37 complaints reported

2004 Ford Expedition Engine

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
37
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
1

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Nov 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle shut down completely, and the warning messages indicated check gage and check service engine. The contact was able to pull over on the side of the road. The dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 127,708.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2022
May 2022

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle was jerking. The contact stated that one spark plug exploded and then another spark plug exploded and went through the cylinder head. The contact called the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the spark plug was replaced. The manufacturer was notified and referred the contact to the NHTSA for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 87,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2022
Jul 2021

The contact owns a 2004 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle lost motive power without warning and the steering wheel became difficult to steer on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, but the failure could not be replicated. The throttle was replaced however, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 216,000. The Vin was not available.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2021
Jun 2020 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE VEHICLE WAS IN A STAND STILL THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING OIL ON THE MUFFLER SYSTEM AND STARTER. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED WHILE DRIVING 25 MPH, A BURNING ODOR WAS DETECTED COMING FROM THE MUFFLER AREA. THE CONTACT STATED THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED A LOCAL DEALER WAS CONTACTED HOWEVER THE FAILURE HAD NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HEAD GASKET WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE OCCURRED AT 75,000 MILES AND HE REPLACED THE HEAD GASKET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE AND REFERRED THE CONTACT TO NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 210,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2020
Feb 2017

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING AND WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE THE ISSUE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2016
Nov 2016

SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF BLOCK: OUT OF NOWHERE, MY SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE BLOCK ON MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. MY CAR DROVE PERFECTLY FINE COMING HOME FROM WORK. I PARKED IT IN THE DRIVEWAY AND A SHORT TIME LATER WENT OUT, STARTED IT TO LEAVE AND IT POPPED AND HAD A LOW RUMBLING SOUND AND A BURNING SMELL. THREADS POSSIBLY STRIPPED.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2016
Jan 2016

WITHOUT WARNING AND WHILE DRIVING, ENGINE JUST QUITS, LOSS OF POWER STEERING, BRAKES AND TRAFFIC, VERY DANGEROUS. SECOND TIME....PROBLEM NOT FOUND.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2016
Oct 2015

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON MULTIPLE OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE RELAY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 198,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2014
Jan 2015

I HAVE A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION WHICH RANDOMLY SHUTS OFF WHILE DRIVING. THIS HAS BEEN HAPPENING WITH MORE FREQUENCY. I HAVE TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO TWO MECHANICS WHO TESTED AND ATTEMPTED TO DIAGNOSE HOWEVER THEY WERE NOT ABLE TO REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. UPON READING AND RESEARCHING ONLINE, THERE HAVE BEEN MULTIPLE POSTS ABOUT THIS BEING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE FORD EXPEDITION LINE. I CONTACTED FORD AND EXPLAINED OF THIS MAJOR SAFETY CONCERN AND THEY ONLY ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAS NO RECALL AND THEY COLLECTED MY INFORMATION TO PROVIDE TO NHTSA. MY SON USES THIS VEHICLE FOR SCHOOL AND THE VEHICLE HAS A SAFETY CONCERN WHICH CAN NOT BE DIAGNOSED BY CERTIFIED MECHANICS AND FORD HAS TAKEN IS NOT TAKEN ANY RESPONSIBILITY OR ATTEMPTED TO RECTIFY. I HOPE SOMEONE DOES NOT HAVE TO DIE DUE TO THIS GROSS NEGLIGENCE, ESPECIALLY MY SON. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2015
Aug 2014 Fire

I WAS PULLING OFF FROM A STOP SIGN AND BEFORE I GOT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION MY CAR MAKE A POP AND THEN THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT BLEW. I PULLED OVER AND A SPARK PLUG POPPED OUT OF THE HEAD CAUSING A SMALL FIRE THAT MELTED HOSES. ESTIMATED DAMAGE IS A MINIMUM OF 1500 FOR JUST THIS PLUG BUT I WAS TOLD THE OTHERS WOULD FOLLOW SUIT. READING ON THE INTERNET THIS SEEMS TO BE A SERIOUS ISSUE WITH THE FORD 5.4 TRITON MOTORS. IF I WAS NOT ABLE TO STAY CALM AND STEER MY VEHICLE CORRECTLY THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A SERIOUS ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE LOST POWER AS IF IT HAD STALLED, AND AS I STATED BEFORE THERE WAS A SMALL FIRE WHEN I LIFTED THE HOOD TO SEE WHAT HAD HAPPENED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2014
Apr 2014 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT HER VEHICLE WAS PARKED AND SMOKE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE HOOD. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE UNKNOWN.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2014
Aug 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 80 MPH WHEN THE CHECK SERVICE WARNING LAMP ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE THEN STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS SAFELY MERGED FROM THE HIGHWAY AND RESTARTED. THE FAILURE BECAME A CONSTANT RECURRENCE AND THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BECAUSE IT COULD NOT BE RESTARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN FOR DIAGNOSIS OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE INCIDENT. THE APPROXIMATE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 189000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2013
Jun 2013

WHILE TRAVELING AT THE POSTED 55MPH SPEED LIMIT, A LOUD POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD COMING FROM THE DRIVER'S SIDE NEAR THE ENGINE WALL. IT WAS LATER DETERMINED THE VEHICLE HAD BLOWN THE #3 SPARK PLUG. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2013
May 2013 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, A POPPING NOISE EMITTED FROM THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER EXITED THE VEHICLE AND NOTICED SMOKE NEAR THE FRONT PASSENGER'S SIDE TIRE AREA. THE VEHICLE THEN BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE DEFECT. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2013
Feb 2013

I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE INTERSTATE WHEN I HEARD A POP FROM THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT & SMELLED GAS FUMES. A SPARK PLUG (PASSENGER SIDE, 3RD PLUG BACK) HAD EJECTED AND RUINED THE COIL. I TOOK IT TO A LOCAL AUTO SERVICE CENTER & THEY IMMEDIATELY KNEW WHAT HAD HAPPENED AS THEY HAVE WORKED ON SEVERAL OF THE FORD 4.6L V8'S WITH THE SAME CONDITION. CHECKED FOR RECALLS & FOUND NOTHING. THIS COULD HAVE SET THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT ON FIRE. THIS IS A PROBLEM THAT HAS TO BE FIXED. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2013
Sep 2012

WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD, TAKING MY SON TO SCHOOL, I HAD A SPARK PLUG BLOW OUT. IMMEDIATELY HAD TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND MY SON WASN'T ABLE TO ATTEND SCHOOL BECAUSE I HAD NO RIDE. I HAVE BEEN READING ONLINE AND THIS IS AN ONGOING PROBLEM WITH FORD AND AM FURIOUS THAT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE TO REMEDY THIS PROBLEM FOR FORD OWNERS. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2012
Jun 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. AFTER STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT NOTICED A KNOCKING SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE. MOMENTS LATER THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEGAN TO VIBRATE ABNORMALLY. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 26,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2012
May 2012

MY FORD EXPEDITION ENGINE RACES WHILE DRIVING BUT MORE IMPORTANTLY WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC SIGNAL THE EXPEDITION ENGINE RAISES AND IF FOOT ISN'T FORCEFULLY PLANTED ON BRAKE AT ALL TIMES IT LUNGES COULD CAUSE ACCIDENT BY REAR ENDING ANY VEHICLE STOPPED IN FRONT OF ME OR PROPERTY DAMAGE TO OTHER VEHICLE AN TO MY OWN. IT FURTHER HAS A HICKUP LIKE NOT GETTING FUEL PROPERLY. THE EXPEDITION HAS BEEN WELL MAINTAINED AND TWO WEEKS AGO HAD A COMPLETE TUNEUP(MY THINKING THAT MIGHT BE WHAT IS CAUSING THE PROBLEM) NOT THE CASE IT HAS CONTINUED TO DO THE RACING ENGINE AND LUNGES. RECENTLY MY SISTER WITH A NEW FORD EXPLORER HAD A CAR ACCIDENT CAUSED BY THE SAME SYMPTOMS OF MY OWN EXPEDITION. THE DAMAGE TO MY EXPEDITION IN THE EVENT OF AN ACIDENT WOULD BE TO REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FRONTEND OF MY VEHICLE. *TT

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2011
Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE NUMBER THREE SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE HEAD GASKET. THE SPARK PLUG RIPPED THE TREADS IN THE SLOT WHERE THE SPARK PLUG WAS LOCATED. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT THE FAILURE WAS A COMMON ISSUE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS ALSO CONTACTED BUT STATED THAT SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NO LONGER UNDER WARRANTY, THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT BE REPAIRED AT THEIR EXPENSE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 107,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2012
Apr 2012 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED BY A NEIGHBOR THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO EXTINGUISH THE FIRE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DESTROYED NOR WAS IT TAKEN FOR INSPECTION OR REPAIRS. THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE WAS UNKNOWN. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 195,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2012
Apr 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION EDDIE BAUER EDITION. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 45 MPH WHEN THE ENGINE FAIL SAFE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 74,000.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2012
Oct 2011

I HAVE A FORD EXPEDITION 2004 ON WHICH I HAVE HAD TO REPLACE THE REAR AIR CONDITIONING UNIT ACTUATOR 3 TIMES SEEMS LIKE THIS IS A FAULTY DESIGN THE REPAIR SHOW CLAIMS THEY REPLACE MANYR CAR A/C UNITSEGULAR BASIS MORE SO THAN MOST OTHER OF THESE ACTUATORS ON A R. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2011
Sep 2011

2003 FORD F250 AND 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. CONSUMER STATES RIGHT REAR SPARK PLUG BLEW OUT OF THE CYLINDER HEAD. THIS HAPPENED ON BOTH VEHICLES *TGW THE CONSUMER WAS INFORMED AN ADAPTER WAS MADE AS A TEMPORARY FIX. ABOUT 500 MILES LATER, THE SAME PROBLEM HAPPENED AGAIN. THE CONSUMER TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A REPAIR SHOP WHERE THE MECHANIC STATED THE HEADS OR ENGINE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF $3000-$4000. *JB

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 2010
Jul 2011 Fire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, HE SMELLED A BURNING ODOR AND NOTICED SMOKE EMITTING FROM THE HOOD AREA. UPON INSPECTING UNDERNEATH THE HOOD, THE CONTACT OBSERVED AN EXCESSIVE AMOUNT OF SMOKE WHICH ORIGINATED FROM THE ENGINE OIL RESERVOIR. THERE WERE NO FLAMES. THE CONTACT ALLOWED THE ENGINE TO COOL FOR A PERIOD OF FOUR HOURS BEFORE OPERATING THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, WHO STATED THAT THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE MODULE WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED; HOWEVER THE ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SENSOR WAS DISCONNECTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,238.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2011
Jul 2011

ON TWO SEPARATE OCCASIONS, WHILE DRIVING MY 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, A SPARK PLUG HAS BEEN EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE. ONE TIME, AT CITY SPEEDS, A SECOND TIME AT 65 MILES PER HOUR. BOTH TIMES, THERE WAS AN INSTANT LOSS OF POWER AND THE SMELL OF GASOLINE FILLED THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. AFTER THE ORIGINAL FAILURE, I TOOK IT TO AN AUTO MECHANIC WHO REPLACED THE SPARK PLUG AND INSTALLED A REPLACEMENT COIL ON PLUG ASSEMBLY. I HAVE NOT YET REPAIRED THE SECOND INCIDENT AS IT OCCURRED LAST NIGHT. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS CONDITION THAT INITIALLY DIDN'T SEEM THAT SIGNIFICANT, BUT AFTER THE TOW TRUCK OPERATOR SAID, THAT HE THOUGHT THERE WAS A RECALL, IT PROMPTED ME TO RESEARCH FURTHER. HIS TOW SERVICE OPERATES IN THE HARRISBURG, PA AREA AND HE CLAIMED THAT HE SEES THIS HAPPEN NEARLY 1-2X/WEEK WITH FORD 5.4L V8 ENGINES. HE SAID, THAT HE'S "SEEN SO MANY OF THEM, THAT THEY'VE GOT TO HAVE A RECALL. *TR

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2004 FORD EXPEDITION, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2011

Trend Over Time

Complaints by year

Quick Summary

The 2004 Ford Expedition has 37 Engine complaints on file. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.