Ford Expedition battery drain problems

Filed Nov 25, 2025 · Electrical · AL

In the fordpass app, we get a notification that the vehicle has turned off certain function due to inactivity in order to reserve power. However, we will have just driven the vehicle. This message should only populate when the vehicle is inactive for 14 days. It can also populate when the battery drops below 9V or due to extremely hot or cold conditions. It is 70 degrees F outside, so this reduces the reason to only one problem, and that is the battery less than 9V. We just spent over $700 at the dealership on a new battery and service charges because they said it was a battery problem. We spent over $100 the first attempt to find the problem with a sync update. Now, with a new battery and updated sync, out vehicle is still draining the battery. Low and behold, when the message populate in the app, the vehicle will not start, leaving us stranded on multiple occasions in town. The dealership at Long Lewis Ford in Muscle Shoals cannot find the problem.

Filed Apr 2, 2025 · Electrical, Transmission · 40,000 miles · AL

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. Roadside Assistance was contacted. The technician connected the battery cables and jumpstarted the vehicle. The vehicle was started, and the vehicle was driven to the residence. The contact later replaced the battery. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with parasitic battery drain due to a failed gear shifter. The contact was informed that the gear shifter needed to be replaced. The vehicle was being repaired. The contact was informed that parts had been ordered for the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.

Filed Feb 10, 2025 · Transmission · TX

In April 2023 the transmission went out w head it replaced under the extended warranty , it continued with the same issues after the repair and one day on may 30, 2024it shut off and would t turn back on it gave the code” low transmission communication voltage” towed it to the dealership they told us it was a dead battery , replaced the battery the car still doing the same thing and now does not have any warranty due to mileage

Filed Feb 10, 2023 · Electrical, Transmission · 90,000 miles · MA

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that his wife informed him that upon parking and exiting the vehicle, the vehicle rolled approximately 20-feet forward and stopped upon hitting a telephone pole. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that no issues were found, and the gear shifter assembly was operating as designed. Additionally, the contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an excessive electrical drain. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the gear shifter assembly module was temporarily removed. As a result, the excessive battery drain ceased. The mechanic diagnosed that the failure was associated with either the gear shifter assembly or the module. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency hotline. The failure mileage was 90,000.

Filed Mar 30, 2016 · Electrical, Engine · 203,538 miles · MI

Went to store, came out battery dead, car wouldn't start. Had not left lights or any accessories on. Got a jump, drove to auto parts store. They checked alternator and battery and said battery dead, needed an overnight charge. Let them charge battery, put back in car, horn started blowing and would not stop despite my using both the key and key fob. Horn blew for 5 hours before I found out how to disconnect from google. Got horn to stop, and car wouldn't start. Ford dealer said anti-theft system had to be reprogrammed at cost of $250 plus tow to dealer. I never armed the system and it should not have shut my truck down and prevented me from driving it. I don't have $250 and then I found out the repair is only $100 at most. But this according to my dealer happens to any ford anytime the battery goes dead and is replaced, anti-theft system is making people pay $250 to ford to reprogram what should not have to be reprogrammed. Please help me. Thank you. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Jan 31, 2016 · Electrical · 144,000 miles · OH

Dome lights, running lights, door ajar lamp, odometer lamp, door ajar audible activating intermittently while in motion on a street or highway. Sometimes staying on after vehicle is turned off. Coming on at anytime after vehicle is turned off and stationary, causing a dead battery leaving driver, family and occupants stranded.

Filed Aug 29, 2014 · Electrical, Engine · 140,000 miles · AR

I was traveling at 70 MPH on the interstate. The car popped, sputtered and died. Has steadily gotten more and more frequent. Engine dies at idle, dies at slow speeds as well as faster speeds. Very dangerous! Have replaced the PCM, wiring harness, and fuel pump. Is not repaired. Power mirrors readjust themselves when the keyless entry is used. Several warning lights stay on, door ajar, check fuel cap, advatrac will not turn on. Rear window will not work. Back up sensor will not work. Interior lights as well as exterior lighting will not power off when car is turned off. You must manually turn them off or the battery drains.cd player will not eject cd's loud popping sound in the front end and grinding sound when stopping. I have had this in the shop since june of 2014 and they cannot find the problem. Have already spent $1000 trying to repair. This vehicle is dangerous and can very likely cause an accident. It is not safe to drive. Ford auto shop wants to charge me $100 an hour to diagnose the problem then they are not sure if they can find the problem, they are telling me it could cost between $500-$1000 just to find the problem. I have checked several web sites and see that there are many, many people with the same problems with the same type of vehicle. This should be looked into before someone is injured or killed in an accident caused from the car stalling!!!

Filed Aug 6, 2014 · Electrical · 90,000 miles · PA

Drove to work all appeared to be fine. After a 12 hours shift returned and vehicle would start; dead battery. Replaced battery, as it was original, and all was fine. I remembered that during the week prior to this the driver's seat would not automatically adjust when the key was inserted into the ignition. This was around april 2014. All was fine until again I went to work, 12 hour shift, returned and there was no response upon inserting the key into the ignition. Battery gauge needle did not respond and when the key was turned there was no response. A jump pack was connected to the battery and the vehicle was started without any problems. The vehicle was driven, started and stopped five times with no problems. As before, for the past week or two leading up to aug 5th, I noticed that the driver's seat would not automatically adjust when the key was inserted into the ignition or removed. The seat adjustment controls do work. On the morning of aug 6th the vehicle again would not start and it appears that there in not sufficient charge on the battery. (battery gauge had shown that it was being charged) I did hear a constant clicking sound which I found to be coming from the power distribution box under the hood. It appeared to be coming from the fuse or relay that is in the spot marked 55, it is grey in color and marked 5c3t-14b192-aa over p6std. I noticed that when I tried the driver's seat adjustment controls the sound would go away and when release the sound returned. Upon connected a charger to the battery the sound also went away. After charging the battery vehicle was able to be started.

Filed Jun 2, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 150,000 miles · LA

It started with the radio and windshield wipers not working periodically this went on for several weeks and then on saturday night 5/31/14 at approx. 11:30 am "[xxx]" showed up and my car was trying to start its self. It made a clicking sound for about 30 mins with the lights going off and on. The sound was like a dead battery sound. Then it would try to start itself. This went on for about and hour and then it finally stopped. I assumed that the next morning my battery would be dead but when I went out sunday morning it started right up and I was able to run my errands. This morning monday 6/2 I went out to go to work and it would not start but the lights came on and it continued to make a clicking sound even though I assumed the battery was dead. I am scared to do anything, like jump the battery , for fear it will explode or catch fire. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).

Filed Mar 17, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 100,000 miles · WI

We have our expedition for a while and we know the people who owned it before us. While it is raining and days after the power to the truck does not turn off. The radio will turn on, the blower for heat or air will keep blowing, the lights will turn on, the four wheel drive will stop, ABS will stop, and the wiper blades will not work. So because the electrical items will turn on at random, they drain the battery and the truck will not start the next day. We found out that due to manufacturing error, the windshield leaks water into the general electric module. The other problem is the part not only expensive, but if you buy one and it does not work, it is not returnable. And that was told to us by multiple dealerships. So basically ford knows of the problem and it is a safety issue and has done nothing about it.