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2011 Ford Expedition problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
49%
34 of 71 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

49% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2011 Ford Expedition are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.

Worse than 64% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 17, 2026
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The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2011 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%), and the largest group is filed under power train (21). For comparison, the 2010 scores 33% and the 2012 scores 69%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
34
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
71
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
0
2 crashes · 3 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN21 · 30%
ENGINE11 · 15%
STRUCTURE10 · 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER8 · 11%
SEATS8 · 11%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7 · 10%

The years either side

2010
33%
17 of 58
2011
49%
34 of 71
2012
69%
77 of 118
2013
60%
52 of 92
2014
62%
38 of 72
2015
43%
68 of 164
2016
36%
75 of 217
2017
30%
101 of 357
2018
71%
241 of 375
2019
80%
315 of 504
2020
75%
286 of 419
2021
71%
163 of 235
2022
25%
27 of 113
2023
27%
17 of 65

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2011 Ford Expedition

What one owner reported

POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER08/13/20171 INJURED
I EXPERIENCE HEADACHES AND DIZZINESS WHEN DRIVING THERE HAS BEEN TIMES I HAVE TO PULL OVER TO AVOID CRASHING. I BELIEVE CARBON MONOXIDE MAY BE THE RESULT OF THESE SYMPTOMS.

One of 34 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Checking one particular 2011 Ford Expedition? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2011 Ford Expedition

Does the 2011 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 34 of 71 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2011 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (49%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2011 Ford Expedition?

NHTSA lists no recall campaigns on the 2011 Ford Expedition.

Which Ford Expedition years are better?

Among the Ford Expedition years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2023 (27%) and the 2017 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2011 (49%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2011 Ford Expedition?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2011 Ford Expedition has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.