2019 Ford Expedition Problems
Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component
Data refreshed
What this page shows
Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Expedition, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Reports by component
Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category
- Powertrain (other)20536.5%
- Engine13423.8%
- Seat belts8615.3%
- Driver assistance234.1%
- Airbags183.2%
- Electrical173.0%
- Suspension142.5%
- Body & structure112.0%
- Fuel system101.8%
- Exterior lighting91.6%
- Interior & seats81.4%
- Transmission81.4%
- Brakes61.1%
- Visibility61.1%
- Steering50.9%
- Other / unspecified20.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Each component in detail
What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while attempting to drive from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on the interstate, the vehicle felt like the parking brake was engaged. The engine revved abnormally, and the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent, and the vehicle returned to normal operation while the contact continued driving. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 60,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the chrome around the center console had started to peel. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
When turning on the truck there is an excessive rattle in the engine and it keeps on prolonging more and more.
- The Cam Phasers are failing. The dealer on my last visit said that the engine makes a rattle, and the Cam Phasers are the issue. It's apparently a wide spread issue with this year of vehicle. I wasn't aware previously. - The dealer said that the issue persisting will introduce debris into the engine resulting in failure. - The Ford Dealer service brought this to my attention. - The component issue is known by Ford, but they have never issued a recall. - No warning lamps, no messages. I as a car owner wouldn't know an issue was existing. The dealer service department brought it to my attention when I had my car in for another Service.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
My 2019 Expedition has experienced an inadvertent seat-belt pretensioner deployment. There was a very loud explosion-like bang, the belt tightened suddenly, fortunatelly I didn't loose control of the car and continue driving slowly until I got home (5 min away). Now the belt is locked and cannot retract or extend. The vehicle is not safely usable. I had light bruises on my left shoulder and some pain. I've called the dealer and they said there is a recall on this but no solution until September.
While driving a 2019 Ford Expedition under normal conditions, the driver-side front seat belt pretensioner suddenly deployed without a collision, impact, hard braking event, or other apparent reason. The deployment produced a very loud explosion-like sound immediately next to the driver's head/ear and forcefully activated the seat belt pretensioner. After the deployment, the driver's seat belt became completely locked and can no longer be extended or used. There were no known warning signs immediately before the deployment. The vehicle was not involved in an accident. The failure occurred spontaneously while the vehicle was being operated. I contacted an authorized Ford dealer after the incident. The vehicle is affected by Ford's recall involving inadvertent front seat belt retractor pretensioner deployment. The dealer advised that there is currently no remedy available for the recall. Because the pretensioner has already deployed and the driver's seat belt is now inoperative, the vehicle cannot be safely operated with a functioning driver's restraint. The failed seat belt/pretensioner assembly remains installed in the vehicle and is available for inspection. I am also contacting Ford directly regarding the failure and the lack of an available recall remedy.
Driver assistance
Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the message "Vehicle in Park" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle unexpectedly shifted into park(P) on two separate occasions. There was an abnormally loud clunking sound coming from the vehicle. The vehicle failed to accelerate. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train). The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 79,000.
Multiple times we have received Powertrain Failure warnings. These warnings typically happen when driving in cruise control but also happens in normal driving. The car has trouble shifting gears, gets stuck in gears, and has trouble downshifting. This creates unsafe and unstable driving especially at high speeds. Repeated visits to the dealer have yielded no results and the dealer has not mentioned transmission work one time despite a clear issue and widespread issues with this transmission model. This issue has been persistent since the car was bought.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V099000 (Seat Belts). While driving approximately 45 MPH and approaching an intersection, the air bag warning light illuminated. There was an abnormally loud sound like a gunshot coming from the vehicle, and smoke was inside the vehicle. The front passenger’s seat belt unexpectedly deployed and retracted on the side of the vehicle. The seat belt failed to move and became inoperable. Prior to the failure, the owner's daughter was seated in the front passenger’s seat. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
The airbag warning light illuminated on my 2019 Ford Expedition. My Ford dealer diagnosed the vehicle and confirmed that the condition is related to an active Ford safety recall. The dealer also confirmed that the defect disables the entire Supplemental Restraint System (SRS), meaning the airbags will not deploy in the event of a collision. I was informed that the recall replacement part will not be available until approximately December 2026 and that Ford will not authorize an interim repair or replacement using available parts. As a result, I am expected to continue driving a vehicle with a disabled airbag system for several months despite the known safety defect. The dealer advised that if I choose to have the vehicle diagnosed or repaired before the recall remedy becomes available, I must pay the costs myself and may only be eligible for reimbursement if Ford later authorizes it. This defect significantly increases the risk of serious injury or death because the airbags will not deploy in a crash. I am filing this complaint because a manufacturer should not leave owners without a functioning airbag system for months while waiting for recall parts.
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
Ford issued TSB 22-2089 addressing the evaporator temperature sensor that provides an incorrect or "biased" reading in Ford F-150 / Raptor: 2015–2022Ford F-250 / F-350 / F-450 / F-550 Super Duty: 2017–2022Ford Expedition: 2018–2022Lincoln Navigator: 2018–2022 causing cabin temperatures to reach hazardous levels that can cause heat stroke in adults and especially children posing a significant risk on roadways and to other drivers. The faulty part was installed in family advertised vehicles. It is a known Technical Service bulletin. On May 29th 2026 at 10:35 am the family advertised 2019 Ford Expedition with capacity to seat 7-8 passengers experienced TSB 22-2089 faulty while on a family trip in another state, causing extreme respiratory distress in 2 of the 4 children due to cabin temperatures reaching a recorded 83 degrees fahrenheit and climbing.
On May 26, 2026, my 2019 Ford Expedition suffered a total systemic safety failure that resulted in my toddler being locked inside the vehicle in direct sunlight, requiring an emergency extraction. I used the FordPass app to unlock the vehicle and opened the driver’s door and passenger door on the diver's side. I placed my bag containing the proximity key fob onto the driver’s seat floorboard while the vehicle was completely off. I closed the driver's door and walked to the rear door behind the driver's seat, which was still open, to buckle my child into his car seat. Upon closing his door, the vehicle immediately initialized a "ghost lock" command, sealing all doors with the key fob inside, directly violating the vehicle's "Smart Unlock" and Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) safety protocols. The FordPass remote application then completely failed, refusing to process any commands to unlock the vehicle or remote-start the engine to turn on the air conditioning for the child. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling the application via a good samaritan’s cellular hotspot, the app remained completely unresponsive due to a total communication crash with the vehicle. I called 911. Local police arrived on-site first and attempted an emergency manual override using a mechanical lockout tool down the window frame, which failed. Due to the rapidly increasing interior heat in the direct Florida sun, arriving firefighters determined the child was in critical danger and shattered the rear passenger door main window to perform an immediate extraction. This failure represents an unmitigated malfunction of the door latch systems documented under Ford TSB 20-2421, which overrode all safety failsafes without warning. An upcoming diagnostic testing appointment is being scheduled at an authorized Ford dealer to pull the module codes and initiate a manufacturer safety review.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the rear of the vehicle was bouncing excessively. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the rear suspension that needed to be replaced. The contact was also made aware that the rear sensors were not properly installed following a collision repair and were hanging down from the bumper. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 57,687.
Transmission and shifting problems under 70,000 miles. Also the ac compressor and blower has gone out.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts), 26V368000 (Structure), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The contact stated that the chrome around the center console had started to peel. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 108,000.
On May 26, 2026, my 2019 Ford Expedition suffered a total systemic safety failure that resulted in my toddler being locked inside the vehicle in direct sunlight, requiring an emergency extraction. I used the FordPass app to unlock the vehicle and opened the driver’s door and passenger door on the diver's side. I placed my bag containing the proximity key fob onto the driver’s seat floorboard while the vehicle was completely off. I closed the driver's door and walked to the rear door behind the driver's seat, which was still open, to buckle my child into his car seat. Upon closing his door, the vehicle immediately initialized a "ghost lock" command, sealing all doors with the key fob inside, directly violating the vehicle's "Smart Unlock" and Passive Entry Passive Start (PEPS) safety protocols. The FordPass remote application then completely failed, refusing to process any commands to unlock the vehicle or remote-start the engine to turn on the air conditioning for the child. Even after uninstalling and reinstalling the application via a good samaritan’s cellular hotspot, the app remained completely unresponsive due to a total communication crash with the vehicle. I called 911. Local police arrived on-site first and attempted an emergency manual override using a mechanical lockout tool down the window frame, which failed. Due to the rapidly increasing interior heat in the direct Florida sun, arriving firefighters determined the child was in critical danger and shattered the rear passenger door main window to perform an immediate extraction. This failure represents an unmitigated malfunction of the door latch systems documented under Ford TSB 20-2421, which overrode all safety failsafes without warning. An upcoming diagnostic testing appointment is being scheduled at an authorized Ford dealer to pull the module codes and initiate a manufacturer safety review.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E070000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping while driving and shifting into gear, and an unknown warning light was flashing. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at various speeds on uneven pavement or over a minor bump in the roadway, the rear of the vehicle was jumping and the vehicle became slightly unstable, causing occupants or items in the rear passenger’s seats to bounce. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle made an abnormal rattling sound at start-up. The contact stated that the fuel pump was only pumping fuel at 33% and DTC: P00C6 was retrieved. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the timing chain was stretched, and the valve cover was leaking. Additionally, the vehicle was diagnosed with the left catalytic converter, rear shocks and struts, timing chain, valve covers, fuel pump, and transmission failures. The parts were replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000.
In June 2024, my 2019 Ford Expedition experienced serious transmission and powertrain problems. Diagnostic testing identified catalyst efficiency codes (P0430), and I was given a repair estimate that included catalytic converter replacement. The vehicle also displayed repeated “Service Engine Soon” and “Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power” warnings. Because the vehicle became undrivable and the repair costs were unaffordable, I was forced to release it to auction in June 2024, resulting in a significant financial loss. In April 2025, Ford issued Recall 24E13 acknowledging that PCM programming errors could falsely trigger catalyst efficiency codes (such as P0430), potentially leading to unnecessary catalytic converter replacements, exactly the condition my vehicle experienced. This recall defect directly contributed to the loss I suffered, as I still owed about $11,000 on the vehicle when I could no longer use it. I have already opened a case with Ford (Case #CXH05645573C2W6R6), but I have not received meaningful assistance. When I contacted Ford Customer Service, I was not offered escalation or resolution. I was only told to call another phone number, which left my case unresolved. I respectfully request that NHTSA review Ford’s handling of this defect, including the financial impact on owners like myself who incurred substantial losses before the recall was announced.
Exterior lighting
Reports naming headlights, tail lights, turn signals and other exterior lighting.
From owner reports, verbatim
The passenger side headlight DRL is fading and does not appear to be as bright and pronounced as the driver side DRL. This vehicle has the LED headlights and fog lights.
LED daytime running lights have failed and turned blue on one side. This issue appears to affect many vehicles of the same make and model. DRLs are a piece of safety equipment that makes the vehicle more visible to others, and as such, should be in proper working order.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that occasionally while her husband drives at various speeds, the vehicle would fail to accelerate as intended when depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated the rear truck door had fallen on her husband's head a few times in the past and would only open halfway. Minor injuries were sustained but medical attention was not sought. No warning light illuminated. On occasion, the contact mentioned that the automatic step on the front passenger side would not lower as intended and would remain up while pressing the switch. The contact also stated that the front hood does not remain open independently and would shut. An appointment with the dealer was scheduled to inspect the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the extended warranty would not cover the failures. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the rear driver's side door failed to latch when closed, causing the door to fly open. The contact stated that he used a rope to tie the door to another door to keep the door securely closed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was inspected. The dealer determined that the door handle assembly needed to be replaced and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall. The vehicle was also taken to an independent mechanic, where the same assessment was made. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 62,000.
Transmission
Reports naming the automatic or manual transmission, including shifting behaviour, shudder, slipping and transmission control modules.
From owner reports, verbatim
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, there was a rattling sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the cam phaser and the timing chain needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21B10 (Powertrain Control Module Reprogram for Cam Phaser Rattle). The failure mileage was 121,000.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact called on behalf of a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while he was driving his 2017 Kia Rio at 10-20 MPH, and approaching a red traffic light, the 2019 Ford Expedition that was driving approximately 60 MPH crashed into the rear of the contact's vehicle. The contact sustained neck and head injuries and was transported to the hospital by ambulance. The contact was informed that the injuries had aggravated the contact's underlying spinal injury. The contact was advised to undergo an emergency surgery. The air bags of the contact's vehicle did not deploy. The contact's vehicle was towed to a tow yard, where it was totaled. A police report was filed, and the report stated that the driver of the 2019 Ford Expedition advised that the vehicle crashed into the contact's vehicle due to brake failure. The other driver sustained unknown injuries and was also transported to the hospital by ambulance. No further information was available.
I took the car for a recall due OBD issues and reprogramming shortly after that 3 days after it was at redrock ford in Williston North Dakota is giving me Emergency brake malfunction in middle of driving car on cruise control this warning came on with a lightning symbol in red and circle around it disengaging cruise control on its own and also no showing speed cruise control is set for this is the 3rd time I take this car due to recalls they also just did seatbelt tensioners on front driver and passenger sides and is listed again for it and status on it is that no remedy is available due to parts not available I called the dealer after the OBD RECALL REPAIR and associate is stating I have to pay a diagnostic because is not related to EMERGENCY BRAKE ISSUES mentioned above I didn’t have this ebrake issue before u til oil took it to them now thanks to this I have a broken front right passenger wheel bearing most likely it engage ABS SYSTEMS AND MY WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY Family and my kids now I have to buy a new driver side wheel bearing most likely have a mechanic installed also with a price of labor cost on top
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Visibility
Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud chattering sound coming from the engine before the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the cam phasers and the vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. Additionally, the A/C failed to blow cool air due to a condenser failure. During the failure, the windows failed to properly defrost, causing a visibility hazard. The vehicle also experienced hard shifting and a shift fault code message was displayed. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 40,000.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front windshield wipers were activated but failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that the wiper arms seized. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the wiper arm linkage had failed and needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the parts had been ordered. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the safety failure. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Steering
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage.
From owner reports, verbatim
When you try to accelerate quickly, even when you’re switching lanes on the interstate or just driving down the road, the car will sometimes pop out of gear or something and almost comes to a complete stop causing you to almost get rear ended. I’ve almost been hit several times because the car stops and won’t go.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was driving on a neighborhood road at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The driver proceeded to pull over, and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the electronic steering control module was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 58,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Other / unspecified
Reports whose component NHTSA recorded as unknown, or that do not map to one of the categories above.
From owner reports, verbatim
I took the car for a recall due OBD issues and reprogramming shortly after that 3 days after it was at redrock ford in Williston North Dakota is giving me Emergency brake malfunction in middle of driving car on cruise control this warning came on with a lightning symbol in red and circle around it disengaging cruise control on its own and also no showing speed cruise control is set for this is the 3rd time I take this car due to recalls they also just did seatbelt tensioners on front driver and passenger sides and is listed again for it and status on it is that no remedy is available due to parts not available I called the dealer after the OBD RECALL REPAIR and associate is stating I have to pay a diagnostic because is not related to EMERGENCY BRAKE ISSUES mentioned above I didn’t have this ebrake issue before u til oil took it to them now thanks to this I have a broken front right passenger wheel bearing most likely it engage ABS SYSTEMS AND MY WHEEL LOCKED WHILE DRIVING WITH MY Family and my kids now I have to buy a new driver side wheel bearing most likely have a mechanic installed also with a price of labor cost on top
For months now I have noticed a significant increase in the handling of my car to the point it is erratic and almost hard to drive, I have had my alignment looked at and have also seen that the inside of my rear tires is wearing more than the others as told to me in service reports for my car. A recall was put out for my vehicle which seems to be affected by almost every single recall but it says my car is not affected by this one. Which is The rear suspension toe link fasteners may not have been properly tightened to the frame, possibly allowing separation from the frame and tighten the rear toe link fasteners, check and adjust the rear toe alignment, and inspect the rear tires for abnormal tire wear, replacing them if necessary. I think if anyone else has had similar issues this recall needs to be expanded to other vehicles.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
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.
Elsewhere on this vehicle
Data sources
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation — owner-reported complaints and the components recorded on them
Data on this page last refreshed .