1997 Ford Expedition Problems

Severe Issues

Real NHTSA owner complaints for the 1997 Ford Expedition.

19961998
Complaints
1,065
Crashes
73
Fires
83
Injuries
64
Fatalities
19
Recalls
0

Worst 1997 Ford Expedition Problems

Top 3 most-reported issues with average mileage at failure.

#150 complaints

Electrical Faults

Avg mileage:111,130 mi
Crash-related:1
Fires:19
#246 complaints

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip

Avg mileage:55,000 mi
Crash-related:6
#345 complaints

Unintended Acceleration

Avg mileage:139,865 mi
Crash-related:10
Fires:9
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All Problems by Category

Every NHTSA complaint category for the 1997 Ford Expedition.

Electrical Faults
50
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
19
Avg Miles
111,130
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip
46
complaints
Crashes
6
Fires
—
Avg Miles
55,000
Unintended Acceleration
45
complaints
Crashes
10
Fires
9
Avg Miles
139,865
Wheels:Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
31
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
139,000
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine
29
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
2
Avg Miles
142,863
Suspension:Rear
29
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
97,388
Steering Defects
28
complaints
Crashes
2
Fires
—
Avg Miles
159,432
Suspension Failures
28
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
140,325
Vehicle Speed Control:Cruise Control
28
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
18
Avg Miles
122,626
Suspension:Front
27
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
132,888
Engine & Cooling
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
5
Avg Miles
138,648
Suspension:Front:Stabilizer Bar
26
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
12,000
Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
24
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
—
Avg Miles
100,500
Suspension:Front:Springs:Torsion Bar
22
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
62,000
Automatic Transmission
20
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
1
Avg Miles
130,392
Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Gasoline
19
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
76,000
Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch
18
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
58,200
Tire Defects
18
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
223,500
Air Bags:Frontal
16
complaints
Crashes
13
Fires
—
Avg Miles
155,000
Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components
14
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
121,500
Equipment:Mechanical:Carrier/Rack
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Steering:Linkages
13
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Electrical System:Wiring:Interior/Under Dash
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
4
Avg Miles
80,044
Power Train:Axle Assembly
12
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
65,000
Electrical System:Ignition
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
1
Avg Miles
97,075
Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood
11
complaints
Crashes
1
Fires
9
Avg Miles
141,400
Engine Problems
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
2
Avg Miles
187,884
Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)
11
complaints
Crashes
—
Fires
—
Avg Miles
—
Transmission / Drivetrain
10
complaints
Crashes
3
Fires
—
Avg Miles
135,000

Search Owner Complaints

Read what owners actually reported to NHTSA for the 1997 Ford Expedition. Type a keyword (e.g. “transmission”, “stalling”, “brakes”) to filter.

Other Ford Expedition Years

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1997 Ford Expedition — FAQ

Answers based on real NHTSA complaint and recall data for this specific model year.

Is the 1997 Ford Expedition reliable?
Verdict: Severe Issues. The 1997 Ford Expedition has 1,065 NHTSA complaints, 73 crash-related, and 0 recall campaigns. The most common issue is Electrical Faults with 50 complaints. Source: NHTSA via VinItel.
What are common problems with the 1997 Ford Expedition?
Top reported problems: Electrical Faults (50 complaints, avg 111,130 mi); Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Antilock/Traction Control/Electronic Limited Slip (46 complaints, avg 55,000 mi); Unintended Acceleration (45 complaints, avg 139,865 mi). Every complaint is filed by an owner with NHTSA — this is raw reported data, not editorial opinion.
At what mileage do problems start on the 1997 Ford Expedition?
The weighted average mileage at time of complaint is about 114,318 miles. Some components fail earlier, some later — check the "All Problems by Category" table above for per-issue averages.
How safe is the 1997 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA complaints for the 1997 Ford Expedition include 73 crash-related reports, 83 fire reports, 64 injuries, and 19 fatalities. These are owner-reported incidents, not official crash-test ratings — a complaint being filed doesn't confirm a defect, but clusters around specific components are worth investigating.
Does the 1997 Ford Expedition have any recalls?
No NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the 1997 Ford Expedition as of the latest data sync. Verify by VIN for the most current status — new recalls can be issued years after a model year ships.
Should I buy a 1997 Ford Expedition?
Proceed with extreme caution. The 1997 Ford Expedition shows significantly more complaints than average for its class. If you're buying one, a pre-purchase inspection and a VIN history check are essential — skip them and you're gambling.

Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) complaint and recall databases, aggregated by VinItel.

Wider context: See the full Ford Expedition reliability report with year-by-year comparison and generation analysis.

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