Acceleration complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 1 | 10% | — |
| 2025 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2024 | 8 | 10% | 24,000 miles |
| 2023 | 6 | 9% | 38,000 miles |
| 2022 | 8 | 7% | — |
| 2021 | 9 | 4% | 2,000 miles |
| 2020 | 15 | 4% | 85,000 miles |
| 2019 | 13 | 3% | 79,000 miles |
| 2018 | 15 | 4% | 66,000 miles |
| 2017 | 21 | 6% | 50,000 miles |
| 2016 | 20 | 9% | 54,000 miles |
| 2015 | 15 | 9% | 46,000 miles |
| 2014 | 4 | 6% | — |
| 2013 | 7 | 8% | 131,000 miles |
| 2012 | 18 | 15% | 76,000 miles |
| 2011 | 7 | 10% | 50,000 miles |
| 2010 | 3 | 5% | 117,000 miles |
| 2009 | 1 | 4% | — |
| 2008 | 13 | 9% | 44,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 6% | 36,000 miles |
| 2006 | 29 | 10% | 86,000 miles |
| 2005 | 66 | 21% | 71,000 miles |
| 2004 | 21 | 7% | 30,000 miles |
| 2003 | 20 | 3% | 70,000 miles |
| 2002 | 58 | 17% | 63,000 miles |
| 2001 | 101 | 17% | 100,000 miles |
| 2000 | 124 | 14% | 109,000 miles |
| 1999 | 59 | 6% | 120,000 miles |
| 1998 | 78 | 9% | 112,000 miles |
| 1997 | 79 | 9% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (accelerator pedal, throttle, sudden acceleration, cruise control).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2024 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while making a right turn, the vehicle accelerated independently and rear-ended a city bus. The vehicle came to a stop from the impact. None of the air bags deployed. There were no injuries sustained. The "Pre-Collision Assist not available" and the "Adaptive Cruise not available" messages were displayed. In addition, the contact stated that the accelerator pedal fractured in two pieces. No police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to a dealer. The vehicle was not diagnosed. The accelerator pedal was replaced. The contact stated that one month prior to the accident, the "Pre-Collision Assist not available" and the "Adaptive Cruise not available" illuminated intermittently. The insurance company was not made aware of the accident. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was opened. …
The contact rented a 2024 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH with the Adaptive Cruise Control activated, upon passing a speed limit sign the vehicle independently accelerated to 80 MPH. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer nor an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The rental agency was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 24,000.
The contact owned a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while his wife was occupying the vehicle at the residence and attempting to park in the drive postion, the vehicle independently accelerated and crashed into the garage wall, causing damage to the garage wall, refrigerator, and storage cabinet. The brake pedal was depressed, but the vehicle was in full throttle and failed to stop. No warning light was illuminated. During the failure, the contact's wife was the only occupant inside the vehicle. In addition, the display screen went blank. The contact's wife had not sustained an injury, and no medical attention was needed. No police report was filed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 38,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the accelerator pedal was depressed, the vehicle inadvertently accelerated. As a result, the vehicle proceeded over the side curves then stalled. All the air bags deployed. No warning lights was illuminated. The contact sustained injury to his left arm that required medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot and deemed a total loss by the insurance company. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.
General: While driving this rental vehicle over the span of three days, I noticed and confirmed over a dozen times that the vehicle's speed control would dramatically increase with NO driver input or actions. Specific: The vehicle's cruise control would be on and active, set at various speeds; 55, 60, 65, 70, 75 (long, straight road with varying speed limits). In different circumstances (sometimes when being overtaken by another vehicle, or cresting a hill or when beginning to climb a hill), the speed control, while set would immediately, with no driver input other than light steering INCREASE to 15-30 mph above the speed at which the cruise control was set. …
My Expedition has adaptive cruise control. I was driving on the interstate at around 65 mph with the adaptive cruise set. I was raining, so I set it to max range. It worked fine for the first few minutes of rain. As cars started to slow down, mine sped up and put me in an extremis situation where I had to forcibly apply the brakes. It was following the car in front of mine fine at around 55 mph, but then sped up despite the car getting closer as if there wasn't a car there. Only after I applied the brakes did I start getting an error that adaptive cruise and collision assist were not working due to a sensor being blocked. I've driven in rain many times and have never had this error. As far as I can tell the forward sensor failed due to moisture and instead of the adaptive cruise turning off, it actually caused the vehicle to accelerate since cruise was set to 65 mph. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that on two separate occasions while the cruise control was engaged at approximately 86 MPH, the RPM increased and the vehicle inadvertently accelerated; however, the contact's husband was able to disengage cruise control to slow down. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the technician determined that the floormats had jammed the accelerator pedal however, the failure recurred. The contact then stated that on a separate occasion while the cruise control was engaged at approximately 84 MPH, the RPM increased rapidly and the vehicle inadvertently accelerated at high speeds however, the contact's husband attempted to disengage cruise control, but the cruise control failed to disengage. …
When driving down the road and it does not matter what speed I am going, is when this issue is happening to most. I will be driving and out of the blue the tachometer will just drop to zero (0) and I lose all power and the vehicle starts shaking vigorously back and forth until it decides what gear the transmission wants to be in. It is doing this every single day, and it almost made me wrecked the other day. I do not even have 70,000 miles and it will be three years old in April 2024. I have called Ford and reported the issue as well. I have researched the issues, and many other Expeditions are having the same issue years 2020-2022. I am asking for Ford to take a serious look at all the car crashes from this exact issue. I do know the F150 are recalled with the exact transmission that is in the Expeditions. …
Related recalls (2)
Vehicle speed control
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: By letter dated September 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
Vehicle speed control › Cruise control
On certain sport utility vehicles and pickup trucks, the speed control deactivation switch May overheat, smoke, or burn.
Remedy: As an interim repair, owners will be instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected.
NHTSA investigations
Speed control deactivation switch fire
In its letter dated January 27, 2005 to odi, Ford indicated that it would conduct a safety recall (NHTSA recall # 05v-017) to remedy an overheating speed control deactivation switch in approximately 738,490 subject vehicles.the vehicles affected by the recall are certain 2000 model year (my) Ford f150, Ford expedition and Lincoln navigator equipped with speed control and certain 2001 model year f150 supercrew…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Expedition years have acceleration problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2000 (124), 2001 (101), 1997 (79), 1998 (78) and 2005 (66) model years. Acceleration complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2000.
Is there a recall for Ford Expedition acceleration problems?
Yes — 2 recalls, including 05V-388 (vehicle speed control, Sep 7, 2005); 05V-017 (cruise control, Jan 27, 2005). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Expedition acceleration problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 85,000 miles; 23% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the cruise control (184 mentions), followed by the accelerator pedal (35).
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.