2021 Ford Expedition: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 214 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, engine, and wipers and visibility. The 10 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2021- Owner complaints
- 214
- Recalls
- 12
- 1 urgent
- Crashes reported
- 3
- 5 injuries
One recall on this model year told owners to park outside until the repair was done.
Do not buy until you have dealer paperwork or a recall lookup showing it was completed for this VIN.
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/10 checked
2021 Ford Expedition: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/4
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/2
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/3
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/1
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Expedition is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2021 Ford Expedition. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 19 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Expedition that averages well under the EPA 19 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Harsh or skipped transmission shifts
31,000–43,000 miles
Sudden fuel pump failure
43,000–95,000 miles
Transmission failure, CDF drum
67,000–94,000 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2021 Ford Expedition, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission942 crashes
The 10-speed automatic slams into gear, skips gears, or drops out of gear and lets the engine rev without moving the car, often at highway speed or while merging. Hard engagement into reverse is common. Dealers often trace the problem to a failed CDF drum, and owners mention service bulletins. Rough shifting shows up around 31,000 to 43,000 miles, and full transmission replacement is reported between 67,000 and 94,000. Valve body work and software updates do not always hold. Two reports involve crashes and two involve injuries, and many owners describe near misses in traffic.
Engine25No crashes
Most reports here are not failures. They come from owners who were notified of an engine-area recall but could not get the repair because parts were unavailable, sometimes for long stretches. One owner was told to park outside and away from structures until the repair was done. One filing describes a fire that started in the engine area while the vehicle sat parked with the engine off. Other reports cover a coolant leak near the thermostat housing and corrosion on the intake manifold, which one owner blames on rainwater draining from the base of the windshield.
Catalytic converters fail and the check engine light comes on. Some owners also notice jerking, an unusual odor, or violent shaking and stalling at highway speed. Repairs often do not hold. One owner had a converter replaced twice before both sides were swapped, and another had the fuel injectors replaced before the problem returned. One failure came at about 18,000 miles, and that repair stalled because parts were unavailable.
Wipers and visibility20No crashes
Most filings here are about recall repairs that dealers could not perform because parts were not available. They are often listed alongside the engine-area recall. One dealer would not do the repair until the failure had actually happened. Real failures include a sunroof that shattered at highway speed and an unexplained noise from the moonroof. Another report describes washer fluid leaking into the front floorboards and leaving a bad odor and mold. Dealers often could not find a cause.
Wipers slow down and stop in rain or snow, sometimes stuck upright or mid-stroke, and leave the driver with little forward view. Wiper arms also loosen, jerk, or pop off the motor, and in one case an arm came off entirely. Several owners link this to a wiper recall but describe parts shortages. Some dealers refused to do the work until the wipers had already failed.
Electrical19No crashes
The engine shuts off at red lights or in traffic, sometimes with a message to shift to Park and restart. Some owners lose all power or cannot restart for several minutes. Two reports involve fire, including one under the hood that totaled the vehicle. Other complaints cover no-starts, battery drain warnings, a burned fuse box, and backup or 360-degree cameras that go black or freeze the screen. The hands-free liftgate can open on its own, and one owner suffered a concussion from it. Power running boards may also move by themselves.
Fuel system10No crashes
The fuel pump fails with no warning and the engine dies, often at highway speed or in a live traffic lane. Owners report failures at 43,000 and 70,000 miles with no symptoms beforehand. One notes that the transmission will not shift to neutral with the engine off, so the vehicle cannot be moved out of traffic. A separate complaint describes a failing catalytic converter with weak acceleration and heavy fuel use.
The vehicle shakes, loses power, or stalls and then will not restart. Dealers and mechanics find a failed fuel pump. Some cases turn on the check engine light, while one loss of power at 70 mph came with no warning at all. One repair replaced the fuel pump control unit along with the pump. Reported failures fall around 74,000 to 95,000 miles, matching the sudden pump failures filed under the fuel and propulsion category.
Body and structure6No crashes
Parts come loose at speed, including a piece of the luggage rack, a rear quarter panel, and a tail lamp with broken mounting tabs. Door latches freeze in cold weather so the doors will not close, even after a dealer repair. The rear hatch can open while parked or driving, and a power-folding second-row seat may fold on its own. The one injury in this group is a cut thumb from the sharp edge of the center console trim.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Expedition owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
The 10r80 transmission went out in it after 80k miles. It would get "stuck" in gears and not want to shift. The lack of shifting would cause the vehicle to stall while driving. Ford was able to reproduce the issue and the transmission is getting replaced by Ford through our extended warranty company. There was a clunking noise when driving prior to the transmission having shifting issues. No, there were not any warning lights when this was happening.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2026
Transmission has completely failed at 68,000 miles and 4 years old. Ford is willing to cover cost of the tramission with a “partial good faith” agreement but the dealership who provides the service is charging $5,656 to put in new transmission. This is a widely known transmission problem with safety issues with multiple service bulletins. They are passing the issue onto the consumer instead of recalling. Shameful.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
Issues started after the under the hood fire recall. When driving the vehicle the car will shut down and throw all lights on the dash. This vehicle has been in the shop for repairs, but not fixed. This is a safety issue due to the fact the the vehicle will shut down while driving leaving you stranded when it happens.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2022
The Engine is shutting off completely. I am getting the message "Shift to P. the Restart Engine" This happened as the light changed to green. Heavy morning work traffic was behind me and I had never seen this before and called Ford Service manager and he had no answer. This is very dangerous especially during traffic.
Filed with NHTSA, October 2024
How the 2021 compares with other Expedition years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2021 ranks fourth for owner complaints among 9 Expedition years, close to the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission9473
- Engine2525
- Wipers and visibility203
- Electrical1912
- Fuel system101
- Body and structure64
Where the 2021 fits in the Expedition's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2021 is the fourth model year of the Expedition's fourth generation (2018–2024).
Recalls to confirm (12)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
22V346000EnginePark outsideMay 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.
Risk: A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed May 25, 2022. Owners will receive a second letter once the remedy is available. Currently the remedy is available for vehicles equipped with heavy-duty radiator fan motors, and those letters were mailed July 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S36.
26V402000TransmissionJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
26V368000Body and structureJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
26V344000Seat beltsMay 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
26V204000Wipers and visibilityMar 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.
Risk: Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S24.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1, 2026.
25V729000Wipers and visibilityOct 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.
25V442000Backup cameraJun 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Risk: A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
25V048000Backup cameraJan 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.
Risk: Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S05.
24V852000EquipmentNov 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection.".
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
23V420000EquipmentJun 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints.".
Risk: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.
22V250000Wipers and visibilityApr 2022
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.
21V805000AirbagsOct 2021
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection.".
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.
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2021 owner complaints, side by side
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