There are 50 owner-reported powertrain & transmission complaints for the 1998 Ford Expeditionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN THE SHIFT LEVER WAS PLACED INTO THE PARK POSITION, THE VEHICLE WOULD REVERSE AND FAILED TO MOVE BACK INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 211,096.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT FAILED TO SWITCH INTO THE PARK POSITION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
I STOPPED THE VEHICLE AT MY GARAGE AND PLACED IT IN PARK SO I COULD UNLOAD GROCERIES. I LEFT THE CAR IGNITION ON AND EXITED THE VEHICLE TO PUT THE GROCERIES IN THE GARAGE. I UNLOADED ONE BAG AND RETURNED TO THE VEHICLE FOR THE SECOND BAG AND AS I WALKED UP TO IT, THE VEHICLE STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS SLOWLY I PANICKED. I ATTEMPTED TO GET INTO THE AUTO TO APPLY THE BRAKE, THE VEHICLE THEN STARTED MOVING QUICKER BEFORE I WAS SECURELY IN IT. AS THE AUTO INCREASED SPEED I LOST MY FOOTING AND FELL OUT AND WAS RUN OVER BY THE EXPEDITION, AND NEIGHBORS CALLED THE AMBULANCE AND I WAS TAKEN TO THE HOSPITAL AND TREATED BY THE TRAUMA TEAM IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND ADMITTED FOR MY INJURIES A RIGHT BROKEN ANKLE, 9 BROKEN RIBS, AND A BROKEN WRIST. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 215,000. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
THE VEHICLE ROLLS WHEN IN PARK. IT MAKES A LOUD GRINDING SOUND WHILE IT IS ROLLING UNLIKE A PARKING PAWL MAKES. I HAVE NOT GOTTEN ANY RECALL NOTICES ON THIS ISSUE. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SHIFTER COLUMN FAILED AND THE SHIFTER COULD NOT BE ENGAGED IN ANY GEAR. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND ADVISED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN). THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 220,000. UPDATED 03/05/14*LJ
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED WITH THE ENGINE OFF WHEN IT BEGAN TO UNEXPECTEDLY ROLL FORWARD. THE CONTACT DEPRESSED THE BRAKE AND UTILIZED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AS THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR WHENEVER THE VEHICLE WAS SITTING IDLE IN THE PARK POSITION. THE CONTACT LOCATED NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER: 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN: AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATION: PRNDL) BUT WAS ADVISED BY THE DEALER THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 114,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE IS EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION FAILURE WITH HIS VEHICLE. HE CANNOT SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION FROM ONE OF THE DRIVE GEAR POSITIONS INTO PARK, EVEN THOUGH THE GEAR SHIFT SELECTOR INDICATED PARK. IN ADDITION, THE IMPROPER NEUTRAL START SWITCH OPERATION WAS NOT WORKING AND EXHIBITED UNINTENDED MOVEMENT. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION)(PRNDL)). THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 115,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THAT HIS VEHICLE WAS EXPERIENCING THE SAME FAILURE AS STATED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)). THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE RECALL. THE CONTACT FEELS THAT THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD PAY FOR THE REPAIRS TO THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 115,000.
I HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS FAILURE 3 TIMES NOW, THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED A MONTH AGO 12-12,2008 THEN AGAIN 12- 22-,2008 & AGAIN TODAY 1-16-09, ALL THESE INCIDENTS HAPPENED WHEN THE TEMPERATURE WAS IN THE SINGLE DIGITS TO TEENS. MY 1998 FORD EXPEDITION WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN AT STOP SIGNS & STOP LIGHTS WITHOUT SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL & TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. IF I WOULD JUST SHIFT TO NEUTRAL THE ENGINE WOULD REV TO 4000-5000 RPM & I WOULD NOT HAVE ANY CONTROL OF THE STEERING OR BRAKES. WHEN I TRIED TO USE THE BRAKES BY USING CONSTANT VERY FIRM PRESSURE THE BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK , BUT WOULD OVERHEAT & SMELL BURNED. I TOOK IT TO A REPAIR SHOP THAT DETERMINED THERE WAS ICE & OTHER JUNK BUILT UP ON THE THROTTLE CABLE. THIS WAS REMOVED AFTER THE 12-22-08 INCIDENT. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME TO WARM UP THE VEHICLE FOR A LEAST 20 MINUTES BEFORE I STARTED DRIVING ANYWHERE & THEN LEAVE IT RUNNING AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE, BECAUSE THE DRIVING OF SHORT DISTANCES COULD BE THE CAUSE OF THE ICE BY JUST TAKING SHORT TRIPS OF 4 MILES OR LESS. TODAY 1-16-09 I HAD A DIFFERENT MECHANIC LOOK AT IT & HE IS ORDERING A NEW THROTTLE CABLE & HOPEFULLY THIS WILL SOLVE THE PROBLEM. THE SITUATION COULD HAVE TURNED OUT VERY BADLY IF THERE HAD BEEN VEHICLES TOO CLOSE TO ME WHEN I COULDN'T CONTROL MY VEHICLE. I AM VERY FORTUNATE THAT NO INJURIES OCCURRED,ALTHOUGH I SUFFERED MENTAL STRESS AND ANGUISH. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT HAD TO MAKE SEVERAL ATTEMPTS IN ORDER FOR THE VEHICLE TO SHIFT INTO DRIVE. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE PLACED INTO DRIVE AND THEN NEUTRAL IN ORDER TO REVERSE THE GEARS. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL REPAIR SHOP FOR INSPECTION, BUT THEY COULD NOT DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE. THE TECHNICIAN LATER STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE SHIFTING GEARS. THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT UNDER RECALL AND ANY EXPENSES WOULD HAVE TO COVERED BY THE OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 125,000 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 135,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO SHIFT FROM DRIVE GEAR THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED AND THERE WERE NO PRIOR WARNINGS. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 150000 AND THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100000.
MY 1998 GEAR POSITION INDICATOR SHIFTED SUDDENLY TO REFLECT THE WRONG GEAR. WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK, THE INDICATOR INDICATES IT IS IN REVERSE, WHEN IN REVERSE IT INDICATES IT IS IN NEUTRAL. THIS IS A KNOWN DEFECT, DEALERSHIP AND FORD BOTH STATE IT IS NOT A VIN INCLUDED IN THE 97V171000 RECALL. *TR
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE GEAR INDICATOR DID NOT DISPLAY THE ACTUAL GEAR THE VEHICLE WAS IN. THE DEALER STATED THAT HIS VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE VIN RANGE FOR RECALL # 97V171000 AND THAT HE WOULD BE LIABLE FOR THE REPAIR. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 199,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 1998 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE GEAR SHIFT CONTROL WOULD MALFUNCTION EVERY TIME HE USED THE VEHICLE AND ATTEMPTED TO SHIFT. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SHIFT INTO PARK CORRECTLY. IF THE VEHICLE DID SHIFT INTO PARK, IT WOULD ROLL BACKWARD, ESPECIALLY ON AN INCLINE. HE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER, BUT THEY WOULD NOT INSPECT OR DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE BECAUSE IT HAD OVER 120,000 MILES. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BOTH THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 97V171000 (POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)). THE CONTACT OWNED TWO OTHER FORD EXPEDITIONS THAT EXHIBITED THE SAME FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 170,000 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 90,000.
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN RECALL #97V171000 REGARDING POWERTRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION(PRNDL) DUE TO THE VIN. THE VEHICLE HAD THE SAME PROBLEMS. THE SERVICE DEALER DETERMINED THAT THE SHIFT CONTROL NEEDED A TIE REPLACEMENT TO THE STEERING COLUMN.
THE GEAR MARKER FOR MY 98 EXPEDITION TRANSMISSION BEGAN TO MARK INCORRECTLY. THE GEAR SHIFT CHANGER SHOWS THATS ITS IN PARK, WHEN ITS ACTUALLY IN REVERSE. IT ALSO SHOWS THAT ITS IN NEUTRUAL WHEN ITS ACTUALLY STILL IN DRIVE. THE MARKER IS OFF ITS CENTER AND HAS CAUSED ME AND MY WIFE SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS. I CALLED THE LOCAL FORD DEALER WHICH SAID MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERD BY THE 97 RECALL, (97V171000) OF SEPT 30, 1997. I ALSO CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE WHO RELATED THE SAME INFO THE LOCAL FORD DEALER HAD STATED. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION AND I BELIEVE FORD SHOULD FIX IT FOR US. MY WIFE AND I HAVE HIT SEVERAL PARKED CARS WHEN TRYING TO NEGOTIATE THE VEHILCE INTO A PARKING SPACE. THERE WAS NO DAMAGE,BUT WE WERE LUCKY. *NM
BEGAN MAKING NOISE. HAD IT CHECKED AND REPAIRED BY DEALER. DEALER SAID THIS WAS A "FACTORY" DEFECT WHERE THE RING AND PINION GEAR WERE VERY BADLY MIS-ALIGNED. THE FORD DEALERSHIP MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE WORST HE HAS EVER SEEN. HE SAID THIS WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE PENDING FAILURE. HE SAID IF WE HAD WAITED, IT WOULD HAVE CAUSED A FAILURE. WE REPORTED THIS TO FORD MOTOR COMPANY, BUT THEY SAID THEY WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY. WE FEEL SINCE THIS WAS A FACTORY DEFECT AND NOT NORMAL WEAR AND TEAR THAT THE COMPANY SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THIS. *JB
1998 EXPEDITION CRUISE CONTROL WAS DISCONNECTED. WHEN IT WAS RECONNECTED THERE WAS A SUDDEN VIBRATION. *TS THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED OF A RECALL ON THE CRUISE CONTROL IN SEPTEMBER 2005 AND HAD IT DISCONNECTED WHILE WAITING TO HAVE IT FIXED. ON DECEMBER 28, 2005 THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS RECONNECTED BUT WASN'T USE UNTIL JANUARY 2006. WHEN IT WAS FINALLY USED THERE WAS A VIBRATION. THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND THE CONSUMER OBSERVED FLUID LEAKING ONTO THE DRIVEWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS NO WAS THAT THE VIBRATION WAS CONNECTED TO THE RECALL WORK. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONSUMER'S REGULAR MECHANIC WHO DETERMINED THAT THE TRANSFER CASE BUSHING WAS DAMAGED ALONG WITH THE DRIVELINE AND TRANSFER CASE. ALL PARTS HAD TO BE REPLACED. *NM
DT: THE CONTACT RECEIVED NHTSA RECALL, 97V171000 CONCERNING AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION: GEAR POSITION INDICATOR. THIS VEHICLE EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS AS INDICATED IN THE RECALL, BUT THE MANUFACTURER STATED THE RECALL EXPIRED. THE CONTACT ORDERED THE CABLE, AND PLANNED ON REPAIRING THE VEHICLE AT HIS OWN EXPENSE. *AK
Showing 1–20 of 50 complaints
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026