2021 Ford Expedition

NHTSA is opening this Audit Query (AQ) to investigate NU Car Rentals (NU Car) for compliance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.The Safety Act requires that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i). NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates NU Car rented at least two vehicles to consumers without having performed required recall repairs. The Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQ) related to this investigation can be found on nhtsa.gov by searching for ID number 11730449 and 11504655. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.

While stopped at a traffic light, my 2021 Ford Expedition began running rough. When the light changed and I accelerated through the intersection, the vehicle experienced a severe loss of engine power and barely made it through the intersection. After I pulled off the roadway and released the accelerator, the engine stalled. I was able to restart the engine once while applying approximately one-quarter throttle. It continued running rough and stalled again when I released the accelerator. The vehicle was taken to Robinson Brothers Ford/Lincoln in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The Ford dealer documented the rough running, low power and stalling and diagnosed the "fuel pump inop." The dealer removed the fuel tank and replaced the fuel pump/sender assembly. The replacement part listed on the dealer invoice is Ford part JL1Z-9H307-G. Vehicle mileage was approximately 79,390. Several months before the complete failure, during very cold weather, I also experienced one brief incident of unusually low engine power shortly after starting the vehicle. I do not know whether that earlier incident was related. I am concerned that this failure may be related to the low-pressure fuel pump failure condition addressed by Ford Safety Recall 25S75 / NHTSA Recall 25V-455, which includes certain 2022 Ford Expeditions. My 2021 Expedition is not currently included in that recall. The loss of power occurred while I was crossing an intersection and created a serious safety risk. I am submitting this complaint so NHTSA can evaluate this fuel pump failure along with failures involving other vehicles excluded from Recall 25V-455.

NHTSA ID

11755789

Incident

May 15, 2026

Vehicles automatic transmission repeatedly looses its gear, often while accelerating. The transmission tries to shift down, but somehow ends up loosing engagement and will not re-engage. This lead to critical/dangerous situations on Highways due to the sudden loss of power.

NHTSA ID

11755022

Incident

Jul 14, 2026

OEM transmission had to be replaced 3 years after new purchase. Replacement transmission installed at Ford dealership has failed after less then 2 years. About to have third transmission installed.

NHTSA ID

11754495

Incident

Aug 1, 2026

The engine stalled out while trying to pass someone. The car wouldn't go faster when hitting the gas and felt like I couldnt safely slow down to get back over. It felt like something slipped and lost traction, but roads were dry and not rocky or sandy. tapping breaks and letting off gas did nothing. it has happened before but usually in winter, and gettin up to speed. its like the gear shift got stuck.

NHTSA ID

11753596

Incident

Jul 22, 2026

On my expedition I started having issues with my transmission staying in gear while driving. I will be going up a hill and all of a sudden boom it starts down shifting or not accelerating at all. I had a few times when me and my wife will be driving, and we would be going through a intersection or a area where you don't want to slow down and then the transmission would forget which gear it would be in and lose all power. Keep in mind my expedition only has 83K miles and serviced regularly. $8,900 later it needs a new transmission. This is a huge safety problem that's being ignored.

NHTSA ID

11753340

Incident

Feb 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Transmission Shifter Failure" was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle independently accelerated. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a recall for the failure would be available in April 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

NHTSA ID

11753034

Incident

Jul 27, 2026

Mileage

120,000 mi

On several occasions the vehicle will act like it misses a gear when put under load. Example is when you go to pass a vehicle and accelerate the vehicle will just rev up and not speed up. You then have to let the vehicle slow down and sort of get itself back into the right gear and you can go. Another example is taking off from a stop it will also do the same thing causing you to be pulling out into traffic and loosing power. Both of these scenarios are life threating as in both scenarios you could be faced with either on coming traffic or traffic coming at a high rate of speed behind you.

NHTSA ID

11753011

Incident

Jul 13, 2026

The dashboard/instrument panel on my 2021 Ford Expedition is bubbling, warping, and peeling away directly above and around the front passenger airbag location. The dashboard has visibly separated from the underlying structure and continues to worsen. The defective component is available for inspection upon request. I am submitting this complaint because I believe this condition presents a potential safety hazard. The dashboard material is located directly over the passenger-side Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) airbag. I am concerned that the warped and delaminated dashboard could interfere with proper airbag deployment during a crash or cause pieces of the dashboard to break apart and become projectiles when the airbag deploys, increasing the risk of injury to the front passenger. There have been no airbag warning lights or messages displayed, and I have not been involved in a crash. The defect developed gradually, beginning with bubbling of the dashboard surface and progressing to peeling and separation. The condition continues to worsen over time. The issue has not yet been confirmed by a Ford dealer or independent repair facility, and the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. My concern is that a dashboard should not deteriorate in the area surrounding a critical safety system on a relatively new vehicle, and I believe this issue should be investigated to determine whether it could affect passenger airbag performance or occupant safety.

NHTSA ID

11752873

Incident

Jul 1, 2026

Some 2021-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an "Updating SYNC" message on the vehicle center display screen after an over the air (OTA) update. The message can be cleared from the center display screen and SYNC can be used normally, but it will re-appear at every subsequent ignition cycle. Inform customers that engineering is currently working on a software update solution for this condition to be delivered OTA expected in late Q3 2026. Software will update automatically if vehicle connectivity is enabled in the vehicles settings. Monitor Professional Technician System (PTS) for additional information.

NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang, Ranger, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Bronco, Navigator, and Aviator Vehicles Powertrain Control Module Software Update

For 20212026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. When referred to a specific clutch (A-F) test by a pinpoint test in Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing, the Clutch Assembly tests have been updated with a hyperlink to the new Transmission Line Pressure Test - Pressure Vacuum Transducer (PVT) Is Available procedure in WSM, Section 307-01 > General Procedures. This procedure provides instructions to perform the FDRS Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test when applicable. The new test improves the accuracy of detecting leaks within transmission fluid circuits and replaces the previous air check method. The previous air check procedure has been shown to produce a high rate of false positives, which may lead to unnecessary repairs when no actual leak is present. Accordingly, the air check procedure is not to be used for diagnosing internal transmission hydraulic leaks or as justification

Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B118C:11 and/or B118C:15 stored in the driver door module (DDM), and/or B118D:11 and/or B118D:15 stored in the passenger door module (PDM). This may be due to the wiring connector from the mirror to the BLIS module. If diagnostics lead to an internal mirror wiring harness fault, a new lower level BLIS light pigtail is now released for service. It is not necessary to replace the exterior mirror assembly. Use part number SC3Z-14A411-B to resolve the concern.

Advance Notice – Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation

For 2021-2026 vehicles equipped with the 10R80 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum transducer (PVT) when available. The Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated under Section 307-01 > Diagnosis and Testing to include this procedure. The new test improves the accuracy of detecting leaks within transmission fluid circuits and replaces the previous air check method.