RoadVitals

2004 Ford Expedition Transmission Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the transmission system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Transmission reportsComplaints 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.
13
Latest Apr 26, 2010
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
4%
of 296 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2004 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming transmission

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Transmission
Filed Apr 26, 2010

SHUTTER/GRINDING NOISE COMING FROM REAR AXLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10327634
Incident
Apr 20, 2010
Mileage
124,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Nov 2, 2009

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER HE STARTED THE IGNITION HE APPLIED PRESSURE TO THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPTS HE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE. HOWEVER WHEN DRIVING THE TRANSMISSION KEPT SLIPPING GEARS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE TECHNICIAN STATED THE FAILURE WAS CONTRIBUTED TO THE FORWARD CLUTCH PISTON SEAL. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED FOR THE MALFUNCTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 38,500. THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10290699
Incident
Oct 10, 2009
Mileage
38,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jan 10, 2008

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE WHEN SHIFTED INTO REVERSE. THE MECHANIC STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION FAILED. AS OF JANUARY 10, 2008, THE MECHANIC HAD NOT REPAIRED THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 88,594. UPDATED 3/4/08 *CN

NHTSA ID
10214445
Incident
Dec 31, 2007
Mileage
88,594 mi
SteeringTransmission
Filed Feb 2, 2007

TL*- THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE PARKING THE VEHICLE THE GEAR SHIFT SHEARED OFF FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. NO EXCESSIVE FORCE WAS APPLIED TO THE GEAR SHIFT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM REVERSE POSITION TO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, AND THEY INFORMED HIM OF THE REPAIR COST. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT IN THE GEAR SHIFT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DEALER INDICATED THAT THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. *AK

NHTSA ID
10181422
Incident
Feb 1, 2007
Transmission
Filed Mar 4, 2006

WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PLACED IN "PARK", THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION LEVER WILL MOVE TO THE "P" POSITION, BUT THE GEAR SHIFT POSITION INDICATOR STOPS AT "N" OR "R". THE CAR WILL TURN OFF AND THE KEYS CAN BE REMOVED AS NORMAL. THIS HAS HAPPENED MANY TIMES OVER THE PAST TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALER NOW FOR THE SECOND ATTEMPT AT REPAIRING THIS SITUATION. *JB

NHTSA ID
10151773
Incident
Mar 1, 2006
Mileage
15,500 mi
BrakesTransmission
Filed Oct 4, 2005

HUMMING COMING FROM BOTTOM OF VEHICLE (REAR AXLE). KNOCK IS ALSO HEARD WHEN COMING TO STOP IN SAME AREA (REAR AXLE). DEALER REPLACED GEARS AND COMPONENTS MAY 2005. GOT VEHICLE BACK BUT KNOCK WAS LOUDER, FOUND OUT THAT NEEDED THE CORRECT SHIMS TO PREVENT PROBLEM. WAITED FOR PARTS FOR 3-4 WEEKS. DEALER SAID FORD WILL NOT REPLACE THE ENTIRE AXLE ONLY REPLACE COMPONENTS. FORD SERVICE LOG SHOWS "REPAIR REAR AXLE AS PER TSB 050618". BUT PROBLEM STILL PRESENT. WAITING ON PARTS AGAIN. AS OF OCTOBER 10, 2005, HAVE HAD DEALER TRY TO FIXED PROBLEM THREE (3) TIMES. NOW MY PARK BRAKE DOES NOT WORK, DEALER SAID NEED TO GET PARTS IN TO FIX BOTH PROBLEMS (AXLE AND BRAKE) AT SAME TIME. BUT I WILL TAKE BACK TO DEALER TO FIX PARK BRAKE EVEN IF AXLE PARTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. *NM

NHTSA ID
10138513
Incident
May 10, 2005
Transmission
Filed Sep 12, 2005

DT: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION - THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR DOES NOT SHIFT WHEN PUT INTO GEAR. IT HAS BEEN DOING THIS OFF AND ON FOR THE PAST THREE MONTHS. TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT AND MADE AN THE APPOINTMENT TO HAVE IT REPAIRED, THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR WAS NOT IN THE PROPER GEAR WHEN THE CONSUMER BROUGHT VEHICLE BACK FOR THE APPOINTMENT, IT WAS WORKING PROPERLY. THEREFORE, IT WAS NOT REPAIRED AT THAT TIME. CURRENTLY, IT IS HAPPENED AGAIN. IT HAS BEEN IN THE WRONG GEAR FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS. THE VEHICLE IS STILL UNDER WARRANTY. THE GEAR SHIFT INDICATOR FAILED AT LEAST 100 TIMES.*AK

NHTSA ID
10136257
Incident
Aug 19, 2005
Mileage
15,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Jul 28, 2005

JULY 25, 2005 MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION LEVER FAILED. IT WILL NOT MOVE PAST THE "REVERSE" SETTING, YET IT WILL GO INTO PARK. THE TRANSMISSION FUNCTIONS PROPERLY AS FAR AS I KNOW. I AM TO TAKE INTO DEALERSHIP TOMMORROW. MY MILEAGE IS ABOUT 13,500. *JB

NHTSA ID
10130519
Incident
Jul 25, 2005
Mileage
13,350 mi
Transmission
Filed May 21, 2005

I DROPPED MY KIDS OFF AT SCHOOL THEN HEADED FOR WORK TAKING THE FREEWAY. TRAFFIC BEGAN TO BUILD SO I HAD SLOWED DOWN TO ABOUT 20 MILES PER HOUR (MPR), WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE WOULD ONLY REACH 30 MILES PER HOUR. I WAS IN THE FAR RIGHT LANE SO I TOOK THE NEXT EXIT OFF THE FREEWAY. I PUT IT IN PARK THEN TRIED TO DRIVE AGAIN BUT IT STILL WOULD NOT GO PASS 30 MPR OR GO IN REVERSE SO I CALLED ROAD SIDE ASSISTANCE AND HAD IT TOWED TO THE NEAREST DEALERSHIP. THERE WAS NO NOISE OR ANY INDICATION THAT SOMETHING WAS WRONG. LUCKILY I WASNT TRYING TO CHANGE LANES WHEN THE TRANSMISSION WENT OUT, I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN HIT. THE SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME THAT THE SUN GEAR HAD BROKEN.

NHTSA ID
10121796
Incident
May 19, 2005
Mileage
17,000 mi
Transmission
Filed Mar 23, 2005

AFTER PARKING THE VEHICLE IN THE LOT AT WORK CONSUMER PROCEEDED TO EXIT THE VEHICLE WHEN THE DRIVER'S SIDE DOOR KNOCKED HER DOWN AS THE VEHICLE ROLLED BACKWARDS. CONSUMER GOT UP, ENTERED THE VEHICLE, PLACED BOTH HANDS ON THE BRAKES TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THEN PLACED THE VEHICLE INTO PARK BEFORE IT STRUCK ANYTHING. NO INJURIES WERE SUSTAINED BY THE CONSUMER. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED INTO PARK PRIOR TO IT ROLLING BACK.*AK

NHTSA ID
10115599
Incident
Mar 22, 2005
Transmission
Filed Jan 27, 2005

WHILE DOWN SHIFTING GEARS THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNG COMING FROM TRANSMISSION. CONSUMER TOOK VEHICLE TO DEALER TO BE SERVICED. AFTER PICKING UP THE VEHICLE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEM. HE THEN CALLED DEALER AND ASKED WHAT WAS WRONG, AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TRANSMISSION FLUID WAS LOW. HE TOOK VEHICLE BACK, AND THEN WAS NOTIFIED THAT THERE WAS A TSB FOR THE TRANSMISSION.*AK

NHTSA ID
10109084
Incident
Dec 1, 2004
Mileage
5,078 mi
Other / unspecifiedTransmission
Filed Oct 4, 2004

MY CAR WOULD NOT GO INTO REVERSE AND LOST FULL SPEED PRESSURE ON THE HIGHWAY, NEARLY CAUSING A VERY BAD ACCIDENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10093575
Incident
Oct 3, 2004
Mileage
17,000 mi
Driver assistanceTransmission
Filed Feb 26, 2004

WHEN COMING OFF A RAMP AND MERGING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THE DRIVER HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. AT 1,470 MILES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PISTON HAD DISINTEGRATED. *JB *SC

NHTSA ID
10055856
Incident
Jan 13, 2004
Mileage
1,100 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .