Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Ford Expedition powertrain problems
severe 27 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
2crashes
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 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.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering powertrain 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.
During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical. Incorrect torque may allow the bolt to loosen resulting in the timing gear breaking and engine damage. Replacement of the bolt is critical to the repair and accurately following the installation procedure in the Workshop Manual (WSM) Section, 303-01 is extremely important. The bolt torque procedure can be found in the crankshaft front seal removal and installation procedure or in the engine assembly procedure.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2003-2020 Expedition/Navigator and 2006-2020 F-150 (non-Raptor) vehicles equipped with 4WD may exhibit grinding/clicking/ratcheting noise from the front wheel area. This may be due to partial engagement of the integrated wheel ends (IWE). To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure to remove and cap the vacuum supply line or to reprogram the transfer case control module (TCCM) and replace any worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2013-2018 F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles equipped with four wheel drive (4WD) may exhibit an intermittent grinding noise while driving in two wheel drive (2WD) mode most commonly on acceleration. This may be due to a loss of vacuum to the integrated wheel end (IWE) actuators and/or wear of the IWE components. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the worn vacuum and/or IWE components.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2015 Expedition powertrain exhibits multiple failure modes, several of which create immediate safety hazards.
Transmission cooler line rupture is the most catastrophic reported failure. Owners towing or driving at highway speeds report sudden complete power loss after a wrench warning light appears; the transmission cooling line ruptures, draining all transmission fluid within seconds. One owner was coasting on a freeway at 65+ mph with passengers when this happened; another's repair bill reached $9,000. Both shops confirmed the lines should last the vehicle's life.
Electronic throttle body failure (code P2112) is widespread. Owners lose all acceleration power while the engine idles roughly; a wrench light appears and the vehicle enters limp mode at 1–5 mph. Restarting engine restores power temporarily. One owner replaced the throttle body twice at the same mileage intervals. The Louisville Kentucky Truck Plant produced units affected by Ford recall 16B32.
Transmission loss of power and limp mode strikes at both highway and city speeds. Vehicle speed drops to 1–5 mph with wrench warning; restart restores power briefly, then failure recurs. Dealers often find no fault codes despite multiple episodes.
Unexpected downshifts happen randomly—one owner went from 6th to 3rd gear while passing, causing power loss and transmission stuck in a low gear. A separate owner's downshift at 58 mph during cruise control operation caused engine over-rev and catastrophic engine failure.
Park engagement failure results in vehicles rolling away while parked. One shifted from park to neutral on its own and rolled backward down a hill into a building. Dealers cannot reproduce or diagnose the issue consistently.
Rear axle seal failure occurs on brand-new vehicles (under one month old), causing differential damage and extended parts unavailability.
Same Ford Expedition powertrain reports on nearby years: 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017
Failure modes owners describe
Transmission cooler line rupture
Transmission cooling lines rupture while driving, causing rapid oil loss and total transmission failure. Owners report sudden power loss while towing or at highway speeds, with wrench warning light appearing seconds before vehicle loses all propulsion.
When: 8–101k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Wrench warning light appears; Sudden complete loss of engine power while driving; Vehicle coasts to a stop; Transmission oil gushes out rapidly
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission cooler line replacement; one case cited $9,000 total transmission replacement cost.
Electronic throttle body malfunction (P2112)
Electronic throttle body becomes unresponsive or stuck closed, causing sudden loss of acceleration power while engine remains running at rough idle. Vehicle enters limp mode with wrench and check-engine lights. Restarting engine typically restores power temporarily. Owners report this is a repeated failure—some replaced throttle body twice.
When: 55k–135k miles; one case replaced at 74k, failed again
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration ability; Wrench light and 'see manual' warning; Check engine light illuminated; Vehicle enters limp mode; only coasting possible; Engine running at poor, rough idle; Restarting engine restores power temporarily
Codes mentioned: P2112
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic throttle body replacement (~$700 per owner); one owner replaced twice.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some owners referenced Ford recall campaign 16B32 related to defective electronic throttle bodies from the Louisville Kentucky Truck Plant.
Transmission loss of power / limp mode
Vehicle suddenly loses power while driving at highway or city speeds, entering limp mode (speed restricted to 1–5 mph). Wrench symbol appears. Power and normal operation restored after restarting engine, but problem recurs. No consistent diagnostic codes appear on subsequent dealer visits.
When: Varies; one case 55k, others 87k–138k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loss of acceleration and power; Wrench symbol on dashboard; Vehicle speed drops to 1–5 mph (limp mode); Engine running but unresponsive to throttle; Repeated episodes after restart; No fault codes displayed at dealership despite multiple occurrences
Transmission downshift without operator input
Transmission downshifts unexpectedly and abruptly while driving, sometimes multiple gears at once (6th to 3rd, 3rd to 1st). Service transmission light may illuminate. Vehicle loses power during downshift. Problem resolves temporarily after restart but recurs.
When: 87k–190k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden unintended downshift; Loss of power during downshift; Service transmission light on and off; Transmission stuck in lower gear; Vehicle vibration during shifting; Problem recurs after restart
Park/neutral gear engagement failure
Vehicle rolls away while parked and shifted into park. In at least one case, vehicle shifted from park to neutral on its own and rolled backward. Dealers unable to reproduce issue or find root cause.
When: 90k–138k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls away while in park; Vehicle shifts from park to neutral without operator input; No warning lights illuminated; Failure intermittent and difficult to reproduce
Repairs/costs cited: One mechanic temporarily removed gear shifter assembly module; excessive battery drain ceased, suggesting electrical fault in shifter module.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturers referred one owner to NHTSA hotline. One owner related failure to NHTSA Campaign 22V413000 (Powertrain).
Transmission power converter failure
Transmission hesitates and slips under acceleration. Excessive vibration at highway speeds. Diagnosed as transmission power converter failure that resulted in timing chain damage.
When: 135k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission hesitation during acceleration; Transmission slipping; Excessive vibration at highway speeds; Check engine warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission power converter failure; timing chain damaged.
Rear axle seal failure with differential damage
Rear axle seal fails prematurely on new vehicle, causing loss of differential lubricating fluid and damage to the differential. Owners report whistling or whining noise with acceleration.
When: Less than one month old (new vehicle)
Symptoms owners cite: Whistling or whining noise during acceleration
Repairs/costs cited: Rear axle seal and differential replacement; dealer unable to repair for 3–6 weeks due to parts unavailability.
Transmission wheel speed sensor failure
Wheel speed sensor failure causes transmission to downshift inadvertently while driving. Service transmission warning light cycles on and off.
When: 87k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Transmission inadvertently downshifts; Service transmission warning light on and off
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel speed sensor replacement.
Engine catastrophic failure from transmission downshift event
While using cruise control to reduce speed from 58 mph to 50 mph, transmission downshifts drastically, causing engine to over-rev and result in blown engine and catastrophic engine failure.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Drastic unintended downshift during cruise control operation; Engine over-revving; Blown engine / catastrophic engine failure
Repairs/costs cited: Engine replacement required.
Transmission control module (TCM) random gear shifting
Vehicle shifts in and out of gears randomly while driving at highway and city speeds without warning lights. Owner suspects TCM failure; notes similar warranty issues for this part on Ford Fiesta and Focus models.
When: Passed inspection; exact mileage undisclosed
Symptoms owners cite: Random shifting in and out of gears while driving; No warning lights on dashboard; Occurs at both highway and city speeds; Intermittent nature makes problem unpredictable
Dashboard goes blank during transmission slip
Dashboard instrument cluster goes blank while driving, followed immediately by transmission slipping out of gear. Vehicle cannot transfer gears properly. Problem difficult to diagnose; dealer recommends transmission replacement.
When: Undisclosed mileage
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard goes blank while driving; Transmission slips out of gear; Vehicle does not transfer gears; Intermittent, difficult to reproduce
Repairs/costs cited: Transmission replacement recommended by dealer.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
The vehicle dashboard goes blank while driving, followed by the vehicle transmission slipping out of gear. This vehicle can be made available; however, it does not transfer gears. The problem has not been satisfactorily reproduced or diagnosed. The Ford service department simply stated that I needed a new transmission. The dashboard goes blank.
I was driving and going around 45mph when the wrench warning light came on and I lost the ability to accelerate. The car could only coast. I was able to coast to a parking lot. I turned off the car and restarted it. It seemed fine so I drove home. The same thing happened again a couple of days later. We checked the codes and it had a p2112 error code. We replaced the throttle body and it seems…
Had powertrain trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Ford Expedition?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 18 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 50,000 and 104,096 miles, with the median around 77,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 50,000; a quarter make it past 104,096. 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/2015/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.