Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Ford Expedition
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Ford Expedition has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns and 242 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V402000 Vehicle Rollaway Risk NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V368000 Center Console May Peel Causing Sharp Edges NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V344000 Seat Belt May Fail to Retract or Extend NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V204000 Windshield Wipers May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V729000 Moonroof Wind Deflector May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V442000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V048000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V852000 Missing Dashboard Air Bag Warning Label/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V420000 Head Restraint Instructions Missing/FMVSS 202 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V346000 Engine Compartment Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #22V250000 Windshield Wipers May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V805000 Front Door Side Impact Sensors Damaged/FMVSS 214 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 113 complaints
- Engine 58 complaints
- Unknown or Other 30 complaints
- Electrical System 24 complaints
- Visibility 13 complaints
- Structure 11 complaints
Of the 242 complaints on file, 4 report a crash and 4 a fire; across all 242 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $8,000–$13,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Ford Expedition has received significant owner complaints regarding the power train and engine. Several recalls, including those involving transmission and engine fires, suggest potential safety risks. Dealing with visibility due to wiper failure also contributed to the below-average reliability assessment.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| transmission | 40,000–70,000 miles | $1,800–$3,500 | very common |
| engine | 50,000–80,000 miles | $2,000–$5,000 | common |
| windshield wipers | 30,000–50,000 miles | $150–$400 | common |
| rearview camera | 20,000–40,000 miles | $200–$800 | occasional |
| sunroof | 40,000–60,000 miles | $400–$1,200 | 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 and filter changes every 5,000 miles
- Transmission fluid service at 50,000 miles
- Brake fluid replacement every 3 years
- Coolant replacement every 5 years
- Timing belt inspection at 60,000 miles
- Rotate tires every 6,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Rough gear shifts
- Burning smell from engine
- Wipers not functioning
- Distorted rearview camera
- Sunroof wind noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Ford Expedition at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.