Ford Expedition problems
90 owner complaints with NHTSA, no active recalls. Here's where owners say it breaks.
Solid reliability overall. Common issues are concentrated in a few systems.
Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally.
- No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record
- Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average
Our read of the federal NHTSA complaint and recall record for this exact year and model — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection. How we score.
Top trouble spots 8 categories with 3+ complaints
What owners are saying recent NHTSA-filed complaints · verbatim
While vacationing in virginia I was driving about 60 MPH on a busy highway when the car suddenly shifted into first gear, which very nearly caused a rear end collision by the vehicle behind me. I got the car to a Ford dealership and it was repaired under warranty. Seems like…
The transmission is shifting dangerously. All the lights on the dash are flashing and the speedometer doesn't work. We were driving at highway speed and the transmission shifted into first gear causing an abrupt slowing of the Expedition. When we stopped at a red light the…
Left front strut failed losing charge and causing unsafe steering and suspension movement with less than 31k miles. Right rear strut failed shortly after. Ford states this is a known safety issue but no recall.
At 13,000 miles rear differential started showing signs of failure, Ford stated howl and noise was normal. At 31,000 miles Ford stated there was an issue and ring and pinion had begun to fail. Had it failed while driving the rear end would have most likely locked up. A…
Estimate your repair exposure
Drag to your current mileage. Numbers are derived from this vehicle's complaint history.
Common questions
Is the 2013 Ford Expedition reliable?
Mostly yes. With a reliability score of 7.8 out of 10 based on 90 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2013 Ford Expedition is generally a sound vehicle. The areas to watch are listed in the top problem section above — most are budget items, not deal-breakers.
Should you avoid the 2013 Ford Expedition?
On the NHTSA data, the 2013 Ford Expedition does not need avoiding. Buyable on the data — keep up the usual maintenance and inspect normally. The record behind that call: No systemic severe-failure pattern in the complaint record; Reliability score 7.8/10 — above the segment average. This is our read of the federal complaint and recall data — not a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection.
What's the most common problem on the 2013 Ford Expedition?
Based on NHTSA records, the most-reported issue is powertrain, with 41 complaints filed. Typical failure occurs around 94,843 miles. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop.
What's the most expensive thing that goes wrong?
The powertrain is one of the costlier repair items. Average repair cost runs about $2,500 at an independent shop. Typical failure occurs around 94,843 miles. Catching early warning signs can sometimes extend life by 20–30,000 miles.
How do I check if my Ford Expedition has open recalls?
Paste your VIN into the decoder at the top of this page. We pull live from NHTSA, so you'll see exactly which campaigns apply to your vehicle and whether the dealer has logged the fix. Recall repairs are always free regardless of mileage or warranty status.
Is an extended warranty worth it on a 2013 Ford Expedition?
Math is straightforward: a quality service contract runs $1,800–3,500 over 3 years. With 90 complaints on file and the costliest repair averaging $2,500, one major failure more than pays for it. The catch is reading the contract — many providers exclude wear items and require pre-authorization, so cheaper plans are not always better value.