RoadVitals

2001 Ford Expedition Owner Complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full

Data refreshed

Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
577
Latest Jan 25, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
132
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
1
Reports on file since Dec 6, 2000

What this page shows

Our database holds 577 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2001 Ford Expedition. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Complaints, most recent first

Showing 1–25 of 577 · page 1 of 24

Airbags
Filed Jan 25, 2026
Crash reported1 injury reported

Air Bags did not deploy Impact directly to drivers side of vehicle the other car was going 55 MPH caused me the driver to hit my head on the window hard. I was informed the air bags should have deployed by officer on site.

NHTSA ID
11713268
Incident
Dec 11, 2025
Brakes
Filed Apr 30, 2024

Front brake hose metal crimp completely rusted causing brake hose separation and failure. Design has rubber boot over crimp which actually retains moisture over many years. Boot may be intended to reduce stress at joint of metal to hose but actually enhanced failure mode. Drivers side came apart after minor bump during service, have photos of passenger side still intact but clearly fragile.

NHTSA ID
11586111
Incident
Apr 27, 2024
Seat belts
Filed Apr 11, 2024

Driver seatbelt- Randomly releases from buckle when driving. Happened about 3-4 times already.

NHTSA ID
11582277
Incident
Apr 10, 2024
Body & structure
Filed Jul 12, 2023

On the second row seat, passenger side door will not open using the door handle with the child safety switch in lock or unlock position. It will open from the outside handle. This is a safety concern. In case accident happen or fire in the vehicle occurs, the second and third row passengers can not get out of the vehicle fast enough for their safety. This has not work for over a year now.

NHTSA ID
11531805
Incident
Jun 1, 2022
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2023
Fire reported

Vehical burst into flames seems on passenger side under the hood...Had been parked all day. No one around or injured. Vehical is a total loss.

NHTSA ID
11503217
Incident
Nov 20, 2022
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 31, 2022
Crash reported2 injuries reported

I gave a friend a ride to Wal mart in my 2001 Expedition to buy some power steering fluid, luckily I parked over by the automotive section. I turned it off and waited in vehicle till he returned, about 7 or 8 minutes. I started the engine, grabbed the brake and dropped it in reverse when engine revved sending us backwards completely out of control with both feet on the brakes, spinning rear wheels and I turned ignition key off as quick as possible but violently slammed into a truck semitrailer only, parked alongside Wal mart tire shop. Completely totalled out the entire rear passenger liftback, taillights, tailgate, rear hatch window, left rear luever window, left tailpipe, tow hitch package and rear bumper. With only min. coverage, I'm now w/o a vehicle after completely replacing entire front and rear suspension, steering and tires plus alignment less than 6 months prior, with 275000 miles. Thank you very much Ford Motor Co. This was NOT an issue of driver error !.. I WILL find a way to legally hold you responsible for my loss, making FORD liable for repairing or replacing my vehicle ! This happened on Aug 29th, 2022 approx. 4pm at Wal mart property, in Ukiah, CA. 95482

NHTSA ID
11482139
Incident
Aug 29, 2022
Electrical
Filed Oct 27, 2020
Fire reported

VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE DUE TO AN INCORRECTLY INSTALLED HEAD LIGHT DUE TO A CRACKED PLUG ASSEMBLY. VEHICLE WAS IN A FAST-FOOD DRIVE THROUGH WHEN THE SMOKE AND SUBSEQUENT FLAMES WERE SEEN. DUE TO AGE OF THE VEHICLE THE TASK OF CHANGING THE LIGHT BULB WAS FARMED OUT TO LOCAL OIL CHANGE SHOP. WHILE CHANGING THE PLACING THE NEW BULB INTO THE PLUG ASSEMBLY THE THIN PLASTIC BROKE KEEPING THE BULB FROM SEATING PROPERLY. TESTED OKAY ON REASSEMBLY BUT ONCE NIGHT CAME THE LIGHT WAS ON FOR ONLY 15 MINUTES AND IGNITED THE INNER HEAD LAMP ASSEMBLY AND SUBSEQUENTLY MORE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. FORTUNATELY, THE FAST-FOOD RESTAURANT CAME OUT WITH AN EXTINGUISHER AND PUT OUT THE FIRE. THANKFULLY, NO ONE WAS HURT HOWEVER, HAD THE FIRE OCCURRED ON THE HIGHWAY, IN A PARKING LOT UNATTENDED, OR IN THE HOMES GARAGE, THE OUTCOME WOULD HAVE BEEN FAR WORSE.

NHTSA ID
11366759
Incident
Oct 24, 2020
Mileage
192,000 mi
Driver assistanceFuel systemSeat belts
Filed Aug 17, 2020

MY VEHICLE YEAR,MAKE,AND MODEL HAS MULTIPLE MANUFACTURER RECALLS PERTAINING TO MY SPECIFIC VEHICLES VIN NUMBER. I HAVE 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS THAT HAVE NOT BEEN ASSESSED AND HAS HAD ZERO COMPONENTS REPLACED UNDER RECALLS FOR SPECIFIC COMPONENTS. EACH AND EVERY RECALLED COMPONENTS ASSOCIATED WITH MY VEHICLES YEAR, MAKE, AND MODEL PERTAINING TO MY VEHICLES VIN NUMBER ARE A SAFETY RISK AT FAULT AND ANY PROBLEMS CREATE UNSAFE CONDITIONS FOR OPERATION OF VEHICLE ON THE ROAD. MY ASSESSMENT OF MY VEHICLES SAFETY RISK IS HIGH DUE TO THE 0 UNREPAIRED RECALLS MY VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPLACED WITH NEW COMPONENTS TO AVOID THESE SAFETY RISKS FROM COMPONENT FAILURE.

NHTSA ID
11349753
Incident
Aug 16, 2020
Mileage
214,800 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 6, 2020

GOING TO MICHIGAN FROM TENNESSEE, DRIVING ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHAT'S MY FORD EXPEDITION TRIDENT MOTOR V8 HEARD A POPPING SOUND AND ALMOST GOT IN AN ACCIDENT AND FOUND OUT ONCE AGAIN THE SPARKPLUG BLEW OUT OF THE MOTOR AGAIN WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLEE IT'S A 2001 AND I THINK YOUR COMPANY SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS.

NHTSA ID
11337782
Incident
Jun 27, 2020
Mileage
202,758 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 26, 2020
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN HIS APARTMENT COMPLEX, HIS VEHICLE SUDDENLY CAUGHT FIRE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HAD HEARD A LOUD BOOM FROM INSIDE WHICH PROMPTED HIM TO CHECK ON HIS VEHICLE. THE CONTACT IMMEDIATELY CALLED 911 AS THE FIRE SPREAD TO OTHER VEHICLES IN THE PARKING LOT. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH, A TOTAL OF FOUR VEHICLES WERE COMPLETELY BURNED TO THE GROUND. THE FIRE MARSHALS WERE ALSO CALLED AND A REPORT WAS FILED. ALL VEHICLES INVOLVED IN THE FIRE REMAINED AT THE APARTMENT COMPLEX PARKING LOT. NO INJURIES WERE REPORTED AS A RESULT OF THE FIRE. THE MANUFACTURER NOR THE DEALER HAD BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED THAT HIS VEHICLE HAD BEEN PLACED UNDER RECALL FOR NHTSA RECALL NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) BUT WAS UNAWARE THAT THERE WAS EVER A RECALL. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11319386
Incident
Feb 23, 2020
Mileage
110,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Jan 9, 2020

FYI MY 2001 FORD EXPEDITION IS EXPERIENCING THE SAME SOFT BRAKE PROBLEM THAT WARRANTED THEM TO ISSUE RECALL #19S54. I HAVE CHANGED THE BRAKES AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS . FORD NEEDS TO INCLUDE THE 2001 EXPEDITIONS IN THIS RECALL. IT IS VERY DANGEROUS TO STOP THIS HEAVY VEHICLE WITH A SOFT BRAKE PEDAL PUSHED ALL THE WAY DOWN !

NHTSA ID
11298296
Incident
Jan 2, 2020
Mileage
125,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Sep 16, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING, THE FRONT DRIVER'S AND PASSENGER SIDE SEAT BELTS WOULD UNLATCH ON ITS OWN WITHOUT WARNING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE CONTACT CALLED RAMP MOTORS (4869 NESCONSET HWY, PORT JEFFERSON STATION, NY 11776, 631-473-1550) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V227001(SEAT BELTS). THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID
11255884
Incident
May 1, 2018
Mileage
140,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalSeat belts
Filed Sep 1, 2017

FUSES BLOWING AS SOON AS PUT IN BOX. SMOKE COMING FROM CRUISE CONTROL SWITCH

NHTSA ID
11021031
Incident
Jul 15, 2017
Mileage
260,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Aug 24, 2017
Crash reported1 injury reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 25 MPH, THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A BACK INJURY, WHICH DID NOT REQUIRE MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11019325
Incident
Aug 11, 2017
Mileage
170,000 mi
Engine
Filed Jul 7, 2017

#1 SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF BLOCK HEAD. EJECTED FUEL WHILE ENGINE RUNNING.

NHTSA ID
11003713
Incident
Jul 7, 2017
Mileage
130,800 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jun 23, 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT BELT RANDOMLY UNLATCHED FROM THE BUCKLE EVERYDAY. THE WARNING INDICATOR CHIME AND THE ACTUAL INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED FOR APPROXIMATELY THIRTY DAYS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED BY THE DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT RESEARCHED ONLINE AND FOUND NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 01V227001 (SEAT BELTS), BUT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11000836
Incident
Jun 23, 2017
Mileage
150,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Mar 15, 2017

WINDSHIELD LEAKING - CAUSING ELECTRICAL BOX TO SHORT OUT AND THEREFORE EVERYTHING ELECTRIAL MALFUNCTION - ITEMS COME ON GOING DOWN THE ROAD WHILE YOU ARE DRIVING - DANGEROUS

NHTSA ID
10966143
Incident
Jan 1, 2007
Mileage
95,000 mi
ElectricalSteering
Filed Sep 30, 2016

THE HORN DOESN'T WORK AT ALL EVEN WHEN LOCKING WITH THE KEYLESS FOB. CRUISE CONTROL DOESN'T SEEM TO WORK AT ALL. I CAN ENGAGE THE E-BRAKE AND THE LIGHT WON'T TURN ON IN MY DASH. NONE OF THE CONTROLS ON MY STEERING WHEEL WORK AT ALL.

NHTSA ID
10910879
Incident
Sep 30, 2016
Mileage
162,000 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Aug 29, 2016
Fire reported

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED A BURNING ODOR UNDER THE HOOD. THE CONTACT LOOKED UNDER THE HOOD AND NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 05V017000 (VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL) AFTER THE FIRE, BUT THE DEALER DENIED THE REPAIR. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
10899130
Incident
Aug 28, 2016
ElectricalExterior lightingSuspension
Filed Aug 10, 2016

THE CHECK SUSPENSION LIGHT IS ON AND I NOTICED EVERY EXPEDITION IN THIS YEAR RANGE HAS SUSPENSION PROBLEMS AND THE WIREING SOMETIMES THE RADIO WILL GO OFF AND THE LIGHTS ON DASH AND SPEEDOMETER LIGHTS WILL SHUT OFF.

NHTSA ID
10894681
Incident
Aug 9, 2016
Engine
Filed Jul 18, 2016

JUNE 2007 WHILE DRIVING TO MEXICO FOR FAMILY VACATION, A SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE ENGINE IN GILA BEND ARIZONA WHERE THE TEMPERATURES WERE CLOSE TO 110 DEGREES. I HAD OUR DOG WITH US SO WE COULD NOT GO INTO ANY AIR CONDITIONED BUILDINGS DUE TO HAVING A DOG. MY 8 AND 10 YEAR OLD BOYS ALONG WITH MY ELDERLY MOTHER WERE FORCED TO SIT OUTSIDE AND WAIT FOR HOURS UNTIL HELP ARRIVED. IT BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. MAY 2015 SAME THING HAPPENED BUT THIS TIME WE WERE HEADING TO A FAMILY REUNION CAMPING TRIP AND HAD TO CANCEL AS OUR VEHICLE WOULD NOT GET US THERE. IT BLEW WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. 141000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. OCT 2015, THE THIRD SPARK PLUG BLEW WHILE MY SON WAS DRIVING 25MPH TO SCHOOL. HE HAD TO MISS SCHOOL THAT DAY AS HE HAD NO WAY TO GET THERE. 187000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE. THIS MUST BE A DEFECT THAT FORD CORP WILL NOT RECOGNIZE AS THEIR FAULT BUT IS COMMON THAT IT MUST BE! 197000 MILES ON THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID
10885720
Incident
Jun 4, 2007
Mileage
141,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Apr 12, 2016
1 injury reported

SIDE AIR BAG IN DRIVER SEAT DEPLOYED WHILE VEHICLE WAS STARTED AND IN PARK WITHOUT ANY COLLISION OR IMPACT OF ANY TYPE. VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AND HAD BEEN RUNNING LESS THAN 30-45 SECONDS AND DRIVER WAS REACHING FOR SEAT BELT WHEN AIR BAG EXPLODED WITH ENOUGH FORCE TO CAUSE A HAND LACERATION AND TORN COLLATERAL LIGAMENT.

NHTSA ID
10855183
Incident
Apr 11, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Mar 28, 2016
Fire reported

WHILE MY TWO YEAR OLD DAUGHTER AND I WERE SITTING IN THE VEHICLE (VEHICLE WAS OFF) A PASSERBY KNOCKED ON THE WINDOW INFORMING ME THAT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE. I EXITED THE VEHICLE AND FOUND FLAMES COMING FROM UNDER HOOD AND BELOW THE CAR. COME TO FIND OUT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VEHICLE FOR A FAULTY SPEED CONTROL SWITCH KNOWN TO CATCH FIRE AND EVEN THOUGH I HAD RECENTLY HAD THE CAR IN FOR SERVICE AT A FORD DEALERSHIP, IT WAS NOT ADDRESSED OR TAKEN CARE OF BEFORE THIS FIRE. TOTALLY NEGLIGENT! WE COULD HAVE BURNED UP IN THE CAR WITHOUT ANY WARNING.

NHTSA ID
10851987
Incident
Mar 25, 2016
Mileage
200,000 mi
Suspension
Filed Feb 19, 2016
Crash reported3 injuries reported

REAR UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS COMPLETELY RUSTED OUT, RESULTING A DANGEROUS DRIVING SITUATION. I HAVE VEHICLE SERVICED REGULARLY AT A FORD DEALER AND WAS NEVER INFORMED OF SUCH A HAZARD. WHILE DRIVING, HEARD A LOUD NOISE AND FELT A BAD JERK, REAR-END JUST FELL DOWN. HAD SEVERE MEDICAL ISSUES AS RESULT. FORD NEEDS TO ALERT CONSUMERS OF THIS PROBLEM AND IMPLEMENT A RECALL, BEFORE A FATAL OCCURS.

NHTSA ID
10837124
Incident
Feb 18, 2016
Mileage
101,500 mi
Seat belts
Filed Jan 28, 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE AT A STOP SIGN OR WHILE DRIVING, THE DRIVERS SIDE SEAT BELT UNLATCHED INDEPENDENTLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 99,000.

NHTSA ID
10822823
Incident
Jan 28, 2015
Mileage
99,000 mi

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

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