Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2004 Ford Expedition
NHTSA data on file today
The 2004 Ford Expedition has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 297 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #09E012000 FMVSS 108/AFTERMARKET COMBINATION LAMPS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E064000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E026000 FMVSS 108/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTORS NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #06E023000 FMVSS 108/HEADLAMP/AMBER SIDE REFLEX REFLECTOR NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Air Bags 46 complaints
- Electrical System 36 complaints
- Service Brakes, Hydraulic 34 complaints
- Engine 29 complaints
- Power Train 27 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 26 complaints
Of the 297 complaints on file, 49 report a crash and 15 a fire; across all 297 complaints, owners report 60 injuries and 1 death (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $6,000–$15,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2004 Ford Expedition shows a higher-than-average number of complaints, particularly around air bags and braking systems. Frequent issues with the electrical and powertrain systems suggest potential reliability concerns. While the vehicle doesn't have significant recalls, owner complaints highlight challenges in key safety systems.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| air bags | 70,000–100,000 miles | $500–$1,200 | very common |
| service brakes | 60,000–90,000 miles | $300–$800 | common |
| electrical system | 90,000–120,000 miles | $400–$1,000 | common |
| engine | 80,000–110,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | occasional |
| power train | 90,000–130,000 miles | $2,000–$5,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- oil changes every 5,000 miles
- brake inspections bi-annually
- transmission fluid every 40,000 miles
- coolant replacement every 50,000 miles
- tire rotation every 10,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- unusual brake noise
- frequent airbag warnings
- electrical malfunctions
- engine overheating
- transmission slipping
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2004 Ford Expedition at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.