contact purchased the TCM from the dealer and replaced the TCM. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ODI 11621560

The contact's father owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while his father was driving at an undisclosed speed, the speedometer was fluctuating. The vehicle was taken to an unknown dealer, where it was diagnosed that the valve body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. Additionally, the contact stated while his father was driving 60 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to 1st gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The driver pulled over to the side of the road temporarily. The driver was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 40 MPH. The contact who is an independent mechanic diagnosed the vehicle. The contact determined that the failure was related to an unstated recall. The contact stated that the failure fractured the rocker arms, causing the needle bearings to intrude into engine. The contact determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 212,000.

NHTSA ODI 11615192

While driving it would hard downshift and speedometer would glitch, speedometer wouldn't work, all power would go out. I had the work fixed at Ford. They have confirmed that it is the same part that was recalled on the 2014 F150s but the Ford Expeditions are not included. This almost killed me and my daughter driving on icy roads.

NHTSA ODI 11597996

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted independently. In addition, the contact stated that the brakes engaged independently. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving on an icy road during winter. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where it was diagnosed with failure of the O2 sensor. The contact was informed that the O2 sensor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,000.

NHTSA ODI 11597998

My MPH gauge is getting stuck while driving causing my vehicle to not shift properly along with not being able to continue to go. This is dangerous I have to pull over immediately and restart the vehicle on the side of the road with my kids and can get hit by an incoming vehicle. I done replaced my pcm and timingchain and still having this issue.

NHTSA ODI 11573817

P0722 code stored in power train control module. Intermittent output shaft speed sensor failure.

NHTSA ODI 11556283

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the RPM increased rapidly, and the contact became aware that the vehicle had downshifted unintendedly, prompting the contact to pull over to the shoulder. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the wheel speed sensor. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related it to Customer Satisfaction Program 19N01. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 106,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552913

Two incidents resulting in minor collision. No injuries. Approaching traffic light applying brakes and accelerator is also engaged. I could not stop the vehicle. Repair man denied it could happen after first incident. No inspections made as far as i know. There is usually no warning lights or indicators on with this vehicle. I am terrified of this vehicle now. I have owned it for less than 2 months. I understand it was in a major (front and rear) accident in Atlanta area by a previous owner. Police report to be filed Monday morning. Both parties have Geico insurance. 1st incident at 46th and Division, Kentwood, MI doing test drive. 2nd incident at corner of Perryville and State, Rockford, IL returning to hotel.

NHTSA ODI 11539622

The contact owns a 2014 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted. The contact turned on the hazard lights and shifted into neutral(N) and coasted to the side of the roadway. The contact restarted the vehicle however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The failure was self-corrected but returned intermittently. The check engine warning light illuminated, and the failure became more persistent. The contact stated that while idling, the transmission was downshifting. The vehicle was taken to a certified mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the TCM and engine had failed. The mechanic had stated the TCM needed to be flushed, and the computer system needed reprogramming. The vehicle was in the process to be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 149,000.

NHTSA ODI 11538683

My mother in law contacted me and stated her 2014 ford expedition’s transmission felt like it was failing. I drove same the next day. As I was test driving the vehicle at approximately 60mph down a U.S. highway, I hear a “clunk” noise and then immediately the RPMs went up and the vehicle downshifted into 1st gear causing the vehicles’s wheel to lock up. I went sliding down the highway and luckily didn’t not collide with another vehicle. I had the vehicle scanned and same displayed PO722 output speed sensor codes. After further research, I discovered that her transmission is the same model and design as the 6R80 transmissions that were installed from 2011-2017. The 6R80 transmission lead frames were recalled for years 2011-2013 for the exact same safety issue that I encountered. For some reason Ford has done nothing for the 2014 models. This is a huge safety concern. Myself as well as my child could have been seriously hurt or worse as well as the other innocent motorists that were driving around me. Now we are forced to pay $1500 to have a safety issue fixed that in my opinion should be covered due to the safety concern as well as the fact that Ford is already aware of this lead frame issue that occurs in the previous year model. I understand that things happen and parts break but there is no excuse for a vehicle to downshift into 1st gear while traveling 60 and 70mph down the highway and nothing be done to fix the issue from the manufacturer.

NHTSA ODI 11525734

Fire while engine on /off exactly as described in NHTSA campaign 22V648000, Ford Recall Campaign 22S56. Car destroyed damaging adjacent property. No injuries.

NHTSA ODI 11525229

My A/C went out, but began coming on and shutting off. I drove from my home to work, approximately 6 miles, and parked in the parking lot. In the parking lot, I began to smell burning and my SUV began smoking. I turned my SUV off and got out of the car. As I got out, coolant was pouring onto the pavement. When the hood was popped, we noted the coolant boiling which caused the cap to pop off and the coolant to pour out. I had my vehicle towed to Coconut Point Ford to be diagnosed. I was told there was a fuse blown, the control unit and wire harness was melted and the interior blower motor needed to be replaced. Upon research, I noted the 2015-2017 blower motors were recalled for this exact reason. I thought my truck was going to catch fire. I have videos of everything as it was happening and will share if needed.

NHTSA ODI 11522426

Unknown Gear shift stuck in park vehicle in town would not move

NHTSA ODI 11513046