NHTSA (USA)Medium Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 13 recalls, 194 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Expedition.
19 mpg combined
12.4 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The dominant complaint pattern for the 2021 Ford Expedition centers on the 10-speed automatic transmission. Owners frequently report the transmission getting stuck in gear, refusing to shift, or shuddering and lurching between gears, particularly around the 5th-to-6th gear range. Several describe the vehicle stalling or losing forward motion while driving, sometimes requiring a tow and ultimately a full transmission replacement. Clunking noises before or during shifting show up across multiple reports as an early warning sign. Engine complaints make up the second-largest group, though at roughly half the volume of powertrain reports; owners describe grinding or rattling sounds from the engine compartment, often occurring during gear changes. Electrical system complaints are reported at a lower rate and cover a scattered range of symptoms. The transmission concern stands out as the clearest pattern here, with many owners reporting that the problem reproduces under normal driving conditions and requires dealer intervention to diagnose.
194
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
4
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Ford Expedition has 13 recalls, the most serious being a fire risk in the engine compartment that can occur while driving or even with the vehicle shut off.
On the occupant safety side, the seat belt pretensioner in the driver or front passenger seat can inadvertently lock the belt so it neither extends nor retracts, reducing restraint effectiveness in a crash. Side impact sensors on certain vehicles may have been damaged during assembly, meaning the side airbags can fail to deploy when needed. The airbag warning label may also be missing from the dashboard, and some owner's manuals lack instructions for adjusting third-row head restraints.
Visibility is a recurring theme: windshield wiper arms can break or detach entirely, leaving the driver without wipers in wet conditions and creating a hazard for following traffic. The rearview camera on certain vehicles can display a blank or distorted image when backing up. The moonroof wind deflector may not be properly secured and can come loose at speed, becoming a road hazard.
Two lower-severity issues round out the list: the chrome plating on the center console can bubble and peel, leaving sharp edges that occupants may contact, and the owner's manual omits instructions for adjusting certain head restraints.
At a glance
What can fail
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
The chrome plating on the center console can bubble and peel, creating sharp edges.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the center console at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner may lock the seat belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper arms may have been incorrectly manufactured, causing them to break or detach. When this happens, the wipers cannot clean the windshield properly.
What the fix does
Ford will mail owners with recall details. The repair procedure is being developed and will be provided when ready.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The clips holding the moonroof wind deflector to the moonroof frame may not be secure enough, allowing the deflector to detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The moonroof wind deflector may not be securely attached and could detach from the vehicle.
What the fix does
A dealer will inspect the moonroof wind deflector and repair it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera may show a blank or distorted image instead of a clear view of the area behind the vehicle.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the rearview camera at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual lacks instructions for adjusting or removing head restraints in certain seating positions, making these vehicles non-compliant with federal head restraint safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will mail free owner's manual addendums with instructions for adjusting and removing center-position head restraints.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A fire may start in the engine compartment while driving or when parked, even if the ignition is off. This is caused by an issue with the battery junction box and a ground wire.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box if needed, and remove a ground wire. Some models will also receive an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs are free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper arms can break, causing the windshield wipers to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front-door side impact pressure sensors may have been damaged during assembly, preventing the side impact airbags from deploying properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
