Most common 2013 Ford Expedition problems
Share of the 92 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 2013 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 2013 Ford Expedition owners say
Transmission & drivetrain all 43 →
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the RMPS were fluctuating, and the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to second or to third gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, and then the contact resumed driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission molded lead frame had failed and needed to be replaced. The mechanic replaced the transmission molded lead frame several times; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the mechanic, where the transmission molded lead frame was replaced. The vehicle was temporarily repaired. Several unknown dealers were notified of the failure. …
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 70 MPH, the vehicle downshifted with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact also noticed that the instrument panel became inoperable and would not function properly when the contact attempted to shift gear. The vehicle was able to restart. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the output speed sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.
Engine & cooling
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle stalled and lost motive power without warning. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The contact stated that the short block was replaced however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that during the failure the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed with abnormal sounds coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the long block needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted and notified of the failure. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was 49,127.
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. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 95,833.
Electrical system
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 was called to the scene and extinguished the flames. During the incident, the vehicle was destroyed. No injuries were reported. A fire and police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The transmission is shifting dangerously. All the lights on the dash are flashing and the speedometer doesn't work. We were driving at highway speed and the transmission shifted into first gear causing an abrupt slowing of the Expedition. When we stopped at a red light the vehicle would remain in third gear and therefore we couldn't accelerate from a stopped position. This was previously addressed in TSB 13-6-8. There are many Ford vehicles on the road with this dangerous problem. I'm requesting that you encourage Ford to repair the transmission lead frame for the life of the vehicle. As second owner of this vehicle, I never received the notice of this problem and didn't discover it until after I was having problems. We drove 80 miles home Christmas day with our emergency flashers on because nothing was open. Ford service was closed on Monday December 26. …
2013 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 2013 Ford Expedition a good car?
Based on 92 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Expedition rates better than average: 70% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Expedition at the same age. It is one of the best Expedition years by this measure. 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 2013 Ford Expedition?
The transmission & drivetrain — 43 complaints, 47% of all complaints for this model year, most often about automatic transmission › control module (tcm/pcm/tecm). Next are the engine & cooling (11) and electrical system (10).
How many recalls does the 2013 Ford Expedition have?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2013 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 2013 Ford Expedition problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 91,000 miles; 28% 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.