Lemberg Law is investigating consumer complaints about the fourth-generation 2023 Ford Expedition. The full-size, three-row SUV has a longer-than-usual wheelbase that offers “performance and space to share.” The automaker states it will suit those with an “ambition for adventure.” This is a big, powerful vehicle, and anyone buying it for outdoor adventures will be counting on its safety and reliability. However, our investigation shows that acceleration problems as well as faulty transmissions and display screens are making some consumers recoil from the very thought of venturing into the great outdoors. At the very least, these issues compromise the Expedition’s dependability in challenging conditions.
Overview
Regarding complaints to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the 2023 Ford Expedition, numbers indicate that the powertrain and electrical system present the most problems, together with the engine, vehicle speed control, and visibility. Other components and systems seen by consumers as problematic include the gasoline fuel system, lane departure, latches/locks/linkages, seats, seatbelts, steering, and the structure of the Expedition.
However, this doesn’t paint a clear picture of what problems they are experiencing. Issues consumers complain about are varied and often relate to other components and systems as well.
Our investigation dug deeper into the problems complainants are concerned about and has identified several issues that recur. These relate to the transmission, in-vehicle display system, air conditioning malfunctions, and problems with the acceleration system. We will focus on these. But first, we’re going to address the two recalls that affected the Expedition by mid-September 2024.
2023 Ford Expedition Complaint Summary
Complaint Category
Number of Complaints
Power Train
8
8
Electrical System
6
6
Unknown Or Other
4
4
Vehicle Speed Control
4
4
Engine
3
3
Suspension
3
3
Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control
1
1
Fuel System, Gasoline:storage:tank Assembly:filler Pipe And Cap
1
1
Fuel/propulsion System
1
1
Lane Departure:lane Keep:navigation System/software
1
1
Recalls
In February 2023, Ford recalled hundreds of 2023 Ford Expedition F-150 and Lincoln Navigator vehicles due to a powertrain failure. The automaker discovered that the front axle pinion may not have been heat-treated, which could cause it to fracture. The repercussions of a fractured pinion are that drivers may lose control of four-wheel drive. This, in turn, could cause the front wheels to lock up, increasing the risk of a crash.
A second recall, filed as an equipment issue, affects 691,133 Ford vehicles including the 2018-2023 Expedition. These vehicles do not have head restraint instructions in their owner manuals for 3rd-row seats. The problem is that without these instructions, the restraints may be adjusted incorrectly, which increases the risk of injury if the vehicle crashes.
Neither of these recalls pertains to the issues that are highlighted in complaints.
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Owner Experience
Powertrain, and sometimes engine complaints, highlight several issues with the transmission. Some talk about noise or rough idling while others say the transmission appears to “lock up” when going over bumps. There are also complaints that reveal shaking and vibration issues.
Some owners regard a lack of acceleration and/or power loss as an electrical problem. Other acceleration malfunctions, including spontaneous acceleration, are seen as vehicle speed control issues.
The electrical system is also blamed for faulty display screens, including faulty infotainment touchscreens. Touchscreen-related concerns are, though, also filed as a visibility issue or unknown or other problem.
Overall, many experiences are described as downright dangerous safety issues.
Transmission Complaints
An owner from Georgia complained in September 2024 that transmission and other issues had been evident since the day of purchase. The complaint states that the transmission had a “rough idle,” that made the hood, door, and steering wheel shake visibly. “This is in all temperatures. It does not matter if the car has been sitting for 3 minutes or 2 days it does this. Transmission rough shifting gears 3-4-5 between 1-2 RPMs. What is going on with the transmission? Is it going to potentially lock up on me? Any transmission issue is a safety concern.”
Vibration issues are also highlighted in a complaint made by an owner from Wisconsin in October 2023. He states that the truck veers left and right without input when going over bumps. “Transmission seems to lock up and release while going over bumps while stopping.”
A complaint from an owner in Illinois states that from the day he bought the 2023 Expedition, he hears “kicks and clunks under my feet (most likely faulty transmission). The kicks and clunks happen when I’m about to come to a stop or when starting from a stop. Sometimes when turning. It’s always when I let go of the gas or give it gas. It sounds like I’m driving a 10 year old car.”
A Texas owner suspected a transmission problem while towing a motorhome at about 62 mph. For no apparent reason, the message “Exceeded Speed Distance Conditions” was displayed. He took the vehicle to a local dealer who inspected the transmission fluid but didn’t find any sort of failure. Despite this, the dealer advised the owner to monitor any abnormal noises.
Acceleration
Complaints relating to the acceleration system include spontaneous acceleration, a lack of acceleration, and/or a total loss of power. There is also an incident where a rented Expedition’s acceleration system malfunctioned repeatedly over several days. “I would have cruise control set for 35 mph and the vehicle would automatically re-set cruise control to 55 or 65 mph. Likewise, I could have the cruise control set for 55 mph or 75 mph and it would automatically re-set the cruise control to 85 mph and even, in a couple cases, 100 mph.”
Spontaneous Acceleration
All the spontaneous acceleration complaints are filed as vehicle speed control issues. Two resulted in crashes.
An owner from North Carolina tells how while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. As a result, the SUV traveled over the side curves and then stalled. No warning lights were illuminated but all the airbags deployed. Nevertheless, the driver sustained an injury to his left arm that required medical attention.
After exiting a carwash in a well-maintained company fleet vehicle, an owner from Minnesota pulled into a parking space to replenish the carwash card. The truck accelerated unexpectedly and collided with a parking pylon. “I believe the vehicle may have accelerated on its own. Holding my foot hard on the brake, I shifted into reverse, then backed the truck up about 2 feet from the pylon, turned off the vehicle, and went outside to assess the damage.”
While parking, “I am sure I was driving less than 5 mph.” But he wasn’t sure how fast the Expedition was going when it suddenly accelerated. “When the vehicle hit the pylon it was very jarring. The impact threw my glasses off my face, flung my backpack from the passenger seat to the front passenger floor, and caused my cases of soda pop and bags of groceries in the trunk area to shift forward and to rip the paper grocery bags. My right thumb and the right side of my neck were sore that evening and I had a minor headache as well.”
Lack of Acceleration & Power Loss
“While driving the vehicle in sport mode and trying to accelerate, the pedal will go to the floor and the vehicle will stop moving for a couple of seconds,” states another complaint. “This usually happens around 20 mph and is seemingly random. No warning lights, but the vehicle will not move any faster. This has happened 3 times since we bought it.”
A woman was driving with her three children. Traveling at 30 mph on a two-lane highway, the Expedition experienced a total power loss/engine shut down without prior warning. “This is potentially a dangerous situation. The Expedition was stranded on the roadway with no engine power or electrical power.”
Digital Display Issue
The owner from Georgia, quoted above, also reported a faulty display screen.”The screen is always glitching. (It) will stay glitched for several hours where it’s showing black, or showing 10 different parts of the screen and you can’t press anything, etc… or staying locked on the backup camera. Dangerous to be driving and have your maps on and then it disappears where you cannot access it.”
An owner from Arizona tells a scary tale that resulted in her stating, “The infotainment 15-inch touchscreen is not dependable 3 out of 7 days, roughly. When turning it on, it doesn’t go on and you have to try to back up this monster without a camera. I nearly killed a small child walking in front of the mother as he wasn’t tall enough to be seen in the side mirrors or rear view. She hit the truck for me to slam on breaks. When driving on (the) highway, it suddenly blacked out and rebooted. It will always eventually reboot, if dark, upon starting (the) truck.” When she took the Expedition in for a service mentioned, she was told, “We couldn’t make the trunk replicate what you were talking about and didn’t want to wear down the battery. As for the touchscreen, it needed an update.”
While driving, a woman from South Carolina was using the 15.5 screen with the navigation system engaged. “The entire screen went black.” The complaint points out that the touchscreen controls many items including the aircon system, navigation, hands-free phone, and other safety items.
An owner from Florida lodged a complaint stating that the screen contrast and readability were poor. He was also concerned about random software updates. Additionally, the touchscreen display was difficult to maneuver due to the lack of buttons or knobs.
Experiencing This Issue? What to Do?
Do you think that your 2023 Ford Expedition may be a lemon? If some, why? If you’d like to share your concerns and find out whether or not you may have purchased a lemon, Lemberg Law will be happy to assess your problems free of charge.
We have investigated a myriad of issues and have negotiated settlement deals with manufacturers. The reason we won’t charge you is because the law says Ford must pay the legal fees of lemon law cases. We invite you to call our Helpline or fill out a contact form today.
About the Author:
Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
