Motor Almanac

Ford / Expedition / 1997

1997 Ford Expedition

Family: Expedition · filed with NHTSA as EXPEDITION

Summary

  • In its first three years the 1997 Expedition drew 262 complaints — 1.0× the median of its generation (1997–2002). It does not stand out from the other years of this generation.
  • These are complaint counts, not failure rates: they are not divided by how many cars were sold, because no public source reports U.S. sales by model year.
  • Complaints are spread across systems: the largest, Suspension, holds 16% of the 843 that name a component.
  • 9 recalls filed for this model year.
  • 7 federal defect investigations cover this model year.

At a glance

Owner complaints
853
Recalls
9
Investigations
7
NCAP overall
Not rated
Combined MPG
13–15
Annual fuel cost
$4,150–$4,800
Median mileage at complaint
120,000 mi (n = 239)
Crashes / fires / injuries / deaths
52 / 74 / 48 / 11

What owners report

Suspension

138 complaints · 16% of complaints that name a component · median 130,000 mi (n = 16)

Owner report 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.
Owner report TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1997 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING AT 10 MPH, AN ABNORMAL SOUND WAS HEARD FROM THE REAR DRIVER SIDE TIRE. THE FAILURE RECURRED CONSTANTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 96V252000 (SUSPENSION). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF…

Brakes

110 complaints · 13% of complaints that name a component · median 100,000 mi (n = 27)

Owner report IN DRIVEWAY UPON DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL, TO PUT CAR IN GEAR, BRAKE PEDAL WENT TO THE FLOOR. NO BRAKES AT ALL. NO WARNING. NO LIGHTS INDICATING FAILURE AHEAD OF TIME. BOTH BRAKE LINES THAT GO FROM MASTER CYL, TO ABS UNIT RUSTED THROUGH. UPON FOR DEALER REPLACING BOTH LINES ON A TEST DRIVE FRT DRIVERSIDE BRAKE LINE F…
Owner report LOST BRAKES ON 476 OUTSIDE OF PHILLY DITCHED CAR SO I WOULD NOT HIT STOPPED CARS, TOTALED MY EXPEDITION AND WIFE, KIDS, DOG, AND I ALL SURVIVED, JUST BLEEDING AIRBAG BURNS. *TR

Engine

100 complaints · 12% of complaints that name a component · median 140,000 mi (n = 58)

Owner report MY 1997 FORD EXPEDITION XLT BEIGE IN COLOR SINCE I HAVE OWN THIS VEHICLE I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE FIVE (5) SPARK PLUGS AND COIL FOR THEY HAVE BLOWN OUT OF THE CYLINDER AND I HAVE HAD TO HAVE THE VEHICLE TOWED INTO A REPAIR FACILITY WHICH HAVE BEEN COSTLY TO ME. THE ENGINE ON THIS VEHICLE IS A 5.4. THE VEHICLE W…
Owner report COIL PACK, SPARK PLUG ISSUE. MY EXPEDITION SOUNDED LIKE IT WAS "MISSING". NOT SURE WHEN I 1ST HEARD IT. I TOOK IT IN FOR SOME MAINTENANCE- OIL CHANGE, CHANGE SPARK PLUGS, BASIC TUNE UP. BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE SHOP THAT THE COIL PACK/SPARK PLUGS WERE DEFECTIVE & IF I ATTENPTED TO CHANGE THE PLUGS & COULD THAT THERE IS A …

1% of complaints name no specific component and are left out of the shares above.

Across the generation (1997–2002)

To compare years fairly, each year is counted over the same span: complaints received up to two calendar years after its model year. A year is compared only when that span is over and it holds at least 50 complaints. Median of the comparable years: 252.

Model yearAll complaintsFirst three yearsNote
1997853262
1998836267
1999946352
2000890242
2001578132fewest complaints
200234069fewest complaints

Recalls

Whether a recall has been fixed on a specific car depends on its VIN; check it at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

06E067000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

Filed 2006-08-01 · 19,413 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 331-1129L-ASN AND 331-1129R-ASN, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Risk: DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.

06E060000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2006-06-29 · 87,745 vehicles

Defect: CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT."

Risk: LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH

Remedy: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.

05V388000 · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Filed 2005-09-07 · 4,500,000 vehicles

Defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.

Risk: A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED THAT PARTS WILL BE AVAILABLE AND ADVISED TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT TO RECONNECT THE SPEED CONTROL BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS WHO DID NOT HAVE THEIR SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATED ARE BEING NOTIFIED TO HAVE THEIR SYSTEM REMEDIED BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY 2006. OWNERS ARE URGED TO AVAIL THEMSELVES OF THE FREE DISCONNECT SERVICE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE OF THE SIGNIFICANT RISK OF FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673. (NOTE: ALSO SEE RECALLS 05V017 AND 06V286)

03V196000 · STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR

Filed 2003-05-27 · 171,446 vehicles

Defect: ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED.

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

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE IS NOT FULLY SEATED AND BOLT GROOVE AND SPLINE IS VISIBLE, THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT AND BOLT WILL BE REPLACED AS WELL AS THE BOLT AT THE STEERING COLUMN CONNECTION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON MAY 30, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FORD AT 1-800-392-3673.

00V168000 · EXTERIOR LIGHTING

Filed 2000-06-19 · 20,637 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." ACCORDING TO FORD, THE VEHICLES WERE IMPORTED INTO THE U.S. ERRONEOUSLY.

Risk: THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.

00V073000 · TRAILER HITCHES

Filed 2000-03-07 · 565,800 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.

Risk: THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.

98V095000 · WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS

Filed 1998-05-13 · 1,520,000 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.

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 CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM PROCEDURE CAN BE COMPLETED BY OWNERS OR THEIR DEALERS. IT SPECIFIES THAT THE LUG NUT TORQUE MUST BE VERIFIED TO BE 100 LBS. THEN THE LUG NUTS NEED TO BE TIGHTENED AN ADDITIONAL 1/8 TO 1/4 TURN MORE. THERE WILL BE A SECOND OWNER NOTIFICATION, WHICH IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JULY 20, 1998, UNDER WHICH DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WHEEL STUDS AND REPLACE THE WHEEL LUG NUTS.

97V171000 · POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)

Filed 1997-10-07 · 866,000 vehicles

Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WOULD THEN NOT BE ABLE TO SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO THE PARK POSITION EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR WOULD INDICATE "PARK."

Risk: THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.

96V252000 · SUSPENSION:REAR

Filed 1996-12-18 · 25,000 vehicles

Defect: THE REAR AXLE TRACK BAR BRACKET CAN SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO MISSING WELDS OR INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION.

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 SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN VEHICLE HANDLING PERFORMANCE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRACK BAR BRACKET REINFORCEMENT KIT AND INSPECTION OF THE AXLE TUBES. THE SUSPECT AXLE TUBES DO NOT HAVE A STAMPED DATE CODE ON THE TUBE. AXLES WITHOUT DATE CODES ON THE TUBES WILL BE REPLACED.

Federal investigations

ActionComponentOpenedClosedRecall
DP05005ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE2005-09-222006-01-04
EA05005ELECTRICAL SYSTEM2005-03-222006-08-0205V388000
EA02001STEERING2002-02-062003-05-2903V196000
PE01022SUSPENSION2001-07-022001-11-09
PE99060EQUIPMENT1999-09-272000-03-0800V073000
PE98024STEERING1998-04-211998-07-21
PE98009SUSPENSION1998-02-131998-06-30

DP05005: SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD

EA05005: ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES

EA02001: STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION

PE01022: FRONT STABILIZER LINK

PE99060: FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIO

PE98024: TIE ROD END FAILURES

PE98009: INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR

Engines and fuel economy

VersionEngineTransmissionDriveCityHwyCombinedFuel cost / yr
Expedition 2WD4.6L 8cylAutomatic 4-spdRear-Wheel Drive141815$4150
Expedition 2WD5.4L 8cylAutomatic 4-spdRear-Wheel Drive121714$4450
Expedition 4WD4.6L 8cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive121714$4450
Expedition 4WD5.4L 8cylAutomatic 4-spd4-Wheel or All-Wheel Drive111613$4800

Fuel cost is EPA's estimate at the fuel prices of its last update, not today's.

Crash test ratings (NCAP)

VariantOverallFrontalSideRollover
1997 Ford Expedition 4-DR. 4x4Not RatedNot RatedNot RatedNot Rated

Service bulletins

Ford issued 373 service bulletins listed against this model year, most often about engine and engine cooling.

A bulletin tells dealers how to fix a known condition. It is not a recall and not a defect finding. Most bulletins cover several model years at once, so one listed here may not be specific to this year. The number of bulletins tracks how long and how widely a model was sold, so it is not a measure of reliability.

DateComponentSummary
2007-10-01ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINESOME 1997-2008 VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.6L 2V, 5.4L 2V, OR 6.8L 2V ENGINE--SPARK PLUG THREAD REPAIR PROCEDURE--NOT COVERED UNDER NEW VEHICLE LIMITED WARRANTY. *NJ THIS INCLUDES F-53 MOTORHOME CHASSIS. UPDATED 2/23/10. *PE
2005-11-14ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGWDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIP - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - ENGINE MISFIRE OR ROUGH RUNNING. *TT
2005-04-01POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLYREAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *TT
2005-03-21ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPEUSE OF STAINLESS STEEL EXHAUST STUDS IN SERVICE FOR 5.4L 2V ENGINE. *TT
2005-01-01SUSPENSION:REARREAR AXLE NOISE REPAIR. *SC
2004-12-13POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)GENERAL (PCM) POWER TRAIN CONTROL MODULE PROGRAMMING PROCEDURES. *TT
2004-09-01STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLYCUSTOMER MAINTENANCE REMINDER - LITERATURE PROGRAM 04L19 - TIE ROD INSPECTION PROCEDURE. *TT
2004-08-23ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEENGINE MISFIRE OR RUNNING - COIL ON PLUG (COP) IGNITION SYSTEMS - WDS COP KIT DIAGNOSTIC TIPS. TO INCLUDE VARIOUS 2005 MODELS. * AR THIS ARTICLE 04161 SUPERSEDES TSB 03-14-04.
2004-03-22SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMAIR SUSPENSION COMPRESSOR NOISE. *TT
2004-03-22VISIBILITYPOP/THUMP NOISE AT END OF WINDOW MOVEMENT AND/OR DRIVER'S WINDOW BOUNCE BACK AND REVERSE TO MID-POSITION. *TT

How to read this page

Complaint counts are not failure rates. A model that sells more cars draws more complaints, and owners file more often after news coverage or a recall. That is why this page compares a model year only with other years of the same generation, never with other models.

Each complaint is counted once, even when it names several components; a complaint that names several systems appears under each of them. Owner reports are quoted as filed and have not been verified by NHTSA or by us.

Every model year of this Expedition, including the ones without a page of their own, is listed on the Ford Expedition model page.

Sources

  • NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation: complaints, recalls and investigations (bulk files, data as of 2026-10-28).
  • NHTSA New Car Assessment Program: crash test ratings.
  • U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov: engines, transmissions and fuel economy.

MotorAlmanac is independent and not affiliated with NHTSA, EPA or any manufacturer. This page summarises public records; it is not a mechanical inspection. Before buying a used car, check its VIN for open recalls and have it inspected.