1997 Ford Expedition Brakes Problems
- Complaints
- 110about this part
- Share
- 13%of 853 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 100,000miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 110 complaints about the brakes of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 13% of the 853 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 100,000 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“While coming to a stop and the intersection of longstreet and highway 82. I pressed on the brake peddle and the brakes locked up and I sled through the intersection into a ditch. I was traveling the speed limit of 50 MPH. The passenger air bag deployed but the drivers did not deploy. I have a broken nose from hitting steering wheel. Seat belts were on front seat driver and passenger.”
NHTSA complaint #11383877, filed 2020-12, 3 miles“My brakes started squiking, and that went on for about a week and then it became hard for me to stop. So now I have a lot of squiking and I have to stop way before I am suppose to. I bought some brake pads that did not fix the problem.”
NHTSA complaint #10281669, filed 2009-08, 165 miles“Abs brakes: brakes on '97 Ford expidition often failed due to malfunctioning ABS brakes. Pedal becomes jerky and will not go down. Clunking noise from front. Does not happen consistantly. I have to approach very cautiously to avoid collosions. Every other owner I have talked to has same complaint, yet Ford has no knowledge of it. Front breaks have been redone, still happens. Has done it since new.”
NHTSA complaint #10066282, filed 2004-04, 15,000 miles“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.”
NHTSA complaint #10383317, filed 2011-02, 133,000 miles“While driving on a expressway traveling at 55mph, my wife felt a thumping and heard noise coming from under the truck. When I looked underneath, I noticed 2 holes punched through the backing plate of the rear brakes on the drivers side. I pulled the wheel and the rotor off and the parking brake shoes and hardware fell out onto the ground. After talking to a Ford dealership I learned that this is a common problem with expeditions. I researched it on line and found other reports of the same issue including some instances of wheels locking up. This could cause serious accidents. …”
NHTSA complaint #10439189, filed 2011-12, 145,000 milesBrakes: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 18% |
| 2025 | 6 | 16% |
| 2024 | 9 | 11% |
| 2023 | 5 | 8% |
| 2022 | 9 | 8% |
| 2021 | 6 | 2% |
| 2020 | 10 | 2% |
| 2019 | 8 | 2% |
| 2018 | 15 | 4% |
| 2017 | 75 | 21% |
| 2016 | 48 | 22% |
| 2015 | 9 | 5% |
| 2014 | 2 | 3% |
| 2013 | 4 | 4% |
| 2012 | 6 | 5% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 3 | 5% |
| 2009 | 4 | 14% |
| 2008 | 33 | 23% |
| 2007 | 29 | 13% |
| 2006 | 17 | 6% |
| 2005 | 16 | 5% |
| 2004 | 43 | 14% |
| 2003 | 87 | 14% |
| 2002 | 22 | 6% |
| 2001 | 24 | 4% |
| 2000 | 33 | 4% |
| 1999 | 36 | 4% |
| 1998 | 57 | 7% |
| 1997 | 110 | 13% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Expedition
138 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsSteering
94 complaintsEngine cooling
89 complaintsVehicle speed control
79 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
76 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
44 complaintsWheels
41 complaintsBody and structure
38 complaintsTires
36 complaintsAir bags
26 complaintsLatches, locks and linkages
26 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Expedition
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 31, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology