1997 Ford Expedition: what breaks, and at what mileage
What breaks on the 1997 Ford Expedition
On the 1997 Ford Expedition, the failure owners report most often is other suspension problem, and the reports cluster around 100,000 miles. The earliest to appear is other body or interior problem, reported by a median of 90,000 miles. Overall it scores 67 out of 100, high risk for a 1997.
High risk for a 1997 — 69th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. 1,065 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork.
The failures owners actually file about
Owners have reported 73 named failure modes on the 1997 Ford Expedition, and the three most-reported carry 22% of everything filed, which is an unusually even spread for one model year.
Other suspension problem leads with 99 reports, about 0.5 per 1,000 vehicles and with the middle half of reports between 39k to 165,000 miles.
Other body or interior problem follows with 76 reports, usually reported between 74k to 130,000 miles. 1 of those report mention a fire.
Other wheel or tire problem follows with 62 reports, usually reported between 78k to 150,000 miles.
By system, the reports fall mostly into suspension (134), brakes (130) and engine (126).
The mileage the reports cluster at
291 of the reports on the 1997 Ford Expedition came with an odometer reading, and half of those were filed before 119,000 miles.
Cumulatively, 8% by 50,000 miles, 33% by 100,000 miles and 70% by 150,000 miles of the dated reports had been filed, with 20 filed above the top of the chart.
The busiest stretch is between 90,000 and 100,000 miles, which alone holds 10% of the dated reports.
5% of the dated reports were filed below 36,000 miles, so this is mostly a story about older, higher-mileage cars.
In the order they tend to show up: other body or interior problem around 90k, other suspension problem around 99k, loss of braking around 102k and other electrical problem around 112k.
Tick median reported mileage Solid middle half of reports Faint 10th to 90th percentile Colour how bad the failure is when it happens
Showing the 12 most-reported failure modes of 73. The full list is in the table below.
How reports accumulate
Every report with an odometer reading, cumulative, from 0 to 200,000 miles. A further 20 reports came in above that, which is why the line stops short of the top. A curve that climbs early is a car with early problems, whatever its total.
- Line share of reports filed by that mileage
- Dashed the median reported mileage
How bad it is when it goes
Across the named modes, 62 mention a crash, 82 a fire, 45 an injury and 6 a fatality. Those are the words owners used in their own complaints, and NHTSA does not verify them, but they are the closest thing in this data to a measure of what a failure actually did.
The average severity weight across every report on this year is 4.94, where a stalled engine or a failed airbag weighs many times more than a rattling trim panel, and a figure this high means the reports are dominated by failures with safety consequences rather than annoyances. The weighting is set out in full on the methodology page.
What the top failures cost to put right, as editorial estimates for an independent US shop rather than figures from NHTSA: other suspension problem at $350–$2,000, other body or interior problem at $200–$2,000, other wheel or tire problem at $200–$1,500 and steering rack, gear or tie rod failure at $700–$2,600. Dealer labour, a seized bolt or a part that is no longer made can push any of these past the top of its range.
19% of the reports on this year sit in the engine, transmission, drivetrain or cooling systems — the four where a repair bill is usually four figures.
Every reported failure mode
| Failure mode | System | Reports | With reading | 25th | Median | 75th | Per 1,000 | Typical repair | Severity |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Other suspension problem | suspension | 99 | 12 | 39k | 99k | 166k | 0.5 | $350–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other body or interior problem | body | 76 | 20 | 74k | 90k | 130k | 0.4 | $200–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Other wheel or tire problem | wheels | 62 | 9 | 78k | 130k | 150k | 0.3 | $200–$1,500 | High |
| Steering rack, gear or tie rod failure | steering | 61 | 5 | — | 106k | — | 0.3 | $700–$2,600 | High |
| Other electrical problem | electrical | 58 | 24 | 98k | 112k | 143k | 0.3 | $250–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Misfire or rough idle | engine | 56 | 46 | 92k | 114k | 159k | 0.3 | $250–$1,600 | Moderate |
| ABS module or sensor failure | brakes | 51 | 6 | — | 112k | — | 0.3 | $500–$2,400 | High |
| Other powertrain problem | transmission | 46 | 13 | 107k | 130k | 143k | 0.2 | $400–$4,500 | High |
| Cruise control failure | adas | 43 | 21 | 93k | 118k | 165k | 0.2 | $200–$1,400 | High |
| Other engine problem | engine | 41 | 17 | 117k | 150k | 178k | 0.2 | $300–$4,000 | High |
| Other speed control problem | adas | 38 | 7 | — | 120k | — | 0.2 | $250–$2,000 | Critical |
| Other steering problem | steering | 36 | 3 | — | 192k | — | 0.2 | $350–$2,400 | High |
| Control arm, ball joint or bushing failure | suspension | 30 | 1 | — | 175k | — | 0.2 | $400–$2,200 | High |
| Other visibility problem | glass | 27 | 3 | — | 98k | — | 0.1 | $150–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Loss of braking | brakes | 25 | 8 | 90k | 102k | 120k | 0.1 | $400–$3,000 | Critical |
| Other brake problem | brakes | 23 | 5 | — | 122k | — | 0.1 | $300–$1,800 | High |
| Wiper or washer failure | glass | 17 | 3 | — | 48k | — | 0.1 | $120–$800 | Moderate |
| Seat belt or retractor failure | airbag | 16 | 1 | — | 125k | — | 0.1 | $200–$900 | High |
| Fuel tank, filler or EVAP failure | fuel | 14 | 8 | 101k | 190k | 260k | 0.1 | $250–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Other lighting problem | lighting | 13 | 4 | — | 117k | — | 0.1 | $120–$1,200 | Moderate |
| CV axle or driveshaft failure | drivetrain | 12 | 3 | — | 134k | — | 0.1 | $450–$2,200 | High |
| Tire blowout or tread separation | wheels | 12 | 3 | — | 156k | — | 0.1 | $200–$1,500 | Critical |
| Differential or transfer case failure | drivetrain | 11 | 3 | — | 55k | — | 0.1 | $900–$4,200 | High |
| Piston, ring or cylinder wall damage | engine | 10 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.1 | $3,000–$9,500 | Critical |
| Brake line, hose or caliper failure | brakes | 9 | 5 | — | 114k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,600 | Critical |
| Parking brake failure | brakes | 9 | 2 | — | 110k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Wheel, stud or lug nut failure | wheels | 9 | 1 | — | 120k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,500 | Critical |
| Steering column or shaft failure | steering | 8 | 4 | — | 95k | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,500 | Critical |
| No-start or intermittent start failure | engine | 7 | 2 | — | 136k | — | 0.0 | $200–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Wiring harness or short circuit | electrical | 7 | 3 | — | 180k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Master cylinder or brake booster failure | brakes | 7 | 5 | — | 172k | — | 0.0 | $450–$2,200 | Critical |
| Airbag failed to deploy in a crash | airbag | 7 | 1 | — | 200k | — | 0.0 | $1,000–$5,000 | Critical |
| Headlight failure or clouding | lighting | 7 | 3 | — | 113k | — | 0.0 | $150–$1,800 | Moderate |
| Control module (ECM/PCM/BCM) failure | electrical | 6 | 1 | — | 119k | — | 0.0 | $700–$3,000 | High |
| Premature brake pad or rotor wear | brakes | 6 | 3 | — | 145k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Engine bay fire | engine | 5 | 3 | — | 140k | — | 0.0 | $4,000–$20,000 | Critical |
| Electrical fire or melted wiring | electrical | 5 | 2 | — | 148k | — | 0.0 | $1,500–$9,000 | Critical |
| Airbag warning light or occupant sensor fault | airbag | 5 | 1 | — | 93k | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,600 | High |
| Other fuel system problem | fuel | 5 | 1 | — | 130k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,200 | High |
| Stalling while driving | engine | 4 | 4 | — | 60k | — | 0.0 | $300–$2,500 | Critical |
| Instrument cluster or gauge failure | infotainment | 4 | 4 | — | 125k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,400 | Moderate |
| Engine sensor failure | electrical | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $180–$900 | Moderate |
| Air suspension failure | suspension | 3 | 1 | — | 92k | — | 0.0 | $900–$4,500 | High |
| Sunroof failure or glass breakage | body | 3 | 2 | — | 171k | — | 0.0 | $700–$4,500 | High |
| Exhaust leak or fumes in the cabin | emissions | 3 | 2 | — | 160k | — | 0.0 | $250–$2,000 | High |
| Tail light, brake light or signal failure | lighting | 3 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $100–$900 | Moderate |
| Complete transmission failure | transmission | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,800–$8,000 | Critical |
| Fuel pump failure | fuel | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,600 | High |
| Starter failure | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 108k | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,300 | Moderate |
| Ignition switch, key fob or immobilizer failure | electrical | 2 | 1 | — | 89k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | High |
| Airbag inflator rupture | airbag | 2 | 2 | — | 190k | — | 0.0 | $0–$0 | Critical |
| Power steering pump or fluid leak | steering | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,600 | Moderate |
| Strut, shock or spring failure | suspension | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $500–$2,000 | Moderate |
| Liftgate, tailgate or trunk failure | body | 2 | 2 | — | 152k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,500 | Moderate |
| Complete engine failure or seizure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $4,500–$12,000 | Critical |
| Head gasket failure | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,400–$4,000 | Critical |
| Engine knock or bearing noise | engine | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $2,500–$9,000 | High |
| Radiator or coolant leak | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,900 | High |
| Overheating | cooling | 1 | 1 | — | 113k | — | 0.0 | $400–$3,500 | High |
| Heater core failure | cooling | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $700–$2,400 | Moderate |
| Transmission slipping | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,200–$5,500 | High |
| Torque converter failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $1,100–$3,200 | High |
| Shifter, linkage or stuck-in-park failure | transmission | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,400 | High |
| Wheel bearing or hub failure | drivetrain | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $350–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Fuel gauge or level sensor failure | fuel | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $300–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Audio or connectivity failure | infotainment | 1 | 1 | — | 129k | — | 0.0 | $150–$900 | Low |
| Loss of power steering | steering | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $600–$2,800 | Critical |
| Door latch or handle failure | body | 1 | 1 | — | 42k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | High |
| Blower motor or climate control failure | hvac | 1 | 1 | — | 69k | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,200 | Moderate |
| Catalytic converter failure | emissions | 1 | 1 | — | 47k | — | 0.0 | $900–$3,500 | Moderate |
| DPF, EGR or DEF system failure | emissions | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $800–$5,000 | High |
| Other seat belt problem | airbag | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $200–$900 | High |
| Other driver assistance problem | adas | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 0.0 | $250–$1,800 | High |
| Unclassified problem | other | 28 | 5 | — | 104k | — | 0.1 | — | Moderate |
Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound. Repair costs are typical independent-shop ranges for the failure, not figures from these reports.
How often, against how many were built
Scaled by an estimate of how many of these cars exist, the 1997 Ford Expedition draws about 5.6 per 1,000 vehicles, which puts it in the 84th percentile of complaint rates among 1997 vehicles we can rate.
That denominator is the weakest number on the page and it is fair to say so plainly. Rate per 1,000 uses a fleet-size estimate derived from recall paperwork for this exact model year. It is a lower bound.
The working figure is 190,000 vehicles. If the true number is twice that, every rate on this page is half what it says; the ranking against other 1997 vehicles, which is what the risk score uses, is far more robust than the rate itself.
What owners wrote
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint narratives, trimmed for length. The odometer reading is the one the owner gave.
Other suspension problem
While driving steering wheel became loose. Was hard to maintain control of vehicle. Took vehicle to dealership. Mechanic indicated that the front stabilizer bar had snapped and needed to be repaired.*ak
Torson bar broke in half and fell off after going over a moderate speed bump at 5-8mph. Metal was sheared in half. Vehicle leaned severely to the right. Could have been tragic - 8 occupants were in the vehicle.
Other body or interior problem
While in the vehicle the consumer could not open the rear doors from the inside although the child safety locks were not engaged. The dealership had been notified. *nlm both of the rear doors could be locked from the inside without the child lock being manually engaged. The rear doors were opened with normal use and was an intermittent problem. *scc *jb
Child safety locks engage locking passenger into vehicle. Passenger is not able to exit vehicle without someone opening the door. Locks are set manually however even if they are set to off, once the door is closed it locks itself. It happened on both doors equipted with child safety locks. First on one side, then on the other. *ak
Other wheel or tire problem
The spare tire retention cable failed, causing the spare tire to fall out of the bottom of my 1997 ford expedition. This happened under normal highway driving conditions on a busy section of road. There fortunately were no vehicles following at the time or there most assuredly would have been an accident. *ak
The spare tire of my 1997 ford expedition (truck) is normally threaded with a wire rope and winched up into place beneath the back of the expedition. It works well and is easier to use than the traditional bolt/plate. However, in january 2005,my wife was driving on grant road a major street in tucson arizona and the wire rope broke and the tire flew off from beneath our expedition and bounced wildly down the road. Fortunately nothing and no one hit the tire; but there was potential for a very serious accident if it had been hit by one or more cars. Traffic stopped and my wife went back and retrieved the errant tire from the middle of three lanes. I do not know if the cable was corroded; but living in a dry climate of the arizona desert I do not believe this was the case. There was no rust of any kind I could see. I believe ford motor company should notify truck owners to inspect the cable for defects. We were very lucky that a lot of damage wasn't done to other vehicles or humans. *jb
Recalls on the 1997 model year
NHTSA has issued 9 recall campaigns covering the 1997 Ford Expedition, affecting an estimated 657,989 vehicles. A recall is a different kind of evidence from a complaint: it is the regulator and the manufacturer agreeing that something has to be fixed, and the fix is free for as long as the car exists.
The campaigns cover exterior lighting:headlights, exterior lighting, vehicle speed control and steering:gear box:shaft sector. Whether the work was actually done on the car in front of you is a question only the VIN can answer, and the manufacturer or NHTSA will answer it free.
Recalls also distort complaint counts. Publicity about a campaign reminds owners that complaining is possible, so reports for a recalled component often spike after the recall rather than before it.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
19,413 vehicles 2006-08-01- Defect
- Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 331-1129l-asn and 331-1129r-asn, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
- Consequence
- Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Maxzone will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on july 28, 2006. Owners may contact maxzone at 909-822-3288.
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
87,745 vehicles 2006-06-29- Defect
- Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
- Consequence
- Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
- Remedy
- Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
4,500,000 vehicles 2005-09-07- Defect
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
- Consequence
- A fire at the switch could occur.
- Remedy
- By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible…
STEERING:GEAR BOX:SHAFT SECTOR
171,446 vehicles 2003-05-27- Defect
- On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
- Consequence
- This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ford at…
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
20,637 vehicles 2000-06-19- Defect
- Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
- Consequence
- The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
- Remedy
- Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
TRAILER HITCHES
565,800 vehicles 2000-03-07- Defect
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
- Consequence
- The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
WHEELS:LUGS/NUTS/BOLTS/STUDS
1,520,000 vehicles 1998-05-13- Defect
- Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
- Consequence
- This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- Remedy
- Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
866,000 vehicles 1997-10-07- Defect
- Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
- Consequence
- The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
- Remedy
- Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
SUSPENSION:REAR
25,000 vehicles 1996-12-18- Defect
- The rear axle track bar bracket can separate from the frame due to missing welds or inadequate weld penetration.
- Consequence
- If both brackets separate, the rear axle can move laterally until the tires contact either the frame or the wheelhouse resulting in either tire damage or a significant reduction in vehicle handling performance.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a track bar bracket reinforcement kit and inspection of the axle tubes. The suspect axle tubes do not have a stamped date code on the tube. Axles without date codes on the tubes will be replaced.
Recall work is free at a franchised dealer regardless of the car's age. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before assuming it was done.
How it ranks in the 1997 field
The score at the top of the page, placed among its peers. The zones are the same thresholds the scorer applies, read out of the scorer itself, so the picture and the band word cannot disagree.
Scores are ranked within the model year, never across years, because an older car has had longer to accumulate reports.
- Left fewer and less serious reports
- Right more, or worse
- Marker this vehicle
How 1997 compares with the other years
High risk for a 1997 — 69th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. The comparison is always within the same model year, so an older car is never penalised for having had longer to break.
Across the 30 model years of this car that carry enough reports to score, 2026 comes out best at 58 and 2003 worst at 78, with 1997 itself at 67.
If the model year is negotiable, 2026 and 2014 score lower than 1997 by a margin worth acting on. Same body, same engines, different luck — usually a supplier change or a mid-cycle fix, which the complaint data can show but never explain.
Within the 1996–2002 generation specifically, 2000 is the strongest year at 65 and 1997 the weakest at 67.
Scores compare each year against other cars of the same model year, so a low number on an older car is a real result and not an artefact of age.
Shorter is better. Years with too few reports to score are shown without a bar rather than as a zero, because no data is not good news.
Within the 1996-2002 generation, 2000 Ford Expedition scores best at 65 and 1997 Ford Expedition worst at 67.
Where to spend the inspection money
The mileages below are where the first quarter of reports for each mode had already been filed, which makes them the point at which a fault is worth looking for rather than the point at which it happens: other suspension problem from about 39k, other body or interior problem from about 74k, other wheel or tire problem from about 78k and loss of braking from about 90k.
On a 1997 Ford Expedition with more miles than that on it, the useful question to put to a seller or a mechanic is whether other suspension problem has been dealt with, and if so with what parts and at whose expense. A car that has already had the repair is in a different position from one that has not.
None of this is a diagnosis. It is a list of what other owners of the same model year reported, ordered by when they reported it, which is a good place to point an inspection and a poor place to stop.
What this page cannot tell you
1,065 owner reports; fleet size estimated from this year's own recall paperwork. Every count on this page is therefore a floor: it is the number of owners who went to the trouble of filing with a federal agency, which is a small and self-selected fraction of the owners who had the fault.
Of those 1,065 reports, 291 carried an odometer reading, so the mileages here describe 27% of the sample rather than all of it. Owners also round: readings pile up on multiples of ten thousand, which is why this site publishes "about 90,000 miles" and not "91,438".
Named failure modes come from matching phrases in the complaint text, so a badly worded complaint can land in the wrong bucket. The effect washes out across hundreds of reports and does not wash out across five.
And nothing here predicts what one car will do. These are other people's complaints, filed years apart, on cars maintained by strangers. Read the page as a map of where this model year has previously gone wrong, then have the specific car in front of you inspected.
Questions this page answers
What are the most common problems with the 1997 Ford Expedition?
The most-reported failures are other suspension problem (99 reports, median 100,000 miles), other body or interior problem (76 reports, median 90,000 miles) and other wheel or tire problem (62 reports, median 130,000 miles). Counts come from owner complaints filed with NHTSA, which are voluntary, so they show what owners bothered to report rather than every fault that occurred.
At what mileage do 1997 Ford Expedition problems start?
Other body or interior problem is the earliest failure mode to show up, with a median reported mileage of 90,000 miles and a quarter of reports before 75,000 miles. Across all failure modes on this year, the median report sits at 119,000 miles.
Is the 1997 Ford Expedition reliable?
It scores 67 out of 100 on our risk index, which is high — 69th riskiest of the 243 1997 vehicles we can rate. The score is a comparison against other 1997 vehicles, not a prediction about any individual car, and it is built from complaint rates, severity and how early failures appear.
Which year of the Ford Expedition is best?
Within the 1996–2002 generation, 2000 scores best at 65 out of 100 and 1997 worst at 67. Same body, same engines, different luck.
Where this comes from. Every figure above is computed from NHTSA owner complaints and recall records for this exact make, model and year. Complaints are voluntary and self-selected, so treat counts as a floor. The methodology page writes out each formula, and the same numbers are available as JSON.
What breaks at my mileage Compare with another car
Source Owner complaints and recall records published by the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, model years 1996–2027 Figures rebuilt Published by AtWhatMileage How every figure is computed