2021 Ford Expedition Owner Complaints

Vehicle Safety Complaint – 2021 Ford Expedition My 2021 Ford Expedition has experienced longstanding transmission problems, including hesitation during acceleration, becoming stuck between gears, harsh shifting, and rolling backward on hills. Despite numerous dealership visits, the problem was not diagnosed until the vehicle was out of warranty. The transmission was replaced in August 2026, but the vehicle continued to exhibit the same symptoms. Recently, while traveling approximately 20 mph trying to accelerate from left turn out from side street to main road, a dashboard warning appeared referencing "LOW" gear. The vehicle unexpectedly shifted into Park while moving, jolted significantly, and experienced reduced steering capability. I had to repower the vehicle to restore operation. Fortunately, surrounding traffic had stopped, preventing a potential collision. The dealership attributed the incident to Ford recall 26S48 but advised that no remedy is currently available and suggested I continue driving the vehicle. I am extremely concerned about the risk of a serious accident. I am requesting NHTSA investigate this incident, particularly given the vehicle's history of transmission failure, recent transmission replacement, and apparent manifestation of the recalled safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11776270

Incident

Oct 30, 2026

I was making a right hand turn and had loss of power and a clunk sound. I also experienced loss of power between 65-75 mph on the freeway. I ran a forscan report and it's pointing to the transmission even though the fluid and a tcm update has been performed. There is about 40k miles on the fluid.

NHTSA ID

11774159

Incident

Oct 27, 2026

The chrome plating on the interior center console trim is bubbling, wrinkling, cracking and peeling along the console edges, including the vertical corner by the cupholder, leaving sharp metal edges. This vehicle is covered by Ford recall 26S38 / NHTSA campaign 26V368 for this exact defect, but no remedy is available (remedy expected Q1 2027) and Ford has provided no interim cover, guard, repair, or instructions to make the sharp trim safe. Two injuries have occurred from the sharp peeling chrome trim: 1. On approximately March 12, 2026, the owner's right pinky finger was cut on the outside of the finger by the sharp peeling trim. It bled heavily, took a long time to heal, and left a permanent scar. No medical treatment was sought. No crash. 2. On October 15, 2026, the owner's right middle finger was cut on the same peeling trim. It was painful and would start bleeding again when bumped for several days afterward. No medical treatment was sought. No crash. Photos attached show the peeling trim and both injuries. The component is available for inspection upon request.

NHTSA ID

11773324

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

Power problems and the light was on. I took it to the ford place and they didn’t fix it.

NHTSA ID

11773184

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

Wiper switch not working for auto, because switch itself is broken. When accelerating to pass a car the transmission skips/slips and car pauses and gas pedal won't work for 10 seconds. Car basically stalls. Could have caused accident if unable to pass or slide back over behind the car trying to pass.

NHTSA ID

11772961

Incident

Oct 18, 2026

While driving at highway speeds, specifically during sudden acceleration and lane-change maneuvers, the vehicle experiences a severe dynamic mechanical binding event. The transmission briefly forces a sudden "halt" or engine-braking downshift, causing the vehicle to unexpectedly slow down in active traffic before entering a temporary limp mode. This sudden loss of propulsion and unexpected deceleration creates an immediate rear-end collision hazard on the highway. This happened to my wife while merging onto a highway almost causing an accident. Diagnostic and Mechanical Verification: The vehicle was taken to an authorized Ford dealership for evaluation. The dealership officially scanned, verified, and documented diagnostic trouble code P0786 (Shift Timing Solenoid "A" Range/Performance). Following an advanced diagnostic review, the certified Ford technician officially diagnosed a failed transmission park solenoid (parking pawl solenoid). Direct Relation to Active Safety Recall: The component failure (park solenoid), diagnostic code (P0786), and severe dynamic highway-speed binding symptoms are identical to the safety defects outlined in Ford Safety Recall 26S48 (NHTSA Campaign 26V402). Reason for Filing / Manufacturer Action: Despite an authorized Ford dealership verifying the exact failure mechanism of this active federal safety recall, Ford Corporate are currently refusing to cover 100% of the repair costs. They state that my specific VIN has not yet been "activated" in their database due to Ford’s phased tranche rollout schedule extending through 2027. I am being forced to pay out-of-pocket for an active, dealer-verified, federally recognized safety hazard. We cannot drive the vehicle with this significant safety risk. I am paying mostly out of pocket to cover the repair.

NHTSA ID

11772115

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

At approximately 12:10 p.m. on October 5, 2026, we had just washed the Expedition and I was going to move it over to put it in the middle bay of the garage that is attached to the house. I put the vehicle in reverse and it took off like it was going 100 miles an hour. I crashed into the garage behind us and the tires were still screaming. I then put it in drive to pull forward and it screeched the tires going forward. I had my foot on the break and it was roaring;burning rubber, it crashed through the garage door, hitting the Explorer in front of it which pushed into a wall of our house. It was an unexplained prolonged period of engine racing. I have a video that I would like to send you showing everything that happened, but it’s too large to attach.

NHTSA ID

11769520

Incident

Oct 5, 2026

My 2021 Ford Expedition MAX XLT with the 10R80 automatic transmission has experienced repeated momentary “neutral-out” events while driving. The transmission/park-system components are available for inspection upon request. The most serious incident occurred in September 2026 while I was driving at highway speed near Charlottesville, Virginia, with six children in the vehicle. I was not towing or placing the vehicle under unusual load. The vehicle suddenly behaved as though the transmission had shifted into neutral, the RPM/engagement became abnormal, I heard loud thumping, saw smoke or fumes from the rear of the vehicle, and observed a transmission temperature of 261°F. The vehicle later re-engaged. This created a serious safety concern because I temporarily lost normal propulsion/acceleration capability while traveling at highway speed with other traffic. This problem has previously been confirmed by my Ford dealer. In February 2026, I reported that the vehicle would “neutral out and rev up,” hesitate for several seconds, and then go back into gear. The dealer documented that no diagnostic codes were stored but followed Ford TSB 23-2249. During diagnosis, the dealer found physical wear/damage involving the transmission parking pawl area, rear output shaft, and cam. The transmission was removed and disassembled and multiple park-system components were replaced. The neutral-out condition returned after that repair. In July 2026, I again reported that the vehicle would intermittently neutral out for several seconds and then re-engage. The dealer was unable to reproduce it and again found no diagnostic trouble codes. In September 2026, after the 261°F highway incident described above, the dealer again scanned the vehicle and found no codes and was unable to reproduce the condition during approximately 100 miles of testing. There have been no transmission warning lamps, transmission messages, or

NHTSA ID

11769248

Incident

Sep 4, 2026

Vehicle has 84,000 miles at it. It started to jerk when putting it into a gear. I thought it was due to the colder mornings no. I was taking the kids to school and It was skipping gears. I was very leary of driving but had no choice. It would not get up to speed the rpms was suffering. I stopped at a parts store to run the code after the warning popped up. When leaving because I was 30 mins from home it jerked when I placed into gear, I was scared to pull onto the 4 lane due to not being able to get up to speed and being in a high traffice area. Very unsafe. Now the vehicle is at the dealership needing a $7,000 transmission and ford will not assist. I am still financing it through a dealer and there is no Goodwill from Ford. This is known issue that they documented.

NHTSA ID

11767381

Incident

Sep 24, 2026

Both second-row captain’s-chair seat-belt buckle assemblies are separating. The driver-side buckle has separated enough that it will no longer latch, and the passenger-side buckle is beginning to separate in the same manner. These are inflatable second-row seat belts. The vehicle has not been involved in a crash and the restraint system has not deployed. Ford replacement parts JL1Z-7860045-FF and JL1Z-7860044-FF are reportedly discontinued or on indefinite backorder, leaving no available repair for these occupant-restraint failures on a 2021 Ford Expedition. Because both buckle assemblies are showing the same failure, I am concerned this is a common safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11767073

Incident

Sep 16, 2026

"Catastrophic simultaneous failure of both the Main (front) and Aux (rear) HVAC evaporator cores at 60,000 miles. The component defect causes atomized chemical refrigerant and system compressor oil to leak and vent directly through the dashboard and rear vents into the sealed passenger cabin. This creates an immediate toxic inhalation environment and chemical respiratory hazard. My young child has severe asthma, and this severe component failure makes the vehicle entirely unsafe to transport my family due to acute respiratory irritation risk and cabin air contamination."

NHTSA ID

11766929

Incident

Jul 4, 2026

VIN):[XXX]/Make/Model: 2021 Ford Expedition XLTCurrent Mileage: Approx. 150,000 milesLocation: [XXX] of the Safety Defect:El vehículo presenta un defecto de seguridad crítico y extremo en el tren motriz que pone en riesgo inminente la vida de los ocupantes y de terceros en la vía pública. En dos ocasiones distintas durante los últimos 15 días, el vehículo ha sufrido una pérdida total de comunicación electrónica y un bloqueo mecánico absoluto mientras se encontraba en plena marcha en avenidas de [XXX].Al ocurrir la falla, el tablero activa de inmediato la luz de la llave inglesa (Wrench Light), descontrola la marcha, bloquea la transmisión de 10 velocidades y activa de manera imprevista y automática el freno de emergencia electrónico, deteniendo el vehículo por completo en medio del tráfico.En el primer incidente (ocurrido en sábado), la gravedad del bloqueo mecánico obligó la intervención de los servicios de emergencia en la vía pública, requiriendo la asistencia de la policía y el cuerpo de bomberos para mover el vehículo a una zona segura. El sistema electrónico sufre un colapso total (cortocircuito térmico o fallo de la red CAN Bus) provocado por las temperaturas de la zona; el vehículo se vuelve inoperante y la computadora no responde ni permite el encendido hasta que se deja enfriar por un lapso forzoso de 2 horas.Esta falla mortal se agudizó y se volvió recurrente inmediatamente después de que un concesionario oficial de Ford aplicara la reprogramación de software correspondiente al Recall de emisiones XXX PCM. El concesionario original (Team Ford Lincoln) se niega a diagnosticar la gravedad de este fallo de seguridad sin un cobro de tarifa de diagnóstico de más de $500 dólares, deslindándose del peligro vial provocado tras la ejecución de su propia campaña oficial de servicio. Solicito la intervención de las autoridades federales para que el fabricante asuma la responsabilidad. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11763468

Incident

Aug 29, 2026

While trying to pull out of a residential neighborhood onto a state highway (45 mph speed limit), the vehicle refused to accelerate. The transmission couldn't engage into gear and the vehicle struggled to gain momentum. After letting off of the accelerator pedal, and then applying the accelerator again, the transmission was able to engage, and the car began to accelerate. No check engine light or other indication of a problem. The Ford dealer told us that the CDF drum of the transmission needed to be replaced. It is a known defect due to poor engineering design. This is very common problem in 2020 and 2021 Expeditions and F150 vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11762823

Incident

Nov 3, 2025

My Ford Expedition’s 10-speed automatic transmission experienced repeated slipping and sudden loss of propulsion. While accelerating from a stop and entering the highway, typically around 15–20 MPH, the engine would suddenly rev but the vehicle would stop accelerating, as if the transmission had shifted into neutral. I had to release the accelerator for several seconds and slowly reapply throttle before the transmission would re-engage. This occurred repeatedly and created a serious safety hazard when pulling into or crossing traffic because the vehicle could begin accelerating normally and then unexpectedly lose propulsion with approaching traffic. The transmission also exhibited severe harsh/banging shifts during harder acceleration and produced a rattling noise while slipping until the accelerator was released. CDF drum failure has been confirmed. The vehicle is currently at a reputable independent transmission repair facility undergoing a transmission rebuild due to the CDF failure. The transmission/components are available for inspection during the repair. There were no warning lights or messages that reliably warned of the impending loss of propulsion. This was not simply poor shift quality; the transmission defect caused an actual loss of propulsion while driving. Because this failure can leave a driver unable to accelerate while entering an intersection, pulling onto a highway, or merging into traffic, I believe the CDF failure presents a serious safety risk. I am requesting NHTSA investigate CDF-related transmission failures and determine whether a safety recall is warranted. TSB 23-2250

NHTSA ID

11760692

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to an independent mechanic; however the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was the family's only means of transportation, and the vehicle was unsafe to drive. 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 failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID

11760464

Incident

Sep 19, 2024

For the past three years I have complained about the transmission dropping out of gear. It happens most often if I'm towing a trailer. I seems to occur in spurts, happening a couple of times in a few days then not for some time. Very dangerous if you pull around to pass and suddenly you lose power. Originally the dealership said they could find nothing wrong. I have read recently that Ford is having trouble with their transmissions. At my latest service appointment, I restated my problem and was told I need a new transmission.

NHTSA ID

11756944

Incident

Jul 8, 2026

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

1) 2021 EXPEDITION TOWING A TRAILER, 30 MPH ON UPHILL ON RAMP HATHAWAY BRIDGE PANAMA CITY, FL. I FLOOR THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL TO DOWNSHIFT TO TRY TO ACCELERATE. I HEAR A LOUD CLUNK FROM THE TRANSMISSION. THE CAR GOES INTO NEUTRAL-NOTHING, NO ACCELERATION. I QUICKLY LET OFF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND QUICKLY REAPPLY FORCE TO THE PEDAL IN A SMOOTH MANNER AND TRANSMISSION RE-ENGAGES AND I PULL AWAY. NO ACCIDENT THIS TIME. OCCURRED APRIL 2026. 2) WHEN STOPPED CAR WILL SOMETIMES LURCH FORWARD 2-3 FEET WHEN 1ST SHIFTING TRANSMISSION FROM PARK INTO DRIVE EVEN THOUGH FOOT IS ON BRAKE FIRMLY. OCCURS INTERMITTENTLY.

NHTSA ID

11752216

Incident

Apr 9, 2026