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 a very dangerous defect!
2013 Ford Expedition powertrain problems
moderate 41 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
41
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 41 powertrain complaints filed for the 2013 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 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
Powertrain accounts for 46% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 8 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 41 powertrain complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
What owners are reporting 8 most recent
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 vehicle would remain in third gear and therefore we couldn't accelerate from a stopped position. This was previously…
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 complete work order with part numbers is available for NHTSA review.
The throttle is erratic. Sometimes acceleration from a stop is smooth and sometimes its as if the throttle is binding against something. Other times the throttle is depressed and nothing happens until the vehicle suddenly lurches forward. The last episode was pulling into a parking place and the engine suddenly went into idle. I mashed the gas more and more and it suddenly almost lurched over the…
Tl* the contact owns a 2013 Ford expedition. The contact stated while driving approximately 10 MPH, a loud banging noise was heard from the front end of the vehicle as the wheels seized. The contact was able to travel at low speed in 2-wheel drive. The vehicle was later towed to an authorized dealer for diagnosis. The technician stated that the front axle shaft was fractured and caused damage to…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the vehicle independently decelerated to 0 MPH. The check engine warning light and the wrench symbol was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the failure was due to a faulty main control valve body in the transmission. The vehicle was repaired; however, the…
The contact owns a 2013 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving 60 MPH, the RMPS were fluctuating, and the vehicle unexpectedly downshifted to second or to third gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact pulled to the side of the road, and then the contact resumed driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the transmission…
Transmission, is available for inspection upon request, trans will downshift to 1st gear causing rear wheels to lock up, speedometer to read zero mph, wrench to be displayed, and dashes across digital display on mph. called dealer and was told out of recall/warranty parameters, as well as ford corporate customer service. No inspection, only verbal verification from dealer. No advance warning…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2013 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 powertrain problem on the 2013 Ford Expedition?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 41 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 27 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 54,500 and 135,000 miles, with the median around 90,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 54,500; a quarter make it past 135,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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/2013/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.