general problems of the 2021 Ford Expedition - part 2

Power train went out on our family vehicle at 107k miles. This is a known problem by Ford for this model, and it is a major hazard. It created a dangerous driving situation for our family. The transmission would slip or quickly shift down to lower gears while driving at higher speeds causing the vehicle to malfunction in traffic and creating a very dangerous driving situation for our family. The vehicle is currently at a Ford dealership awaiting repair. Ford is aware there is a safety hazard concerning the transmissions in this model and they need to fix it ASAP.

The vehicle has a significant delay in changing from park to drive, drive to reverse, and reverse to drive. The vehicle has been brought to Ford on several occasions, each time the shop has informed me that the vehicle is indicating a low voltage for the adaptive learning module. They reset the adaptive learning module and it corrects the issue for a about 6 months and the issue returns worse each time. On the most recent occasion the delay moving from drive to reverse was more than 45 seconds; which resulted in a near crash with a high speed moving vehicle. Had there been a collision the malfunction would have been the primary cause of the crash and a superseding event. I have taken the vehicle back to Ford and there response is now that the vehicle is out of warranty and the only offer was to again reset the adaptive learning module at my cost. The cost is not the issue, the issue is that they are not investigation to determine the cause and only doing temporary corrections that will ultimately, if it has not already, led to serious crashes resulting in injury or death.

The transmission has started to delay engagement into drive and reverse which causes the ability for the vehicle to unexpectedly roll in either direction. The vehicle also shifts erratically and in a rough manner while driving causing the driver(s) to either hesitate acceleration and or cause a sense of urgency to stop. It was brought to my attention from repair/transmission shops that this is a common problem with this particular transmission and calls for a new replacement or rebuild. The issue is very noticeable when driving as stated by the driver(s) and auto repair mechanics/employees.

I purchased a 2021 Ford Expedition and it has 37,000 miles on it and the transmission shifts hard when putting the vehicle in drive. The vehicle jerks violently. Also when driving down hils the transmission jerks. The vehicle shouldn't have transmission problems already. The transmission in this vehicle should have a recall. The Ford company is aware that there is an issue and they should fix the issue or replace the transmission for their consumers. I have a 2012 Expedition that doesn't have this problem and it has 280,000 miles on it.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 mph, the vehicle decelerated, hesitated, and shifted out of gear independently. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The contact related the failure to technical service bulletin: 22-2428 (harsh/delayed engagement and/ or harsh/delayed shift). The failure mileage was 80,000.

Transmission issues: sudden loss of power while driving 2021 Expedition on interstate when transmission disengaged at approximately 75 mph in passing lane. This occurred most recently after transmission was re-built at Ford dealership. Transmission has been having these issues for years and they have gotten worse (more frequent) with time. Last time occurred on thanksgiving day 2024. Large red wrench indicator warning light appeared on dash advising to consult owner's manual. Small wrench indicator light remained at bottom of screen after the larger one disappeared. Dealership has not been able to reproduce the event which occurred about an hour into the trip on the interstate when proceeding up a slight grade. Vehicle is not safe to drive. Work requires frequent travel on interstate day trips. Loyal to Ford. Love Expeditions. Have owned several. No confidence in this one. Value adversely affected since cannot in good faith sell vehicle without disclosure of transmission issues. No response from Ford to notice letter sent to them after most recent incident.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while stopped at a red traffic light and attempting to accelerate, the vehicle briefly lost motive power. Additionally, the contact heard an abnormal thumping sound coming from the transmission, and the vehicle experienced a hard shift before returning to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving, nearly causing the vehicle to be rear-ended on several occasions. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where dtc: 10r80 was retrieved, and the vehicle was diagnosed with transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired due to cost.  the contact stated that the transmission was struggling to shift into the intended gear while driving recently. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

When stopped, the auto start stop comes on and the engine turns off. Suddenly a warning comes on and says that the vehicle has to be put in park and push the start button to start the engine again. It will not start automatically when the brake pedal is released. This has happened a number of times. I have not been to the dealer.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, the vehicle down shifted inadvertently, and the vehicle lost power. The contact stated that there were no warning lights illuminated during the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact state while driving 55 mph, there were abnormal sounds coming from the engine and the transmission. The temperature gauge warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a Chevrolet dealer twice to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The transmission was replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. After the second repair the contact noticed that the engine was overheating. The vehicle was taken to a Ford dealer and the transmission was replaced another time. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but offered no assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 89,035.

Shifting from park to drive on a level surface, the transmission will sporadically slam into gear so hard that the vehicle lurches forward. By the time I got to the dealership, it would not duplicate the problem. This vehicle has had the transmission rebuilt/replaced 4 times for this issue (among other issues), and there is less that 40,000 miles on the vehicle. The transmission also slams into gear on 3rd, 5th, and sometimes 6th (upshift and downshift). It will sporadically downshift when at highway speeds regardless of changes in speed or incline.

Expedition has roughly 33,000 miles on it. I took it into the dealer for service b/c the transmission was acting jumpy. By the time it got to the dealer for service, pacifico marple Ford deemed it undrivable and it needs a new transmission. I don't think the transmission should have went that quickly.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 10 mph, the vehicle became stuck in first gear. The driver was able to maneuver the transmission into fourth gear. The contact turned the vehicle on and off, and the transmission was reset. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 20v197000 (power train). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, and was diagnosed with cdf drum failure, and that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who determined that the transmission needed to be rebuilt. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle would hesitate upon the depression of the accelerator pedal without warning. During one failure, the contact shifted the vehicle from drive(d) to park(p) and the vehicle began to roll backward as though the vehicle were in neutral(n). The contact then shifted the vehicle back to drive(d) and the vehicle resumed normal operation. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed that the only way to diagnose the problem would be to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was given the same information as the dealer. The contact was then referred to the NHTSA hotline to file a complaint. The vehicle had yet to be diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while at a four-way stop, the vehicle failed to move, and downshifted to first gear. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

Vehicle loses acceleration. When I attempt to pass someone on the interstate, the vehicle does not accelerate. When I push the gas the engine revs, but does not engage. I have to take my foot off the gas for 10-15 seconds for it to go back into gear. Error reads "stuck in park". It has been to Ford numerous times with the same result, they can't duplicate the problem.

The power train failed to accelerate and completely disengaged. While trying to avoid being t-boned by another car, the vehicle failed to accelerate when required. The rpm gauge showed the acceleration demand but it did not transfer to the power train. Luckily the car running the red light swerved to miss us because we were not able to proactively avoid the collision. Ford first replaced the transmission plate, after recurrence is now offering a transmission rebuild under warranty. Now out of warranty, concerned issues will continue as Ford dealer not forthcoming on the repairs being done stating multiple issues are not related.

When driving at interstate speeds, the transmission locked into 7th gear and refused to change gears with changes in speed. This was especially dangerous when I exited the interstate and had to drive in traffic at city speeds. Starting from a stop in 7th gear was extremely dangerous and made me a hazard to myself and other cars around me.

Transmissions quickly break down. First signs are hard/loud gear shifting followed by slipping gears then eventual inability to accelerate. Regular transmission drains find metal contamination indicating breakdown of gears. Ford motor company is aware of this issue and will replace the transmission with the same failing transmission. Their proprietary system makes it difficult to diagnose and repair leading consumers to have to buy a replacement after 60k miles (which just so happens to be the extent of their warranty).

At 40,000 miles transmission skips gears going from 3-4 4-5 and 7-8. Transmission jolts hard when put into reverse. Valve body was replaced which fixed the issue for a couple of months and now the same issues are occurring.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a grinding sound coming from the transmission while changing gear. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while upshifting from second to third gear and while down shifting from fifth to fourth gear. During the failure the vehicle experienced hard jerking. The vehicle was later towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 20,000.

When driving down the road and it does not matter what speed I am going, is when this issue is happening to most. I will be driving and out of the blue the tachometer will just drop to zero (0) and I lose all power and the vehicle starts shaking vigorously back and forth until it decides what gear the transmission wants to be in. It is doing this every single day, and it almost made me wrecked the other day. I do not even have 70,000 miles and it will be three years old in April 2024. I have called Ford and reported the issue as well. I have researched the issues, and many other Expeditions are having the same issue years 2020-2022. I am asking for Ford to take a serious look at all the car crashes from this exact issue. I do know the f150 are recalled with the exact transmission that is in the Expeditions. The transmission on Thursday 2-22-24 after driving and parked, put the car in drive then it did not want to get out of parked and do into drive or reverse.

On 11/2022 and 11/2023, my vehicle dashboard started blinking and my car turned off on its own. The first time, it happened just after I had dropped off my children at school. After waiting a few minutes, I pressed the start button and my car turned on again. It seemed fine until I reached a stop light, where it shut off once more. I called my husband and told him that I was going to Ford. The advisor mentioned that it could be an alternator issue or a battery issue. The battery was replaced since it was still under warranty. When it happened in 11/2023, I told the advisor that this had happened exactly one year earlier. He checked my vehicle history, confirmed once again that my battery wasn't low and replaced the battery since it was still under warranty. Ford couldn't confirm what may have caused this problem. My husband and I both noticed that our vehicle would shift hard and do a big jerk when shifting gears. I brought it in for an oil change and when my advisor matt moved my vehicle, he mentioned that it didn't sound good. I told him that its happened many times before. However, after the servicing, no issues were found. On 02/06/24, the engine light in my car came. The purge valve was replaced, but nine days later, the engine light reappeared. My Ford advisor informed me that the transmission needed to be completely replaced, along with the evaporative canister. Just 8 days after the transmission was replaced, I noticed oil leaking all over my driveway. I returned to the Ford and was told that the transmission oil was leaking. A transmission gasket pan was replaced. At the end of may, the engine light came on again after just 2 months since my last service. This time I was informed that the front pinion was leaking. I was also told I would need a replacement of the ftp sensor and the fuel tank would need to be dropped. Additionally, the car has been experiencing harsh shifting and jerking between gears again for the past month which could be my transmission.

Transmission slams into gear when coming out of park, into drive.

The transmission shakes the truck at 5th gear and up. It slips out of gear. Sounds like the toque converter is coming about. Or the high gear clutches are slipping.

I keep getting a hard transmission shift around 8th gear when cresting a hill and letting off the gas. Ford can’t replicate the issue because it’s intermittent.

I own the 2020 Expedition. We were traveling on interstate 287 yesterday. I was in the right lane and was stuck behind a slow moving semi-truck. I put on my blinker and waited for an opening in traffic to move into the middle lane. When an opening presented itself, I pressed down on the gas pedal to accelerate into traffic. While the truck should have down shifted and accelerated, instead the powertrain completely disengaged; a total loss of power. The rpm jumped way up to redline, over revving, but the truck was slowing down. I took my foot of the gas pedal and as the rpm came back down, the transmission slammed back into engagement with a loud audible clunk that jolted the whole vehicle. At this point, I was finally able to accelerate. While this was all happening, I had just moved into the middle lane of traffic, which was bearing down on us. All the vehicles behind us were slamming their brakes and honking their horns. I thought for sure we were going to die. Thank god it wasn’t an 80,000 lbs peterbilt bearing down on us, or we would be dead, by the grace of god we’re not. Upon returning home I went onto the Ford truck owners website I belonged to. I came to learn this is a known issue with Ford’s 10-speed transmission that Ford has failed to address. That there are pending lawsuits and that the NHTSA is aware of the issue. One of the member suggested that I file a complaint with the NHTSA, that was my impetus for writing you today. This is a dangerous condition that Ford needs to remedy.

My car has stopped accelerating in the middle of a highway going 75 and wrench light pops up. Ford is looking into it but apparently it needs to be recalled. I hope they extend my warranty. This is so scary. My kids and I almost suffered an accident as our car stopped in the middle of passing on the freeway.

I’ve been having issues from day one with shifting gears, the vehicle makes a loud “thunking” noise and practically stops my vehicle in the middle of the road.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The contact was able to coast to the side of the roadway, and after restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality. The contact stated that the failure had since become a persistent failure. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 43,000.

Transmission is slipping and hard shifting or fails to shift. I noticed it at hot temperatures but does it now constantly. Airbag is starting to come out of the perforation below the Ford symbol on the horn. I'm concerned it will deploy while driving and cause a traffic accident/injury/death.

The 10r80 transmission, even after rebuilt by the dealership continues to shift in unexpected ways (hard shifts, not picking the right gear, hesitation under acceleration). It doesn't happen all the time, and isn't reproduceable at will. When the problem occurs, it is very noticeable. The vehicle will hesitate and not accelerate when pushing on the gas pedal, and then all of a sudden jump forward unexpectedly. The dealership has examined it after the transmission was rebuilt, and states that it is operating normally, but we were unable to duplicate the problem at that time. The next day, it happened again while driving on the highway when merging into traffic. Pressed on the gas pedal, but the car did not accelerate as expected (long hesitation), and then the transmission decided to change gears, and experienced hard shifts to the point the whole car jerks abruptly (this was not because of extreme pressing of the gas pedal). Just normal pressure on the gas pedal, and it will randomly decide how it will shift.

This vehicle continues to exhibit transmission shuddering, slipping, and hesitation during acceleration—despite two full transmission replacements in two years and multiple dealership service visits. These unresolved issues compromise safe operation, especially during highway merging, rapid acceleration, and lane changes. Both dealerships were unable to permanently address the issue after extensive mechanical intervention. Ford has issued multiple technical service bulletins addressing transmission concerns in the 10r80 unit used in the Expedition. The most recent bulletin, TSB 25-2132, revises procedures for harsh and delayed shifting, shudder, and internal hydraulic leakage tied to the cdf clutch drum—which aligns directly with the findings from my own transmission overhaul documented in June 2023. Previous service entries noted suspected internal leakage around the cdf clutch, rpm flare during shifts, gear hesitation, and recurring drivability issues despite component replacement. These match symptoms targeted in prior tsbs, including: TSB 23-2123: harsh engagement and shift delays TSB 24-2101: hydraulic leakage diagnosis linked to clutch cylinder TSB 25-2023: update to inspection and service steps for gear shift quality while dealerships performed repairs and even full transmission replacements, the lack of lasting resolution and repeat issues reflect a broader mechanical defect addressed reactively rather than proactively through these bulletins. Despite awareness at the manufacturer level, I experienced significant delays, financial burden, and ongoing drivability risks. I respectfully request that NHTSA further investigate Ford’s handling of repeated 10r80 transmission failures in the Expedition, particularly concerning the effectiveness of these bulletins in preventing recurrence and mitigating safety impact.

10-speed transmission frequently shifts hard, and sometimes misses a shift entirely resulting in no power for a few seconds while the transmission tries to "find" the right gear. This has occurred in busy intersections which obviously presents a major safety risk. Awkward shifting started about 2 months ago, complete loss of power has occurred 3 times in that time period. Vehicle is currently sitting in a Ford dealership service department awaiting diagnoses and repair since 5/29/23.

Severe transmission slippage/failure at all speeds. Gear disengages randomly during acceleration. No Ford dealer wants to take the responsibility to repair or fix it. Per the dealers, the computer doesn’t log the occurrences. Hard to believe that and hard to believe there is a major class action lawsuit in CA regarding this.