Most common 2011 Ford Expedition problems
Share of the 71 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Ford Expedition complaints by model year
Best Expedition years: 2014, 2013, 2012. Years to avoid: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017, 2018. Compare all years →
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2011 Ford Expedition:
Unexpected Transmission Downshift
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened an investigation based on consumer allegations of transmissions unexpectedly downshifting to a lower gear without input from the driver on model year (MY) 2011-2013 Ford F-150, Expedition and Navigator vehicles.
What 2011 Ford Expedition owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 21 →
So my 2011 expedition has a lead frame problem it is stuck in 4th gear and all the warning lights are on associating the lead frame. The shop I left told me it Is the lead frame. The problem is the ford f150 with the exact same transmission as mine has a recall for that exact part. But no recall on the expiration with the exact same transmission as mine. This is a safety problem as it is stuck in fourth gear and completely unsafe to drive. This is a ford factory problem and needs to be addressed before it gets someone gravely injured of killed I talked with ford and they sY since there is no recall there is nothing they can do I've beennout a vehicle for 2 weeks already and now they say they have no clue when they can find the part. So I'm just out a vehicle that I payed thousands of dollars for. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2011 Ford Expedition. When the vehicle was shifted into reverse, the contact's vehicle accelerated independently and crashed into a parked vehicle. A police report was filed and there were no injuries. The vehicle did not stop even when the brake pedal was depressed. The contact attempted to shift the vehicle into neutral, but it shifted into drive and accelerated forward. The only way to stop the vehicle was by turning the key to the off position. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, but was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The VIN was invalid. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
Engine & cooling
The engine is blown at 125k miles when all servicing and maintenance was done at the dealership. Somewhere around 50k to 60k miles, I complained to the dealership about a ticking noise from the engine and was told multiple times it was "normal with this engine". Well this engine blew while I was on my way to take the kids to school. I was on the interstate/bypass and was by some miracle able to get the 7-11. I was driving and all of a sudden, it sounded like there was squirrel under the hood. I had to have it towed to the dealership because it was not driveable and they told me the engine was no longer good and was blown. They said it would cost me $10k and I would be better off buying a new vehicle. There was no engine light or anything that came on until it blew. …
I bought this vehicle early 2023. From the moment I bought it I've had a loud ticking sound come from the dash or the motor when I start the car also when it's really hot out. It also didn't blow cold air. So I had to save up enough money to replace the AC components in my 2011 expedition. After I got it "repaired" It only lasted about six months and that's being conservative. $2000 later and it's blowing hot air and still making you loud ticking sound. I pretty much replaced all the components that deal with the AC and the blower. I don't know what to do anymore, but it makes a loud ticking sound when I'm driving, when I start the car, anytime. And I also don't have cold air anymore.
Body & structure
Drivers retractable running board malfunctions going up and extending. The running board has stopped midway during extension and have caused occupants to fall due to the running board suddenly collapsing to normal height with weight of the occupant on the running board. Retraction of the running boards is rough and May take several attempts to retract. The vehicle is well maintained by the dealership. There are no lubrication points to enable maintenance of the running boards. At this time the running boards are turned off and are in the retracted position. This happens when the vehicle is stationary on a street or parking lot and the driver and left passenger doors are opened/closed for entering or exiting the vehicle. This only happens to driver side running board. This problem has been on-going for the past year. …
The paint finish on the rear liftgate has several "bubbling" areas and has started to flake off in several areas. This issue was first noticed when the vehicle was less than 5 years old. There has never been any physical damage to this area nor has it been repainted. I have researched online and discovered that this was due to a contaminant at the paint facility for these vehicles at the time, is a very common problem for these model years, and that Ford refuses to take responsibility or issue a recall to have this issue repaired. When I contacted Ford about the issue, they recommended I submit a complaint with your agency.
2011 Ford Expedition engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | RWD | 14 / 20 / 16 |
| 5.4L 8-cyl | 6-speed automatic | 4WD | 13 / 18 / 15 |
EPA ratings. Class: SUV.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2011 Ford Expedition a good car?
Based on 71 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2011 Expedition rates better than average: 74% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Expedition at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2011 Ford Expedition?
The transmission & drivetrain — 21 complaints, 30% of all complaints for this model year, most often about transfer case (4-wheel drive). Next are the engine & cooling (13) and body & structure (10).
How many recalls does the 2011 Ford Expedition have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Ford Expedition. You can still confirm with your VIN using our VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Ford Expedition?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014, 2013 and 2012. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2019, 2020, 2024, 2017 and 2018. See the full Ford Expedition years comparison.
At what mileage do 2011 Ford Expedition problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 55,000 miles; 47% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
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.