Complain about a product or service

Ford Expedition Engine Problems

Save up to $379 on Your Auto Insurance. Compare Quotes from Top Providers Now! Find the Best Deal and Apply! - Adv.

Ford Expedition • Engine problems • Spark plug blow-out • Torque converter • Transfer case • Transmission • Gas cap leaks • Spontaneous combustion • Premature rust • Speedometer • Window track • Spare tire hazard • Windshield seals • Rear view mirrors • Cracks in the floor • Miscellaneous

Besides the problems below, some Expeditions and other Ford trucks are prone to a spark plug blow-out problem.

John of Pickerington OH (8/26/03):
I bought a 1999 Ford Expedition, used with about 45,000 miles on it. I also bought the extended warranty. Sure enough, within three months of buying it, it gets the dreaded right-hand cylinder head leak. They fixed it with a new head gasket. Within five months it was leaking again, it was still under warranty, but I could not get it in the shop, being out of state a lot on business with the vehicle.

By the time I got it back in the shop, it was 1,000 miles out of warranty and I had to pay for a new engine, at $5400! I have filed with State Of Ohio Attorney General, I have also disputed the charge on my credit card so I do not have to pay for it immediately.

Brenda of Jamul CA (9/2/02):
I leased '99 Ford Expedition in July of 1999. The first head gasket went out in March 2000 at 11,869 miles. The replacement was covered under warranty. The 2nd time the head gasket had to be replaced was in November 2001 at 39,100 miles. Ford did not want to cover the repair under warranty, but, with much noise on my part, I got most of the repair covered. Now, in September, 2002 at just under 56,000, guess what? Head gasket gone again. Of course warranty was for 1 year or 12K miles and it's been 10 months and 16K miles. I also lost the sway bars and brake cables at 31,600 miles not to mention the numerous recalls on this model. Now the automatic lock function for my door locks is not working.

Renee of Lockport IL (5/15/02):
I have a 1999 Ford Expedition with 37,000 miles on it. So far my head gaskets have gone and need to replaced -- major job covered under warranty at 30,000 miles. 2 weeks ago at 37,000 my fuel pump went out -- $600.00 plus to fix. I ate it because Ford was no help. Now at 37,700 miles my car will not go into reverse. They think it is either my differential which would be $3,000 plus out of my pocket.

Christine of Spokane (6/13/01):
I am the owner of a 1999 Ford Expedition. At 14,000 miles I noticed an oil leak on my garage floor. The service tech at the dealership told me that I needed a cylinder head gasket replaced. Now at 17,224 miles I'm told that the vehicle needs a reassembled factory engine.

Upon calling the Ford Customer Service I was told that the company would not give me a full warranty on the rebuilt engine and that's the way it is. After paying good hard-earned money for this vehicle I think that myself and others, after reading about what's going on with this model, need more support from the Ford company. I still have just under a year on my warranty and have taken out an extended warranty, this after the financial manager at the dealership said if I wanted to pay another $17,000 he could get me into another, newer Expedition. No thanks!

We paid cash for this vehicle as we were retiring and will be on a fixed income. Now we are told that we could either pay $1600 for an extended warranty or $17,000 to get into a new Expedition. We expected that this vehicle would last us at least 8 yrs. Now looking at the history of this vehicle we can only expect to hold out until the extended warrenty runs out, in 3 yrs 9 months. It's very unsettling to be driving a vehicle you can't trust.

Shelby of Murrieta CA (7/6/00): I have a Ford Expedition that has had three engines and in the shop now for the fourth. It has been in the service department for more that 85 days total, and now more than 25 consecutive days. There have been many other problems with this vehicle that continue to not be repaired properly.

Half of the miles put on the car are taking it into the service department. I have missed work and been stranded two times with four small children.

Stan of Anacoco LA (6/30/01):
Expedition bought new, currently has approx. 17,200 miles - 6.5 months old. While driving home the other evening steering wheel starts to shimmie and "Check Engine" light comes on then goes off. Got it home and has a rough idle and smoke coming from exhaust - did not put it in garage!

Next morning called Ford dealer "drive it on in to the shop". While driving through town smoke is billowing out of exhaust - all gauges OK, bad gas smell when we would stop at stop lights. Finally get to dealer and they check it out -- #5 fuel injector stuck open and was pumping so much fuel that the catalytic convertor was soaked and gas was dripping out of the exhaust pipe.

Also, bent piston rod = "new engine" replacement in a new top of the line Ford. Mechanic stated that it could have blown up and that I was driving a bomb. Replacing the engine does not address what caused the injector to stick open. What part failed? Wiring harness?

Ford is putting a "rebuilt" engine in my new vehicle. I just learned today that the shop had farmed it out to "some other" shop because of backlog.The main thing is this is a major safety problem that I think Ford is well aware of

Keith of Lincoln, NE writes:
'97 Ford Expedition, 4.6 motor, 40,038 miles. Oil changes every 3 to 4 months. The engine blew. Broke a rod and bent a valve. Over $3900 in repairs to replace the motor. 6,000 miles over warranty. Ford has agreed to take care of $1505 of this bill -- $2395+ still seems steep to me for a motor with so little miles.

Beyond the repair bills, It has left me without a vehicle for a week now, and they are saying 10 to 14 days more before they get the motor in to replace. The knocking in the motor didn't happen until after my last oil change in December, from my local Ford Dealer. They have been giving me the runaround since I took the thing in.

Franz of Norwalk CA (4/1/01):
My new 2000 Ford Expedition was bought in March 2000. Within the period of 1 year it has broken down 4 times with the same engine problem. The car will start at times, then will leave us stranded. The third time they attempted to fix the car, they called my wife and said that the car was ready. About 10 minutes later they called my wife and said that the car was getting washed, and that the person that was washing the car couldn't get it started, so again the kept the car for about 10 days.

That was the third time that they attempted to fix the car. They said that Ford Headquarters was not going to replace the car, and that they had to attempt to fix it. Again for the fourth time the car did not start again. This is an ongoing problem, since the car has been bought we've had to go without a car for about 14 days. They have been generous to give us a a loaner, but that doesn't replace our car that has a value of $39,000.

This is a prime Lemon Law case. Franz should see an attorney immediately.

H.R. of Savannah, GA, writes:
I am driving a 1999 Ford Expedition. We have put a lot of miles on it in a short time, and it now has 42,000 miles. Oil spots on the garage floor led me back to JC Lewis Ford in Savannah. Turns out that the head gaskets were faulty. Cost $1335 to fix. Seems to me that head gaskets should not fail at 42,000 miles particularly with most miles "easy" highway miles. The dealer says that there is no special help available from Ford. I plan to write Ford seeking reimbursement.

Randy of Mishawaka IN (5/15/01):
I bought a 2 year old 1997 Ford Expedition with 32K miles on it. I was assured by the salesman it was a leased vehicle and very well maintained, as it appeared to be. In the past 2 years it has been in 3 times for spark plug cap problems (broken and loose), 2 times to fix a speaker problem (that still is not fixed) and last week on my wife's 5-mile 30 mph trip to work a head gasket blows.

There is nothing like making the concious decision to spend a lot of extra money on a quality vehicle and end up with headaches and even more money out of pocket

We can't imagine putting a faulty stereo speaker and a blown head gasket in the same paragraph and we're afraid Randy will soon forget about the speaker too as he confronts the dire consequences that often follow premature head gasket failure in Ford engines.

Susan of San Francisco (3/14/00):
I bought a 1998 Ford Expedition. After I drove if off the lot, it had a drive shaft problem, severe enough that they tried to replace it but I opted for another truck (after a big fight). I really didn't want another Ford Expedition after that experience but they would not give my money back ($35,000).

So I took another brand-new 98 Expedition and ever since I have had nothing but problems. From the the cooling system not working which meant the air conditioning system did not work, which actually leaked all over my spark plugs and cylinders. I had to take it back 4 times. Now the coils and no. 4 cylinder have burnt out which I had to replace on an emergency basis two weeks ago at Precision/Midus Tuning for $325.00 which did not last a week then took it to Ford which cost another $325.00. They said it was a maintenance issue and not a defect from the air conditioning problem where coolant leaked all into my truck where the foot pedals are.

Then last week, after I picked up the vehicle from having the work done along with 45,000 mile servicing which included brakes that they said I needed, well, my brakes didn't engage on Thursday and I almost crashed into 47 cars! I took it back and they said they couldn't find anything wrong with it. What are they going to tell me the next time the brakes don't engage and I kill 47 people?

The economic stress of paying $645.00 per month for truck payment plus $172.00 per month for insurance plus $500 a month on gas not knowing if I am even going to make it to work or home. I live approx. 50 miles from my workplace. The stress of driving a truck everyday that may just blow up or have its wheels fall off. The check engine light is constantly going on. One time the emergency brake light was on and I didn't even have the emergency brake on. That's when they found the coolant leaked all over the sparkplugs, etc.

James of Carson CA (2/18/03):
Purchased a 99 Ford Expedition with 38k miles. Within a week of purchase noticed an oil leak. Informed by Ford that right head gasket needed replacing, cost over $2k. Now, 12 months and 14k miles later, car has exact same oil leak. Told by dealer and Ford Motor Customer Service there is nothing they can do. The old saying is still true today...Ford stands for Found On Road Dead or Fix or Repair Daily.

Back to the top | Ford Expedition