2004 Ford Expedition Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 27about this part
- Share
- 9%of 297 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 34,500miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2004 Ford Expedition, 9% of the 297 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 34,500 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“I noticed that my SUV was starting to ride a little rough. A month later it started to ride a whole lot rougher. I saw that my tires on the front end were wearing on the inside tread. Then the whole front end started to shake while driving. I took it to a gateway and they to ld me that it was my two front lower ball joints on the SUV were bad and needed replacing. I don't understand why the truck was riding so smooth and all of a sudden the lower ball joints go bad.”
NHTSA complaint #10579338, filed 2014-04, 13,000 miles“July 25, 2005 my 2004 Ford Expedition automatic transmission lever failed. It will not move past the reverse setting, yet it will go into park. The transmission functions properly as far as I know. I am to take into dealership tommorrow. My mileage is about 13,500.”
NHTSA complaint #10130519, filed 2005-07, 13,350 miles“I dropped my kids off at school then headed for work taking the freeway. Traffic began to build so I had slowed down to about 20 miles per hour (mpr), when I tried to accelerate the vehicle would only reach 30 miles per hour. I was in the far right lane so I took the next exit off the freeway. I put it in park then tried to drive again but it still would not go pass 30 mpr or go in reverse so I called road side assistance and had it towed to the nearest dealership. There was no noise or any indication that something was wrong. …”
NHTSA complaint #10121796, filed 2005-05, 17,000 miles“2004 Expedition xlt 2wd. Trying to find out more about (technical service bulletin) dealing with the rear end/differential problem. I also mentioned that just recently there is a gurgling sound coming from the exhaust. Sounds like it wants to backfire or like there is water in the system. I was told by the art hill dealership that has to do with the differential and that they can not fix the exhaust until I get the differential fixed. Every other dealership I talk to gives me the run around and say it's my problem. We've had mustangs in the past and this is our second Expedition. …”
NHTSA complaint #10200661, filed 2007-08, 31,000 miles“When the vehicle is placed in park , the gear shift position lever will move to the p position, but the gear shift position indicator stops at n or r . The car will turn off and the keys can be removed as normal. This has happened many times over the past two months. The vehicle is at the dealer now for the second attempt at repairing this situation.”
NHTSA complaint #10151773, filed 2006-03, 15,500 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10214754Jun 21, 2022Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may…
- 10028736May 1, 2009Ford: some vehicles may exhibit oil separation from the internal lube found in the unitized cartridge seal. Oil separation appears to be and is often misdiagnosed, as an axle…
- 10014100Jan 1, 2006Limited slip axle chatter, shudder, binding sensation, or vibration during low speed turning maneuvers.
- 10018069Sep 1, 2005A tiny crack, or cracks, around the transfer case drain plug hole.
- 10014668May 1, 2005Axle seal leaks.
- 10017892Apr 1, 2005Rear axle noise repair.
- 10014659Mar 1, 2005Axle whine howl. This includes 1997-05 ford vehicles.
- 10012977Feb 1, 2005Tiny crack or cracks around the transfer case drain plug.
- 10012959Feb 1, 2005Axle whine howl service with individual parts instead of an axle assembly.
- 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 | 269 | 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 2004 Ford Expedition
46 complaintsBrakes
43 complaintsElectrical system
36 complaintsEngine
29 complaintsEngine cooling
26 complaintsTires
26 complaintsBody and structure
24 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsVehicle speed control
21 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
15 complaintsSteering
14 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 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