The 1997 Ford Expedition has 5 recalls, the most serious being a rear axle track bar bracket that can separate from the frame, allowing the rear axle to shift sideways until the tires grind against the frame or wheelhouse, sharply reducing handling.
A related suspension recall covers the same track bar bracket failure along with a rear lower control arm bracket that can also separate from the frame, though in that case the vehicle can still be steered to a stop. On the structural side, the trailer hitch attachment bolts can lose their clamping force over time, and if the looseness goes unnoticed, the hitch can detach from the vehicle entirely. Two lower-severity recalls round out the list: one involves a maintenance guide update asking owners to periodically inspect the steering tie-rod ends, and the other is a compliance issue where the VIN plate on the instrument panel carries an incorrect character, though only the plate itself is affected and no mechanical components are involved.