1997 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability
1,065 owner complaints sit in the federal file for the 1997 Ford Expedition, alongside 9 recall campaigns and 7 defect investigations. It scores 80/100 on the trouble index — one of the years to avoid for this model. Suspension leads the reports, typically around 132,000 miles.
Avoid this year if you can. The 1997 Ford Expedition sits at the top of this model's complaint rankings. Quieter picks in the same family: 2007–2016, 2021–2022.
Avoid
Where 1997 sits among all Expedition years
What owners report
“Right rear sway bar bushing failed, failure was noticed while towing a boat. Vehicle bounced and lost control. Swerved upon making left hand turn and hit a guardrail.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
“My 1977 ford expedition was parked in front of my house off for an hour.it then started on fire in the engine compartment and quickly engulfed the front of the car in flames destroying the car.the fire was so intense that i couldnt put it out with a fire extiguisher the fire dept had to put it out.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
“On five occasions while attempting to stop, the brakes failed to stop the vehicle.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
“While driving power steering went out. Consumer said it took all his/her strength to turn wheel. Dealer has been contacted.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
“Repair attempts on several occasions due to engine noise, however not able to be rectified. Mjs”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
“Lugs nuts fell off causing rear tire to come off of vehicle prior to recall notice.”— owner report to NHTSA, 1997 Expedition
Mileage when trouble shows up
Among the 283 reports that include an odometer reading, problems most often appear around 120,000 miles. Half of those reports fall between 95,000 and 155,067 miles — a useful range to weigh against the mileage of the exact car you're looking at.
Recalls (9)
CERTAIN MAXZONE HEADLIGHT ASSEMBLIES, DEPO BRAND, P/NOS. 331-1129L-ASN AND 331-1129R-ASN, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR THE ABOVE LISTED PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE HEADLAMPS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE…
Fix: MAXZONE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND OFFER REIMBURSEMENT FOR ANY NONCOMPLIANT HEADLIGHTS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 28, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MAXZONE AT 909-822-3288.
CERTAIN AAI MOTORSPORTS COMBINATION LAMPS SOLD AS REPLACEMENT LAMPS FOR USE ON THE ABOVE LIST PASSENGER VEHICLES. COMBINATION LAMPS NOT EQUIPPED WITH AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO.…
Fix: AAI MOTORSPORTS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 1, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT AAI MOTORSPORTS AT 909-923-9188.
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SPEED CONTROL, THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, SMOKE, OR BURN.
Fix: BY LETTER DATED SEPTEMBER 12, 2005, OWNERS WERE INSTRUCTED TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLES TO THEIR DEALERS TO HAVE THE SPEED CONTROL DEACTIVATION SWITCH DISCONNECTED. OWNERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR SPEED…
ON CERTAIN PICKUP TRUCKS AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES, IF THE INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE SEPARATES FROM THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT, THE STEERING SYSTEM BECOMES DISCONNECTED.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE STEERING INTERMEDIATE SHAFT YOKE TO DETERMINE IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED ON THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT. IF THE YOKE IS FULLY SEATED NO SERVICE IS REQUIRED. IF THE YOKE…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MINI VANS, LIGHT PICKUP TRUCKS, AND SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES. OFF LEASE CANADIAN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS WHICH MEET CANADIAN REQUIREMENTS AND NOT THE PHOTOMETRIC REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES,…
Fix: DEALERS WILL BE ADVISED TO DEACTIVATE THE RUNNING LIGHT FUNCTION AND TO COMPLETE ANY OUTSTANDING SAFETY RECALLS ON THESE VEHICLES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES. THE TRAILER HITCH ASSEMBLY TO THE FRAME ATTACHING BOLTS COULD LOSE THE CLAMP LOAD.
Fix: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE TRAILER HITCH MOUNTING BOLTS AND NUT PLATES.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MULTI-PURPOSE VEHICLES AND LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS. THE LUG NUTS ON THESE VEHICLES MAY NOT CREATE SUFFICIENT CLAMP LOAD ALLOWING WHEEL MOVEMENT IN RELATION TO THE HUB/ROTOR MOUNTING SURFACE.
Fix: OWNERS OF THESE VEHICLES WILL BE RECEIVING TWO NOTIFICATIONS. THE FIRST NOTIFICATION, WHICH BEGAN IN MAY 1998, WILL PROVIDE AN INTERIM REPAIR PROCEDURE UNTIL PARTS BECOME AVAILABLE. THIS INTERIM…
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LIGHT DUTY PICKUP TRUCKS AND MULTI-PURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLES. IF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY WAS NOT FULLY ATTACHED TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET, THE SHIFT CABLE ASSEMBLY CAN COME OUT OF THE BRACKET. THE VEHICLE…
Fix: DEALERS WILL MAKE THE PROPER ATTACHMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT CONTROL CABLE TO THE STEERING COLUMN BRACKET AND ADD A TIE STRAP TO THAT CONNECTION.
THE REAR AXLE TRACK BAR BRACKET CAN SEPARATE FROM THE FRAME DUE TO MISSING WELDS OR INADEQUATE WELD PENETRATION.
Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A TRACK BAR BRACKET REINFORCEMENT KIT AND INSPECTION OF THE AXLE TUBES. THE SUSPECT AXLE TUBES DO NOT HAVE A STAMPED DATE CODE ON THE TUBE. AXLES WITHOUT DATE CODES ON THE…
Federal defect investigations
Led to recall campaign 05V388000.
Led to recall campaign 03V196000.
Led to recall campaign 00V073000.
Technical service bulletins
373 manufacturer communications — service bulletins, the biggest share on engine and transmission & drivetrain — are on file for the 1997 Ford Expedition. A TSB is factory repair guidance, not a recall — the repair is not automatically free.
See the 1997 Expedition TSB list →
Complaint history for this model year
When owners filed their reports — a long tail means problems kept surfacing for years.
Questions buyers ask
Is the 1997 Ford Expedition reliable?
The 1997 Ford Expedition drew 1,065 complaints in federal safety records — one of the years to avoid for this model. Its trouble index is 80/100, scored against the model's worst year (2000).
What are the most common 1997 Ford Expedition problems?
The top reported problems for the 1997 Ford Expedition are suspension (146 complaints), electrical (123), and brakes & stability (119).
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Expedition problems show up?
Owners most often report 1997 Ford Expedition problems around 120,000 miles. Half of all reports that include an odometer reading fall between 95,000 and 155,067 miles.
Does the 1997 Ford Expedition have recalls?
9 recall campaigns apply to the 1997 Ford Expedition. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer.
Every number on this page is a count of records in the federal complaint, recall, and investigation files published by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. Check any specific vehicle's open recalls by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.