Some 2009-2017 Expedition/Navigator, 2009-2014 F-150/Mustang, 2008-2009 Sable, 2008-2019 Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2013-2019 Police Interceptor Sedan/Utility, and 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit inoperative or intermittent HVAC blower motor function at various fan speed settings. This may be due to a poor electrical connection at the blower motor speed control. If the blower motor speed control is determined to be the causal part, replacement of the electrical connector pigtail harness (14S411) to the blower motor speed control is also recommended to avoid repeat repairs. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cell 5 for recommended splicing procedures. Refer to Wiring Diagram, Cells 54/55 to obtain the se
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Ford Expedition engine problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Ford Expedition have filed 5 NHTSA complaints about the engine at roughly $3,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See engine across all vehicles →
Complaints
5
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$3,100
| Model year | engine complaints |
|---|---|
| 2008 Expedition | 4 |
| 2010 Expedition | 5 |
| 2011 Expedition | 7 |
| 2012 Expedition (this page) | 5 |
| 2013 Expedition | 6 |
| 2014 Expedition | 4 |
| 2015 Expedition | 16 |
| 2016 Expedition | 23 |
When does it fail?
Of the 5 engine complaints filed for the 2012 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA engine complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering engine on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Various vehicles equipped with a 4.6L, 5.4L, 6.8L modular 3 valve engine built on or before 8-Jan-2016 may exhibit symptoms that may include upper end engine noise, rough running, misfire and/or engine damage. If diagnosis leads to only camshaft/camshaft roller follower(s) requiring replacement, replace all of the camshaft roller followers on both banks/cylinder heads with part number 3L3Z-6564-A, not just the faulty roller follower(s). When replacing the camshaft roller followers, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-01.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES, A NEW WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT ENGINE OIL DYE IS AVAILABLE. WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 303-00 HAS BEEN REVISED TO REFERENCE THE NEW WHITE-COLORED DYE. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE PROVIDES A DISTINCT WHITE GLOW TO IDENTIFY ENGINE OIL LEAKS. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE REQUIRES A PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP. THE WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT DYE AND PURE UV LAMP ARE NOW IN THE ROTUNDA CATALOG. DYE AND LAMP PART NUMBERS. GASOLINE ONLY DYE: 1 OUNCE BOTTLE 164-TP-33200601. DIESEL ONLY DYE: 8 OUNCE BOTTLE: 164-TP-3320-0008. PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP 164-TP8695 OR 164-R3748.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗The Powertrain Control/Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) manual has been revised for diagnosing electronic throttle bodies (ETBs). The ETC_ACT and ETC_DSD PIDs should not used to diagnose possible ETB concerns. The IDS has a limited refresh rate when reading these PIDs and cannot display quickly enough to validate a concern. The PCM automatically monitors these inputs more accurately and will set diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) when appropriate. Using these PIDs for diagnostics will lead to inaccurate results and improper ETB replacements. If a concern is intermittent and no DTCs are present, refer to historical DTCs and the PC/ED, Section 3 No DTCs Present Index chart for further information.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Car was driving fine and then it stopped accelerating, wouldn't change gears or go over 20mph. We brought it to our local repair shop who thought it was the timing chain. We then had it towed to the Ford dealer (koons in falls church, va) they said that it is a problem with low oil pressure and the engine has been affected. They gave us an estimate of $11,000 to repair (needs a new engine). The…
While driving my 2012 expedition 45 - 60 MPH, the vehicle downshifted without warning and stalled more than once and jerked repeatedly. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership twice for the same occurence listed on the recall notification. The dealer claims they "fixed" the problem by installing the new software again. The issue occured again while driving home with my family in the vehicle…
Had engine trouble with your 2012 Ford Expedition?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the engine problem on the 2012 Ford Expedition?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 5 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $3,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the engine typically fail?
Based on the 5 complaints filed, engine issues most often appear around 110,100 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $3,100 for engine repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to engine?
No active recalls currently cover engine issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Ford/Expedition.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.