1997 Ford Expedition engine problems

100 complaints (12% of all complaints for this car). Typical mileage when it fails: 140,000. 1 crash reported.

owner complaints: 100
of this car's complaints: 12%
typical mileage: 140,000
crashes: 1
recalls: 0

Which part fails

Engine
29
Engine: gasoline
19
Exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe
4
Exhaust system
4
Exhaust system: emission control
3
Engine: gasoline: belts and associated pulleys
2
Cooling system
2
Exhaust system: emission control: gas recirculation valve (EGR valve)
1

At what mileage

Complaints by mileage at the time of the problem.

0k-25k

25k-50k

50k-75k

75k-100k

100k-125k

125k-150k

150k-175k

175k-200k

200k+

Ford Expedition engine problems in other years

Specific symptoms reported on the 1997 Ford Expedition engine

Phrases found in the owners' own descriptions, so one complaint can mention several symptoms.

Stalling 13 Check engine light 11 Loss of power 10 Knocking 9 Engine failure 8 Won't start 7

Related recalls

No recalls on record for this model year.

Related investigations

Spark plug ejection from cylinder headOpened September 22, 2005, closed January 4, 2006

On september 6, 2005, odi received a petition requesting that the agency investigate allegations of engine spark plug ejection in certain model year 1997 through 2004 ford vehicles with triton v-8 and v-10 engines.odi received a total of 474 non-duplicative complaints on the subject vehicles where the complainant, or the dealer repairing the vehicle, reported that a spark plug detached from the cylinder and/or ejected from the engine.as of december 8, 2005, odi is not aware of any allegations where the alleged defect resulted in a loss of vehicle control, a crash, an injury, or a fatality in any of the 10,319,810 subject vehicles.in addition, odi is aware of only two incidents where the vehicle stalled without restart.information contained in the odi consumer complaints and obtained from 72 telephone interviews with complainants showed the following:(1) 99% of the complaints were on my 1997 to 2002 subject vehicles.(2) most the complainants reported hearing a loud pop while driving or upon starting up the vehicle followed by a loud, repetitive clicking or popping sound.(3) many of the complainants reported that the popping sound was accompanied by some loss of vehicle power; however, in 99% of the incidents reported, the vehicle did not stall.in the very few incidents where the vehicle did stall, most vehicles could be restarted.(4) only a small percentage of the complainants cited that they smelled gas or a slight burning smell when the incident occurred.(5) in all but a very few incidents, vehicle damage was limited to the engine.in one incident, the complaint reported that the fuel rail was damaged and replaced after one of the spark plugs ejected from the engine; however, the complainant reported that the damage did not result in any type of fuel leak or fire.in another incident, the only incident where a fire was alleged, the complainant reported that no fluid leak was observed, but that a fire resulted after the spark plug had ejected from the engine and he had restarted the vehicle and driven to another location.none of the complainants reported any damage to the vehicle hood.(6) only two complainants reported that they observed what appeared to be some drops of fuel coming from the cylinder where the spark plug had failed or on the spark plug itself; however, each of these complainants reported that there was no smoke or flames as a result of his incident.as the petitioner noted, and odi?s analysis showed, it is possible for a spark plug to detach from the engine cylinder threads in the subject vehicles.however, odi?s analysis of 474 complaints describing such incidents found only a very few alleged any safety-related consequences.none of these showed any evidence of a serious safety consequence.given the large population and relatively long exposure time of the subject vehicles, the complaint analysis indicates that the risk to motor vehicle safety from the alleged defect is very low.in view of the foregoing, it is unlikely that the federal safety agency would issue an order for the notification and remedy of the alleged defect at the conclusion of the investigation requested in the petition.therefore, in view of the need to allocate and prioritize the federal safety agency?s limited resources to best accomplish the agency?s safety mission, the petition is denied.

DP05005

What 1997 Ford Expedition owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Oct 23, 2020 · Engine · 225,000 miles · KS

My 1997 ford expedition xlt beige in color since I have own this vehicle I have had to replace five (5) spark plugs and coil for they have blown out of the cylinder and I have had to have the vehicle towed into a repair facility which have been costly to me. The engine on this vehicle is a 5.4. The vehicle was in motion at the time of the problem on the highway

Filed Apr 29, 2018 · Engine · 195,000 miles · IL

Coil pack, spark plug issue. My expedition sounded like it was "missing". Not sure when I 1st heard it. I took it in for some maintenance- oil change, change spark plugs, basic tune up. But I was told by the shop that the coil pack/spark plugs were defective & if I attenpted to change the plugs & could that there is a good chance it will blow the head. The shop refused to change the plugs n coils. Stating that they will not attempt it, being as they do not want to be responsible for the head. So, I have to live with a defective engine. Ford needs to own up to the problem. If this blows while I drive it & anyone gets injured as a result, I will sue ford. The 97 expedition is a great SUV. But I can't believe the coil pack/spark plug issue has not been included in any recalls! This is a very serious & dangerous & expensive problem. Shame on you, ford.

Filed Mar 15, 2017 · Engine · 221,613 miles · NC

Started vehicle and immediately heard loud noise under hood. Found spark plug had blown out of head. Vehicle was stationary at time, but had been driven without problem just a couple of hours earlier.

Filed Feb 24, 2015 · Engine · 193,000 miles · VA

Spark plug blow out. On my trip from va to pa spark plug blew out while on i95 in delaware a snowstorm about to start and I got stranded. No part store has any answers, auto repair shops want to change $300+ dollars to fix. There is a repair kit that cannot be bought in any auto part store only online. My truck is yet in pa can't afford having it towed back to va.. Had to get a rental to come back home. Ford needs to do the right thing here.

Filed Jan 13, 2015 · Engine · 98,000 miles · VA

Spark plug blew out, broke coil and damaged head.

Filed Jun 30, 2014 · Engine · GA

I currently own a 1997 ford expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !st time was cylinder #3 then #7, then on 3-6-2014 it was #8 then on 03/14/14 #2 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! Ford has known for years that there are millions of vehicles out there especially from 1997 through 2005 and still have done nothing to assist in either fixing the problem or compensating people for their losses due to this crap design they came out with that only has the heads of the motor holding the spark plug in with 4 threads!! I am told that they do not have a recall because they believe there is no eminent danger involved with the malfunction of this defect?? What about - hey the motor is running so the fuel injector is spewing out fuel all over the motor when the plug shoots out like a rocket and then knocks someone's eye out? Fire did u say?? Eye out?? Naaah no problem!!! I am also told from my mechanic that I will have to live with this because even if you replace the heads that hold the plugs in you will only have the same problem again down the line. This is not an answer. Ford needs to step up and fix the problem, make a recall, redesign the heads and stop with the b.s. Before someone gets hurt bad!!! Too much time and $$$ lost from having this problem go to the shop every [xxx] few miles not to mention the time and $$$ I am loosing from work - just fix it ford!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed May 19, 2014 · Engine · 190,000 miles · KY · fire

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. The contact stated that the engine caught on fire while parked in a driveway. Only the frame remained after the engine fire was extinguished by the fire department. The manufacturer was notified of the incident. The failure mileage was 190,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Feb 4, 2014 · Engine · 238,340 miles · GA

I currently own a 1997 ford expedition that keeps spitting out spark plugs! !st time was cylinder #4 then #5, then today 2-3-2014 I met with #3 after starting the engine with the hood open looking for what I thought sounded like a vacuum leak or valve tick only to have the spark plug blow out and almost take out my eye!!! Ford has known for years that there are millions of vehicles out there especially from 1997 through 2005 and still have done nothing to assist in either fixing the problem or compensating people for their losses due to this crap design they came out with that only has the heads of the motor holding the spark plug in with 4 threads!! I am told that they do not have a recall because they believe there is no eminent danger involved with the malfunction of this defect?? What about - hey the motor is running so the fuel injector is spewing out fuel all over the motor when the plug shoots out like a rocket and then knocks someone's eye out? Fire did u say?? Eye out?? Naaah no problem!!! I am also told from my mechanic that I will have to live with this because even if you replace the heads that hold the plugs in you will only have the same problem again down the line. This is not an answer. Ford needs to step up and fix the problem, make a recall, redesign the heads and stop with the b.s. Before someone gets hurt bad!!! Too much time and $$$ lost from having this problem go to the shop every [xxx] few miles not to mention the time and $$$ I am loosing from work - just fix it ford!! Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 2, 2014 · Engine · 140,000 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 1997 ford expedition. The contact stated that while he driving 60 MPH, an abnormal noise emitted from under the hood. The contact was able to drive the vehicle to the local repair shop where it was found that the spark plugs separated due to a defective thread and cylinder. The dealer replaced the spark plugs with a newly manufactured steel head and thread however, the failure was not corrected. The contact was advised that the cylinder head or engine possibly needed replacing. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure and current mileage was 140,000.

Filed Nov 6, 2013 · Driver assistance, Electrical · FL

I was driving down the street, going about 10 to 15 MPH and while driving I had not light on my dashboard indicating any problems all of sudden my 97 ford expedition makes this crazy sound and completely turns off. I was not able to start the truck up again so I had it towed. After two day past I tried starting the truck up and it would not do anything.

Questions about the 1997 Ford Expedition engine

Does the 1997 Ford Expedition have engine problems?

Owners have filed 100 complaints about the engine of the 1997 Ford Expedition, 12% of all its complaints.

At what mileage do 1997 Ford Expedition engine problems start?

The typical (median) mileage in owner complaints is 140,000 miles.

Was there a recall on the 1997 Ford Expedition engine?

There is no recall for this problem on this model year.

What year does the Ford Expedition have bad engine?

The Ford Expedition model years with the most engine complaints are 1999 (274 complaints), 2003 (171 complaints) and 2006 (162 complaints).