RecallMyCar

1997 Ford Expedition Recalls, Complaints & Specs

7 safety recalls list the 1997 Ford Expedition, and owners have filed 853 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

7
safety recalls
853
owner complaints to NHTSA
52 / 74
complaints citing a crash / fire
13–15
MPG combined (EPA)

7 safety recalls for the 1997 Ford Expedition

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 05V388000 Reported 4,500,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.

    Remedy: By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are…

  2. Shaft sector (steering)

    NHTSA 03V196000 Reported 171,446 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated…

  3. Exterior lighting

    NHTSA 00V168000 Reported 20,637 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: MINI vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into…

    Remedy: Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.

  4. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 00V073000 Reported 565,800 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.

  5. Lugs/nuts/bolts/studs (wheels)

    NHTSA 98V095000 Reported 1,520,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.

    Remedy: Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be…

  6. Gear position indication (prndl) (power train)

    NHTSA 97V171000 Reported 866,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive…

    Remedy: Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.

  7. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 96V252000 Reported 25,000 vehicles potentially affected FORD MOTOR COMPANY

    The rear axle track bar bracket can separate from the frame due to missing welds or inadequate weld penetration.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a track bar bracket reinforcement kit and inspection of the axle tubes. The suspect axle tubes do not have a stamped date code on the tube. Axles without date codes on the tubes will be replaced.

853 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 1997 Ford Expedition have filed 853 complaints with NHTSA; 52 describe a crash and 74 describe a fire. Reports cite 48 injuries and 11 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 124,149 miles. Complaints peaked in 2001 with 123 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 35 MPH, the steering wheel became loosened while making a left turn. The contact stated that the "Check Suspension" and "Check”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, May 29, 2024 · Visibility

“Vehicle will speed up or slow down in certain times for certain speeds without notice smell of smok and looked hurt wiring”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, March 24, 2022 · Electrical system

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 1997 Ford Expedition (Expedition 2WD, Expedition 4WD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined13–15 mpg
City / Highway11–14 / 16–18
FuelRegular
EPA classSpecial Purpose Vehicles
Engine8 cyl, 4.6/5.4 L
TransmissionAutomatic 4-spd

Compare Ford Expedition model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Expedition model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1991 Ford Expedition01
1993 Ford Expedition01
1994 Ford Expedition04
1995 Ford Expedition01
1996 Ford Expedition03
1997 Ford Expedition7853
1998 Ford Expedition5836
1999 Ford Expedition5946
2000 Ford Expedition7890
2001 Ford Expedition6578
2002 Ford Expedition2340
2003 Ford Expedition1615
2004 Ford Expedition0296
2005 Ford Expedition0315
2006 Ford Expedition2299
2007 Ford Expedition2215
2008 Ford Expedition3146
2009 Ford Expedition128
2010 Ford Expedition058
2011 Ford Expedition071
2012 Ford Expedition3118
2013 Ford Expedition092
2014 Ford Expedition072
2015 Ford Expedition3164
2016 Ford Expedition3217
2017 Ford Expedition4357
2018 Ford Expedition14377
2019 Ford Expedition11509
2020 Ford Expedition18420
2021 Ford Expedition12236
2022 Ford Expedition12113
2023 Ford Expedition865
2024 Ford Expedition777
2025 Ford Expedition636
2026 Ford Expedition210
2027 Ford Expedition20

Checking a specific 1997 Ford Expedition

How do I know if my 1997 Ford Expedition has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1997 Ford Expedition; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V073000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.