2013 Ford Expedition Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 90,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted to first gear, causing the vehicle to shake and jerk abnormally. The speedometer was fluctuating, and the transmission warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over and turned off the vehicle. The…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 146,500 miles

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle decelerated and unexpectedly downshifted to first gear before the vehicle veered over into the next lane. The contact was able to regain control of the vehicle and steer it back into the correct lane. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 147,300 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 85,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

2013 Ford Expedition Limited 5.4 engine. The vehicle was purchased new with an extended warranty with all services performed by Ford dealer. On or about [XXX], with no warning or indication of problem the vehicle experienced what was determined to be a catastrophic internal engine failure, with only 93840 miles. The engine problems were…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormal tapping sound coming from the passenger’s side of the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced twelve rocker arms from the passenger’s side of the engine, and the vehicle was repaired.…Owner complaint, filed 2023, at 95,833 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 38,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling in the daughter's driveway, a mist was present coming from the vents, and moments later the horn activated and flames were seem coming from under the front passenger side dashboard. Flames quickly engulfed the vehicle and the fire department…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 60,000 miles

When turning the car on the front air conditioner vents won't blow most of the time. If the wiring under the dash on the passenger side is tapped/bumped it will then start blowing. It stops blowing and starts blowing again when bumped. The wiring gets hot. There are multiple cases of this being described on the internet. There is someone…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 113,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

2/13/19- Ford Issued Recall on 2013 Ford Expedition for OSS failure and downshift 2/20/19- I go to the Preston Ford Mazda dealership, Maryland. I view and test drive a 2013 Ford Expedition, during the test drive the RPMs ran high on the Expedition and it felt sluggish and “off” crossing a road, and at one point it jumped, and the wrench…Owner complaint, filed 2025

The contact owned a 2013 ford expedition. The contact stated that while driving about 65 MPH in the rain, the vehicle flipped over (upside down) and spun without impact and no warning. All the air bags deployed. A police report was filed. The driver and the front passenger sustained minor cuts and bruises and were treated by the…Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 72,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 78,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

As I was driving on the highway, the speedometer stopped operating and fuel info malfunctioned. The tpms sensor light came on as well. I turned the car off and back on to find it was all working again.Owner complaint, filed 2019, at 131,000 miles

Parking brake failed to hold the vehicle at 1500 rpm which is required in [VIN] to pass state inspection. It does not perform to specifications. Vehicle was about 2 yrs old with 9500 miles. Dealer had to remove and clean parking brakes parts and reassemble. I had the exact same issue with 2000 expedition every year the parking brake…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 9,500 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 34,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The struts were replaced at 26,344 on 6/30.16 and now in october 2016 the new ones are also leaking oil and not working. I drive on paved roads.Owner complaint, filed 2016, at 34,000 miles

Left front strut failed losing charge and causing unsafe steering and suspension movement with less than 31k miles. Right rear strut failed shortly after. Ford states this is a known safety issue but no recall.Owner complaint, filed 2015, at 31,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when she attempted to operate the heating system, she heard a loud whistling sound and knob became stuck on high speed. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the blower motor controller and connector…Owner complaint, filed 2022, at 134,000 miles

Thursday, march 6th, while driving 70 MPH on ih40 in eastern arkansas my sunroof exploded. Traffic was moving nicely and I was not close enough behind other vehicles for anything to have impacted my expedition. Weather was not a factor. The shade of the sunroof was open, but the sunroof itself was closed. We (my sons and I) heard a loud…Owner complaint, filed 2014, at 10,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owned a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the front passenger's side tire blew out, and she lost control of the vehicle. The contact stated that the front end of the vehicle crashed into an embankment, and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the front grill and the bumpers detached due to…Owner complaint, filed 2024, at 200,000 miles

The airbag case/seal is ruptured and splitting in the center of the steering wheel and looks like it will self-deploy on its own. Their airbag warning light is NOT illuminated.Owner complaint, filed 2023

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

Front seat headrests are intolerable. Have never driven a vehicle that caused such severe discomfort due to positioning of head rests. Needs ability to adjust tilt forward and back. Fixed position is angled forward way too much. Very distracting while driving. Please help?!Owner complaint, filed 2014

No safety seat belt warning light and indicator chime when adult setting in the passenger set without seat belt fastened. Vehicle engine on, transmission in drive. The drivers side warning light and indicator chime works correctly as you would expect it to. The vehicle has operated this way from the day we purchased the vehicle…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 100 miles

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

Lug Nuts cannot be removed due to defective design. Impossible to properly maintain tires or to remove wheel in case of roadside emergency. Each wheel has 6 lug nuts that must ALL work properly together. All 24 of my lug nuts had to be forcibly removed/replaced in order to perform tire maintenance and to be proactive against the safety…Owner complaint, filed 2022

During a recent oil change and tire rotation, my mechanic advised the lug nuts on my tires needed to be replaced due to swelling and distortion. I was advised this is a known problem by Ford but no recall is in force as of yet. I incurred a cost to have all of them replaced.Owner complaint, filed 2021

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

Several stalls followed by crank no start conditions over several months with no associated check engine light, code p0627 while vehicle in motion. 4m auto service center abilene tx performed fuse 27 relocation to fuse 73 accomplished. Vehicle returned to service. Several stalls followed by crank no start conditions over several months…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 102,000 miles

The throttle is erratic. Sometimes acceleration from a stop is smooth and sometimes its as if the throttle is binding against something. Other times the throttle is depressed and nothing happens until the vehicle suddenly lurches forward. The last episode was pulling into a parking place and the engine suddenly went into idle. I mashed…Owner complaint, filed 2013, at 15,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

2013 ford expedition will not shift out of park. Vehicle will not reverse or drive. I was stuck at my bank drive thru. I could not shift out of park to go forward or reverse.Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 105,000 miles

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2013 ford expedition. While driving 45 MPH, the rear passenger door opened without warning. In addition, the front driver side door would not close. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v643000 (latches/locks/linkages). The [VIN] was made aware of the failure.…Owner complaint, filed 2017, at 50,000 miles