2019 Ford Expedition Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe engine rattling on cold start that dealers trace to the cam phasers, and a separate group of complaints about rough or delayed transmission shifting and occasional loss of motive power. A third cluster involves seat belt pretensioners locking or deploying on their own, which several owners link to open recall campaigns. Most reports arrive between roughly 50,000 and 100,000 miles, and many describe symptoms that appear gradually and recur after repair.

1. 1
   Engine

   Cam phaser rattle on cold start

   • 208 complaints (40%)
   • median 78,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (116 state mileage)
   • 14 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,000 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a loud rattling or knocking from the engine bay in the first seconds after a cold start, sometimes with shaking or vibration that eases once the engine warms. Dealers commonly diagnose failed cam phasers or a related variable valve timing component and quote replacement; some vehicles were reprogrammed first without lasting effect, and several owners say the noise returned after repair. A number of complaints note the vehicle was not covered under the cam phaser customer satisfaction program. Reported from about 22,000 to 150,000 miles, most often between 60,000 and 95,000 miles, and typically noticed on cold starts.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Listen to the engine on a genuine cold start before the seller warms it up, and ask for service records showing whether the cam phasers were replaced or the PCM was reprogrammed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My expedition was reprogrammed when I bought it due to the Cam phaser rattle. This did not help. I was told this was normal and would not effect the engine. I had taken it in a second time to be reprogrammed an given the same information. My Ford service says fifth cylinder misfire. The car shakes and idles hard. The spark plug and parts were replaced as suggested with no change. Took it to the shop and was told I now need a new engine due to an internal failure of the engine. I called Ford and they said there is no recall on this year. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11625300, filed 2024-11, 107,884 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, an abnormal rattling sound was coming from the engine. The check engine warning light was illuminated, and DTC: P0014; was displayed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the timing chain and cam phasers had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11660897, filed 2025-05, 113,000 miles
2. 2
   Seat belts

   Seat belt pretensioner locks or fires unexpectedly

   • 112 complaints (21%)
   • median 89,500 mi at 6.8 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 31 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners report a loud pop or bang from the seat belt area followed by the belt locking tight or retracting fully so it will no longer extend, sometimes with smoke or a burned odor at the pillar. In several cases the belt deployed with no crash and no occupant, or with a passenger seated, and some owners say the air bag warning light came on. Complaints frequently note the vehicle is covered by a seat belt pretensioner recall but that parts were not yet available. Reported from roughly 55,000 to 155,000 miles, in many cases while driving at ordinary road speeds.

   Recall 24V099000Recall 25V197000Recall 26V344000

   What to check: Ask whether the seat belt pretensioner recall has been completed on both front seats and confirm the belts extend and retract freely before purchase.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the driver’s and front passenger’s side seat belts failed to operate properly. The driver’s and front passenger’s side air bags warning lights were illuminated. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 26V344000 (Seat Belts); and associated the failure with the recall. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11750937, filed 2026-07, 55,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after the vehicle was shifted into park, the seat belt was removed, and the contact heard a loud popping sound then the front driver’s side air bag inadvertently deployed. As a result of the failure, the seat belt retracted and burned the contact hand. No medical attention was required. The air bag warning light and the seat belt warning light illuminated. No medical attention was required. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11548577, filed 2023-10, 72,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Rough, delayed or harsh transmission shifts

   • 251 complaints (48%)
   • median 79,400 mi at 5.8 yrs old (72 state mileage)
   • 11 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $8,000 (median of 13 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Complaints describe harsh or delayed engagement, jerking and shuddering while shifting, hesitation when accelerating from a stop, and occasionally a vehicle that will not move out of first gear. Some owners report the transmission was rebuilt or replaced and that the condition returned; others were told a control module needed reprogramming. A few describe the vehicle dropping into a reduced-power mode or shifting into park unexpectedly while driving. Mostly reported between about 50,000 and 120,000 miles, with several owners saying the symptoms built up over months or years.

   Recall 26V4020009 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle from cold through several stops and light-throttle upshifts, and ask whether any transmission software updates or repairs have been done.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25E070000 (Power Train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the transmission was slipping while driving and shifting into gear, and an unknown warning light was flashing. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11701638, filed 2025-11, 105,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the contact's husband was driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. In addition, the transmission shifted unusually rough. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed catalyst converter. The contact was informed that the catalyst converter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the transmission was replaced in November 2025. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11746539, filed 2026-06, 105,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Loss of power or reduced-power mode

   • 145 complaints (28%)
   • median 70,700 mi at 5.5 yrs old (44 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $9,867 (median of 5 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Some owners describe the vehicle suddenly losing acceleration or dropping into a low-power mode, sometimes with warning messages and a rattling noise, at highway speeds or while pulling a hill. Dealers in several cases attributed the behavior to the cam phasers or variable valve timing, and some vehicles were repaired only to have the condition return. Others were told the engine or a timing component needed internal repair. Typically reported between about 40,000 and 140,000 miles, often at highway speeds or under load.

   What to check: Ask whether any reduced-power or limp-mode warnings have been stored, and have the vehicle scanned for pending engine codes before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ford is aware of a design defect that causes the vct system to wear out within a short amount of time in brand new expeditions. When the vct system wears out, the vehicle immediately transitions into limp mode , which causes the vehicle to immediately (unsafely) decelerate to a speed of 15mph (or less on hills), creating dangerous situations, particularly on highways and when towing. We purchased our Expedition in march 2019, brand new. We purchased the vehicle with the heavy duty tow package, which provides towing up to 9,300lbs. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376121, filed 2020-11, 28,000 miles

   “On three separate occasions, my vehicle lost the ability to accelerate. The first time I was attempting to pass slow moving farm equipment when my vehicle lost power, had a loud vibrating/rattling noise and multiple dashboard warnings flashed. Luckily, I was able to merge back into my lane and pull off the side of the road. I took the vehicle in for service and was told I needed new phasers. Once I got my vehicle back, I was still experiencing issues. Fortunately, the next two times my vehicle lost power I was driving at low speeds. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11624994, filed 2024-11, 137,973 miles

Buying note. A pre-purchase inspection focused on the engine on a true cold start and on a thorough transmission test drive is worthwhile for this model year, and it is worth confirming that the open seat belt pretensioner recalls were completed. Service records showing prior cam phaser or transmission work help show how the vehicle has been maintained.

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.