2017 Ford Expedition Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2017 Ford Expedition most often describe brake pedal problems, rearview camera failures and HVAC blower motor trouble, with many complaints noting that recall repairs were unavailable or did not resolve the symptom. Many reports arrive at higher mileage, though camera and blower complaints also appear on lower-mileage vehicles.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   A/C blower motor fails, burning smell

   • 66 complaints (18%)
   • median 91,500 mi at 6.7 yrs old (35 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $802 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report the air conditioning or blower stopping, a burning or melted-plastic odor in the cabin, and on some occasions smoke or a small fire under the passenger-side dash. Dealers commonly diagnosed a failed blower motor, melted wiring harness or resistor plug; several owners said the blower failed again after a recall repair. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 170,000 miles, though some vehicles were under 55,000 miles.

   Recall 22V648000

   What to check: Run the fan at every speed and listen for noise or vibration, and check under the passenger-side dash for discolored or melted connectors; ask whether the blower motor recall has been performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Problem occurred when vehicle was in motion and stopped. A/c blower motor stopped working after 2.5-3 years. When going to check, area was extremely hot to the touch. Took to dealer and they replaced the blower motor. Seems to me that this shouldn't occur on such a young vehicle (under 55k). Could have started a fire. Additionally, the rear A/C unit over the 3rd row seat went bad. Total cost to repair $1300.”

   NHTSA complaint #11311413, filed 2020-02, 56,320 miles

   “While driving out of parking lot during a very warm day (100 degrees), A/C blower was on high as normal: 1. A/C blower suddenly stopped working. 2. A smell of something burning became evident inside car 3. Suddenly smoke started coming out of passenger side defroster and A/C vent 4. After passenger exited vehicle, I went to look under passenger glove compartment and discovered a small fire under dash. Tried to douse flames with water bottles, but with no effect. 5. Opened glove compartment box and flames came out of opening immediately. 6. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11474960, filed 2022-07, 70,000 miles
2. 2
   Brakes

   Brake pedal goes to the floor, low brake fluid

   • 72 complaints (20%)
   • median 92,969 mi at 6.0 yrs old (34 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking to the floorboard, extended stopping distances and a "Low Brake Fluid" or brake warning message. Several were told the brake master cylinder was leaking fluid into the brake booster, and some had the master cylinder, booster or a sensor replaced; others reported that adding fluid only temporarily restored the pedal. Mostly reported between roughly 45,000 and 130,000 miles, with a few reports above 150,000 miles.

   Recall 25V236000Recall 22V1500001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Check the brake fluid level and ask for service records showing master cylinder or booster work; a service bulletin notes an updated pressure-bleeding procedure for the brake system.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the low brake fluid message flashed on the instrument panel. As the contact attempted to depress the brake pedal, the pedal depressed to the floorboard. Due to the failure, the contact applied the parking brake and pulled off to the shoulder. As traffic cleared, the contact pulled into the parking lot of his employment where the vehicle parked. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11520887, filed 2023-05, 123,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11671514, filed 2025-07, 130,700 miles
3. 3
   Back-over prevention (rear camera)

   Rearview camera blank or distorted

   • 30 complaints (8%)
   • median 94,000 mi at 8.4 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • filed 2021–2026

   Complaints describe the rearview image going blank, distorted or showing lines while in reverse, sometimes with a "Camera Unavailable" message. Owners often mention that they received notice of a camera recall but that parts were not available, so the vehicle went unrepaired for months. Reported from about 42,000 to 160,000 miles, appearing across the mileage range rather than at a specific point.

   Recall 25V5720001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Put the vehicle in reverse and confirm the camera image is clear and steady; ask whether the rearview camera recall work has been completed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition EL. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was intermittently distorted or inoperable while the vehicle was in reverse(R). The dealer was contacted, and a recall repair appointment was scheduled. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11717766, filed 2026-02, 109,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The rear-view camera image failed to function properly, and the screen was blank. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11719152, filed 2026-02, 80,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Throttle body failure, loss of power

   • 52 complaints (15%)
   • median 53,000 mi at 3.0 yrs old (23 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Complaints describe sudden loss of acceleration or the throttle closing to idle without warning, sometimes limiting the vehicle to very low speed. Dealers identified a failed throttle body and replaced it, and some owners noted their vehicle was not covered by an extended program for the part. Typically reported between about 55,000 and 65,000 miles.

   What to check: Ask whether the throttle body has been replaced, and note any hesitation or sudden loss of power during a test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving to a scheduled appointment with our local Ford dealership for another issue which needed correcting when all of a sudden the vehicle would not accelerate. The cars engine was still running but no acceleration. I managed to get off the road, without being hit, and continued to the dealership. I let them know what had happened but they blamed the incident on a bad battery and I thought the issue was fixed. This is where the issue becomes catastrophic in my opinion. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11389992, filed 2021-01, 55,000 miles

   “While driving the 2017 Expedition el on a local street, the engine suffered an extreme reduction in power and limited speed to only 5 MPH. After taking the vehicle into the dealer, it was determined the it was a failure of the throttle body.”

   NHTSA complaint #11363288, filed 2020-10, 59,000 miles
5. 5
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission downshifts and harsh shifting

   • 43 complaints (12%)
   • median 83,000 mi at 4.5 yrs old (19 state mileage)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2017–2026

   Owners describe the transmission unexpectedly downshifting at highway speed, causing a sudden slowdown, and shuddering while accelerating. In several cases dealers diagnosed a faulty transmission lead frame and replaced it. Mostly reported between about 65,000 and 170,000 miles.

   What to check: Test drive at highway speed and watch for abrupt downshifts or shuddering; ask for transmission service records, including any lead frame replacement.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while shifted in reverse, the back-over prevention screen was black or distorted. The message Rear Camera Image Display Not Available was displayed. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was shuddering abnormally. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V572000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11693368, filed 2025-10, 95,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while accelerating the vehicle from a stop to approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle will shudder. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that when the vehicle was parked it would begin to leak coolant. The contact said that the leaking had increased and was visibly pooling under the vehicle. The contact stated that additionally, the steering had begun to jerk to the left or right with no driver input. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11479569, filed 2022-08, 100,000 miles

Buying note. Have a pre-purchase inspection pay particular attention to the brakes, rearview camera and blower motor, and confirm which of the related recalls have actually been completed, since owners frequently report delays or repeat failures after repair.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.