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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
131,196 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

1998 Ford Expedition drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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1998 Ford Expedition Owner Comments

problem #17

Nov 042014

Expedition

  • 211,096 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when the shift lever was placed into the park position, the vehicle would reverse and failed to move back into the park position. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 211,096.

- Lamar, SC, USA

problem #16

Nov 012014

Expedition

  • 130,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the gear shift failed to switch into the park position. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and stated that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 97V171000 (power train). The failure mileage was 130,000.

- Wylie, TX, USA

problem #15

Oct 132014

Expedition 4WD 8-cyl

  • 158,000 miles
I stopped the vehicle at my garage and placed it in park so I could unload groceries. I left the car ignition on and exited the vehicle to put the groceries in the garage. I unloaded one bag and returned to the vehicle for the second bag and as I walked up to it, the vehicle started moving backwards slowly I panicked. I attempted to get into the auto to apply the brake, the vehicle then started moving quicker before I was securely in it. As the auto increased speed I lost my footing and fell out and was run over by the Expedition, and neighbors called the ambulance and I was taken to the hospital and treated by the trauma team in the emergency room and admitted for my injuries a right broken ankle, 9 broken ribs, and a broken wrist.

- Missoula, MT, USA

problem #14

Sep 052014

Expedition

  • 215,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 1998 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate without warning. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 215,000. The VIN was not available.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #13

Jul 212014

Expedition

  • 170,000 miles
The vehicle rolls when in park. It makes a loud grinding sound while it is rolling unlike a parking pawl makes. I have not gotten any recall notices on this issue.

- Huntington, WV, USA

problem #12

Jan 162014

Expedition

  • 220,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the shifter column failed and the shifter could not be engaged in any gear. The dealer was contacted and advised that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign id number: 97V171000 (power train). The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 220,000. Updated 03/05/14

- Millsboro , DE, USA

problem #11

Jul 202011

Expedition 8-cyl

  • 174,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Years ago when purchased the Expedition I noticed the shift gear out of alignment. I try to contact the dealer as I heard that this was a recall; I was told that the recall is not for my vehicle. It has know been a few years since I bought the truck and I'm now experiencing what I've noticed many others with an Expedition which is truck is not engaging into parking position and rolls. This is a concern to me as my drive way is on a slight up hill. This is an endangering to the public, the issue happens unexpectedly. I would not like to see someone hurt because of a roll back or forward due to what is supposed to be a manufacture defect from the many cases I've read up on so far. Ford dealer needs to address this issue as well as the coil and spark plug which blows out of engine and air suspension problems. This vehicle has cost me thousands in repair, its not worth and can not afford the present repairs.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #10

Feb 252012

Expedition 8-cyl

  • 175,000 miles
Coil and spark plug blow out of engine when truck was started (1998). The Expedition has been known to have this issues as well as other issues. Why is Ford not taking responsibility; so far accident avoided. I had to replace one coil pack each year so far but this was the worse. I needed the cinder retreaded to fit the spark plug in.

- Orlando, FL, USA

problem #9

Mar 162011

Expedition

  • 174,300 miles
While sitting at the red traffic light, when the light turned green to go upon taking off at normal speed the drive shaft fell completely out and broke at the drive shaft universal ears of the shaft and the right lower rear controlling/trailing arm broke at coupler because it was very badly corroded with rust from weak material and drivers side rear looks the same way. Also my Expedition is not a rust bucket, it is driven very little in the winter. The drive shaft ears that hold the universal joint is made of cast steel, which is very unsafe, if Ford would send the pair of trailing/controlling arms we will have them put on at my cost. With the dry shaft made out the of that kind of material the vehicle can flip out of control and cause damage, harm or death. Sounds to me that one day Ford may have a law suit because of these problems and I'm sure that I'm not the only person that this has happened to. No wonder why its a lot of Ford Expedition on the lots cheap. From some research of the web it seems to be happening a lot. Ford needs to make rite what they did wrong!

- Dayton, OH, USA

problem #8

Jan 282010

Expedition

  • 169,000 miles
First, the interior lights and running lights would not power off while all doors were closed, door ajar indicator was on. Took to dealer problem resolved for a month or so. Now need to spray WD40 on latches religiously. Dealer also replaced cruise control harness at this time. Then came the radio and heater running with the key out of the ignition. Beeps and clicks and bad smells coming from under dash. Again to the dealer, no codes found for the issues I was having. Battery draining occurring frequently now and no resolution. I now have to disconnect the battery everynight. Now when I drive down the road I get the many failure lights flashing on the dash, the windows won't work, speedometer fails, truck loses power and the transmisson shifts strangely. I was hours from home and doing 70mph on the highway when evidencing decided to not work at the same time. Then I realize that this is occurring only when it rains or is very wet out. And I was truly afraid for my life and the others that were on the road with me. I had to drift across a lane of traffic with no power to get to the side of the road. I put the truck in park and put my head down, whew, and the motor powered back up and all the failure lights were off. Only after investigating on the internet today do I find out this is a common problem. And the fix... replace the windshield seal! and possible damaged fuse box and GEM! now why didn't the Ford dealer help remedy this problem one of the many times I was in? this problem has been occurring for several years. New windshield $165 and they come to the house. I paid big money for "no codes match your issues, miss." Tw*

- Lowell, MI, USA

problem #7

Dec 122008

Expedition

  • 150,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have experienced this failure 3 times now, the first time happened a month ago 12-12,2008 then again 12- 22-,2008 & again today 1-16-09, all these incidents happened when the temperature was in the single digits to teens. My 1998 Ford Expedition would not slow down at stop signs & stop lights without shifting to neutral & turning off the engine. If I would just shift to neutral the engine would rev to 4000-5000 RPM & I would not have any control of the steering or brakes. When I tried to use the brakes by using constant very firm pressure the brakes wouldn't work, but would overheat & smell burned. I took it to a repair shop that determined there was ice & other junk built up on the throttle cable. This was removed after the 12-22-08 incident. The mechanic told me to warm up the vehicle for a least 20 minutes before I started driving anywhere & then leave it running as much as possible, because the driving of short distances could be the cause of the ice by just taking short trips of 4 miles or less. Today 1-16-09 I had a different mechanic look at it & he is ordering a new throttle cable & hopefully this will solve the problem. The situation could have turned out very badly if there had been vehicles too close to me when I couldn't control my vehicle. I am very fortunate that no injuries occurred, although I suffered mental stress and anguish.

- Freeman, SD, USA

problem #6

Nov 262008

Expedition

  • 125,000 miles
The contact owns a 1998 Ford Expedition. The contact had to make several attempts in order for the vehicle to shift into drive. While driving 30 mph, the vehicle had to be placed into drive and then neutral in order to reverse the gears. The failure occurred without warning. The vehicle was taken to a local repair shop for inspection, but they could not determine the cause of the failure. The technician later stated that there was a recall on the shifting gears. The vehicle has not been repaired. The manufacturer stated that the vehicle was not under recall and any expenses would have to covered by the owner. The failure mileage was 125,000 and current mileage was 135,000.

- Mahanoy, PA, USA

problem #5

Jan 012006

Expedition 4WD

  • 79,000 miles
1998 Expedition cruise control was disconnected. When it was reconnected there was a sudden vibration. The consumer was informed of a recall on the cruise control in September 2005 and had it disconnected while waiting to have it fixed. On December 28, 2005 the cruise control was reconnected but wasn't use until January 2006. When it was finally used there was a vibration. The vehicle was parked and the consumer observed fluid leaking onto the driveway. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who stated that there was no was that the vibration was connected to the recall work. The vehicle was taken to the consumer's regular mechanic who determined that the transfer case bushing was damaged along with the driveline and transfer case. All parts had to be replaced.

- San Mateo, CA, USA

problem #4

Sep 152003

Expedition

  • Automatic transmission
  • 79,940 miles
Complete transmission failure. Ase/aaa repairman found one missing and all other bolts securing valve body backed out and holding by a few threads. This after total warranty rebuild by Ford dealer @ 14,972mi 8/18/98. I had returned vehicle to same dealer with transmission complaint @ 53,382mi 5/10/01. Wouldn't test on N/C basis and wouldn't test drive. Ford refuses assistance.

- Baltimore, MD, USA

problem #3

Jun 192001

Expedition 4WD

  • miles
Consumer states that while driving in 4 wheel drive that something did no't seem right. Later, when checking the transmission, metal was found in the pan, a claim adjuster stated that a small hole in the valve body was plugged causing the overdrive band to fail, however this was not related to the accident.

- East Wenatchee, WA, USA

problem #2

Mar 261999

Expedition 4WD

  • Automatic transmission
  • miles
On two occasions vehicle experienced high acceleration while driving. Also, cruise control would not engage/engine check light remained on/vehicle would jerk whenever transmission changed gears, and both odometer/speedometer failed to operate. Dealer notified.

- Union City, CA, USA

problem #1

Aug 131998

Expedition 4WD

  • miles
Drive train vibration.

- Apex, NC, USA

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