IllustrationALUMINUM LIFT GATE PAINT IS CRACKING AND PEELING SIMIAR TO ALL OTHER YEARS OF EXPEDITION. PREVIOUS AND POST YEARS CONTINUE TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE. NOT A FLUKE OR ONE OFF IN PAINT PREPARATION DEFECTS.
2011 Ford Expedition
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2011 Ford Expedition do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 155.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Expedition years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
190–25K
825–50K
950–75K
575–100K
8100–150K
9150K+
58 reports with mileage · 13 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 21 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 11 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 10 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
2 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports
What owners actually said
71 reportsON DECEMBER 12, 2017, WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WITHIN SECONDS FOLLOWING THE SURGE, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEARLY A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON 2 TIME…
Read full complaint
ON DECEMBER 12, 2017, WHILE TRAVELING AT 75 MPH ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. WITHIN SECONDS FOLLOWING THE SURGE, THE VEHICLE UNEXPECTEDLY DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL AND NEARLY A ROLL OVER ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE IN ANY GEAR. TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND ON 2 TIMES ALLOWED THE VEHICLE TO MOVE AGAIN. THE DEALER REPLACED THE CONTROL MODULE IN THE TRANSMISSION AS A RESULT. MY COST WAS $100 SINCE WE STILL HAVE AN ACTIVE WARRANTY.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF ALL FUNCTIONALITY EXCEPT THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD…
Read full complaint
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE CONTACT LOST CONTROL OF ALL FUNCTIONALITY EXCEPT THE BRAKES. THE CONTACT STOPPED THE VEHICLE, KEPT THE ENGINE RUNNING, AND WAITED A FEW SECONDS BEFORE ATTEMPTING TO DRIVE HOME. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (650 AUTOMALL DR, ROSEVILLE, CA 95661, (888) 656-7577) AND THEY REFEREED THE CONTACT TO THE MANUFACTURER. THE MANUFACTURER REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA TO FILE A COMPLAINT. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 152,204. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 78MPH, THE REAR TIRES ON OUR 2011 EXPEDITION SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, SKIDDING THE TIRES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL SHE HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING OR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE TIRES RELEASED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STEE…
Read full complaint
WHILE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL SET AT 78MPH, THE REAR TIRES ON OUR 2011 EXPEDITION SUDDENLY LOCKED UP, SKIDDING THE TIRES AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE TO FISHTAIL SHE HAD NO CONTROL OF STEERING OR ACCELERATION. WHEN THE VEHICLE REACHED APPROXIMATELY 35MPH THE TIRES RELEASED AND SHE WAS ABLE TO STEER INTO THE MEDIAN. AT THIS POINT, SHE COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE. THERE WAS A PICTURE OF A WRENCH ON THE DASHBOARD. WHEN SHE WAS COMPLETELY STOPPED, SHE PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK AND SAT FOR A FEW MINUTES. SHE THEN ATTEMPTED TO PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT SHE HAD NO POWER. THE VEHICLE WAS RUNNING, BUT SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE IN DRIVE OR REVERSE. SHE HAD TO CALL FOR A TOW TRUCK. AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED HOME, I GOT IN IT AND STARTED IT, THEN NOTICED THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT ON. I TURNED THAT LIGHT OFF ON THE DASHBOARD, AND WAS ABLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM. I DROVE IT TO A FORD DEALER, AND ALL THE MECHANIC COULD FIND WAS THAT THE REAR STRUTS WERE WORN OUT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT OUR VEHICLE DID NOT THROW ANY HARD CODE, ONLY A SOFT CODE. HE SAID WE ARE BASICALLY DRIVING COMPUTERS NOW WITH ALL THE TECHNOLOGY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY INFORMED ME THAT THERE IS NO RECALL ON OUR VEHICLE, ONLY THE 2012 MODEL THAT HAS THE SAME ISSUE. AFTER TALKING WITH TWO DIFFERENT PEOPLE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY, I WAS TOLD SORRY, IT IS NOT UNDER RECALL AND THERE IS NOTHING WE CAN DO. UPON INVESTIGATING FURTHER, WE FOUND OUT MY WIFE'S EXPEDITION WAS MANUFACTURED AT THE SAME PLANT IN KENTUCKY, MADE IN THE SAME YEAR AS THE RECALLED VEHICLES BUT 4 MONTHS EARLIER, AND HAS THE SAME TRANSMISSION (6R80) AS THE RECALLED 2012 EXPEDITIONS THAT STARTED PRODUCTION IN AUGUST OF 2011. HOPE NHTSB CAN INVESTIGATE BECAUSE WE CAN'T GET ANYWHERE WITH FORD.
I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON HWY 290 WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE WHEELS TOTALLY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO START SLIDING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP. IT TURNED OUT THAT A COMPUTER MODULE REGULATING SHIFTING HAD GONE BAD. THIS ALSO CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND NEED REPLACIN…
Read full complaint
I WAS DRIVING 70MPH ON HWY 290 WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO FIRST GEAR AND THEN THE WHEELS TOTALLY LOCKED UP. THIS CAUSED ME TO START SLIDING SIDEWAYS DOWN THE ROAD UNTIL I CAME TO A STOP. IT TURNED OUT THAT A COMPUTER MODULE REGULATING SHIFTING HAD GONE BAD. THIS ALSO CAUSED MY TRANSMISSION TO GO OUT AND NEED REPLACING.
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT TWICE (FROM 6TH GEAR TO I THINK 3RD THEN 1ST GEAR) AND THE RPMS RED LINED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION POWER AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT GET ANY…
Read full complaint
I WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MPH WITH CRUISE CONTROL ON WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFT TWICE (FROM 6TH GEAR TO I THINK 3RD THEN 1ST GEAR) AND THE RPMS RED LINED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO JERK AND SLOW DOWN RAPIDLY. I LOST ALL ACCELERATION POWER AND WAS BARELY ABLE TO MAKE IT TO THE SHOULDER OF THE HIGHWAY. I COULD NOT GET ANY ACCELERATION IN ANY GEAR ONCE I WAS PULLED OVER. I TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON AND IT WORK LIKE NOTHING EVER HAPPENED.
I WAS DRIVING 70 MPH ON THE HIGHWAY ON A STRAIGHT AWAY WHEN MY CAR SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED TO 2ND GEAR, THEN IMMEDIATELY TO 1ST GEAR AND THEN THE WHEELS LOCKED UP
TIMING CHAIN NEEDS REPLACED AGAIN AFTER HAVING IT REPLACED 18 MONTHS AGO
ON 8/21/17, THE LATCHING BACK WINDOW OF OUR 2011 FORD EXPEDITION BLEW OUT WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS PARKING ON A PRIVATE LOT. WE DID NOT HIT ANYTHING, AND THE GLASS BLEW OUT, NOT IN. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS IN THE PATH OF THE FLYING GLASS. FORD REFUSES TO REIMBURSE US FOR ITS REPLACEMENT.
THE PAINT FINISH ON THE REAR LIFTGATE HAS SEVERAL "BUBBLING" AREAS AND HAS STARTED TO FLAKE OFF IN SEVERAL AREAS. THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THIS AREA NOR HAS IT BEEN REPAINTED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO …
Read full complaint
THE PAINT FINISH ON THE REAR LIFTGATE HAS SEVERAL "BUBBLING" AREAS AND HAS STARTED TO FLAKE OFF IN SEVERAL AREAS. THIS ISSUE WAS FIRST NOTICED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS LESS THAN 5 YEARS OLD. THERE HAS NEVER BEEN ANY PHYSICAL DAMAGE TO THIS AREA NOR HAS IT BEEN REPAINTED. I HAVE RESEARCHED ONLINE AND DISCOVERED THAT THIS WAS DUE TO A CONTAMINANT AT THE PAINT FACILITY FOR THESE VEHICLES AT THE TIME, IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR THESE MODEL YEARS, AND THAT FORD REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY OR ISSUE A RECALL TO HAVE THIS ISSUE REPAIRED. WHEN I CONTACTED FORD ABOUT THE ISSUE, THEY RECOMMENDED I SUBMIT A COMPLAINT WITH YOUR AGENCY.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1RQ17010 · Unexpected Transmission Downshift
Opened Dec 25, 2017 · Closed Oct 22, 2019
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Power Train:automatic Transmission; Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of transmissions unexpectedly downshifting to a lower gear without input from the driver on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. ODI has received 455 unique reports related to the alleged problem that were not covered under a previous recall for this issue (16V-248).Expedition and Navigator complaint rates are lower than F-150 complaints. Of those 455 reports, 34.7% claimed that the rear wheels locked up when the transmission downshifted. There were 4 accident claims with no injuries. There are many instances where drivers report leaving their lane or the road because of this issue.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter, Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 783 unique reports related to the alleged problem. There were 6 accident claims with 3 injuries. Ford also submitted 1206 warranty claims related to transmission downshifting failures. The failure can occur at any time, but typically at higher speed, and include symptoms such as sudden transmission downshifting, loss of speedometer, erratic shifting of transmission, and transmission stuck in one gear. The failures typically occur without warning and may result in the rear wheels momentarily locking up. The driver often had to fully stop the vehicle and restart it to get the vehicle to shift properly.On February 2nd, 2019 Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (19V-075) to remedy transmission downshifting failures on all 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles. Ford will also offer extended warranties to 2011-2013 Expedition and Navigator vehicles with the same issue. Per Ford, some vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of Transmission Output Speed Sensor (OSS) signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary unintended downshift into first gear. Ford will reprogram the PCM with software that will prevent an unintended downshift into first gear and illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Light in the event of an intermittent OSS signal loss.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer appears to address the safety risks of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers found in the attached list.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Power Train:automatic Transmission:control Module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of transmissions unexpectedly downshifting to a lower gear without input from the driver on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. ODI has received 455 unique reports related to the alleged problem that were not covered under a previous recall for this issue (16V-248).Expedition and Navigator complaint rates are lower than F-150 complaints. Of those 455 reports, 34.7% claimed that the rear wheels locked up when the transmission downshifted. There were 4 accident claims with no injuries. There are many instances where drivers report leaving their lane or the road because of this issue.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter, Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 783 unique reports related to the alleged problem. There were 6 accident claims with 3 injuries. Ford also submitted 1206 warranty claims related to transmission downshifting failures. The failure can occur at any time, but typically at higher speed, and include symptoms such as sudden transmission downshifting, loss of speedometer, erratic shifting of transmission, and transmission stuck in one gear. The failures typically occur without warning and may result in the rear wheels momentarily locking up. The driver often had to fully stop the vehicle and restart it to get the vehicle to shift properly.On February 2nd, 2019 Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (19V-075) to remedy transmission downshifting failures on all 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles. Ford will also offer extended warranties to 2011-2013 Expedition and Navigator vehicles with the same issue. Per Ford, some vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of Transmission Output Speed Sensor (OSS) signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary unintended downshift into first gear. Ford will reprogram the PCM with software that will prevent an unintended downshift into first gear and illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Light in the event of an intermittent OSS signal loss.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer appears to address the safety risks of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers found in the attached list.
Power Train:automatic Transmission
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of transmissions unexpectedly downshifting to a lower gear without input from the driver on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles. ODI has received 455 unique reports related to the alleged problem that were not covered under a previous recall for this issue (16V-248).Expedition and Navigator complaint rates are lower than F-150 complaints. Of those 455 reports, 34.7% claimed that the rear wheels locked up when the transmission downshifted. There were 4 accident claims with no injuries. There are many instances where drivers report leaving their lane or the road because of this issue.In response to ODI's Information Request (IR) letter, Ford Motor Company (Ford) responded with 783 unique reports related to the alleged problem. There were 6 accident claims with 3 injuries. Ford also submitted 1206 warranty claims related to transmission downshifting failures. The failure can occur at any time, but typically at higher speed, and include symptoms such as sudden transmission downshifting, loss of speedometer, erratic shifting of transmission, and transmission stuck in one gear. The failures typically occur without warning and may result in the rear wheels momentarily locking up. The driver often had to fully stop the vehicle and restart it to get the vehicle to shift properly.On February 2nd, 2019 Ford notified ODI that it would conduct a safety recall (19V-075) to remedy transmission downshifting failures on all 2011-2013 F-150 vehicles. Ford will also offer extended warranties to 2011-2013 Expedition and Navigator vehicles with the same issue. Per Ford, some vehicles may experience an intermittent loss of Transmission Output Speed Sensor (OSS) signal to the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), potentially resulting in a temporary unintended downshift into first gear. Ford will reprogram the PCM with software that will prevent an unintended downshift into first gear and illuminate the Malfunction Indicator Light in the event of an intermittent OSS signal loss.The recall action initiated by the manufacturer appears to address the safety risks of concern to ODI.Accordingly, the investigation is closed.The ODI reports cited above can be reviewed at www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/owners/SearchNHTSAID under the identification (ODI) numbers found in the attached list.