RoadVitals

2012 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.
12
Latest Apr 7, 2026
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.
10%
of 118 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.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
6

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 2012 Ford Expedition submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 12 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

EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Apr 7, 2026

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 30 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted, causing the occupants to lunge forward. The tires squealed and the wheels locked up. The vehicle was turned off but failed to restart. No warning light was illuminated. The contact stated the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train). A tow truck company was contacted, and was able to restart the vehicle, but the failure persisted. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall coverage associated with the VIN. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. An attempt was made to contact the manufacturer, but there was no response. The failure mileage was approximately 166,000.

NHTSA ID
11729726
Incident
Apr 4, 2026
Mileage
166,000 mi
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 25, 2025

Campaign 19N01 Description Transmission molded leadframe extended coverage Next Steps Contact your dealer for next steps. Did this and was told that the vehicle was not covered due to it being after 10 years and barely over 150,000 miles. I am experiencing transmission issues where the torque converter clutch is now stuck on and the lead frame is more than likely the cause. Thanks FORD, NEVER AGAIN.

NHTSA ID
11676166
Incident
Jul 24, 2025
ElectricalEngine
Filed Sep 6, 2023
Fire reported

I was driving regularly down the road when I noticed the smell of electrical fire. Smoke started coming from the undercarriage of the truck. I pulled into a gas station, and the engine died, and I got out to look at what's causing the smoke. I observed what looked to be engine or transmission oil on fire dripping from the undercarriage, so I moved a safe distance from the vehicle, and within about 30 seconds, the entire vehicle was engulfed in flames. The fire department came, and extinguished the fire. The vehicle is 100% casualty, along with everything inside of it.

NHTSA ID
11543010
Incident
Sep 5, 2023
Engine
Filed May 2, 2022

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle independently slowed to approximately 2 MPH. The contact observed that the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer went blank. The contact stated that when she depressed the accelerator, the vehicle would jerk forward. The contact pulled off of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that when she restarted the vehicle the vehicle failed to respond when shifted into drive with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that she drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

NHTSA ID
11463039
Incident
Apr 29, 2022
Mileage
150,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Oct 9, 2019

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
Engine
Filed Nov 21, 2018

CAR WAS DRIVING FINE AND THEN IT STOPPED ACCELERATING, WOULDN'T CHANGE GEARS OR GO OVER 20MPH. WE BROUGHT IT TO OUR LOCAL REPAIR SHOP WHO THOUGHT IT WAS THE TIMING CHAIN. WE THEN HAD IT TOWED TO THE FORD DEALER (KOONS IN FALLS CHURCH, VA) THEY SAID THAT IT IS A PROBLEM WITH LOW OIL PRESSURE AND THE ENGINE HAS BEEN AFFECTED. THEY GAVE US AN ESTIMATE OF $11,000 TO REPAIR (NEEDS A NEW ENGINE). THE CAR ONLY HAS 89,000 MILES AND HAS BEEN PERFECTLY MAINTAINED. I CAN ONLY ASSUME THAT A CAR THIS YOUNG THAT HAS BEEN PROPERTY MAINTAINED HAS SOME KIND OF MANUFACTURING DEFECT.

NHTSA ID
11153081
Incident
Nov 16, 2018
Mileage
89,000 mi
ElectricalEngine
Filed Nov 13, 2018

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE SHUT OFF AND THE SPEEDOMETER GAUGE WENT TO ZERO. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE COASTED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WOULD RESTART OCCASIONALLY. THE CONTACT CALLED MONACO & SONS MOTOR SALES, INC (767 NEW LONDON TURNPIKE, GLASTONBURY, CT 06033, (860) 652-3000) AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN A RECALL. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THERE WAS NO RECALL AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO CALL NHTSA. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 98,000.

NHTSA ID
11151130
Incident
Nov 8, 2018
Mileage
98,000 mi
Engine
Filed Sep 4, 2018

CAM PHASER ISSUE RESULTING IN HEATED/CRACKED MANIFOLD, MELTING INTO PISTON 4, DISABLING ENGINE. REQUIRES FULL ENGINE REPLACEMENT AT $6K PARTS & LABOR.

NHTSA ID
11124279
Incident
Aug 29, 2018
Mileage
154,000 mi
Engine
Filed Feb 18, 2017

THE 2012 EXPEDITION HAS PRIOR RECALLS FOR TRANSMISSION ISSUES. I PURCHASED MINE 3 MONTHS AGO AND AM NOW BEING TOLD I WILL HAVE TO HAVE THE ENTIRE TRANSMISSION REPLACED TO THE TUNE OF $6,000 BUT YET MY VIN# IS NOT PART OF THE RECALL LIST.

NHTSA ID
10955416
Incident
Feb 17, 2017
Mileage
93,000 mi
EnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 24, 2017

WHILE DRIVING ESPECIALLY ON THE HIGHWAY THERE IS A DOWNSHIFT IN THE GEARS AND THE INSTRUMENT PANEL GOES BLANK I THEN PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE HIGHWAY TURN OF THE ENGINE AND THEN START UP AGAIN AND EVERY THING IS BACK TO NORMAL. ON 1/22/17 IT WAS REALLY BAD AS THE SAME HAPPENED AND I TRIED TO PICK UP SPEED BUT NOTHING HAPPENED I HAD TO PUT ON MY FLASHERS AND EASY OVER TO THE EMBANKMENT. ON 10/05/16 I TOOK THE VEHICLE BACK FOR POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE TO THE DEALERSHIP BUT AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED THE PROBLEM STILL EXIST. AS A MATTER OF FACT THIS HAS HAPPENED QUITE A FEW TIMES SINCE OCTOBER. *TR

NHTSA ID
10947431
Incident
Nov 16, 2016
Mileage
76,000 mi
Engine
Filed Nov 20, 2016

WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 EXPEDITION 45 - 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED MORE THAN ONCE AND JERKED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THE SAME OCCURENCE LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING THE NEW SOFTWARE AGAIN. THE ISSUE OCCURED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE ACCELERATION DROPPED DOWN TO FIRST AND THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP. WE ALL THOUGHT WE WERE ABOUT TO DIE WITH THE TRAFFIC COMING BEHIND US. FORD NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE AND I HAVE NEVER EXPERIENCED SOMETHING SO DANGEROUS BEFORE. FORD MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THIS DEFECT AND FIX THE ISSUE AS PEOPLE HAVE INVESTED IN PURCHASING THIER BRAND. I PRAY NO ONE GETS INJURED FROM THIS MALFUCTION AND DEFECT ON THESE VEHICLES.

NHTSA ID
10927102
Incident
Nov 20, 2016
Mileage
64,500 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance+1 more
Filed Aug 6, 2014
Crash reported6 injuries reported

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

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 .