Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (automatic and manual transmissions, CVT, axles, driveshaft, 4WD/AWD).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2005 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Since purchasing the Expedition in December 2014, I've had several incidents of "check engine throttle" warnings and the engine shut down, suddenly. This seems to also have a secondary issue of the truck hesitating/sputtering around 40-50mph. The vehicle has shut down on me in city traffic quite a few times and once on an exit ramp of the highway. This is a very dangerous situation to experience. The dealer mentioned possible spark plug issues. When the "check engine" icon finally came on, I had it read by the dealer and an independent mechanic. The code is a p2104. The dealer never got back to me on a remedy for this. The mechanic says the electronic throttle control must be replaced and could be the cause of both issues. Both have been reported to the dealer before their warranty expired. I'm finding the repair could cost about $700. …
Tl contact owns a 2005 Ford Expedition. While driving 5 MPH, the vehicle slid into a ditch. The rear driver's side lights and bumper were damaged. The dealer stated that the vehicle was supposed to come equipped with four wheel drive, but did not. The manufacturer paid to install the four wheel drive feature in December of 2006. On December 1, 2007, the vehicle slid out of the driveway into the middle of the street. In January of 2008, the vehicle was taken to the dealer and they reinstalled the four wheel drive. The contact retrieved the vehicle on January 10, 2008 and the four wheel drive failed again seven days later. The current mileage was 33,900 and failure mileage was 12,000. Updated 3/4/08 the dealer has since fixed the 4-wheel drive.
I have an 05 Expedition eddie bauer edition and the truck was shuddering and vibrating while on incline or driving. It also would hesitate upon acceleration. The next day the truck will only roll in reverse it will not drive forward and the "check electronic throttle control" message continues to pop up. Drove it and all of a sudden it wouldn't shift, and all gauges went flat, truck was still revving but gauges were at zero and the truck wouldn't move. I was going 60 MPH. And it just stopped moving completely. Cannot drive the truck.
My car at times will give a hard start. Turning, but not fully turning over or gives off a sound that I can only describe as an elephant trumpeting. When it does start at times it will shut completely off just as fast. It hesitates to pick up adequate speed and will stumble or jerk, and when put in reverse it will completely stall out. I've had a new battery installed, and the spark plugs and boots have been changed, but to no avail.
Dt*: the contact stated while the vehicle was parked on a slight incline it jumped out of park and rolled down a hill hitting a tree. Upon inspecting the vehicle after the crash, the gear indicator was in the reverse position. There was a police report filed at the scene. The vehicle was extensively damaged however, none of the air bags deployed. The dealership and the insurance company have been informed.
My truck lost all forward gears except for reverse out of the blue the other morning when attempting to leave home. Valve body, servos, solenoids, have been replaced and still has not corrected the issue. The vehical has less then 155000 miles
I was driving up the highway with my two kids in my car. I was traveling about 40 MPH. All of a sudden I hear the beep on my system and it stated that I needed to " check electronic throttle control". I laid off the gas and went thru a light when I attempted to hit the gas again I realized I had no power at all and I was coasting. I got in the turning lane and had to pull in front of a car just so I would not be stuck in the middle of the road where my kids and I would have been in an accident. I waited about 10 minutes and the vehicle fired up. I was in tears trying to make it to my office because I felt like it might happen again. The whole mile it took for me to get there the truck felt like it was going to shut off again. It felt like the truck did not have gas and was riding on fumes. It was shaking and moving slowing. …
My 15 year old son and my life were placed in serious danger, by the gross negligence and deceptive business practices promoted by the Ford motor company, regarding scan code p2106. Since as early as February 26, 2013 Ford motor company was made aware of a dangerous defect concerning the mechanical and electrical components of their manufactured product released to the consumer public for profit. The vehicles are Ford trucks, manufactured from 2003 - 2008, with the v8 5.4 l engine. Public record reveals case no. 12-7222, jason schmidt, (plaintiff) vs. Ford motor company, (defendant) filed in the united states district court for the eastern district of pennsylvania, that Ford motor company is well aware of this issue. …
Driving my 2005 Ford Expedition limited in the morning. After about 2 miles the car powered to a crawl and gave engine fail safe mode alert. Pulled to side. Powered down car and the restarted without incident. A week later the same thing happened again. This is apparently a defective throttle control unit. This description is all over the internet and is a known safety problem as people are reporting that it has happened to them on the freeway. Car is unsafe to drive and even though the problem is well known, Ford company is taking no responsibility. All NHTSA has to do is google "engine fail safe mode" and see the number of problems that come up with same issue. This is definitely a well known safety problem but yet there is no recall. Dealer says throttle control unit has to be replaced at a cost of $514.61 + tax. This problem May also have taken out my air conditioning. …
I have a 2005 Expedition and have had a electronic throttle control failure on it twice in the last 10 months. Both cases happened while turning through a major intersection, the engine continued to run, but there was no connection between the gas pedal and the throttle (stepping on the gas had no effect). Luckily I was able to coast through the intersection and onto the shoulder without getting hit. The first occurrence was in dec 2011, and it just happened again this morning (1 oct 2012), luckily I was driving and safely maneuvered out of harm's way. If it had been my wife and children in the vehicle, or if it had happened on the highway, it is highly likely that the outcome would have been much worse. There are many reports of this same failure on the internet. …
Transmission complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are transmission problems on the 2005 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 44 complaints about the transmission & drivetrain of the 2005 Ford Expedition, 14% of the model year's 315 complaints. The component named most often is automatic transmission (13 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Ford Expedition transmission problems?
No. NHTSA lists no transmission & drivetrain recall for the 2005 Ford Expedition. 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 2005 Ford Expedition transmission problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 81,000 miles, and 15% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 0 injuries to transmission & drivetrain 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.