2021 Ford Expedition transmission & drivetrain problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V402000Jun 24, 2026741,195 vehicles
  POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

  Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.

What owners say

1. Filed Oct 6, 2026VATransmission & Drivetrain

   My 2021 Ford Expedition MAX XLT with the 10R80 automatic transmission has experienced repeated momentary “neutral-out” events while driving. The transmission/park-system components are available for inspection upon request. The most serious incident occurred in September 2026 while I was driving at highway speed near Charlottesville, Virginia, with six children in the vehicle. I was not towing or placing the vehicle under unusual load. The vehicle suddenly behaved as though…

   NHTSA complaint #11769248 · source
2. Filed Sep 28, 2026NCEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   Vehicle has 84,000 miles at it. It started to jerk when putting it into a gear. I thought it was due to the colder mornings no. I was taking the kids to school and It was skipping gears. I was very leary of driving but had no choice. It would not get up to speed the rpms was suffering. I stopped at a parts store to run the code after the warning popped up. When leaving because I was 30 mins from home it jerked when I placed into gear, I was scared to pull onto the 4 lane due…

   NHTSA complaint #11767381 · source
3. Filed Sep 10, 2026NVElectrical SystemEngineTransmission & Drivetrain

   VIN):[XXX]/Make/Model: 2021 Ford Expedition XLTCurrent Mileage: Approx. 150,000 milesLocation: [XXX] of the Safety Defect:El vehículo presenta un defecto de seguridad crítico y extremo en el tren motriz que pone en riesgo inminente la vida de los ocupantes y de terceros en la vía pública. En dos ocasiones distintas durante los últimos 15 días, el vehículo ha sufrido una pérdida total de comunicación electrónica y un bloqueo mecánico absoluto mientras se encontraba en plena…

   NHTSA complaint #11763468 · source
4. Filed Sep 8, 2026OHTransmission & Drivetrain

   While trying to pull out of a residential neighborhood onto a state highway (45 mph speed limit), the vehicle refused to accelerate. The transmission couldn't engage into gear and the vehicle struggled to gain momentum. After letting off of the accelerator pedal, and then applying the accelerator again, the transmission was able to engage, and the car began to accelerate. No check engine light or other indication of a problem. The Ford dealer told us that the CDF drum of the…

   NHTSA complaint #11762823 · source
5. Filed Aug 30, 2026FLTransmission & Drivetrain

   My Ford Expedition’s 10-speed automatic transmission experienced repeated slipping and sudden loss of propulsion. While accelerating from a stop and entering the highway, typically around 15–20 MPH, the engine would suddenly rev but the vehicle would stop accelerating, as if the transmission had shifted into neutral. I had to release the accelerator for several seconds and slowly reapply throttle before the transmission would re-engage. This occurred repeatedly and created a…

   NHTSA complaint #11760692 · source
6. Filed Aug 28, 2026TXTransmission & Drivetrain

   The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact noticed an abnormal sound and the vehicle jerked. No warning lights were illuminated. The failure was persistent. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and to an independent mechanic; however the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired.…

   NHTSA complaint #11760464 · source
7. Filed Aug 14, 2026FLTransmission & Drivetrain

   For the past three years I have complained about the transmission dropping out of gear. It happens most often if I'm towing a trailer. I seems to occur in spurts, happening a couple of times in a few days then not for some time. Very dangerous if you pull around to pass and suddenly you lose power. Originally the dealership said they could find nothing wrong. I have read recently that Ford is having trouble with their transmissions. At my latest service appointment, I…

   NHTSA complaint #11756944 · source
8. Filed Aug 5, 2026NCTransmission & Drivetrain

   Vehicles automatic transmission repeatedly looses its gear, often while accelerating. The transmission tries to shift down, but somehow ends up loosing engagement and will not re-engage. This lead to critical/dangerous situations on Highways due to the sudden loss of power.

   NHTSA complaint #11755022 · source
9. Filed Aug 3, 2026KYTransmission & Drivetrain

   OEM transmission had to be replaced 3 years after new purchase. Replacement transmission installed at Ford dealership has failed after less then 2 years. About to have third transmission installed.

   NHTSA complaint #11754495 · source
10. Filed Jul 28, 2026MSAcceleration & Cruise ControlTransmission & Drivetrain

    On my expedition I started having issues with my transmission staying in gear while driving. I will be going up a hill and all of a sudden boom it starts down shifting or not accelerating at all. I had a few times when me and my wife will be driving, and we would be going through a intersection or a area where you don't want to slow down and then the transmission would forget which gear it would be in and lose all power. Keep in mind my expedition only has 83K miles and…

    NHTSA complaint #11753340 · source
11. Filed Jul 27, 2026120,000 miWATransmission & Drivetrain

    The contact owns a 2021 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Transmission Shifter Failure" was displayed on the instrument panel, and the vehicle independently accelerated. A dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a recall for the failure would be available in April 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

    NHTSA complaint #11753034 · source
12. Filed Jul 27, 2026NDTransmission & Drivetrain

    On several occasions the vehicle will act like it misses a gear when put under load. Example is when you go to pass a vehicle and accelerate the vehicle will just rev up and not speed up. You then have to let the vehicle slow down and sort of get itself back into the right gear and you can go. Another example is taking off from a stop it will also do the same thing causing you to be pulling out into traffic and loosing power. Both of these scenarios are life threating as in…

    NHTSA complaint #11753011 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology