RoadVitals

2011 Ford Expedition Engine Problems

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

Data refreshed

Engine 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 Dec 5, 2025
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.
18%
of 71 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 engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2011 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 engine

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

Engine
Filed Dec 5, 2025

I bought this vehicle early 2023. From the moment I bought it I’ve had a loud ticking sound come from the dash or the motor when I start the car also when it’s really hot out. It also didn’t blow cold air. So I had to save up enough money to replace the AC components in my 2011 expedition. After I got it “repaired” It only lasted about six months and that’s being conservative. $2000 later and it’s blowing hot air and still making you loud ticking sound. I pretty much replaced all the components that deal with the AC and the blower. I don’t know what to do anymore, but it makes a loud ticking sound when I’m driving, when I start the car, anytime. And I also don’t have cold air anymore.

NHTSA ID
11703218
Incident
Jul 10, 2023
Engine
Filed Apr 20, 2023

The engine is blown at 125k miles when all servicing and maintenance was done at the dealership. Somewhere around 50k to 60k miles, I complained to the dealership about a ticking noise from the engine and was told multiple times it was "normal with this engine". Well this engine blew while I was on my way to take the kids to school. I was on the interstate/bypass and was by some miracle able to get the 7-11. I was driving and all of a sudden, it sounded like there was squirrel under the hood. I had to have it towed to the dealership because it was not driveable and they told me the engine was no longer good and was blown. They said it would cost me $10k and I would be better off buying a new vehicle. There was no engine light or anything that came on until it blew. The only "warning" I had was the slight ticking noise that came from the engine, but when mentioned to the dealership, I was told that it was normal with this engine.

NHTSA ID
11518155
Incident
Dec 20, 2019
Engine
Filed Jan 16, 2020

CAMSHAFT ROLLER BEARINGS SEIZED AND SCORED THE CAMSHAFT, REQUIRING A TOP END REPLACEMENT. THE VEHICLE HAD LESS THAN 95000 MILES. THIS THE SECOND EXPEDITION REQUIRING THIS ENGINE WORK. MY FIRST EXPEDITION REQUIRED A COMPLETE ENGINE REPLACEMENT DUE TO THE SAME ISSUE

NHTSA ID
11300000
Incident
Aug 5, 2019
Mileage
92,807 mi
Engine
Filed Apr 13, 2019

UPON ENGAGING THE CRUISE CONTROL WHILE IN MOTION AT 65MPH (HIGHWAY) AND GOING UP A BRIDGE THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED WITH ACCELERATOR BEING STUCK ON THE FLOOR (BOTTOMED OUT) BRAKING BECAME INEFFECTIVE AT THAT SPEED. AFTER A MAJOR EFFORT WAS ABLE TO PULL OVER. PUTTING IN NEUTRAL MADE THE VEHICLE IDLE AT VERY HIGH RPM, DID NOT DISENGAGE THE ACCELERATOR. ONLY AFTER SHUTTING THE ENGINE OFF IN N AND PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN P FOLLOWED BY RESTARTING SOLVED THE ISSUE. SECOND TIME THIS OCCURRED WAS AT 55MPH (LOCAL HIGHWAY) FLAT ROAD, SAME OBSERVATIONS. BRIEFLY DISCONNECTING AND RECONNECTING CONTACT DID NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. VERY HIGH IDLE IN N AND ONLY AFTER PUTTING THE VEHICLE IN P AFTER SHUTTING DOWN, THE PHENOMENON WAS RESOLVED. ONLY OBSERVED WHILE USING CRUISE CONTROL. IN BOTH CONDITIONS ROAD WAS DRY WITH NO PRECIPITATION

NHTSA ID
11196041
Incident
Apr 12, 2019
Mileage
279,500 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Feb 6, 2019

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF ALL FUNCTIONALITY EXCEPT THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (888) 656-7577) AND THEY REFEREED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,204. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID
11174726
Incident
Feb 6, 2019
Mileage
152,204 mi
Driver assistanceEngine
Filed Sep 7, 2018

I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON HWY 290 WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE WHEELS TOTALLY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO START SLIDING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP. IT TURNED OUT THAT A COMPUTER MODULE REGULATING SHIFTING HAD GONE BAD. THIS ALSO CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND NEED REPLACING.

NHTSA ID
11128038
Incident
May 3, 2018
Mileage
150,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 3, 2017

UPON HARD ACCELERATION OVER 3000 RPM A BURNT EXHAUST ODOR ENTERS THE CABIN. AT ALL TIMES

NHTSA ID
11012663
Incident
Aug 3, 2017
Mileage
84,000 mi
Engine
Filed Oct 14, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE ENGINE SHOOK UNCONTROLLABLY WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHENEVER THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS BUILT WITH A FAULTY ENGINE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, BUT OFFERED NO REMEDY. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 131,476. UPDATED 02/05/16*LJ

NHTSA ID
10782177
Incident
Jan 15, 2015
Mileage
131,476 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 12, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE COMING TO A STOP, THE VEHICLE JERKED AND MADE AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE. THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.

NHTSA ID
10683044
Incident
Nov 11, 2014
Mileage
110,000 mi
EngineFuel system
Filed Sep 10, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE FAN MADE AN INTERMITTENT CLICKING NOISE ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 60,000.

NHTSA ID
10632122
Incident
Jun 2, 2014
Mileage
60,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine+1 more
Filed Sep 13, 2012

WE WERE DRIVING ON 95 WHEN WE HEARD A THUD-TYPE NOISE. WE THOUGHT WE HAD A FLAT TIRE, BUT THEN THE VEHICLE WOULD NO LONGER ACCELERATE. WE WERE ABLE TO GET OFF AT THE EXIT THAT WAS IMMEDIATELY UPON US AND SAFELY PULL OFF ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. WE DID NOT HAVE ANY FLAT TIRES. THE VEHICLE WOULD STILL TURN ON AND RUN (SO WE KNEW IT WASN'T THE ALTERNATOR), BUT IT WOULDN'T ACCELERATE. THE FORD DEALERSHIP INFORMED US IT WAS THE MEXTRONICS ELECTRONIC PORTION OF THE SHIFT MECHANISM AND VALVE BODY IN THE TRANSMISSION. THEY SAID THAT THIS TYPE OF PROBLEM COULD NOT HAVE BEEN PREVENTED AND IT DOES NOT HAPPEN OFTEN. *TR

NHTSA ID
10475306
Incident
Sep 9, 2012
Mileage
25,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 24, 2012

AFTER THE VEHICLE HIT 5,000 MILES, WE STARTED NOTICING A DECREASE IN OUR FUEL EFFICIENCY. AROUND THAT SAME TIME IS WHEN WE ALSO BEGAN HAVING PROBLEMS WITH OUR TRANSMISSION. WHEN DRIVING AT LOW SPEEDS, BETWEEN 30 MPH AND 40 MPH, THE RPMS OSCILLATE UP TO +/- 250 RPMS. BETWEEN THOSE SPEEDS, THE ENGINE IS CONSTANTLY REVVING UP AND DOWN WHILE DRIVING. WE HAVE HAD OUR VEHICLE SERVICED BY FORD ON SIX DIFFERENT OCCASIONS, THE PROBLEM WAS RECORDED AND DOCUMENTED ON THEIR COMPUTER SYSTEMS, BUT HAS NOT BEEN FIXED. WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 11,000 MILES ON OUR VEHICLE, AND NO RESOLVE FOR THIS PROBLEM. *TR

NHTSA ID
10472389
Incident
Jan 12, 2012
Mileage
5,000 mi
EngineOther / unspecified
Filed Jul 14, 2011

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED MOMENTARILY. THE FAILURE CONTINUED TO RECUR ON AN INTERMITTENT BASIS. THE VEHICLE ALSO STALLED DURING ONE OF THE FAILURES. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A RENTAL AND WAS TOWED BACK TO THE RENTAL AGENCY AFTER STALLING. THE CONTACT WAS NOT AWARE IF THE VEHICLE WAS EVER TAKEN TO HAVE THE FAILURE DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 7,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ID
10412280
Incident
Jun 20, 2011
Mileage
7,000 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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .