2012 Ford EXPEDITION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
118 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
82,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 85 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 62 of 118 complaints (52.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Transmission and shifting | 46 | 39.0% |
| Braking behavior | 12 | 10.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 1.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 62 |
| Electrical System | 20 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 18 |
| Structure:Body | 15 |
| Engine | 12 |
| Unknown Or Other | 9 |
| Service Brakes | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 4 |
Power Train: 62; Electrical System: 20; Vehicle Speed Control: 18; Structure:Body: 15; Engine: 12; Unknown Or Other: 9; Service Brakes: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 4
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 14 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 17 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 15 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 21 |
| 150,000 and above | 12 |
Under 25,000: 14; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 17; 75,000 to 99,999: 15; 100,000 to 149,999: 21; 150,000 and above: 12
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (21). 33 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 3 |
| 2013 | 4 |
| 2014 | 7 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 16 |
| 2017 | 15 |
| 2018 | 21 |
| 2019 | 7 |
| 2020 | 5 |
| 2021 | 10 |
| 2022 | 5 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 3 |
| 2025 | 9 |
| 2026 | 4 |
2012: 3; 2013: 4; 2014: 7; 2015: 5; 2016: 16; 2017: 15; 2018: 21; 2019: 7; 2020: 5; 2021: 10; 2022: 5; 2023: 4; 2024: 3; 2025: 9; 2026: 4
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Transmission and shifting appears in 46 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 12 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 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 10862973 · 2016-05-04 (May 4, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATLEY 40 MPH, THE SPEEDOMETER AND FUEL GAUGE READINGS FLUCTUATED AND THE TRANSMISSION JERKED VIOLENTLY. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V190000 (EXTERIOR LIGHTING, POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE RECURRED ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASSIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE TRANSMISSION OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 63,000. UPDATED 06/29/16*LJ *CN
Owner-reported narrative. 63,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10862973 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10874480 · 2016-06-15 (June 15, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DOWNSHIFTED INTO FIRST AND SECOND GEAR INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V248000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10874480 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10487785 · 2012-12-09 (December 9, 2012)
STOPPED AT 0MPH. WITNESS IN CAR BEHIND. FOOT ON BRAKE. TOUCHED ACCELERATOR NORMALLY. HEARD NOISE. CAR TOOK OFF AT HIGH SPEED. HIT WALL APPROX TWENTY FEET AWAY. BOTH FRONT AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. NO ONE IN PASSENGER SEAT. SEAT BELT ON, PER DRIVER, WITNESS WHO HELPED DRIVER THRU WINDOW, AND EXAMINATION OF SEAT BELT BY INSPECTOR. HOWEVER EDR READ SEAT BELT AS NOT ENGAGED. BRAKE READ AS NOT ENGAGED, HOWEVER EDR ALSO READ VEHICLE AT 0MPH. ACCELERATOR 0% AT 3.5 SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT, INITIAL ACCELERATION 23% THREE SECONDS PRIOR TO IMPACT, 99% 1.…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,581 miles reported. Look up ODI 10487785 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10549904 · 2013-10-28 (October 28, 2013)
ON MANY OCCASIONS FROM AROUND MAY OR JUNE OF 2013, WHEN THE CAR IS ACCELERATING FROM FIRST TO SECOND GEAR IT "JUMPS". IT FEELS AS IF SOMEONE HAS HIT THE BACK OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP 3 TIMES. EACH TIME THEY HAVE UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND SUPPOSEDLY SOLVED THE PROBLEM. AFTER EACH RETURN OF THE VEHICLE THE PROBLEM HAD ONLY GOTTEN WORSE. THE SECOND TIME AFTER BEING "FIXED" BY THE DEALERSHIP THE VERY NEXT DAY SOMEONE ALMOST REAR ENDED THE VEHICLE BECAUSE THE "JUMP" WAS SO IMPACTFUL THAT I SUDDENLY APPLIED MY …
Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10549904 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10894022 · 2016-08-08 (August 8, 2016)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED MORE THAN ONCE. THE CONTACT HAD TO QUICKLY COAST THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND WAS ABLE TO RESTART THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO REPLICATE AND DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND INFORMED THE CONTACT TO TAKE THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10894022 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10927102 · 2016-11-20 (November 20, 2016)
WHILE DRIVING MY 2012 EXPEDITION 45 - 60 MPH, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED WITHOUT WARNING AND STALLED MORE THAN ONCE AND JERKED REPEATEDLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR THE SAME OCCURENCE LISTED ON THE RECALL NOTIFICATION. THE DEALER CLAIMS THEY "FIXED" THE PROBLEM BY INSTALLING THE NEW SOFTWARE AGAIN. THE ISSUE OCCURED AGAIN WHILE DRIVING HOME WITH MY FAMILY IN THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY WHERE THE ACCELERATION DROPPED DOWN TO FIRST AND THE REAR TIRE LOCKED UP. WE ALL THOUGHT WE WERE ABOUT TO DIE WITH THE TRAFFIC COMING BE…
Owner-reported narrative. 64,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10927102 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11064338 · 2018-01-23 (January 23, 2018)
CUSTOMER COMPLAINED OF THE VEHICLE STALLING. TESTING FOUND AN ELECTRICAL ISSUE WITH THE FUEL SUPPLY AND DELIVERY SYSTEM. REMOVAL AND INSPECTION OF THE FUEL PUMP FOUND THE INTERNAL POWER WIRE TO THE PUMP RUBBED THROUGH ON THE PRESSURE REGULATOR GROUND SPADE CAUSING A SHORT CIRCUIT INSIDE THE FUEL TANK - THIS SHORT CIRCUIT BLOWS FUSE 44 IN THE UNDERHOOD FUSE BOX, CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO STALL WITHOUT WARNING, MELTED THE SAFETY GROUND WIRE BETWEEN THE FUEL PUMP AND PRESSURE REGULATOR, AND HAS A HIGH CHANCE OF CAUSING A FIRE INSIDE THE GAS TANK. T…
Owner-reported narrative. 89,335 miles reported. Look up ODI 11064338 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11395196 · 2021-02-08 (February 8, 2021)
RANDOMLY DROPS INTO FIRST GEAR WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT GO OUT OF FIRST GEAR AFTER THAT UNLESS DISCONNECTING BATTERY AND RESETTING EVERYTHING. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT OR ANYTHING. THIS CANNOT HAPPEN WITH THREE KIDS IN THE CAR. WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED AT 70MPH ON THE HIGHWAY? OCCURRED 2/3/21 AND 2/8/21.
Owner-reported narrative. 111,895 miles reported. Look up ODI 11395196 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11150402 · 2018-11-09 (November 9, 2018)
MY TRANSMISSION SHIFTS DOWN IN SITUATIONS IT SHOULDN'T. IT ALSO DOESN'T MATTER HOW FAST I AM GOING. THIS CREATES AN ISSUE WITH STEERING. I TRIED TO HAVE IT FIXED BUT THEY COULDN'T FIGURE OUT WHAT WAS WRONG AND IT DOESN'T DO IT ALL THE TIME SO I COULDN'T RECREATE THE PROBLEM FOR THEM. THE PROBLEM ALWAYS HAPPENS WHEN I AM TRAVELING AT HIGH SPEEDS (60-80) AND USUALLY WHEN I HAVE BEEN GOING UP AND DOWN MOUNTAINS IN MY AREA. IT HAPPENED VERY FREQUENTLY WHEN I USED CRUISE CONTROL IN THE PAST AND I START GOING DOWNHILL. I STOPPED USING CRUISE CONTRO…
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11150402 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11352439 · 2020-09-01 (September 1, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE DOWNSHIFTED AND JERKED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION MALFUNCTIONED CAUSING THE GEARS TO SEIZE WITH THE RPMS INCREASING. ADDITIONALLY, THE SPEEDOMETER FAILED TO OPERATE AS DESIGNED. ON ANOTHER OCCASION WHILE DRIVING, THE REAR WHEELS LOCKED UP CAUSING THE DRIVER TO LOSE CONTROL OF THE STEERING AND DROVE OFF OF THE ROADWAY. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURES WERE NOT DETERMINED. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT …
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11352439 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10515039 · 2013-06-04 (June 4, 2013)
A STRONG GAS SMELL/FUMES HAS FILLED THE PASSENGER CABIN ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS WHILE UNDERWAY AND CANNOT DETERMINE WHY (NOT NEAR GAS STATION, NOT RECENT REFUELING, JUST REGULAR HIGHWAY DRIVING). SAW TODAY (6/4/13) THERE WAS A RECALL FOR MANY FORD MODELS FOR THE GAS SMELL/FUMES, BUT DID NOT INCLUDE EXPEDITION MODELS. LAST DATE OCCURRENCE OF THIS INCIDENT WAS 6/2/13. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 20,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10515039 at NHTSA ↗