2004 Ford EXPEDITION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
296 owner complaints analyzed
0 distinct recall campaigns
76,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 model year. Data snapshot: . 228 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 31 of 296 complaints (10.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 67 | 22.6% |
| Steering behavior | 23 | 7.8% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 21 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 20 | 6.8% |
| Transmission and shifting | 17 | 5.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 16 | 5.4% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 31 |
| Electrical System | 30 |
| Engine | 29 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 |
| Tires | 17 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 16 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 15 |
| Structure:Body | 14 |
Air Bags: 31; Electrical System: 30; Engine: 29; Fuel/Propulsion System: 19; Tires: 17; Vehicle Speed Control: 16; Service Brakes, Hydraulic: 15; Structure:Body: 14
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 55 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 33 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 23 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 36 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 50 |
| 150,000 and above | 31 |
Under 25,000: 55; 25,000 to 49,999: 33; 50,000 to 74,999: 23; 75,000 to 99,999: 36; 100,000 to 149,999: 50; 150,000 and above: 31
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (55). 68 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 52 |
| 2005 | 31 |
| 2006 | 20 |
| 2007 | 10 |
| 2008 | 15 |
| 2009 | 16 |
| 2010 | 23 |
| 2011 | 21 |
| 2012 | 14 |
| 2013 | 16 |
| 2014 | 14 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 13 |
| 2017 | 13 |
| 2018 | 7 |
| 2019 | 5 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2004: 52; 2005: 31; 2006: 20; 2007: 10; 2008: 15; 2009: 16; 2010: 23; 2011: 21; 2012: 14; 2013: 16; 2014: 14; 2015: 12; 2016: 13; 2017: 13; 2018: 7; 2019: 5; 2020: 5; 2021: 2; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 67 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 23 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 21 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10054526 · 2004-01-20 (January 20, 2004)
MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION IS 31 DAYS OLD AND HAS EXCESSIVE BRAKE WEAR, WHICH I CONSIDER A SAFETY ISSUE. THE BRAKE DUST, IN LESS THAN TWO THOUSAND MILES, IS CAKED ON THE FRONT WHEELS AND EXTENDS THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE RUNNING BOARDS ON EACH SIDE. THE AMOUNT OF BRAKE DUST COVERING THE WHEELS AND RUNNING BOARDS INDICATES EXCESSIVE WEAR OF THE BRAKE PADS. I AM GREATLY CONCERNED THAT THE BRAKES WILL FAIL PREMATURELY. FORD MOTOR COMPANY DOES NOT CONSIDER THIS AN ISSUE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10054526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10054577 · 2004-01-21 (January 21, 2004)
MASSIVE BRAKE DUST ACCUMULATION. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. 2,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10054577 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055105 · 2004-01-28 (January 28, 2004)
[29 DAY'S NEW] 2004 FORD EXPEDITION 4X4 EDDIE B.- I STARTED THE CAR AND ATTEMPTED TO BACK UP OUT OF A PARKING SPACE. I NOTICED THE STEERING WAS STIFF AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS HEAVY. I THEN NOTICED ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS WERE ON. THE CAR HAD ROLLED BACK OUT OF AN INCLINED PARKING SPOT, SO I TRIED TO PUT THE CAR IN DRIVE AND PLACE IT BACK IN ITS PREVIOUS SPOT. I COULD PUT THE VEHICLE IN DRIVE, BUT IT WOULDN'T MOVE FORWARD; I CYCLED FROM PARK TO DRIVE A COUPLE OF TIMES TO BE SURE IT WAS PROPERLY IN DRIVE. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING FINE THE WHOLE TIME …
Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055105 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10059003 · 2004-02-25 (February 25, 2004)
ON A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, WHEN MAKING A HARD RIGHT OR LEFT TURN, STEERING WHEEL TENDS TO STICK IN HARD TURN, SUCH THAT IT BECOMES DANGEROUS AS STEERING GETS STUCK AND DRIVER HAS TO WRENCH WHEEL BACK TO AVOID CAUSING AN ACCIDENT. *AK FORD DEALER SAYS THAT THIS IS A ANORMAL VEHICLE REACTION. IN MY ESTIMATION THIS IS DANGEROUS AND FORD NEEDS TO RECALL 2003/2004 EXPEDITIONS TO FIX PROBLEM WITHTHE POWER STEERING.
Owner-reported narrative. 660 miles reported. Look up ODI 10059003 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063980 · 2004-03-26 (March 26, 2004)
I HAVE BEEN HAVING A PROBLEM WITH MY NEW EXPEDITION EVERY ONCE IN AWHILE IT DOES NOT WANT TO START ON THE FIRST TRY,IT DRAGS LIKE SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THE BATTERY.I HAVE TAKEN IT TO FORD 3 TIMES AND THEY HAVE NOT FOUND ANYTHING WRONG AT ALL WITH THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM NOR MY BATTERY.I HAVE NOT HAD MY TRUCK NOT EVEN 4 MONTHS NOW.IT IS BRAND NEW AND IT IS FRUSTRATING WHEN YOU GET IN YOUR TRUCK AND IT ACTS LIKE IT DOES NOT WANT TO START, AND NO ONE CAN FIND THE PROBLEM.I NEED SOMETHING OR SOMEONE TO FIND OUT THE PRBLEM BECAUSE WHEN I TA…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10063980 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10074952 · 2004-06-07 (June 7, 2004)
IN FEBRUARY 2004, WE PURCHASED AN EXPEDTION FROM WORLD FORD IN STONE MOUNTAIN, GEORGIA. THE VEHICLE HAS 8100 MILES TO DATE. ON JUNE 6, 2004, AT APPROXIMATE 3:00 PM, MY CHILDREN AND I WERE ENROUTE TO A BIRTHDAY PARTY AND A TIRE (REAR RIGHT) BLEW OUT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FREEWAY DURING MAJOR TRAFFIC AND HAD TO TRAVEL LESS THAN 1/2 MILE TO GET OVER AND OFF. I CALLED MY HUSBAND WHO CAME TO PICK THE CHILDREN AND ME UP. ON MONDAY, JUNE 7, WE WENT TO WORLD FORD TO TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THE MATTER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE TIRES THAT CAME STAND…
Owner-reported narrative. 8,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10074952 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10079801 · 2004-06-24 (June 24, 2004)
INTERMITTENTLY WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS PUT INTO DRIVE, IT STALLED. ALSO, AIR BAG WARNING AND TIRE PRESSURE LIGHTS CAME ON. DEALERSHIP PROVIDED NO ASSISTANCE.*AK
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10079801 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10405488 · 2011-06-07 (June 7, 2011)
ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, A SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. ONE TIME, AT CITY SPEEDS, A SECOND TIME AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH TIMES, THERE WAS AN INSTANT LOSS OF POWER AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE ORIGINAL FAILURE, I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLY. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE SECOND INCIDENT AS IT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 110,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10405488 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10055856 · 2004-02-26 (February 26, 2004)
WHEN COMING OFF A RAMP AND MERGING INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE ACCELERATOR BECAME STUCK. THE DRIVER HAD TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES AND PLACE THE TRANSMISSION INTO NEUTRAL. AT 1,470 MILES WHILE PULLING INTO THE DRIVEWAY THE TRUCK SUDDENLY STOPPED ACCELERATING AND WOULD ONLY GO IN REVERSE. THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION PISTON HAD DISINTEGRATED. *JB *SC
Owner-reported narrative. 1,100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10055856 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10063783 · 2004-03-24 (March 24, 2004)
THE VEHICLE TRANSMISSION WAS IN THE PARK POSITION WHILE WAITING ON A SLOW TRAIN. WHEN ENGAGING THE TRANSMISSION INTO THE DRIVE POSITION, AFTER THE TRAIN HAD PASSED, THE VEHICLE UNCONTROLLABLY FULLY ACCELERATED ON IT'S OWN. TO AVOID A SERIOUSLY COLLISION WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC, THE DRIVER TURNED THE VEHICLE ON TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS WHERE IT CAME TO A STOP AFTER DAMAGING TWO WHEELS AND HIGH CENTERING ON THE TRACKS. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS VEHICLE. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 1,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 10063783 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10164361 · 2006-08-03 (August 3, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED A PIECE OF TIRE RUBBER LYING IN THE ROAD PUNCTURED A HOLE IN THE FUEL TANK. THE PLASTIC FUEL TANK WAS LOCATED UNDERNEATH THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SEAT. THERE WAS NO COVER TO PROTECT DEBRIS FROM HITTING THE TANK. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOTIFIED. THE PLASTIC TANK HANGS BELOW THE FRAME ABOUT 3 TO 4 INCHES. UPDATED 08/25/06. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10164361 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10276469 · 2009-07-12 (July 12, 2009)
DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION DOWN THE HIGHWAY WHEN WE HERD A LOAD POP COMING FROM THE ENGINE, PULLED OVER THOUGHT IT WAS A BLOWN HEAD GASKET. PULLED OF THE HIGHWAY AND LOOKED AT IT AGAIN TURNS OUT THAT THE ENGINE SPIT OUT THE SPARK PLUG AND SHREDDED THE RUBBER BOOT ON THE COIL PACK. THIS A PEARS TO BE A SAFETY ISSUE , IF IT WENT ANY FARTHER UP IT COULD HAVE HIT AND RUPTURED THE FUEL RAIL AND IGNITED.THE GOOD THING IS THAT I HAVE ENGINE KNOWLEDGE AND KNEW TO DISCONNECT THE COIL PACK AND THE INJECTOR FOR THAT CYLINDER. I WAS 56 MILES AWAY FROM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10276469 at NHTSA ↗