2004 Ford Expedition Steering Problems
- Complaints
- 14about this part
- Share
- 5%of 297 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 42,159miles
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 14 complaints about the steering of the 2004 Ford Expedition, 5% of the 297 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 42,159 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved, 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.
“2004 Ford Expedition, eddie bauer edition, while driving on hwy at 65-70 MPH,steering wheel locked, causing vehicle to enter another lane and bump another vehicle. Driver used all his might to unlock steering wheel, which then made a popping noise before releasing and car spun twice before landing in ditch. By the grace of god, there were no injuries. Now we are afraid to drive the car, because we don't know if it will happen again. Car has been driven for almost 1.5 years and has almost 42,000 miles. …”
NHTSA complaint #10155252, filed 2006-04, 41,323 miles“I noticed excessive steering wheel vibration between speeds of 70 m ph-75 MPH. I bought this 2004 Expedition brand new on 1/13/05 and noticed the problem the very next day. I took it back to dealer and I was told that the cause had to do with too much air pressure in the tires. They went ahead and set the tire pressure to 35psi. A week later, the problem came back and once more I took it back to the dealer and they said that it still had too much air pressure in the tires and that the wheels needed to be balanced. …”
NHTSA complaint #10110212, filed 2005-02, 100 miles“2002 Ford Expedition with 42,159 miles. 8/27/04 vehicle taken into Ford dealership for oil change , brake inspection and tire rotation. Service tech noted front tires a little chopped , rotation should take care of this. 8/30/04 called facility where I buy my tires and have my vehicles alignment performed to ask if this could be a alignment issue. After visual inspection of the tire wear they felt that alignment was needed. 9/2/04 recieved a letter from Ford containing updated inspected proccedures for the Expedition and other Ford vehicles titled tie-rod inspection procedure. …”
NHTSA complaint #10090862, filed 2004-09, 42,159 miles“While driving at any speed steering vibrates violently. Dealer states the steering rod malfunctioned. All 4 wheels were balanced, however steering wheel is still vibrating and noisy. Blue smoke from exhaust. No problem found. All windows slow to go down and squeaks. No problem found. Abnormal starting. Engine fan noisy. Dealer found normal operation. Clanking noise in steering column. Lower steering shaft was replaced.”
NHTSA complaint #10109325, filed 2005-03, 65,000 miles“On a 2004 Ford Expedition, when making a hard right or left turn, steering wheel tends to stick in hard turn, such that it becomes dangerous as steering gets stuck and driver has to wrench wheel back to avoid causing an accident. Ford dealer says that this is a anormal vehicle reaction. In my estimation this is dangerous and Ford needs to recall 2003/2004 expeditions to fix problem withthe power steering.”
NHTSA complaint #10059003, filed 2004-02, 660 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10017888Apr 1, 2005Steering wheel at 65 mph (105 km/h) or higher.
- 10011173Dec 31, 2004Steering column clunk, pop or creak. *ar update.
Steering: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 4 | 36% |
| 2025 | 7 | 18% |
| 2024 | 4 | 5% |
| 2023 | 2 | 3% |
| 2022 | 4 | 3% |
| 2021 | 2 | 1% |
| 2020 | 4 | 1% |
| 2019 | 5 | 1% |
| 2018 | 4 | 1% |
| 2017 | 11 | 3% |
| 2016 | 5 | 2% |
| 2015 | 2 | 1% |
| 2013 | 1 | 1% |
| 2011 | 1 | 1% |
| 2010 | 1 | 2% |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 5 | 2% |
| 2006 | 14 | 5% |
| 2005 | 10 | 3% |
| 2004 | 14 | 5% |
| 2003 | 20 | 3% |
| 2002 | 4 | 1% |
| 2001 | 8 | 1% |
| 2000 | 30 | 3% |
| 1999 | 32 | 3% |
| 1998 | 52 | 6% |
| 1997 | 94 | 11% |
Other parts of the 2004 Ford Expedition
46 complaintsBrakes
43 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
27 complaintsEngine cooling
26 complaintsTires
26 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsOther or unknown
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2004 Ford Expedition
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 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