1997 Ford Expedition Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 11about this part
- Share
- 1%of 853 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 193,000miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 11 complaints about the engine of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 1% of the 853 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 193,000 miles. 2 a fire, according to the filers.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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 was in motion at the time of the problem on the highway”
NHTSA complaint #11365980, filed 2020-10, 225,000 miles“I currently own a 1997 Ford Expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !st time was cylinder #4 then #5, then today 2-3-2014 I met with #3 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10562933, filed 2014-02, 238,340 miles“Spark plug blow out. On my trip from va to pa spark plug blew out while on i95 in delaware a snowstorm about to start and I got stranded. No part store has any answers, auto repair shops want to change $300+ dollars to fix. There is a repair kit that cannot be bought in any auto part store only online. My truck is yet in pa can't afford having it towed back to va.. Had to get a rental to come back home. Ford needs to do the right thing here.”
NHTSA complaint #10690362, filed 2015-02, 193,000 miles“Started vehicle and immediately heard loud noise under hood. Found spark plug had blown out of head. Vehicle was stationary at time, but had been driven without problem just a couple of hours earlier.”
NHTSA complaint #10966207, filed 2017-03, 221,613 miles“I currently own a 1997 Ford Expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !st time was cylinder #3 then #7, then on 3-6-2014 it was #8 then on 03/14/14 #2 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! …”
NHTSA complaint #10607148, filed 2014-06Engine: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 3 | 8% |
| 2024 | 5 | 6% |
| 2023 | 6 | 9% |
| 2022 | 11 | 9% |
| 2021 | 57 | 24% |
| 2020 | 51 | 12% |
| 2019 | 108 | 21% |
| 2018 | 100 | 26% |
| 2017 | 38 | 11% |
| 2016 | 37 | 17% |
| 2015 | 31 | 19% |
| 2014 | 10 | 14% |
| 2013 | 10 | 11% |
| 2012 | 12 | 10% |
| 2011 | 11 | 15% |
| 2010 | 4 | 7% |
| 2009 | 2 | 7% |
| 2008 | 5 | 3% |
| 2007 | 21 | 10% |
| 2006 | 87 | 29% |
| 2005 | 57 | 18% |
| 2004 | 29 | 10% |
| 2003 | 44 | 7% |
| 2002 | 27 | 8% |
| 2001 | 15 | 3% |
| 2000 | 28 | 3% |
| 1999 | 26 | 3% |
| 1998 | 16 | 2% |
| 1997 | 11 | 1% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Expedition
138 complaintsBrakes
110 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 complaints
← All problems reported for the 1997 Ford Expedition
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 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