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1997 Ford ExpeditionProblems, recalls & complaints

NHTSA has logged 853 owner complaints about the 1997 Ford Expedition, most often about the suspension. It is covered by 7 safety recalls.

25
CarFlaw IndexYear to avoid3.1× the Expedition median · #3 of 28 years by complaints
Safety recalls7Free fix at dealersOwner complaints853166 with a crash, fire or injuryTypical failure mileage122kSuspension, median miles

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through May 29, 2024. Updated daily.

Complaints by system

Where the 1997 Ford Expedition has problems

853 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Suspension1385
Service brakes, hydraulic969
Electrical system9533
Steering944
Engine and engine cooling898
Vehicle speed control7942
Power train7613
Visibility442
Wheels414
19 other systems24445

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.

7 recalls

1997 Ford Expedition recalls and how many were fixed

Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.

–no report yet

Gear box: shaft sector

Recall 03V-196 · May 27, 2003 · 171,446 vehicles

Risk. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Show 3 more recalls
–no report yet

Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs

Recall 98V-095 · May 13, 1998 · 1,520,000 vehicles

Risk. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)

Recall 97V-171 · Oct 7, 1997 · 866,000 vehicles

Risk. THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION.

Problem, fix and repair progress →

–no report yet

Suspension: rear

Recall 96V-252 · Dec 18, 1996 · 25,000 vehicles

Risk. IF BOTH BRACKETS SEPARATE, THE REAR AXLE CAN MOVE LATERALLY UNTIL THE TIRES CONTACT EITHER THE FRAME OR THE WHEELHOUSE RESULTING IN EITHER TIRE DAMAGE OR A…

Problem, fix and repair progress →

Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.

Owner-reported costs

What owners say repairs cost

Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.

Engine and engine cooling

11 owners mentioned a cost

$4,500median

Middle half: $2,000 – $4,925

If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.

Best & worst years

1997 vs. every other Expedition year

Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Expedition median. How we score

'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
NHTSA crash tests

1997 Ford Expedition safety ratings

1997 Ford Expedition 4-DR. 4x4 in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.

1997 Ford Expedition frontal crash test, NHTSA
Frontal crashNot rated
  • Stability control: No
  • Forward collision warning: No
  • Lane departure warning: No
7 investigations

NHTSA defect investigations

Federal investigations that included the 1997 Ford Expedition, and the recalls they led to.

  1. SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEADDP05005 · closed Jan 4, 2006
    No recall
  2. STEERING SHAFT SEPARATIONEA02001 · closed May 29, 2003
    Led to recall 03V-196
  3. ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRESEA05005 · closed Aug 2, 2006
    Led to recall 05V-388
  4. FRONT STABILIZER LINKPE01022 · closed Nov 9, 2001
    No recall
  5. INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BARPE98009 · closed Jun 30, 1998
    No recall
  6. TIE ROD END FAILURESPE98024 · closed Jul 21, 1998
    No recall
  7. FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIOPE99060 · closed Mar 8, 2000
    Led to recall 00V-073
In owners' words

What Expedition owners report

Recent suspension complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.

TAKATA RECALL, MY STEERING IS BAD LIKE IM FISHTAILING ON THE FREEWAY, WHEN I HIT A BUMP IT PULLS TO ONE SIDE. THERES ALOT OF PLAY IN THE STEERING WHEEL.
Complaint 11156712 · Dec 7, 2018 · 190,000 miles
WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY, AS SOON AS I GO FASTER THAN 55MPH THE VEHICLE DOWN BY THE WHEELS, STARTS SHAKING. I CAN FEEL IT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. I SUSPECT IT'S THE BALL JOINTS BUT NOT SURE. IT ALSO WOBBLES WHEN TURNING GOING AS SLOW AS 25 MPH.
Complaint 11090884 · Apr 29, 2018 · 189,000 miles
MY BRAKE WENT TO THE FLOOR WHEN I STARTED TO DRIVE MY VEHICLE LAST WEEK. I WAS GOING TO AVE MY BAKES REPLACED TODAY WHEN THE MECHANIC NOTICED THAT THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS WERE VERY RUSTED IT HAS PIECES BREAKING OFF AND THERE IS ACTUALLY A HOLE IN THE REAR DRIVER SIDE LOWER CONTROL ARM. THE METAL…
Complaint 10925688 · Nov 13, 2016

Own a 1997 Expedition?

Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.