2017 Ford Expedition El
Common Problems
Ranked from 119 federal NHTSA complaints. Every problem links to the complaint IDs behind it.
14 Common Problems
Ordered by how often owners reported each one to NHTSA. The bar shows how common a problem is relative to the most-reported on this vehicle. Expand any problem to see the federal complaint IDs.
- 1
Recall Issues with Climate Control Blower Motor
36complaintsHigh severityElectricalIssues with the climate control blower motor persist despite multiple recalls and repairs, leading to intermittent operation failures.
$250–$550est. blower motor replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 2
Low Brake Fluid Warning
25complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake fluid level drops, triggering a warning light and potentially leading to brake failure.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 3
Brake Master Cylinder Failure
22complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake master cylinder leaks fluid into the brake booster, causing brake failure and loss of braking power.
$350–$800est. brake master cylinder replacement · 1.5–3 hrs laborGet local quotes - 4
Blower Motor Failure
19complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe blower motor intermittently fails to operate, leading to no air flow through the vents.
$250–$550est. blower motor replacement · 1–2.5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 5
Throttle Body Issues
15complaintsHigh severityEngineThe throttle body malfunctions, causing the vehicle to enter limp mode or lose power.
- 6
Throttle Body Malfunction
13complaintsMedium severityFuel systemThe throttle body malfunctions, causing sudden loss of power and acceleration, and the appearance of the wrench symbol on the dashboard.
- 7
Transmission Randomly Downshifting to First Gear
8complaintsMedium severityTransmissionTransmission unexpectedly downshifts to first gear at various speeds, causing abrupt deceleration.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 8
Brake system failures leading to total brake loss
6complaintsHigh severityBrakesThe brake system suddenly fails, causing the brake pedal to go to the floor and the car to lose braking ability.
$150–$1,000est. brake system diagnosis + repair · 1–4 hrs laborGet local quotes - 9
Engine stalling and random acceleration issues
6complaintsMedium severityEngineThe engine randomly stalls and loses power, then accelerates to idle without warning.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 10
Defroster Failure
5complaintsMedium severityElectricalThe defroster fails to operate, leaving the windows fogged and obstructing visibility.
- 11
Transmission Malfunction
5complaintsMedium severityTransmissionThe transmission malfunctions, causing the vehicle to stall or fail to accelerate properly.
$200–$2,500est. drivetrain diagnosis + repair · 1–8 hrs laborGet local quotes - 12
Swollen Lug Nuts
4complaintsLow severityOtherThe lug nuts swell and become difficult to remove, requiring special tools or professional assistance.
- 13
Vehicle Speed Control Issues Leading to Loss of Power
2complaintsMedium severityOtherVehicle loses all acceleration power and speedometer malfunctions, potentially leading to loss of control.
$150–$1,200est. stalling / shutdown diagnosis + repair · 1–5 hrs laborGet local quotes - 14
Wheel Lug Nut Issues
2complaintsLow severityOtherThe factory Ford lug nuts swell and detach, making them difficult to remove or tighten, posing a safety risk during a flat tire situation.
Other years & sources
Data source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) owner complaints and recalls. Problems are clustered and ranked from the complaint record; occurrence counts reflect corroborating complaints, not total incidence. Vehicle image is illustrative. Repair-cost figures are typical U.S. independent-shop ranges (parts + labor) for the class of repair shown — actual quotes vary by region, engine, and diagnosis; always confirm with a local shop.