Exterior Lighting:headlights
NHTSA campaign 06E067000 · 2006 · reported 08/01/2006
DECREASED LIGHTING VISIBILITY MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
1997 Ford Expedition Problems & Recalls
Built from official NHTSA complaint and recall data · data through 07/12/2026
Typical complaint levelIts most-reported problem — Electrical System — is about in line with the fleet median for that category across the 2547 model-years tracked on this site.
853Complaints
9Recalls
52Crashes
74Fires
48Injured
11Deaths
Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint & recall data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Is this problem acknowledged?
The most-reported problem — Electrical System (5.9% of complaints) — was examined in a now-closed NHTSA investigation that closed with a recall campaign (05V388000).
3 of the 6 most-reported categories on this page are backed by a recall or open investigation; the other 3 rest on owner reports alone.
| Complaint category | Reports | Official status | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical System | 50 · 5.9% | Investigation closed | EA05005 → recall 05V388000 · EA05005 → recall 06V286000 · EA05005 → recall 07V078000 · EA05005 → recall 07V336000 · EA05005 → recall 07V347000 · EA05005 → recall 07V488000 · EA05005 → recall 08V025000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip | 46 · 5.4% | No official action | — |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 45 · 5.3% | Recalled | Recall 05V388000 |
| Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs | 31 · 3.6% | Recalled | Recall 98V095000 |
| Suspension:rear | 29 · 3.4% | Recalled | Recall 96V252000 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:engine | 29 · 3.4% | Investigation closed | DP05005 |
Recalled = an NHTSA safety recall covers this category, so a free repair exists. Under investigation = NHTSA has an open probe but no recall yet. Investigation closed = NHTSA examined it and closed the probe — this is not a defect finding; where a closed probe led to a recall we name the campaign. Not available = recall or investigation data could not be confirmed for this vehicle — it is not a “no”. Categories are matched by NHTSA's top-level component. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Complaints by component
Percentages are the share of the 853 complaints citing each component; one complaint can cite several components. “Unspecified / other” is NHTSA’s own catch-all category — we show it rather than hide it.
Recalls — 9 campaigns
Vehicle Speed Control
NHTSA campaign 05V388000 · 2005 · reported 09/07/2005
A FIRE AT THE SWITCH COULD OCCUR. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 00V168000 · 2000 · reported 06/19/2000
THE LIGHT GIVEN OFF FROM THE DAYTIME RUNNING LIGHTS IS BRIGHTER THAN ALLOWED BY U.S. STANDARDS. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 06E060000 · 2006 · reported 06/29/2006
LACK OF AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS IN THE LAMPS WILL DECREASE LIGHTING VISIBILITY TO OTHER DRIVERS AND MAY POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Trailer Hitches
NHTSA campaign 00V073000 · 2000 · reported 03/07/2000
THE TRAILER HITCH COULD THEN SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Steering:gear Box:shaft Sector
NHTSA campaign 03V196000 · 2003 · reported 05/27/2003
THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Suspension:rear
NHTSA campaign 96V252000 · 1996 · reported 12/18/1996
IF BOTH BRACKETS SEPARATE, THE REAR AXLE CAN MOVE LATERALLY UNTIL THE TIRES CONTACT EITHER THE FRAME OR THE WHEELHOUSE RESULTING IN EITHER TIRE DAMAGE OR A SIGNIFICANT REDUCTION IN VEHICLE HANDLING PERFORMANCE. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs
NHTSA campaign 98V095000 · 1998 · reported 05/13/1998
THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOOSENING OF LUG NUTS, STUD FATIGUE FAILURE, AND THE POTENTIAL FOR A WHEEL SEPARATION FROM THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Power Train:automatic Transmission:gear Position Indication (prndl)
NHTSA campaign 97V171000 · 1997 · reported 10/07/1997
THE CONDITION WOULD NOT ALLOW A DISENGAGEMENT OF THE TRANSMISSION FROM THE PARK POSITION OR AFFECT PROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION. UNINTENDED VEHICLE MOVEMENT COULD OCCUR IF THE PARKING BRAKE WAS NOT SET. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
PARK-IT: NO · PARK-OUTSIDE: NO · OVER-THE-AIR FIX: NO
Park it Park outside Specimen badges — shown on a recall card only when NHTSA sets the flag. None of the campaigns above carries either flag. Always check your own vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What owners report
“ELECTRICAL FAILURES CAUSED VEHICLE TO STALL IN TRAFFIC MANY TIMES.”NHTSA complaint 521643 — filed 09/03/1997 · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.
Complaint trend by year filed
Frequently asked questions
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Expedition?
Electrical system issues are the most-reported category, cited in 50 of 853 NHTSA complaints (5.9%), followed by service brakes, hydraulic:antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (46), vehicle speed control (45), wheels:lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (31). Complaints are unverified owner reports.
How many complaints does the 1997 Ford Expedition have?
853 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Of those, 52 involved a crash, 74 involved a fire, and 48 reported injuries. 11 deaths were reported.
Does the 1997 Ford Expedition have any recalls?
Yes — 9 NHTSA safety recall campaigns, including campaign 06E067000. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Has NHTSA acted on the 1997 Ford Expedition's reported problems?
3 of the 6 most-reported complaint categories on this page are backed by an NHTSA safety recall or open investigation; the rest are unverified owner reports. A recall means a free repair is available at authorized dealers.
Is a complaint proof of a defect?
No. Complaints are reports submitted by consumers to NHTSA. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints, and a complaint is not proof that a defect exists.
About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.
