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 40 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500
Complaints
40
Recalls
0
Crashes
0
Avg fix
$2,500
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 addressed…
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 f…
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 befor…
Common questions
How serious is the powertrain problem on the 2013 ford Expedition?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 40 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?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
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.
Other problem areas on this vehicle
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. 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.