2012 Ford Expedition Driver assistance Problems

vehicle shifting erratically and shows fuel mileage low and loss of speedometer

NHTSA ID

11756399

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

vehicle shifting erratically and shows fuel mileage low and loss of speedometer

NHTSA ID

11756398

Incident

Aug 10, 2026

The speedometer will quit working and the vehicle will not shift out of 1st gear, if you can work through it it will start throwing error messages such as zero miles to empty, tire moniter system fault, etc. This is a very dangerous situation especially in high traffic areas. There was a customer satisfaction program on it but only up to 150,000 miles. This program should last the life of the vehicle, also, if it was fixed before ownership, why did it go bad again

NHTSA ID

11699752

Incident

Nov 9, 2025

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the image displayed on the back over prevention screen was either upside down, distorted, static only, or completely black. The failure was intermittent. During the failure, the contact was able to restart the vehicle to fix the image; however, the fix was intermittent. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact researched and found information on NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V270000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the VIN and model year was not included. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

NHTSA ID

11686275

Incident

Sep 10, 2024

Mileage

78,000 mi

I was driving my 2012 expedition and suddenly the vehicle went from doing 60 to 40 immediately the tires squealed and threw me into the right lane . This vehicle transmission has a recall for down shifting and power train issues. My vin number does not fit the Recall but my vehicle has all the symptoms of multiple recalls and is not safe to drive . Had i not known how to drive i and my daughter would be in the hospital due to the faulty transmission lead frame and power train . I contacted Ford head quarters they were no help even though there is clearly a recall . I also took the truck to ford of valparaiso and had to pay the 1,000 dollars for the lead frame to be replaced which was in the recall and I shouldn't have had to pay anything .. them replacing the lead frame did nothing the car is still not drive able and is extremely unsafe its my only vehicle and I am a single mother of 2 kids .

NHTSA ID

11683830

Incident

Aug 11, 2025

JULY 2025 MY 2012 FORD EXPEDITION THREW A P0742 CODE FOR A STUCK TORQUE CONVERTER CLUTCH. THE VEHICLE HAD JUST UNDER 150K MILES AND STARTED TO JERK IN AND OUT OF GEAR AND THE WRENCH LIGHT ILLUMINATED SO I, THANKFULLY WAS GOING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH WHEN IT HAPPENED AND WAS ABLE TO PULL THE VEHICLE OVER AS IT WAS IN LIMP MODE. WHEN I CLEARED THE DTC CODE THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY TEMPORARILY BUT EVENTUALLY LOCKED BACK UP AGAIN WITHIN A MILE FROM MY HOME. UNFORTUNATELY, FORD DEALERSHIPS WILL NOT STAND BEHIND THE CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBER THAT THEY HAVE LISTED FOR A REPLACEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION LEAD FRAME. I PROVIDED THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WITH ALL OF THE NECESSARY INFORMATION AS WELL AS AN INDEPENDENT DIAGNOSIS BY A TRANSMISSION SPECIALIST. LOOKS LIKE I'LL JUST HAVE TO WAIT FOR THE DAY THAT IT CAUSES A MASSIVE ACCIDENT BY DOWNSHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AT 65MPH. TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND I CAN ONLY HOPE THIS DOESN'T COST SOMEONE THEIR LIFE.

NHTSA ID

11676319

Incident

Jul 24, 2025

I just purchased (2 months ago) a 2012 Ford Expedition EL 5.4l v8 from a private party. I wish I would have done more research as I am ALREADY EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION ISSUES THAT I BELIEVE ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE VEHICLES LEAD FRAME RECALL. IT THREW A P0742 CODE ON ME Torque Converter Clutch Circuit stuck on and decided that it would only drive in limp mode unless I cleared the code, pulled over, cycles the key, and restarted the vehicle. Even as dangerous as this UNEXPECTED SHIFTING INTO 1ST GEAR AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS IS, IT IS EQUALLY AS DANGEROUS TO BE GETTING OUT OF YOUR VEHICLE IN MOVING TRAFFIC DUE TO FORD'S TERRIBLE DESIGN ON THIS VEHICLES POWER TRAIN/TRANSMISSION SYSTEM. I HAVE SCHEDULED AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE LOCAL Ford DEALER AND AL CERTAIN I'LL GET THE RUNAROUND/BLAME GAME FOR THIS ONE. 150K MILES AND AS I said, I HAVE OWNED IT FOR 2 MONTHS AND HAVE ALREADY HAD TRANSMISSION ISSUES, BRAKE ISSUES, BELT TENSIONER PULLEY LITERALLY FELL OFF.. AND FROM WHAT I READ, WHAT'S NEXT??? THE CAM PHASERS?? THAT'S IF THE TRANSMISSION ISSUE IS EVEN FIXED AND IT BECOMES SAFELY DRIVE ABLE AGAIN. COME ON FORD, GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER, YOU'RE BETTER THAN THIS!

NHTSA ID

11676082

Incident

Jul 24, 2025

The transmission jumps in and out of gear, the engine revs on its on. I was on the highway the first time and I going between 60 and 65 mph and it sounded like the whole bottom of the truck was just ripped out, the truck went from drive to either park or first gear it locked up the back tires and there was a truck behind me he tried to miss me but he hit the back passenger side of the truck. He was very very upset he threatening and cussing me because he thought I just slammed on my brakes for no reason. I explained to him what was happening and calmed down think God. It could have killed him or me or even several other people. When it locked up the tires then it jumped back in drive and tried tot take off, I threw it in neutral and cut the key off. That scared the sh.. out of me!! I have talked to other people that have around the same year model truck as mine and some of them are having the same issues with it jumping in and out of gear not wanting to shift gears revving up on its own and no engine light comes on I've tried to get a code scanner scan it no codes come up on the truck Ford needs to fix this truck they had a recall on certain models that were manufactured at different plants or something like that I heard but they won't fix my truck they said it's not under recall this truck is going to kill somebody it's the only truck I have and I have to go to work I'm just asking if you can please do something about this before people get killed in or I get killed I'm going to try to get a video of what it does I'm just asking if you can please do something about this Ford knows what the problem is I read stuff on it and they need to fix these trucks before it kills people they know what the problem is if I have a bad wreck and I live to it or this truck causing somebody to lose their life it's going to be a multi multi multi million dollar lawsuit because they refuse to fix the truck I'm just asking you if you can please do something about this thank you

NHTSA ID

11550843

Incident

Sep 2, 2023

Metal corrosion on the back liftgate is allowing water to leech into the electrical connections to the back camera, causing it to intermittently not work leading to complete failure eventually. The service techs at the ford dealership have described this common problem with this year model expeditions and is due to a chemical problem either with the metal or factory paint or both. Corrosion is not due to rust. We bought the car new in late 2011.

NHTSA ID

11507158

Incident

Nov 14, 2022

My vehicle suddenly shifted downward, my gas pedal had no effect, my speedometer stopped working and my fuel and tire sensor lights came on. This happened multiple times on my drive this morning and would have caused an accident if I was being tailgated.

NHTSA ID

11467696

Incident

Jun 6, 2022

WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED INTO 1ST GEAR, RPMS REVVED UP, SPEEDOMETER STOPPED WORKING, PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL TEMPORARILY HAD NO EFFECT, "FUEL LEVEL LOW" LIGHT CAME ON AND "TIRE PRESSURE SENSOR FAULT" LIGHT CAME ON. I WAS STILL ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE, THOUGH THE SPEEDOMETER WAS NOT WORKING. I STOPPED, TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE AND RESTARTED IT AND THE VEHICLE WORKED FINE. THIS EVENT HAPPENED THREE TIMES OVER THE PAST MONTH. SHEEHY FORD IN ASHLAND, VIRGINIA SAID THAT I NEEDED A NEW "LEAD FRAME" AND THAT THE CHARGE WOULD BE $900. UPON FURTHER RESEARCH, I LEARNED THAT THERE HAD BEEN A RECALL FOR THIS ISSUE FOR THE 2012 FORD EXPEDITION, BUT MY 2012 EXPEDITION VIN NUMBER IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL. I BELIEVE MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE ALSO BEEN INCLUDED IN THE RECALL AND FIXED BY FORD. I COULD HAVE HAD A SERIOUS ACCIDENT IF THIS HAD HAPPENED WHILE DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. RECALL INFORMATION FOUND ONLINE: "FORD HAS ISSUED A SAFETY RECALL FOR THE 2011-2012 FORD F-150, AND 2012 FORD EXPEDITION FOR A POTENTIAL PROBLEM WITH THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR IN THE TRANSMISSION'S LEAD FRAME; IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS THE PART CAN LEAD TO A TEMPORARY DOWNSHIFT INTO FIRST GEAR. DEPENDING ON HOW FAST THE VEHICLE IS GOING, THAT COULD LEAD TO AN ABRUPT REDUCTION IN SPEED THAT COULD CAUSE THE REAR TIRES TO SLIDE OR LOCK UP. FORD SAID IT'S AWARE OF THREE ACCIDENTS REPORTED AND NO INJURIES RELATED TO THE ISSUE. THE AFFECTED VEHICLES HAVE A 6R80 TRANSMISSION IN CERTAIN FORD F-150S BUILT AT DEARBORN ASSEMBLY PLANT AND KANSAS CITY ASSEMBLY PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH MARCH 9, 2012; 2012 FORD EXPEDITION VEHICLES BUILT AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH DEC. 19, 2011; FORD MUSTANG VEHICLES BUILT AT FLAT ROCK ASSEMBLY PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH FEB. 21, 2012; AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR VEHICLES BUILT AT KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT, AUG. 19, 2011 THROUGH DEC. 17, 2011.

NHTSA ID

11416159

Incident

May 8, 2021

Mileage

170,000 mi

DRIVING ON A HIGHWAY AT APPROX 50 MPH, VEHICLE SPEEDOMETER GOES TO 0, MILEAGE GOES OUT, DASH LIGHTS FLASH, WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS (HAS DONE THIS SEVERAL TIMES (SOMETIMES ACCELERATED FROM 1ST GEAR)) TO 1ST GEAR AND GOES INTO A LIMP MODE. HAD TO PULL OVER AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK- ALL FINE WHEN RESTARTED. COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. VERY SCARY. THIS TRUCK HAS HAD A RECALL REPAIR FIXED FOR WHAT WAS DESCRIBED AS EXACTLY THIS PROBLEM. HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES NOW.

NHTSA ID

11351183

Incident

Aug 25, 2020

Mileage

141,000 mi

IDENTICAL TO NUMEROUS OTHER REGISTERED COMPLAINTS (JUNE 4, 2018 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11099593, SEPTEMBER 26, 2018 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11131784, JUNE 14, 2018 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11101913, APRIL 9, 2018 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 11084000, AUGUST 8, 2016 NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10894005): SUDDEN DECELERATION WITH GAUGES FLASHING - WRENCH LIGHT ON, MILES TO ZERO WITH NO NUMBERS, SPEEDOMETER FAILS. AT THE SAME TIME, THE CAR BEGINS BUCKING WITH SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND DECELERATION, BUT ULTIMATELY THE VEHICLE IS LOSING POWER AND ACCELERATION IS LIMITED OR USELESS. SEVERAL TIMES I COULD RESET THE ENGINE PROBLEM BY TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND RESTARTING. THE LAST TWO TIMES IT OCCURED WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP AND THE VEHICLE REFUSED TO SHIFT FROM 1ST GEAR. I ATTEMPTED TO RESTART IT AFTER PULLING OFF THE ROAD BUT IT DID NOT FIX IT THIS TIME. (AND ON THESE OCCASIONS THE DASH LIGHTS DID NOT CHANGE RIGHT AWAY/FIRST). I PULLED OVER 3 MORE TIMES AND TRIED SHIFTING THROUGH ALL THE GEARS MANUALLY, INCLUDING USING THE 4WD TOGGLE, AND THAT FINALLY ALLOWED THE CAR TO SHIFT NORMALLY. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS AND AT HIGHER SPEEDS CAN CAUSE THE CAR TO LOSE TRACTION. I'VE BEEN FORTUNATE THAT THIS HAS ONLY HAPPENED TWICE AT 65MPH AND I WAS IN A POSITION TO GET TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD WITHOUT INCIDENT. THE TOTAL NUMBER OF TIMES HAS BEEN 8 IN APPROXIMATELY 2,000 MILES OF DRIVING. IF THIS HAPPENS NOW THAT SNOW AND ICE ARE ON THE ROAD, IT COULD CAUSE A CATASTROPHIC CRASH.

NHTSA ID

11267256

Incident

May 1, 2019

Mileage

130,200 mi

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS WHILE DRIVING AT DIFFERENT SPEEDS. PANEL READS, FLAT TIRES, NO FUEL, NO GAUGES WILL WORK. I WAS PULLING OUT OF A GAS STATION ON A MAJOR HWY, I GAVE THE VEHICLE GAS TO ENTER THE LANE, AS I WAS APPROACHING A HIGHER SPEED , MY VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND THE VEHICLE BEHIND ME HAD TO SLAM ON THEIR BREAKS TO AVOID HITTING ME IN THE BACK. ANOTHER TIME AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED ON AN INTERSTATE , AS I WAS SWITCHING LANES, MY VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS ALMOST CAUSING ANOTHER WRECK. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR CAR SEATS, MY GRANDCHILDREN WOULD HAVE HIT THE FLOOR. IF IT HAD NOT BEEN FOR THE OTHER DRIVERS QUICK ACTIONS, PEOPLE COULD HAVE BEEN INJURED OR EVEN WORSE DEAD. AFTER A FEW MORE INCIDENTS, I FIND OUT A RECALL FOR THIS PROBLEM WAS MADE, BUT NOT ON MY VEHICLE . SAME YEAR, SAME MODEL, SAME FACTORY, JUST NOT MY VIN! RECALL 16S19- NHTSA ID# 16V248000 . MY VEHICLE HAS 74,000 MILES ON IT, SO IT IS NOT COVERED UNDER A WARRANTY. NOTICE I'M ATTACHED PICTURE. 0 MPH, BUT LOOK AT THE 2000 RPM. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ON. I HAVE A VIDEO OF IT DOING THIS SEVERAL TIMES.

NHTSA ID

11101913

Incident

Mar 8, 2018

Mileage

74,000 mi

RECALL TSB 13-6-8 VEHICLE BUILT IN KENTUCKY TRUCK PLANT JULY 2012 EQUIPPED WITH 6R80 TRANSMISSION EXHIBITS ENGAGEMENT IN 5TH GEAR. WRENCH LIGHT COMES ON, SPEEDOMETER READS ZERO AND ODOMETER DISPLAYS DASHES WHILE DRIVING. FORD STATES IT IS NOT PART OF RECALL. FORD DIAGNOSED PROBLEM WITH SOLUTION OF REPLACING MOLDED LEADFRAME.

NHTSA ID

11099593

Incident

Apr 1, 2018

Mileage

80,000 mi

WHEN DRIVING THE CAR IN MOTION AT SPEEDS OVER 40 MPH THE BREAKS WOULD LOCK UP AND THE CAR WOULD COME TO A COMPLETE STOP

NHTSA ID

10915096

Incident

Apr 22, 2015

Mileage

76,024 mi

VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTS ABRUPTLY WHILE BEING DRIVEN AT APPROXIMATELY 55 TO 60 MILES PER HOUR. VERY DANGEROUS, IT CAN CAUSE AN ACCIDENT. SOME VEHICLES WERE RECALLED BUT FORD SAYS MY VIN NUMBER WAS NOT IN THE VEHICLES THAT WERE RECALLED. THE DESCRIPTION OF THE PROBLEM IS EXACTLY AS THE ONE DESCRIBED TO THE RECALLS IN 184,000 FORD VEHICLES FROM 2011-2012. A WRENCH SHOWS UP IN THE DASH BOARD AND A SIGN THAT SHOWS LOW GASOLINE LEVELS. WHEN THIS PROBLEM OCCURS THE ONLY OPTION IS TO PULLOVER AS FAST AS POSSIBLE. I STOPPED TURNED OF THE CAR AND TURNED IT BACK ON. AFTER THE CAR WOULD DRIVE NORMALLY WITHOUT SHOWING ANYTHING ON THE DASHBOARD AND WITHOUT ANY PROBLEMS. I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS IN THE LAST 3 WEEKS AT LEAST 7 TIMES. WHEN A SCANNER IS CONNECTED IT DOES NOT SHOW ANY SIGNS OR PROBLEMS. VERY DANGEROUS EXPERIENCE EVERY TIME IT HAPPENED. IT USUALLY HAPPENED AT A HIGH SPEED IN THE HIGHWAY WHICH MAKES IT EVEN A MORE DANGEROUS SITUATION. IT HAPPENED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION AND BEING DRIVEN OVER 55 MILES PER HOUR. IT FEELS LIKE IT DOWNSHIFTS FROM 5TH TO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT ANY REASON. ONLY WHILE DRIVING 55 MILES PER HOUR OR MORE. IT RELATES TO RECALL 12V190000 AND IT SEEMS LIKE FORD PROMISED TO REPLACE THE "LEAD FRAME" WHICH CAUSES THIS DEFECT AT NO CHARGE UNDER 10 YEARS OR 150,000 MILES. THEY SAY MY VIN NUMBER DOES NOT HAVE RECALLS. I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT THE SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM ARE EXACTLY THE SAME AS WHAT ALL THE 184,000 CARS BETWEEN 2011-2012 HAD EXPERIENCED. IT IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS SITUATION TO BE IN. I ALSO FOUND THAT IN THE PAST 3 CARS WERE INVOLVED IN ACCIDENTS DUE TO THIS ISSUE AND THANKFULLY NO FATALITIES. I DO NOT WANT TO BE INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT DUE TO THIS NEGLIGENCE FROM FORD. PLEASE HOLD THEM RESPONSIBLE AND ACOUNTABLE FOR THEIR POOR ACCOUNTABILITY.

NHTSA ID

10894005

Incident

Jul 25, 2016

Mileage

67,000 mi

VEHICLE ACCELERATED UNINTENDED AND UNEXPECTED. SPEED WAS UNCONTROLLABLE. DRIVER AVOIDED TO THE BEST OF HIS ABILITIES STANDING WORKERS AND UNINTENTIONALLY HIT TWO OTHER VEHICLES AND WORKERS INSIDE THOSE VEHICLES. 6 INJURED TAKEN BY AMBULANCE TWO CRITICALLY HURT! *TR

NHTSA ID

10619402

Incident

Jul 18, 2014

Mileage

30,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 5 MPH AND ATTEMPTING TO ENGAGE THE BRAKES, THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WITHOUT ANY WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON A DIFFERENT OCCASION BUT SINCE SHE WAS NOT DRIVING THERE WAS A SUDDEN INCREASE IN ENGINES RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 20,250.

NHTSA ID

10577948

Incident

Mar 1, 2013

Mileage

10,000 mi

AFTER ENGAGING THE 4X4 VIA THE DASHBOARD CONTROL KNOB THE "SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK" MESSAGE WAS SHOWN IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE 4X4 WAS DISENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WAS THEN STOPPED. THE INDICATOR LIGHTS FOR THE ABS, STABILITY CONTROL AND 4X4 WERE THEN ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED AND AT THIS POINT ALL STABILITY CONTROL, ANTI-LOCK BRAKES AND OTHER POWERTRAIN SAFETY FEATURES WERE COMPLETELY INOPERABLE AND/OR DISABLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SERVICED AND A FAILURE OF THE WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WAS NOTED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10559602

Incident

Jan 3, 2014

Mileage

20,000 mi

STOPPED AT 0MPH. WITNESS IN CAR BEHIND. FOOT ON BRAKE. TOUCHED ACCELERATOR NORMALLY. HEARD NOISE. CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED. HIT WALL APPROX TWENTY FEET AWAY. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE IN PASSENGER SEAT. SEAT BELT ON, PER DRIVER, WITNESS WHO HELPED DRIVER THRU WINDOW, AND EXAMINATION OF SEAT BELT BY INSPECTOR. HOWEVER EDR READ SEAT BELT AS NOT ENGAGED. BRAKE READ AS NOT ENGAGED, HOWEVER EDR ALSO READ VEHICLE AT 0MPH. ACCELERATOR 0% AT 3.5 SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT, INITIAL ACCELERATION 23% THREE SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT, 99% 1.5 SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT. ENGINE RPMS DATA MAY NOT BE APPROPRIATE. MULTIPLE VEHICLES USING REMOTE CONTROLS AT NEARBY GATE. *TR UPDATED 12/27/12 *CN UPDATED 21/31/2012 *JS

NHTSA ID

10487785

Incident

Sep 26, 2012

Mileage

7,581 mi