1997 Ford Expedition: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford Expedition. The newest campaign is 05V388000. NHTSA received the report on 7 Sep 2005. The NHTSA record gives the component Vehicle Speed Control. NHTSA has 784 complaints on file for this model year. 7 NHTSA investigations name this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 05V388000, in the NHTSA record

By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

7 campaigns, newest first. 7,668,883 units in total.

05V3880007 Sep 2005Vehicle Speed Control
03V19600027 May 2003Steering / Gear Box / Shaft Sector
00V16800019 Jun 2000Exterior Lighting
00V0730007 Mar 2000Trailer Hitches
98V09500013 May 1998Wheels / Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
97V1710007 Oct 1997Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
96V25200018 Dec 1996Suspension / Rear

05V388000Received 7 Sep 2005. 4,500,000 units.
Vehicle Speed Control
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A fire at the switch could occur.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 05S28. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Sep 2005.
03V196000Received 27 May 2003. 171,446 units.
Steering / Gear Box / Shaft Sector
Defect, in the NHTSA record
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 03S02. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 30 May 2003.
00V168000Received 19 Jun 2000. 20,637 units.
Exterior Lighting
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of FMVSS 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 00S14. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 19 Jul 2000.
00V073000Received 7 Mar 2000. 565,800 units.
Trailer Hitches
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Manufacturer campaign number 00S05. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 May 2000.
98V095000Received 13 May 1998. 1,520,000 units.
Wheels / Lugs/Nuts/Bolts/Studs
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Jul 1998.
97V171000Received 7 Oct 1997. 866,000 units.
Power Train / Automatic Transmission / Gear Position Indication (Prndl)
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 20 Oct 1997.
96V252000Received 18 Dec 1996. 25,000 units.
Suspension / Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The rear axle track bar bracket can separate from the frame due to missing welds or inadequate weld penetration.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
If both brackets separate, the rear axle can move laterally until the tires contact either the frame or the wheelhouse resulting in either tire damage or a significant reduction in vehicle handling performance.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install a track bar bracket reinforcement kit and inspection of the axle tubes. The suspect axle tubes do not have a stamped date code on the tube. Axles without date codes on the tubes will be replaced.
Report filed by FORD MOTOR COMPANY. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 26 Feb 1997.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

784 complaints, 971 component mentions.

A complaint can name more than one component. Each component that a complaint names is one component mention. The figure per 1,000 component mentions shows how many of each 1,000 mentions name the component.

1997 Ford Expedition
All 1997 vehicles

1997 Ford Expedition: complaints by component, per 1,000 component mentions
Component	1997 Expedition	All 1997 vehicles	Expedition, all years	Mentions
Suspension	141.1	62.4	70	137
Service Brakes, Hydraulic	104	106.3	62.7	101
Steering	97.8	70.3	41	95
Electrical System	92.7	79.7	122.2	90
Engine and Engine Cooling	87.5	134.8	155.9	85
Vehicle Speed Control	78.3	44.5	84.9	76
Power Train	75.2	90.5	66.9	73
Visibility	46.3	58.9	71.4	45
Wheels	43.3	10.4	21.3	42
Tires	37.1	56.3	108.6	36

The table shows the 10 components with the most mentions, of 26.

Complaints that report a crash: 43
Complaints that report a fire: 64
Injuries in the complaints: 45
Deaths in the complaints: 4
Date of the newest complaint: 22 Sep 2010

These figures are the entries of the persons who sent the complaints.

Complaint: A report about a possible safety problem that a person sends to NHTSA. This site shows the number of complaints and not their text.

Complaints about the 1997 Ford Expedition, by the year NHTSA received them. The largest year is 2001, with 123 complaints.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1997 Ford Expedition
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
DP05005	Defect petition	SPARK PLUG EJECTION FROM CYLINDER HEAD	Engine and Engine Cooling / Engine	22 Sep 2005	4 Jan 2006
EA05005	Engineering analysis	ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRES	Electrical System	22 Mar 2005	2 Aug 2006	05V388000
EA02001	Engineering analysis	STEERING SHAFT SEPARATION	Steering	6 Feb 2002	29 May 2003	03V196000
PE01022	Preliminary evaluation	FRONT STABILIZER LINK	Suspension	2 Jul 2001	9 Nov 2001
PE99060	Preliminary evaluation	FACTORY INSTALLED TOWING HITCH SEPARATIO	Equipment	27 Sep 1999	8 Mar 2000	00V073000
PE98024	Preliminary evaluation	TIE ROD END FAILURES	Steering	21 Apr 1998	21 Jul 1998
PE98009	Preliminary evaluation	INDEPENDENT FRONT SUSPENSION TORSION BAR	Suspension	13 Feb 1998	30 Jun 1998

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1997 Ford ExpeditionThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1997 Ford Expedition: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/ford/expedition/1997/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: FORD MOTOR COMPANY

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1997 Ford Expedition?: 7,668,883 units in 7 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Ford Expedition have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 77 recall campaigns for the Ford Expedition, model years 1991 to 2027. 7 of them name the 1997 model year.
Which component do the complaints about the 1997 Ford Expedition name most often?: Suspension: 137 of 971 component mentions, or 141.1 per 1,000. For all 1997 vehicles the figure is 62.4 per 1,000.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1997 Ford Expedition open?: No. Each of the 7 investigations that name this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.