Is the 2019 Ford Expedition a bad year?
530 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 224, 12× a quiet Expedition year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 48k–96k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 224 filed since 2016.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2019 Expedition owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 76,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 224 (42%) | 48k–96k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 133 (25%) | 60k–88k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Seat beltsSTANDS OUT | 117 (22%) | 69k–113k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Body structure | 16 (3%) | 25k–97k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Electrical system | 17 (3%) | 11k–64k miles · mostly behind | — |
| Air bags | 25 (5%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 14 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Suspension | 14 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 10 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Brakes | 8 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Collision avoidance | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Seats | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 6 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 76,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 530 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 3 mention a fire · 40 report an injury · 10 say the car was towed.
137 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Nov 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
Event occurs when vehicle is warmed up - transmission fluid temp > 205 and more likely to occur going uphill or on a slight incline on highway with a speed above 55 mph.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 76,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2019 Ford Expedition: 11
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges. Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended. If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend. Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended. If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.
The rear suspension toe link fasteners may not have been properly tightened to the frame, possibly allowing separation from the frame. A disconnected toe link can cause a sudden change to vehicle handling, increasing the risk of a crash.
The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 148
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2019 Ford Expedition. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
Detected with the CDF clutch cylinder following this article, technicians should carefully inspect and replace other transmission components and flush…
On your vehicle, the OBD monitoring system for the catalytic converter may not be operating as intended
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift…
NHTSA defect investigations: 2
Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment
Seat Belt Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2018 Expedition: 383 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission · 2020 Expedition: 430 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford Expedition year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Expedition years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2019 Ford Expedition a bad year?
530 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 224, 12× a quiet Expedition year. At 76,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. Half of the transmission complaints for this year were filed at 48k–96k miles, where you are now. Few of them say the car was towed: 2 of 224 filed since 2016.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Expedition?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (224), engine (133), seat belts (117), body structure (16), electrical system (17). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 48k–96k miles.
How many recalls does the 2019 Ford Expedition have?
11 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-402), Body structure (NHTSA 26V-368), Seat belts (NHTSA 26V-344), Electrical system (NHTSA 25V-886) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.