1997 Ford Expedition Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 76about this part
- Share
- 9%of 853 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 116,500miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 76 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 9% of the 853 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 116,500 miles. 8 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I was braking and brake pedal sank to the floor. It turned out steel hydraulic brake lines had failed. I had all of them replaced in about 3/06 for a cost of $1000. I did not replace at the time the master cylinder to ABS lines. They failed on 11/23/2006 and I have retained them. If these components had failed at highway speeds it could have been potentially deadly. Note that my 1994 taurus sho had a similar failure. This vehicle has also had the transmission cooler steel lines fail and other severe undercarriage rust problems.”
NHTSA complaint #10176780, filed 2006-12, 78,000 miles“The vehicle 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. Have accident, the car roll over to another car, I can t park down hill is to dangers, is not safety .”
NHTSA complaint #10703149, filed 2015-04, 90,000 miles“The vehicle 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. Have accident, the car roll over to another car, I can t park down hill is to dangers, is tot safety .”
NHTSA complaint #10703148, filed 2015-04, 90,000 miles“The steel lines connection the transmission to a transmission cooler rusted out and failed resulting in a loss of fluid. This causes it to start slipping and almost get stuck in traffic. I had to cut out several bad sections of steel line and replace them. Note that the filler tube to replace the fluid also rusted out.”
NHTSA complaint #10176782, filed 2006-12, 84,000 miles“The rear lower trailing arms that hold the rear axle in place are made too thin and with corrosion will fail. This will cause the rear axle to move backward and break the drive shaft.”
NHTSA complaint #10425386, filed 2011-09, 134,000 milesRelated recalls
- 97V171000Oct 7, 1997Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached…Covers: Ford Expedition 1997–1998, F-150 1997–1998, F-250 1997–1998 +1 more
Related service bulletins
- 10017892Apr 1, 2005Rear axle noise repair.
- 10014086Dec 13, 2004General (pcm) power train control module programming procedures.
Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 5 | 13% |
| 2024 | 5 | 6% |
| 2023 | 11 | 17% |
| 2022 | 16 | 14% |
| 2021 | 113 | 47% |
| 2020 | 268 | 63% |
| 2019 | 224 | 43% |
| 2018 | 149 | 39% |
| 2017 | 51 | 14% |
| 2016 | 36 | 17% |
| 2015 | 29 | 18% |
| 2014 | 34 | 47% |
| 2013 | 43 | 47% |
| 2012 | 64 | 54% |
| 2011 | 21 | 30% |
| 2010 | 10 | 17% |
| 2009 | 4 | 14% |
| 2008 | 14 | 10% |
| 2007 | 27 | 13% |
| 2006 | 22 | 7% |
| 2005 | 44 | 14% |
| 2004 | 27 | 9% |
| 2003 | 50 | 8% |
| 2002 | 18 | 5% |
| 2001 | 40 | 7% |
| 2000 | 42 | 5% |
| 1999 | 67 | 7% |
| 1998 | 70 | 8% |
| 1997 | 76 | 9% |
Other parts of the 1997 Ford Expedition
138 complaintsBrakes
110 complaintsElectrical system
95 complaintsSteering
94 complaintsEngine cooling
89 complaintsVehicle speed control
79 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 30, 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