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2026 Ford Expedition: common problems and reliability
· 5th generationToo new to grade yet.
11 owner complaints, most about steering. 2 recalls.
Should I buy a 2026 Expedition?The 2026 Ford Expedition has 11 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are steering and wheels. Owners most often flag adaptive cruise control unavailable even after cleaning sensors: with a dealer recalibration and a new sensor ordered, and a separate report of the vehicle thinking a trailer is connected.
Safety record for the 2026 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2026 Ford Expedition vehicles (US, public record).
Too new to grade: we score a model year once it has been on the road for 3 years. How we score it
Is 2026 a good year for the Expedition?
Across the 31 Expedition model years we track, complaint volume runs from 3 (1996) to 1,007 (1999). With 11 complaints, the 2026 Expedition sits below the model's median of 299.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2026 Expedition
electrical system: integrated trailer brake control
Campaign 26V104000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
exterior lighting:headlights
Campaign 26V606000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Expedition, 2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD vehicles. The headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip, which can result in a loss of daytime running lights, parking lights, high beams or low beams. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
What owners report on the 5th generation Expedition
Owner sentiment for the 2024-2026 Expedition is mixed and heavily split between practical praise and serious quality and safety concerns.
- Very frequentVibration and shimmy at highway speed on new 2025 models
Sometimes persisting after tire balancing, tire replacement, and shock absorber replacement.
- RecurrentPoor small-overlap crash test rating on the 2024 model
With owners reporting the driver compartment crumbled and no updated rating for 2025-2026.
- IsolatedInterior build quality described as falling apart or atrocious on a rented 2024 Limited
- IsolatedInfotainment and dash display freeze requiring a reboot by holding the power button, reported on a 2025 Expedition Max
- IsolatedAdaptive cruise control unavailable even after cleaning sensors
With a dealer recalibration and a new sensor ordered, and a separate report of the vehicle thinking a trailer is connected.
Owner insights for the 5th generation Expedition. Read the full 5th generation owner report.
Typical used price
Used Expedition listings typically run $22,350–$49,244.
Other Expedition model years
Compare every Expedition year side by side to see how 2026 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Expedition against its rivals
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