Home · 2017 Ford Expedition · Complaints

What 353 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Expedition

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (353)Crash / fire / injury (31)Electrical system (91)Brakes (74)Transmission & drivetrain (50)Engine (38)Visibility & wipers (34)Backup camera & sensors (30)Speed control (21)Fuel system (20)Wheels (16)Airbags (11)

Newest first · 353 complaints · page 1 of 15

Jul 2, 2026

I am filing this complaint regarding the repair of Recall 25S89 / NHTSA Recall 25V572 on my 2017 Ford Expedition EL 4WD (VIN: [XXX]). I received Ford's recall notice in April 2026 and brought my vehicle to the dealership on June 8, 2026. Before the repair, the rearview camera functioned intermittently. The dealership diagnosed the vehicle and informed me that the wiring tested properly, voltage was present, and the recall applied because the rearview camera had failed inspection. They determined the camera required replacement under the recall and ordered the replacement part. I returned on XXX, for the recall repair. After installing the replacement camera, the dealership informed me that the rearview camera still did not function. They stated the replacement camera was not the cause of the problem and suggested the issue might involve the APIM (Accessory Protocol Interface Module). I was told additional diagnosis would cost approximately $280, even though the vehicle was being serviced under the federal safety recall. My concern is that my vehicle left the dealership in a less safe condition than when it arrived. Prior to the recall repair, the rearview camera worked intermittently. After the recall repair, it no longer functioned at all. The dealership considered the recall completed but required me to pay for additional diagnostics to restore the operation of the rearview camera. The repair documentation states that Diagnostic Trouble Code C1001:01 was present, wiring tests were performed, voltage was present, and the recall remedy was to replace the rearview camera. Despite this, the safety defect remains unresolved. I contacted Ford's Customer Relationship Center, which arranged a conference call with the dealership. I requested written documentation describing the repairs performed, the scope of the recall, and the diagnostic results before and after the repair. However, the dealership agreed to provide information but has not. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11748026

Jun 23, 2026Transmission & drivetrainEngine

I am reporting a severe, systemic manufacturing defect in the 3.5L EcoBoost engine timing system (cam phasers and timing chain) of my 2017 Ford Expedition that poses an immediate highway safety hazard. Approximately February 2026 Upon start up heard odd rattle type noise, a week later heard noise again thought maybe due to recent Ford Dealership changing engine belts. Searched websites discovered notable issues regarding serious known manufacturing defect, cam phasers, timing chain, water pump. Followed Ford recommendation to change oil well before normal schedule to address. At approximately 54,550 miles, the vehicle began exhibiting continuous mechanical rattling and timing instability upon startup, a condition heavily documented across Ford’s truck/SUV platform and acknowledged internally via Ford Technical Service Bulletin TSB 23-2143. The 3.5L EcoBoost is a high-compression interference engine. A failure or skipped tooth of the timing chain or cam phaser system while operating at high speeds causes instantaneous, catastrophic engine failure. This results in an immediate stall and a complete loss of vacuum-assisted power braking and power steering. This vehicle is routinely operated on major Texas highway corridors (XXX) at posted speeds of 75 mph by my [XXX] spouse, who stands[XXX] and weighs [XXX]. A sudden loss of motive power and mechanical steering/braking assistance at 75 mph presents an unsurmountable vehicle handling emergency that would likely result in a high-speed crash, rollover, or catastrophic multi-vehicle collision, as a driver of her physical stature cannot safely muscle a stalled, unassisted 5,500-pound SUV to the shoulder. To mitigate this imminent risk to human life, I was forced to perform emergency out-of-pocket repairs to replace failed factory components with Ford's updated, redesigned parts. This defect represents an inherent, dangerous engineering failure requiring a mandatory federal safety recall before highway fatalities. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11745999

Jun 11, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle downshifted to first gear independently. The contact pulled to the right side of the road, turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission lead frame connector had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure through a customer representative, who informed the contact that they were not technical inclined to answer the contact's question. The approximate failure mileage was 86,000.

NHTSA ODI 11743444

Jun 4, 2026Transmission & drivetrainSpeed controlEngine

Vehicle suddenly shifts to 1st gear while travelling at 45MPH or more causing immediate jerking and slowing of vehicle, placing driver, occupants and other drivers at risk of crash. In this condition, the speedometer reads 0MPH while still travelling and other warnings on dash are: Airbag Failure, Blindspot system fault, Cross traffic system fault, and See manual. Vehicle then appears stuck in 3rd gear until pulling over, stopping the engine and restarting. All warnings clear after restarting. This has occurred many times without proper diagnosis from Ford service. Now vehicle is doing this two to three times weekly and is currently in Ford service. Now diagnosed as Lead Frame Failure. Estimated cost is $1,523.38 and Ford refuses to pay for repair due to no active recalls on this specific vehicle, however the same transmission issue is in recall on same year model F-150's with the same transmission.

NHTSA ODI 11741968

May 30, 2026

The car would flash warning light failure on blind spot, engine and felt like would shift out of gear dropping speed and then speedometer would drop to zero. Very scary when driving. Occurred at multiple speeds; 3 times before took to get evaluated /fixed. Mechanic said had 3 other vehicles like mine pst month same issue. Recommended make complaint because with him seeing that many might become a recall:

NHTSA ODI 11741026

May 12, 2026

I was made aware of recall last fall. Dealer looked at the vehicle, confirmed diagnosis and stated that there was no fix for the problem. Last month I was contacted by the dealer to have the recall repair completed. I scheduled appointment and brought the car in only to have them tell me that despite back up camera having the issues that they are not able to perform the recall because ford will not let them unless there are faults registers in the computer which I can't see cause you need a proprietary reader for fords. They stated that there was a customer support program where if I complained about it ford might fix the problem, seriously wtf. I do not live close to the dealer. At 5 dollars a gallon it costs me 20 bucks round trip every time i come to the dealer plus my time wasted. The camera is not working properly, it's been diagnosed at this dealer, it's been issued on recall. It should be fixed. This is becoming unreasonable.

NHTSA ODI 11737230

May 7, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact received notification that the remedy was available. The contact stated that the rearview camera would display a distorted image intermittently while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The contact stated that the failure had obstructed the driver's visibility, which prevented the driver from safely operating the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. However, the contact was informed that since the failure did not show a code, the recall could not be completed. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and informed the contact that even though the failure was intermittent, the recall repair could be performed. The manufacturer advised the contact to take the vehicle to another dealer for the recall repairs. The vehicle was taken to a different dealer, Gwinnett Place Ford in Duluth, GA, and the dealer refused to complete the recall repair since no codes were displayed. The contact stated that the recall was suddenly removed from the system. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11736320

May 3, 2026

vehicle unknowingly loses power and shuts off while driving. A wrench appears on dash with check manual message.

NHTSA ODI 11735343

May 2, 2026Visibility & wipers

There has been a rear view camera recall on my 2017 expedition for some time now amd ford still states there is no solution at this time, almost 10 years later

NHTSA ODI 11735247

Apr 25, 2026AirbagsSeat beltsCrash

I was in a head on collision and my airbags did not deploy. Also when I looked at my seat belt after the crash it was fully extended out and did not retract.

NHTSA ODI 11733739

Apr 22, 2026Transmission & drivetrainSpeed control

Sudden and severe downshifts occurred at roadway and highway speeds resulting in sudden speed decrease. Also revving and loss of power occurred. Problem codes P0706 & P0707 were logged which point directly to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS), which is integrated into the molded lead frame. This sudden and uncontrolled loss of speed caused significant danger to vehicles, ocupants, and other vehicles.

NHTSA ODI 11733139

Apr 18, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

As is the same with the Ford F-150 recall for the transmission downshift issue my Ford Expedition has that same problem I sent an email into your website and hopefully it will be addressed because it is the exact same thing. When I accelerate to access an on-ramp at the highway or if I try to pass somebody on the highway and accelerate the transmission downshifts and almost causes me to lose control. It down shifts very abruptly and hard and sounds like it's going to yank my transmission out.

NHTSA ODI 11732079

Apr 14, 2026

My back up camera is the issue. There is an open recall that it has been over 6 months with no resolution communicated. The camera was fuzzy or intermittently working for the last several years, however, The screen is now blue or says camera unavailable for 2ish weeks.

NHTSA ODI 11731072

Apr 13, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

While driving down the road 70 MPH the transmission suddenly downshifting from 6th gear to a much lower gear causing the rear wheels to briefly lock up causing a skid safety issue... at the same time, the speedometer dial swings downward to the left like a sudden deceleration, then seems to catch up and return back to normal driving if you will Here is the Ford case number: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11730921

Apr 7, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rear-view camera image would appear blank, and a camera not available warning message displayed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The approximate failure mileage was 160,000.

NHTSA ODI 11729778

Apr 1, 2026Transmission & drivetrainBrakes

My 2017 Ford Expedition is currently at an authorized dealership (Arlington Heights Ford, IL) for a failed transmission lead frame (DTCs P0706, P0707, P1702), which causes intermittent loss of gear engagement and sudden shift issues. This specific part is subject to NHTSA Engineering Analysis EA26001. Ford is refusing to honor the 10-year/150000-mile extended coverage (Program 19N01 Supplement 4) and a separate safety recall (25S37 for Brake master Cylinder) because the Vehicle was originally manufactured for Canadian market. Despite the Vehicle being in a U.S. facility, Ford claims a 'system limitation' prevents them from bridging the VIN for these safety repairs. This is a formal refusal to remedy a documented safety defect that puts the driver and the public at risk of unintended downshifting and loss of braking power."

NHTSA ODI 11728628

Mar 27, 2026Transmission & drivetrain

While towing our RV trailer, we received a wrench light and the vehicle when into limp mode. When we tried to slow down and take the next exit on the interstate, the transmission tried to shift from 6th gear to 1st gear, causing the rear tires to screech and slow the vehicle dramatically. This could have caused a rear collision due to the abrupt slowing of the vehicle. The problem could only be reproduced when towing a trailer for an hour or more, so the problem was not reproduced by a mechanic or service center. No one else has inspected the vehicle. The only warning light was the wrench light on the dash. There was a code stored when checked: P0735.

NHTSA ODI 11727534

Mar 25, 2026Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Vehicle is subject to NHTSA Recall 25V572 (Ford 25S89) for rear view camera failure. The camera intermittently displays a blank or distorted image when in reverse, or shows a “camera unavailable” message. This is a known safety defect acknowledged by the manufacturer. Remedy has not been available for over 6 months, leaving the vehicle with an unresolved safety issue affecting rear visibility. No parts or repair timeline have been provided.

NHTSA ODI 11727042

Mar 23, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera display failed to function as intended. The rear-view camera displayed a black screen with lines while in operation. The failure was intermittent. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The dealer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that the part was unavailable. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

NHTSA ODI 11726352

Mar 13, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image and squiggly lines. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was diagnosed with rear-view camera failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the vehicle was used to transport a disabled family member who uses a mobile scooter. The contact stated that the mobile scooter needed to be transported on the rear of the vehicle; however, with the rear-view camera failure, the scooter could not be safely transported. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 100,998.

NHTSA ODI 11724083

Mar 13, 2026Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the air conditioner failed. The air conditioner continued to turn off and on unexpectedly. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number 22V648000 (Visibility, Electrical System). The vehicle was taken to the dealer for repair under the original recall and was diagnosed with an AC blower motor failure. The failure persisted. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 71,456.

NHTSA ODI 11724194

Mar 6, 2026Electrical system

Rear view camera is inverted left to right and stuck in the trailer hookup mode (magnify +). At night the picture is very grainy to almost unusable.

NHTSA ODI 11722398

Feb 19, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The rear-view camera image failed to function properly, and the screen was blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 80,000.

NHTSA ODI 11719152

Feb 17, 2026Seat belts

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the front driver’s side seat belt failed to latch as intended. The failure was intermittent. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the front driver's side seat belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty or recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11718617

Feb 13, 2026Backup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition EL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was intermittently distorted or inoperable while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The dealer was contacted, and a recall repair appointment was scheduled. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was determined that the rearview camera needed to be replaced; however, the contact was informed that the part was not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact inquired about rental assistance and was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed the contact that she was misinformed by the dealer because the recall part was not yet available. No vehicle rental assistance was provided. The contact stated that the rearview camera had become inoperable. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

NHTSA ODI 11717766

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Working with the data? Download all 353 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2017 Ford Expedition verdict →