MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ford Expedition years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2020 and 2021 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ford Expedition Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2020 vs model median 2.2×
Model median3× median
Drivetrain 115
Engine 32
Electrical 20
Avoid

2020 · 2021

Best

2013 · 2014

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.32× 34 A
2011
0.29× 36 A
2012
0.40× 45 B
2013
0.26× 36 A
2014
0.19× 17 A
2015
1.00× 87 C
2016
1.00× 105 C
2017
1.16× 112 C
2018
1.06× 124 C
2019
1.18× 148 C
2020
2.22× 267 F
2021
1.64× 214 D
2022 P
1.25× 167 D
2023 P
0.95× 93 C
2024 P
0.96× 112 C
2025 P
0.54× 51 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2020 F 267 reports · median 45,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 115

    The contact owns a 2020 ford expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 70 MPH, the gear shifter suddenly dropped, the RPM revved up, and there was a thumping noise and a shift system malfunction… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 32

    At least 5 different times while driving I go to push the accelerator and the gear seems to slip and an awful sound like gears grinding is heard. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 20

    The car electric 120v 150watt connector is failing to hold into any plug into the socket thus falling or pulling halfway out and creating a dangerous situation to our children sitting on the back. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

7 crash · 10 fire · 20 injuries

2021 D 214 reports · median 42,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 64

    While accelerating on a busy tollway, the automatic transmission got stuck in 6th gear. The car then began to slow down, and the gear display went blank. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 48

    The contact owns a 2021 ford expedition. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Lights & Visibility 19

    The contact owns a 2021 ford expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 22v250000 (visibility) and 22v346000 (engine) however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

4 crash · 5 fire · 7 injuries

The best year for the Expedition

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2014 is the best-scoring Expedition model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 95.2 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2014 0.19× 17 A
2013 0.26× 36 A
2011 0.29× 36 A

Recalls

52 campaigns on record, 2 carrying a Park It or Park Outside warning.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
26V104000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM: INTEGRATED TRAILER BRAKE CONTROL 2022–2025 4,381,878
25V572000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2015–2017 1,456,417
25V315000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2022–2024 1,076,138
25V455000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2022 850,318
26V402000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2018–2021 741,195
23V420000 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL 2018–2023 691,133
22V250000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2020, 2021 652,996
19V633000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER 2019, 2020 639,137
20V575000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2020 620,246
26V368000 STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CENTER CONSOLE 2018–2024 548,463
26V204000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:LINKAGES 2021–2023 422,613
26V344000 SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER 2018–2022 419,967

+ 40 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2020 were reported at a median of 45,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ford Expedition years should you avoid?
2020, 2021 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Expedition model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ford Expedition?
2014 is the best-scoring Ford Expedition model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 95.2 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ford Expedition have?
52 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ford Expedition model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2020 Expedition
Complaints in window
267
Severity-weighted
386.5
Model median (weighted)
174
vs model median
2.22×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
20
Open investigations
1
Score 26.2 F