2023 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 2023 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
- Electrical1621.1%
- Powertrain (other)1114.5%
- Driver assistance1013.2%
- Engine79.2%
- Visibility67.9%
- Brakes56.6%
- Fuel system45.3%
- Interior & seats33.9%
- Body & structure33.9%
- Suspension33.9%
- Seat belts22.6%
- Steering22.6%
- Other / unspecified22.6%
- Airbags11.3%
- Tires & wheels11.3%
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
Electrical
Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while parked and turned off, the vehicle suddenly started independently. The contact turned off the vehicle manually. The contact stated that the failure occurred twice. The dealer was contacted, and an appointment was scheduled; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 22,080.
HOOD COWLING COMING BREAKING SEAL CAUSING BATTERY JUNCTION BOX TO GET WATER IN AND SHORT-OUT JUCTION BOX AND NOT ALLOWING THE CAR NOT TO START.
Powertrain (other)
Powertrain reports that are not specifically the engine or transmission — driveshafts, axles, transfer cases and differentials.
From owner reports, verbatim
Driving on highway, tried to accelerate, the car was acting like it was in neutral and would not accelerate. Checked to ensure I was not. the car began decelerating and I started to pull over. As I entered the brake down lane - the car automatically switched to park jarring the car to a stop. The dashboard provided the following fault "shift system fault service required" Tried shifting to drive, neutral, reverse and each time it would shift back to park and give me the warning. Had to have the car towed. The dealership is very vague on the root cause of the issue saying i need a new transmission. I specifically asked if the root cause was the CDF drum issue but they will tell me why the failure happened. Still waiting for my car to be repaired.
See attached document for complaint.
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 vehicle experienced a failure of multiple driver assistance and safety systems, with warning messages displayed in the instrument panel cluster. The affected systems include Adaptive Cruise Control, Automatic Emergency Braking, Blind Spot Warning, Forward Collision Warning, Lane Departure Warning, Lane Keeping Assistance, Parking Collision Warning, and Rear Cross Traffic Warning. All of these features are currently inoperative. During normal vehicle operation, messages indicated that driver assistance features were unavailable or malfunctioning. Diagnostic trouble codes related to invalid data and lost communication were stored in multiple modules. The failures appear to be caused by the Image Processing Module A (IPMA) intermittently not communicating on the vehicle network. This condition created a significant safety risk because multiple federally advertised and manufacturer-promoted crash-avoidance and collision-mitigation features were unexpectedly disabled during normal driving. The sudden loss of these systems reduces situational awareness and increases the risk of a collision, particularly during highway driving, lane changes, and parking maneuvers. The issue has been acknowledged by the manufacturer in Special Service Message (SSM 53419), which identifies IPMA software as the likely cause. Temporary recovery procedures have been attempted, but the problem continues to recur. A permanent repair has not been provided, despite this condition being known for over one year. The issue has been confirmed by dealer diagnostics. Warning messages appeared prior to and during the loss of functionality. The affected components remain installed and are available for inspection. The underlying software defect has not been permanently corrected as of this report.
The contact owned a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was occupying the vehicle at the residence and attempting to park in the drive postion, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into the garage wall, causing damage to the garage wall, refrigerator, and storage cabinet. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was in full throttle and failed to stop. No warning light was illuminated. During the failure, the contact's wife was the only occupant inside the vehicle. In addition, the display screen went blank. The contact's wife had not sustained an injury, and no medical attention was needed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
Engine
Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.
From owner reports, verbatim
On May 16, 2026, my 2023 Ford Expedition with 6,197 miles caught fire while I was driving home from work. I smelled smoke inside the cabin, and within moments smoke began coming through the air vents. I pulled over and exited the vehicle. When I got out, I saw the engine compartment was on fire and heavy smoke was coming from under the hood. As I moved away from the vehicle, there were multiple loud pops and bangs coming from the engine area. Police and fire crews responded and extinguished the fire, but the vehicle is a total loss. This was a nearly new vehicle with very low mileage. I believe this was caused by a manufacturing defect. Ford previously settled a class‑action lawsuit involving 2021 Expeditions with engine fire issues, which suggests this problem has not been fully resolved. I am reporting this incident because it is a serious safety hazard and could have resulted in injury or death.
It made a loud boom I stopped thought it was a tire when I got out of the car flames started to come out of the driver side wheel well
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 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the front driver’s and passenger’s side electric mirrors could not be adjusted from the front driver’s door main switch. Additionally, the windows failed to roll up and to roll down while using the front driver’s door main switch. The contact stated that while in a parking garage, the front driver’s side window failed to roll down, and the driver was unable to immediately insert the parking garage ticket to exit the garage. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the front driver’s door main switch module, but the failure later reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 21,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the sunroof. The contact stated that a dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the sunroof needed to be replaced. The sunroof was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 85,000.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Brakes
Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.
From owner reports, verbatim
While driving the ABS system failure warning along with 2 other system warnings come on and brakes fall to the floor. My Ford expedition is experiencing the same catastrophic electronic brake booster failure as recall 25S77. The dealer updated the software and the problem continued. Its back at the dealership after happening an additional 4 time and I'm being told it $2500 to replace the electronic brake booster. My VIN is not on the recall but in experiencing the exact life-threatening system failure.
Vehicle: 2023 Ford Expedition XLT Max Component: Service Brakes / Hydraulic / Brake Pedal Description of the Problem: The vehicle experiences intermittent brake slippage that occurs randomly approximately 2–3 times per month. The issue happens while decelerating between 10–20 mph. When applying the brakes to slow down, the brake pedal suddenly travels further downward, as if the brakes slip or momentarily lose pressure. This significantly reduces braking confidence and control. The condition occurs without warning and is not driver-induced. When it happens, it feels as though the brakes may fail entirely. Safety Risk: This is a serious safety concern. This vehicle is our primary family vehicle and is regularly used to transport two toddlers and an infant. When the brake slippage occurs, it is frightening and creates fear that the brakes could fail while driving, potentially causing a serious accident. I do not feel the vehicle is safe to operate under these conditions. Service History / Attempts to Repair: •The vehicle is just over one year old and covered under an extended warranty. •The vehicle has been taken to two separate Ford dealerships for diagnosis. •Both dealerships stated they cannot perform repairs unless the issue happens while a technician is driving the vehicle. •I was told I must “wait until the problem gets worse” before any repair can be made. •One dealership kept the vehicle for over one week, drove it 100+ miles, and had three technicians drive it, yet reported they could not replicate the issue. Given how frequently this occurs during normal driving, it is concerning that no corrective action has been taken despite repeated complaints. Outcome / Concern: I am concerned that I am being forced to continue driving a vehicle with a known braking issue until a failure becomes severe enough to be witnessed, placing my family and others at risk. I am submitting this complaint to formally document the issue before serious accident occurs
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Fuel system
Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.
From owner reports, verbatim
It made a loud boom I stopped thought it was a tire when I got out of the car flames started to come out of the driver side wheel well
There is a shudder and whining noise with confused shifting gears behavior.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Interior & seats
Reports naming seats, latches, locks, linkages and interior fittings.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the dashboard was reflecting the sun onto the windshield. The contact was unable to drive and utilize the flat panel display. The large flat panel display angle was in an awkward position to use. The screen contrast and readability were poor. The contact was concerned about the random software updates. Additionally, the touch screen display was difficult to maneuver due to the lack of buttons or knobs. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that on every occasion while driving, she observed a loud rattling noise emanating from the second-row seats. Additionally, the contact stated that she observed the second-row headrests and the seat shaking while looking in the rear-view mirror. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the vehicle was unable to be diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was approximately approximately 500.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Body & structure
Reports naming the vehicle structure, frame, body panels, doors, hood and trim.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number 26V368000 (Structure); however, the part needed for the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reaching to pick up a debit card, the center console cup holder chrome plating, which had peeled off and stood upright, sliced the contact's pinky finger on her right hand. The deep gash required medical attention. No further information was available. The contact associated the injury with the recall. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and informed that the medical expenses would be covered. The failure mileage was approximately 90,691.
I was driving on the freeway at a high rate of speed (65-70mph) and a piece of my roof rack broke off my car and flew off into the road. This could have hit a car behind us or harmed a person inside the car. Nothing hit my car to cause it to come off. I showed it to the dealer and they claimed that pieces of cars don't just fall off for no reason. They said they would file a claim for it to be covered under warranty. There was no warning prior to this happening.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Suspension
Reports naming suspension components — springs, struts, shocks, control arms and related hardware.
From owner reports, verbatim
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 15 MPH, the contact heard a loud popping sound and the vehicle was pulled to the right. The front passenger’s side wheel assembly and wheel were detached. The contact stated that due to the failure, the contact's vehicle damaged two vehicles that were parked on the street. The Toyota Sienna was scratched and damaged on the driver’s side of the rim and the driver's side door and rearview mirror. In addition, the Kia Sportage was scratched and damaged to the driver’s side of the bumper and the driver’s side of the vehicle. No Police report was filed. No injuries were sustained. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, however, the dealer declined to diagnose the failure or to repair the vehicle. The contact was informed that due to the damage, the vehicle needed to go to a collision center. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was purchased and maintained service appointments. The vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact stated that when the failure occurred, his wife and small children were occupants of the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
UNKNOWN. Lots of vibration issues through the body and steering wheel shimmy. Whole cabin harmonic vibrations put new tires on and road force balanced. Still having issues. truck veers left and right without input when going over bumps. Steering wheel shimmy’s left and right when going over bumps. Transmission seems to lock up and release while going over bumps while stopping.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Seat belts
Reports naming seat belts, buckles, retractors and pretensioners.
From owner reports, verbatim
The seatbelt strap malfunctioned ( locked) and and I was unable to loosen the straps .. resulting in having to cut the strap to get my child out
Third row seat belt buckle warped and damaged. My child’s car seat was installed for normal cleaning and upon inspection was obviously warped compromising the safety of a small child. No warning lights on the dash indicated a seatbelt failure.
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
While leasing this vehicle from Hertz via Priceline out of Seattle the vehicle was always was extremely difficult to keep in is own lane. Didn't matter if you were doing 20 mph or 60 mph. This was brought to Hertz via Priceline and they have not answered back to what the issues were other than saying no one else complained about it an apparently are investigating the problem. This vehicle was picked up on April 29,2026 from SeaTac and returned on May 4,2026. Neither Priceline did nothing but gave a $25 credit and Hertz will not answer any attempts to contact them.
UNKNOWN. Lots of vibration issues through the body and steering wheel shimmy. Whole cabin harmonic vibrations put new tires on and road force balanced. Still having issues. truck veers left and right without input when going over bumps. Steering wheel shimmy’s left and right when going over bumps. Transmission seems to lock up and release while going over bumps while stopping.
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
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that there was an abnormal metal-to-metal sound coming from the front end of the vehicle while driving at slow speeds and downshifting. The contact stated there was something loose in the driver's side front wheel. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer four times, who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to another local dealer, Gorno Ford Quick Lane (21111 Allen Rd., Woodhaven, MI 48183); on two occasions however, the dealer was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and opened a case, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 10.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Airbags
Reports naming the air-bag system — deployment behaviour, inflators, sensors and warning lights.
From owner reports, verbatim
My "restraints indicator lamp warning" is going off occasionally. Ford just contacted me to tell me that my airbag will not deploy if needed.
Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.
Tires & wheels
Reports naming tires, wheels, hubs, or the tire-pressure monitoring system.
From owner reports, verbatim
285/45/22 None of the tires will balance leading to terrible vibrations at highway speeds. Dealer tried several times to balance and also road force balance them. Vibrations can be dangerous at highway speeds.
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 .