2012 Ford Expedition: check engine light

Filed Oct 22, 2025 · Transmission · OK

Over a period of time this problem is occurring more often. The vehicle will downshift into first gear. I pull over check engine light is on. I turn off wait turn back on and no problem for awhile. Within the last month this has occurred many times . Each time the check engine light comes on but also now the advance track light. Each time I have the same codes pulled. Driving on the highway with my daughter at 65mph it downshifted and the back tires locked up . Vehicles had to swerve to miss us. The check engine light was on advance track light same codes pulled. The dealership said it’s not in the recall even though it was built in Jefferson co Kentucky 9/2011. I don’t understand why this vehicle wasn’t recalled . I have to continue to drive it’s my only vehicle. I’m so scared for my life.

Filed Oct 19, 2023 · Acceleration, Body · TN · crash

The transmission jumps in and out of gear, the engine revs on its on. I was on the highway the first time and I going between 60 and 65 mph and it sounded like the whole bottom of the truck was just ripped out, the truck went from drive to either park or first gear it locked up the back tires and there was a truck behind me he tried to miss me but he hit the back passenger side of the truck. He was very very upset he threatening and cussing me because he thought I just slammed on my brakes for no reason. I explained to him what was happening and calmed down think God. It could have killed him or me or even several other people. When it locked up the tires then it jumped back in drive and tried tot take off, I threw it in neutral and cut the key off. That scared the sh.. out of me!! I have talked to other people that have around the same year model truck as mine and some of them are having the same issues with it jumping in and out of gear not wanting to shift gears revving up on its own and no engine light comes on I've tried to get a code scanner scan it no codes come up on the truck Ford needs to fix this truck they had a recall on certain models that were manufactured at different plants or something like that I heard but they won't fix my truck they said it's not under recall this truck is going to kill somebody it's the only truck I have and I have to go to work I'm just asking if you can please do something about this before people get killed in or I get killed I'm going to try to get a video of what it does I'm just asking if you can please do something about this Ford knows what the problem is I read stuff on it and they need to fix these trucks before it kills people they know what the problem is if I have a bad wreck and I live to it or this truck causing somebody to lose their life it's going to be a multi multi multi million dollar lawsuit because they refuse to fix the truck I'm just asking you if you can please do something about this thank you

Filed Jul 3, 2023 · Transmission · 100,112 miles · MO

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon his wife depressing the accelerator pedal, the RPM raised abruptly however, the vehicle failed to respond. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and seemed as if the transmission was in neutral(N). After restarting the vehicle and shifting to drive(D), the vehicle returned to normal functionality. The check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that a failure had occurred with the transmission molded lead frame. The vehicle was not repaired due to parts not being available. Upon investigation, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 19N01-Supplement #1 (Power Train) However, the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 100,112.

Filed May 2, 2022 · Engine · 150,000 miles · AR

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the vehicle independently slowed to approximately 2 MPH. The contact observed that the check engine warning light illuminated. Additionally, the speedometer went blank. The contact stated that when she depressed the accelerator, the vehicle would jerk forward. The contact pulled off of the road and turned off the vehicle. The contact stated that when she restarted the vehicle the vehicle failed to respond when shifted into drive with the accelerator pedal depressed. The contact stated that she drove the vehicle to her residence. The vehicle was diagnosed by an independent mechanic who could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure recurred intermittently. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.

Filed Apr 5, 2021 · Transmission · 163,000 miles · IN

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford expedition. The contact stated while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle inadvertently downshifted to first gear causing the vehicle to abruptly slow. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic, the contact was referred to an authorized ford dealer for assistance with an unknown recall. Don myer ford, inc. (2010 n lincoln st, greensburg, in 47240) was contacted and informed the contact that the vehicle was over the mileage for a recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the failure was not a safety issue. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency for assistance. The failure mileage was 163,000.

Filed Feb 8, 2021 · Transmission · 111,895 miles · TX

Randomly drops into first gear while driving and will not go out of first gear after that unless disconnecting battery and resetting everything. No check engine light or anything. This cannot happen with three kids in the car. What if this happened at 70mph on the highway? Occurred 2/3/21 and 2/8/21.

Filed Sep 16, 2019 · 103,000 miles · TX

This has happened now a few times: the speedometer has dropped 0, vehicle begins jerking forward and loses speed. I pulled over several times hoping the issue would correct itself. Eventually the pic of a wrench and service engine light appeared on the dashboard all of which disappeared once I turned the engine off and re-started it. The transmission flush has been done and the recall for the transmission downshifting has also been addressed. But the aforementioned symptoms have taken place at least two times before the transmission recall was addressed and the transmission flush was done and at least three times (so far) after the transmission recall issue was addressed and after the transmission flush was done. Could it be defective fan clutches that are causing these issues on expeditions?

Filed Jan 18, 2019 · Transmission · 147,000 miles · MS

There have been several instances. The first one I was pulling out of a parking lot onto a main road when the transmission stopped pulling, acted like it was in neutral. I pulled over turned off the engine and restarted it and it was fine. The next was on a 2 lane highway cruising at about 50 MPH, the vehicle jerked, locked up the rear tires, went into limp mode, check engine light came on and code was p0270 for the output speed sensor. Sysmptons are the same as described in fords recall #16s19 but I was told by ford that my vehicle was not covered under the recall because of the build date although the same transmission a d components were used. The instance happened again today with my wife and 3 young children in the vehicle, cruising approx 60 MPH on the highway, rear wheels locked up, transmission downshifts to first gear, vehicle skids toward the edge of an embankment, just before getting there the wheels unlock and my wife is able to make it to a near by church parking lot to pull over and turn the engine off.

Filed Aug 16, 2018 · Transmission · 128,000 miles · MO

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford expedition. While driving approximately 65 MPH, the vehicle jerked and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact also stated that the failure worsened when the vehicle was driven above 50 MPH. The vehicle was not taken to a dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnostic testing. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The approximate failure mileage was 128,000.

Filed Jun 14, 2018 · Driver assistance, Electrical · 74,000 miles · LA

Vehicle downshifts while driving at different speeds. Panel reads, flat tires, no fuel, no gauges will work. I was pulling out of a gas station on a major hwy, I gave the vehicle gas to enter the lane, as I was approaching a higher speed , my vehicle downshifted and the vehicle behind me had to slam on their breaks to avoid hitting me in the back. Another time at a high rate of speed on an interstate , as I was switching lanes, my vehicle downshifts almost causing another wreck. If it had not been for car seats, my grandchildren would have hit the floor. If it had not been for the other drivers quick actions, people could have been injured or even worse dead. After a few more incidents, I find out a recall for this problem was made, but not on my vehicle . Same year, same model, same factory, just not my VIN! Recall 16s19- the federal safety agency id# 16v248000 . My vehicle has 74,000 miles on it, so it is not covered under a warranty. Notice I'm attached picture. 0 MPH, but look at the 2000 RPM. Check engine light on. I have a video of it doing this several times.

Filed Apr 9, 2018 · Electrical, Transmission · 60,400 miles · TX

We took the vehicle to our local ford service center approx. Aug. 2017 with mileage at approx. 54000 miles while the vehicle was still covered under factory warranty. We were experiencing a sudden downshift in the transmission when driving in city streets. The instrument cluster would show the speed at 0 MPH and the message --- miles to empty would display. The dealership was not able to pull any codes at that time or duplicate the symptoms on the vehicle. Our VIN was not covered under any recall. We were not charged. No check engine light has ever displayed until april 5th, 2018. I was driving the vehicle on the highway in heavy traffic going 75 MPH. The vehicle suddenly downshifted causing me to pull over onto the shoulder. Current mileage is 60400. The instrument cluster did the same thing as previously. The check engine light and wrench light came on as well. I took the vehicle in to an auto parts store to get scanned and they pulled code p0270. It is my understanding that ford is expanding their recall due to more complaints. We have an appointment for april 24, 2018. Fortunately, we have a ford extended service plan. The deductible is $100.00. I believe this vehicle is experiencing the conditions under ford's recall number 16s19, the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v248000. This is my wife's primary vehicle. She has experienced the sudden downshift on many occasions lately but no check engine light. My wife states that she has to pull over and turn the vehicle off. A few minutes later she restarts the vehicle and the symptoms sometimes quit. Sometimes it takes a few cycles of turning the vehicle on and off for them to go away. Her route to work involves a lot of highway traffic with a lot of semi's (tractor trailer's) due to where we live (oil field traffic). Safety is my main concern. I have her text me every day when she arrives to work(school) with our 9yr old son.

Filed Nov 8, 2017 · Electrical, Transmission · 143,115 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford expedition. While driving approximately 2 MPH, the vehicle independently downshifted. The check engine, fuel, and tire sensor warning indicators illuminated. In addition, the speedometer failed. The vehicle was taken to rivertown ford (1680 whittlesey rd, columbus, ga 31904) where it was diagnosed that the LED frame needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure recurred several times. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case to be sent to the dealer. The failure mileage was 143,115. The VIN was not available.