2012 Ford Expedition: stuck in gear or won't shift

Filed Nov 17, 2025 · Acceleration · KS

The speedometer will quit working and the vehicle will not shift out of 1st gear, if you can work through it it will start throwing error messages such as zero miles to empty, tire moniter system fault, etc. This is a very dangerous situation especially in high traffic areas. There was a customer satisfaction program on it but only up to 150,000 miles. This program should last the life of the vehicle, also, if it was fixed before ownership, why did it go bad again

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 25, 2025 · Acceleration, Electrical · WI

I just purchased (2 months ago) a 2012 ford expedition el 5.4l v8 from a private party. I wish I would have done more research as I am already experiencing transmission issues that I believe are directly related to the vehicles lead frame recall. It threw a p0742 code on me torque converter clutch circuit stuck on and decided that it would only drive in limp mode unless I cleared the code, pulled over, cycles the key, and restarted the vehicle. Even as dangerous as this unexpected shifting into 1st gear at highway speeds is, it is equally as dangerous to be getting out of your vehicle in moving traffic due to ford's terrible design on this vehicles power train/transmission system. I have scheduled an appointment with the local ford dealer and al certain I'll get the runaround/blame game for this one. 150k miles and as I said, I have owned it for 2 months and have already had transmission issues, brake issues, belt tensioner pulley literally fell off.. And from what I read, what's next??? The cam phasers?? That's if the transmission issue is even fixed and it becomes safely drive able again. Come on ford, get your act together, you're better than this!

Filed Aug 25, 2021 · Transmission · FL

My gear shaft gets stuck in park as if it’s not recognizing that the break is getting pressed. It gets stuck for a while. There is no sticky substance that is causing this.

Filed Aug 25, 2020 · Acceleration, Electrical · 141,000 miles · PA

Driving on a highway at approx 50 MPH, vehicle speedometer goes to 0, mileage goes out, dash lights flash, wrench light comes on, vehicle downshifts (has done this several times (sometimes accelerated from 1st gear)) to 1st gear and goes into a limp mode. Had to pull over and shut off the truck- all fine when restarted. Could have caused a major accident. Very scary. This truck has had a recall repair fixed for what was described as exactly this problem. Has happened numerous times now.

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 Jan 16, 2018 · Transmission · 84,000 miles · FL

Vehicle, while traveling, will downshift into lower gear and clunk. Yellow wrench warning light will illuminate and speedometer with drop to zero all while still moving. A series of additional warning lights will appear. Vehicle will loose power to only limp mode. Warning will reset upon shutting off engine. This has happened twice.