The Lemon Index

All cars · Ford Expedition · 2021

2021 Ford Expedition. Advanced data.

The raw numbers: engines, recall campaign numbers, failure mileage and manufacturer communications.

Lemon Index158100 = average car
Complaints125NHTSA, first 3 years
Sold81,988U.S. model year
Per 100K sold152complaints
Year rank#21 of 22#1 = fewest complaints

Engines and drivetrains 2

EngineTransmissionDriveCity / hwy / combinedFuelFuel cost/yr
3.5L 6-cyl turboAuto (S10)RWD17 / 23 / 19Regular$3,300
3.5L 6-cyl turboAuto (S10)4WD17 / 22 / 19Regular$3,300

EPA test versions for this model year. Fuel cost is the EPA's current estimate, not the price in that year.

Failure mileage by system

Half of owners who gave a mileage reported the problem between 18,000 and 78,500 miles. Median 43,000, from 41 complaints with a mileage.

SystemMedianMiddle halfComplaints
Transmission & drivetrain65,00020,000–89,00019
Engine62,50043,000–95,0007

Mileage owners typed into their NHTSA complaint, all complaints for this model year. People report some problems late, so read it as a range.

Complaints by system

SystemShare of complaints
Transmission & drivetrain35%
Engine34%
Electrical13%
Visibility10%
Backup camera5%

One complaint can name more than one system, so shares can add to more than 100%.

Severity, all complaints

TotalCrashesFiresInjuriesDeathsTows
237444010

As reported by owners to NHTSA. Not verified.

Recall campaigns 12

  • 26V402000 Jun 2026 Power Train / Automatic Transmission

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

    Risk. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for th

  • 26V368000 Jun 2026 Structure / Interior Panels / Center Console

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.

    Risk. Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involve

  • 26V344000 May 2026 Seat Belts / Pretensioner

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

    Risk. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous

  • 26V204000 Mar 2026 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2022-2023 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, and F-600 SD vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the wipers to fail.

    Risk. Windshield wiper failure can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and replace the wiper arms, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 5, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S24.Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on April 1, 2026.

  • 25V729000 Oct 2025 Visibility / Sun/Moon Roof Assembly

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, 2021-2023 F-150, 2022 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, and F-450 SD vehicles. The moonroof wind deflector clips may be inadequately attached to the moonroof frame, which can result in the wind deflector detaching from the vehicle.

    Risk. A detached wind deflector can become a road hazard and increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will inspect and repair the moonroof wind deflector as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SB7. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 30, 2025.

  • 25V442000 Jun 2025 Back Over Prevention / Software

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

    Risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

  • 25V048000 Jan 2025 Back Over Prevention / Sensing System / Camera

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition, 2021-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, F-600, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The rearview camera may display a blank or distorted image.

    Risk. Rearview camera failure can reduce the driver's view of what is behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S05.

  • 24V852000 Nov 2024 Equipment / Other / Labels

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

    Risk. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy. Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

  • 23V420000 Jun 2023 Equipment / Other / Owners/Service/Other Manual

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

    Risk. Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

    Remedy. Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

  • 22V346000 May 2022 Engine

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. An engine compartment fire may occur while driving or parked, even with the ignition in the "Off" position.

    Risk. A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Owners are advised to park their vehicles outside and away from structures and other vehicles, until the remedy is performed. Dealers will inspect and replace the battery junction box, as necessary, and remove a ground wire. On models equipped with standard-duty radiator fan motors, dealers will also install an auxiliary electrical box with a wire jumper. Repairs will be performed free of charg

  • 22V250000 Apr 2022 Visibility / Windshield Wiper/Washer / Linkages

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 F-150, Expedition, 2020-2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, and 2020-2021 Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The windshield wiper arms may break, causing the windshield wipers to fail.

    Risk. Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace both front windshield wiper arms, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters, informing owners of the safety risk, were mailed on May 24, 2022. Remedy parts are expected to be available 3rd Quarter 2022. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 21, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S26.

  • 21V805000 Oct 2021 Air Bags / Sensor / Side Impact

    Defect. Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Super Duty F-250, F-350, 2021 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The front-door side impact pressure sensor modules may have been damaged during supplier assembly, which can cause the side impact air bags to not deploy properly in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 214, "Side Impact Protection."

    Risk. An air bag that does not deploy properly during a crash increases the risk of injury.

    Remedy. Dealers will replace the driver and passenger front door side impact sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C26.

NHTSA investigations

StatusSubjectOpenedClosed
OpenNu car rental of vehicles with open recalls2026–

Manufacturer communications 141

Ford filed 141 service communications for this car with NHTSA.

  • No start, engine runs rough, or misfires condition
  • Some 2018-2021 Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with electronic limited slip…

Crash ratings by version

VersionOverallFrontSideRollover
Ford Expedition SUV 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Ford Expedition SUV 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆
Ford Expedition EL SUV 4WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆
Ford Expedition EL SUV 2WD★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★☆☆

Safety equipment

Electronic stabilityForward collision warningLane departure warning
StandardOptionalStandard

Nearby model years

YearLemon IndexComplaintsSoldTop system
20181367554,661Suspension
2019686086,422Transmission & drivetrain
202015411277,838Transmission & drivetrain
202115812581,988Transmission & drivetrain
20221048562,007Electrical
2023756573,396Electrical
20241167878,035Automatic emergency braking

Sources: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications; EPA fuel economy data; YouTube video titles. Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.

Updated

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