Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (doors, hood, frame, rust, paint and trim).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 1997 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The vehicle would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park. Have accident, the car roll over to another car, I can"t park down hill is to dangers, is tot safety .
The vehicle would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park. Have accident, the car roll over to another car, I can"t park down hill is to dangers, is not safety .
Husband drove car all day long with no issue. The car was running fine. He parked it about 10 pm. We all went to bed. At 3:15 am we were awakened by neighbors screaming our car was on fire. It had started on fire. Not sure why or how, when it was running just fine during the day. The whole front end was burnt up, the tires were melted, it was ruined. The fire scorched part of the house on the front. It was parked in front of the garage and melted away some of the siding and the door.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While driving 20 MPH, the steering wheel seized. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who stated that the steering column needed to be replaced and noticed corrosion underneath the undercarriage. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 63,000.
Paint and finish on roof of vehicle peeling, cracking, flaking off - oxidation from rust, ruining entire outer car surface - have been advised that primer coat was either missed or skimped during the production process... Ford will not address this issue - one male rep from Ford stated: "the paint job is only supposed to last 2 years" not an acceptable answer...also, child safety locks engage themselves, thus preventing occupants in rear seats to exit vehicle, can cause injury or death in an emergency situation... Also, vehicle rear wheels and or axels "chatter" at low speed turns... …
While driving down the highway a normal speed the spare tire on my Expedition fell off when the cable holding the tire up seemed to have broke. My vehicle ran over the tire and I could see the spare bouncing wildly down the road. Fortunately, no other cars hit the tire but it was extremely close since a car just passed from the other direction and there would have been no way they could have missed the bouncing tire in the oncoming lane. Ford does not know how close they came to killing innocent people. The road was smooth without bumps, the tire just fell off. To my knowledge, we have never used the spare tire on this vehicle.
Tl contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. While it was raining, water began to drip on the driver's leg. The water came from under the dashboard on the driver's side. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined that the water entered through the air vent duct located outside the vehicle by the windshield. The stereo and instrument panel malfunctioned while the vehicle was parked. The contact smelled something burning. The vehicle would not restart. The manufacturer stated that the vent duct needed to be replaced. The current and failure mileages were 130,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the fuel tank straps fractured as a result of corrosion. The contact mentioned that the frame on the driver side was also affected by corrosion. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who verified the failure and advised that the vehicle could not be repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure who did not offer any assistance since the vehicle was not included in any recalls. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure and current mileage was 45,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 5 MPH over a small bump in the road, the spare tire detached from underneath the vehicle. The contact examined the vehicle and noticed that the cable which held the spare tire in place fractured due to rust. The vehicle was not taken to have the failure diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure and current mileages were 156,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 1997 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the fuel tank strap became separated from the vehicle due to rusting of the sub frame area. The area that was attached to the strap to the secure the fuel tank was the affected. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no solution was offered. The failure mileage was 260,000. Updated 09/05/14
Body complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are body problems on the 1997 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 38 complaints about the body & structure of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 4% of the model year's 853 complaints. The component named most often is body (9 mentions).
Is there a recall for 1997 Ford Expedition body problems?
No. NHTSA lists no body & structure recall for the 1997 Ford Expedition, though it has 7 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Expedition body problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 130,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 1 fire and 3 injuries to body & structure problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.