2019 FORD EXPEDITION Complaints

AT APPROXIMATELY 13K MILES BEGAN EXPERIENCING A STUTTERING OR UNSTEADY ACCELERATION THROUGH 3RD, 4TH, AND 5TH GEARS. DEALER PERFORMED A FACTORY RESET ON VEHICLE CPU AND ADVISED 2K MILES OF LEARNING WERE REQUIRED. NOW AT 19K MILES, UNSTEADY ACCELERATION THROUGH SAME GEARS IS ACCOMPANIED BY A VIBRATION AND GRUMBLING NOISE. THIS NOISE HAS BECOME STEADILY MORE PRONOUNCED AND THE UNSTEADY ACCELERATION IS WORSE.

FORD IS AWARE OF A DESIGN DEFECT THAT CAUSES THE VCT SYSTEM TO WEAR OUT WITHIN A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME IN BRAND NEW EXPEDITIONS. WHEN THE VCT SYSTEM WEARS OUT, THE VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TRANSITIONS INTO "LIMP MODE" , WHICH CAUSES THE VEHICLE TO IMMEDIATELY (UNSAFELY) DECELERATE TO A SPEED OF 15MPH (OR LESS ON HILLS), CREATING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS, PARTICULARLY ON HIGHWAYS AND WHEN TOWING. WE PURCHASED OUR EXPEDITION IN MARCH 2019, BRAND NEW. WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE WITH THE HEAVY DUTY TOW PACKAGE, WHICH PROVIDES TOWING UP TO 9,300LBS. WITHIN A FEW MONTHS, THE VEHICLE BEGAN MAKING A LOUD RATTLE AT START UP, LASTING A FEW SECONDS. WE DILIGENTLY SERVICED THE VEHICLE ONLY AT FORD DEALERSHIPS, WHO ROUTINELY SAID THE RATTLE WAS "FINE" OR "WITHIN SPEC." ON 9/1/2020, WHILE TOWING OUR AIRSTREAM TRAILER (~7,000 LBS) ON INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 86 THROUGH WINDSOR, NY, THE VEHICLE THREW ON THE "WRENCH LIGHT" AND RAPIDLY DECELERATED FROM 55MPH TO 10MPH. WE WERE AT THE BOTTOM OF A LONG INCLINE, IN MODERATELY HEAVY TRAFFIC (65MPH). THERE WAS AN INSUFFICIENT SHOULDER TO STOP WITH OUR TRAILER, SO WE VERY SLOWLY CREPT FOR MILES TO THE NEAREST EXIT. THE CLOSEST FORD DEALERSHIPS REFUSED TO LOOK AT IT. IT WAS EVENTUALLY TOWED TO ONEONTA FORD. DESPITE KNOWING OF TSB 20-2315 (AND ITS PREDECESSORS), FORD CLAIMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS "FINE" AND LIKELY JUST SUFFERED A BAD OIL CHANGE. AFTER SPENDING 12 DAYS WITH OUR VEHICLE, THEY RETURNED IT, PERFORMING ONLY AN OIL CHANGE. THE RATTLE REMAINED AND FORD CLAIMED THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO. ON 10/9/2020, THE VERY NEXT TIME WE ATTEMPTED TO TOW, ON COUNTY HIGHWAY 2, THE VEHICLE AGAIN, ABRUPTLY WENT FROM 55 TO10MPH ON A LONG, SLOW INCLINE IN MODERATE TRAFFIC. WE TURNED AROUND (WITH THE TRAILER) ON A 2 LANE ROAD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED BACK TO FORD, WHO RELUCTANTLY (AFTER WEEKS) REPLACED THE VCT SYSTEM PER TSB 20-2315.

WHILE TRAVELING WITH FAMILY APPROXIMATELY 80 MILES FROM OUR HOME VEHICLE LOST ENGINE POWER AND DROPPED FROM 75 TO ABOUT 55, EXPEDITION THEN STARTED TO HAVE TROUBLE SHIFTING AND COULD NOT PASS 60 MPH. WE WERE TRAVELING UPHILL ON FREEWAY AND HAD DRIVE MODE IN ECO ONCE WE STARTED HAVING ISSUES WRENCH CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND THE DISPLAY NOTIFIED ME THAT DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE. ONCE WE PULLED OFF THE FREEWAY TRANSMISSION HAD TROUBLE SWITCHING FROM 3RD TO ABOUT 5TH, I WAS ABLE TO SHIFT GEARS BY RELEASING GAS PEDAL AND PRESSING GAS PEDAL AGAIN. WAS ABLE TO GET SUV BACK HOME FOLLOWING DAY ALL LIGHTS WERE CLEAR BUT STILL TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP, THE DEALERSHIP IS STILL TROUBLE SHOOTING ISSUE BUT THIS SEEMS TO BE THE SECOND SUV TO DO HAVE THIS KIND OF PROBLEM.

CAUGHT FIRE AFTER USING FACTORY INSTALLED REMOTE STARTER. A FEW DAYS PRIOR TO THE FIRE, THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, AFTER THE CRUISE CONTROL STOPPED WORKING, WE RECEIVED TWO WARNING LIGHTS ON THE DASH DISPLAY, SERVICE ADVANCE TRAC AND HILL DECENT CONTROL FAULT. I TOOK PHOTOS OF THE DASH WARNING AND ATTEMPTED TO SCHEDULE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WITH THE DEALERSHIP, HOWEVER THE FIRE OCCURRED BEFORE WE COULD GET IT SERVICED. FORD SENT THEIR FIRE INVESTIGATORS TO INSPECT VEHICLE, BUT WE NEVER RECEIVED ANY EXPLANATION FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FIRE OR A COPY OF THEIR FINDINGS. THE FIRE NOT ONLY DESTROYED THE EXPEDITION, BUT ALSO CAUGHT OUR ATTACHED GARAGE ON FIRE, WHICH CAUSED US TO ALSO LOOSE ANOTHER VEHICLE ALONG WITH THE MAJORITY OF OUR HOUSE HOLD CONTENTS. THIS FIRE OCCURRED ON AN EARLY MORNING WHILE MOST OF OUR FAMILY WAS SLEEPING. WE COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED! IN ADDITION TO THE PHOTOS ATTACHED, I ALSO TOOK A BRIEF VIDEO OF THE FIRE AS THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ARRIVING ON SCENE.

FOLLOWED SEMI INTO DEALER SERVICE PARKING LOT. SEMI TURNED LEFT SO MOVED FORWARD TO JOIN LINE OF CARS INTO SERVICE BAY. WHILE COMING TO STOP, SEMI ON LEFT BACKED UP AND COMING RIGHT FOR ME. AT MY STOPPING, AUTO ENGINE SHUT OFF TURNED OFF ENGINE AS WAS TRYING TO SHIFT TO REVERSE. BY TIME ENGINE TURNED BACK ON, ACKNOWLEDGED REVERSE, ENGAGED REVERSE, RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR BEING PUSHED, GEAR ENGAGED, THE TRUCK WAS ABOUT TO HIT ME AS DRIVER DID NOT SEE ME. LUCKILY DRIVER NOTICED AND SLAMMED ON BRAKES. BY THIS TIME, VEHICLE WAS STILL TRYING TO MOVE SO IF TRUCK DID NOT STOP, I WOULD HAVE BEEN HIT. AUTO STOP OF ENGINE IS A DANGEROUS FEATURE. WHILE MAY WORK AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, IN A SITUATION REQUIRING QUICK RESPONSE, TOO MANY STEPS TO TURN VEHICLE ON AND ENGAGE A CHANGE OF DIRECTION. FORD HAS A FEATURE TO TURN OFF MANUALLY, BUT SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO TURN OFF ALL THE TIME. IF VEHICLE SHUTS DOWN IN EMERGENCY SITUATION AS THIS, A PERSON COULD BE KILLED. THIS EVENT WAS VIEWED BY SEVERAL PEOPLE AND ALL I COULD SAY WAS COULD NOT MOVE AS VEHICLE DID NOT RESPOND QUICKLY ENOUGH. EMISSIONS ARE NOT MORE IMPORTANT TO PEOPLE'S LIVES AND THIS FEATURE NEEDS TO BE REMOVED OR ALLOWED TO BE OVERRIDDEN.

VEHICLE WAS BOUGHT NEW FROM A DEALERSHIP MID DECEMBER, DUE TO SECOND SET OF TWINS DUE MID MARCH. ATTEMPTED TO HAVE GRACO 4EVER CHILD CAR SEATS INSTALLED BY SAFE KIDS (ORGANIZATION TO KEEP KIDS SAFE) BUT INSPECTION FAILED DUE TO 3RD ROW SEATING HEADREST ENGINEERING DESIGN MAJOR DEFECT. 3RD ROW ELECTRIC FOLD DOWN SEATS DO NOT ALLOW FOR HEADREST REMOVAL EXCEPT FOR THE MIDDLE SEAT LEAVING EXCESSIVE SPACE BETWEEN SEAT AND BACK OF FORWARD FACING CAR SEAT MAKING IT UNSAFE AS THERE IS NO CONTACT BETWEEN SEAT AND CAR SEAT. CORPORATE FORD WAS CONTACTED BY PHONE 5X REGARDING THIS ISSUE AND THEY ARE UNABLE TO HELP IN THIS SITUATION AS SEATS ARE "FUNCTIONING NORMALLY" PER MANUFACTURER SPECIFICATIONS. WITH LESS THAN 3 WKS BEFORE THE DUE DATE APPROACHING, WE SCRAMBLED AND BROUGHT THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP IN WHICH THEY INDICATED IT IS ILLEGAL FOR AN ADULT TO RIDE IN A VEHICLE WITHOUT A HEADREST AND THEY WERE SHOCKED IN THE POOR DESIGN. FORD NEEDS THEIR ENGINEERING TEAM TO IMMEDIATELY RESOLVE THIS ISSUE, AS ANOTHER COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH NHTSA IN JANUARY REGARDING THIS SAME ISSUE. THEY NEED TO COVER THE COST TO HAVE DEALERSHIP REMOVE THE HEADRESTS MANUALLY ($600 ESTIMATE) BY TEARING APART THE SEATS OR HAVE A LIST OF FORWARD FACING CAR SEATS THAT ACTUALLY WORK FOR THE 3RD ROW IN WHICH THE COST TO US WOULD PROBABLY BE A WASH FOR NEW SEATS IF THERE ARE ANY THAT WORK FOR IT! THIS IS NOT A FAMILY VEHICLE FOR ANYONE STILL IN CAR SEATS OR BOOSTERS AND THERE IS NO WAY I WOULD HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE KNOWING THIS AHEAD OF TIME BY READING A PREVIOUS COMPLAINT ON THE MATTER. $80K VEHICLE THAT SEATS A FAMILY OF 5 WITH TODDLERS NOT 6 OR GREATER.

CHILD IN A CAR SEAT IN SECOND ROW CAPTAIN'S CHAIR. CHILD WAS ABLE TO HIT BUTTON THAT COLLAPSES SEAT FORWARD - ALL WHILE THE CAR WAS MOVING (ON A HIGHWAY AT 65 MPH) AND CHILD WAS IN CAR SEAT IN SEAT. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. SEE PICTURES. PEOPLE BUY LARGE VEHICLES LIKE EXPEDITIONS MAINLY BECAUSE OF USE WITH CHILDREN. AS SOON AS THAT BUTTON IS HIT, THE SEAT COLLAPSES AND THE CAR SEAT BELT PLACES ENORMOUS PRESSURE ON A CHILD. I WOULD HATE TO IMAGINE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE SEAT WAS RELEASED AND A CAR ACCIDENT OCCURRED AT THE SAME TIME. I HAVE ALREADY CONTACTED FORD TO MAKE A COMPLAINT BUT WANTED TO RAISE THE ISSUE HERE AS WELL. PLEASE INVESTIGATE. I CONTACTED MY DEALERSHIP AND THEY CONFIRMED THE SAME THING HAPPENED IN A EXPEDITION MODEL STILL ON THE LOT. THIS IS NOT A SINGLE CAR ISSUE. EVERY 2019 EXPEDITION WITH CAPTAIN'S CHAIRS IS LIKELY TO HAVE THE SAME ISSUE.

THIS MODEL OF FORD EXPEDITION ADVERTISES THAT INFANT CAR SEATS, CONVERTIBLE CAR SEATS, BOOSTER SEATS, AND HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEATS COULD BE ACCOMMODATED IN 4 OF THEIR SEATS. HOWEVER, THE THIRD ROW HAS AUTOMATIC SEAT FOLDING AND HEADREST FOLDING FEATURES WHICH MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE THIRD ROW HEADRESTS. WHEN PLACING A HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT IN ONE OF THE THIRD ROWS, THE SEAT DOES NOT SIT FLUSH IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CAR SEAT INSTRUCTIONS BECAUSE THE HEADREST IS NOT FLUSH WITH THE SEAT. SINCE YOU CANNOT REMOVE THE HEADREST, THERE IS NO POSSIBLE WAY TO SAFELY INSTALL THIS PARTICULAR TYPE OF CAR SEAT. IN MY CONVERSATION WITH FORD THEY ARE NOW AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT ARE UNWILLING TO MAKE ANY CHANGES OR PURCHASE THE CAR BACK. I PURCHASED THE CAR 3 MONTHS AGO IN ANTICIPATION OF HAVING A 3RD CHILD. IT IS REQUIRED THAT I PUT A HIGH BACK BOOSTER SEAT SAFELY IN THE 3RD ROW TO ACCOMMODATE MY CHILDREN, YET I CANNOT DO THAT SAFELY. I AM TAKING THE CAR WITH THE SEAT TO THE POLICE STATION TOMORROW TO SEE IF THEY CAN PUT IN WRITING THAT THERE IS NO WAY TO SAFELY INSTALL THE SEAT.

REAR FIXED VISTA ROOF PANEL EXPLODED OUTWARD WITH A VERY LOUD - SHOTGUN LIKE - BANG, LEAVING A LARGE HOLE AND A VERY DANGEROUS SHATTERED REMAINING PANEL THAT COULD FALL AND INJURE OCCUPANTS, THE PANEL IS MADE OF TOUGHENED GLASS AS OPPOSED TO BEING LAMINATED AS THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS. THE INCIDENT OCCURRED ON A FAIRLY QUIET FREEWAY, NO CARS IN FRONT AND NOT UNDER A BRIDGE ETC.

2019 EXPEDITION 10 SPEED TRANSMISSION LOCKED UP AFTER 2 HOURS OF "FREE WHEELING" BEHIND MY MOTORHOME. WHILE APPROACHING (NO TURNING YET) TO PARKING AREA ABOUT 3 TO 5 MPH SUDDENTLY CAR JUST LOCKED REAR WHEELS UP. WHEN CAR WAS STARTED UP THERE WERE GRINDING SOUND COMING OUT OF TRANSMISSION. SINCE UNABLE TO UNLOCK OR "FREE" THE TRANSMISSION CAR WAS SENT TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP MORE THAN 400 MILES FROM HOME. FORD DEALER INSTALLED A NEW 10-SPEED TRANSMISSION. WEEK LATER I ATTEMPTED TO PICK UP THE CAR, BUT AFTER AN HOUR OF DRIVING LIGHT COLOR SMOKE CAME BEHIND THE VEHICLE. CAR WAS HAULED BACK TO SAME DEALERSHIP FOR FURTER SERVICE. NO REAL REASON GIVEN WHY ALL THESE HAPPENED. ... DO I HAVE A "LEMON", VEHICLE HAS ONLY ABOUT 8000 MILES.