2012 Ford Expedition: jerking or lurching

Filed Jul 26, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · WI

July 2025 my 2012 ford expedition threw a p0742 code for a stuck torque converter clutch. The vehicle had just under 150k miles and started to jerk in and out of gear and the wrench light illuminated so I, thankfully was going approximately 45 MPH when it happened and was able to pull the vehicle over as it was in limp mode. When I cleared the dtc code the problem went away temporarily but eventually locked back up again within a mile from my home. Unfortunately, ford dealerships will not stand behind the customer service number that they have listed for a replacement of the transmission lead frame. I provided the local dealership with all of the necessary information as well as an independent diagnosis by a transmission specialist. Looks like I'll just have to wait for the day that it causes a massive accident by downshifting into 1st gear at 65mph. Terrible customer service and I can only hope this doesn't cost someone their life.

Filed Jul 2, 2024 · Transmission · 203,000 miles · GA

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the vehicle started jerking and downshifted unintendedly. The contact stated there were two unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the output speed sensor had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 16V248000 (Power Train); however, the VIN was not included. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact there would be no assistance because the vehicle was out of warranty. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 203,000.

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 Jan 7, 2021 · Transmission · 150,000 miles · GA

Vehicle is downshifting gear while driving. It caused jerks in the SUV as it tried to shift gears and then became stuck on first gear. This happened while driving in the highway and again on a city street. Ford dealership reporting it is not covered under their current recall although other 2012 ford expeditions with the same issue are.

Filed Sep 1, 2020 · Transmission · 65,000 miles · TX

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford expedition. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle downshifted and jerked without warning. The contact stated that the transmission malfunctioned causing the gears to seize with the rpms increasing. Additionally, the speedometer failed to operate as designed. On another occasion while driving, the rear wheels locked up causing the driver to lose control of the steering and drove off of the roadway. The cause of the failures were not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The contact indicated that the VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 16v248000 (power train). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the same failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 65,000.

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 Jul 25, 2017 · 114,477 miles · IN

On 07/24/2017 I had contacted the federal safety agency to confirm that a recall had been placed on my 2012 ford expedition due to some issues I was experiencing . I was provided the contact number for the manufacture for resolution. On 07/24 andy mohr ford lincoln, plainfield, in was contacted and an 07:30 am appt. Was made for that following morning to perform the 16s19 which only took about 20 minutes from the time of checking in, 07/25. I was very worried about my drive to the dealership as the speedometer immediately dropped to 0, vehicle began jerking forward and lost of 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 arrived at the dealership, and turned the key off and back on again. Within 20 min's of arriving I was informed that the 16s19 update had been completed. I asked questions to the mechanic to find out what exactly had been done for a better understanding. The mechanic was very nice, but gave me the impression that we preformed the 16s19 update, which is what we were notified to do, couldn't confirm that the problem is fixed. When I drove home the problem seemed to be fixed. There was a little hesitation, but the ride was fine over all. I was excited hoping to have more confidence in the vehicle I drive to transport my family for day to day activities. About three hours later I took a quick trip to the store, which turned into a very stressful event having to pull over several times due to the cars intermittent loss of the transmission output speed sensor (oss) signal to powertrain control module, potentially resulting in a temporary unintended downshift into first gear. My children normally leave the house for the day while I'm working. They have been home all week due to my fear of putting this vehicle on the road.

Filed Nov 20, 2016 · Engine · 64,500 miles · NY

While driving my 2012 expedition 45 - 60 MPH, the vehicle downshifted without warning and stalled more than once and jerked repeatedly. The vehicle was taken back to the dealership twice for the same occurence listed on the recall notification. The dealer claims they "fixed" the problem by installing the new software again. The issue occured again while driving home with my family in the vehicle on the highway where the acceleration dropped down to first and the rear tire locked up. We all thought we were about to die with the traffic coming behind us. Ford needs to resolve this issue and I have never experienced something so dangerous before. Ford must be held accountable for this defect and fix the issue as people have invested in purchasing thier brand. I pray no one gets injured from this malfuction and defect on these vehicles.

Filed May 4, 2016 · Electrical, Transmission · 63,000 miles · WV

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 ford expedition. While driving approximatley 40 MPH, the speedometer and fuel gauge readings fluctuated and the transmission jerked violently. The VIN was not included in the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v190000 (exterior lighting, power train). The failure recurred on two separate occassions. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the transmission output speed sensor was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 63,000. Updated 06/29/16*lj