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2019 Ford Expedition problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

VERY HIGH COMPLAINT SIGNAL
80%
315 of 395 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

80% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2019 Ford Expedition are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. Well over half of everything owners reported is the drivetrain. That is a severe model-level pattern; every model year we track at this level has a documented failure behind it.

Worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 109 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 63%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026

The VIN is on the listing, the driver’s door jamb, and the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side.

Does the 2019 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 315 of 395 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (80%), and the largest group is filed under power train (220). For comparison, the 2018 scores 71% and the 2020 scores 75%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
315
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
504
this model year
Fires reported
3
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
11
8 crashes · 40 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN220 · 44%
ENGINE107 · 21%
SEAT BELTS101 · 20%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER46 · 9%
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING31 · 6%
AIR BAGS24 · 5%

The years either side

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

How the 2019 compares with other Ford Expedition years

Of the 14 Ford Expedition years with enough complaints to score, the 2019 is the worst on engine and transmission share (80%). The best is the 2022 (25%). By volume, the 2019 drew 504 complaints (315 drivetrain), against 375 for the 2018 and 419 for the 2020.

Ford Expedition years to avoid and best years →

In the full report

The rest of the picture on the 2019 Ford Expedition

  • The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2019 Ford Expedition said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
  • What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
  • Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
  • Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
  • What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
  • Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.

What one owner reported

LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,ENG11/01/20241 INJURED
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that occasionally while her husband drives at various speeds, the vehicle would fail to accelerate as intended when depressing the accelerator pedal. In addition, the contact stated the rear truck door had fallen on her husband's head a few times in the past a…

One of 315 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

2019 Ford Expedition transmission recalls

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.

power train: automatic transmission26V402000 · Jun 2026

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed…

power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)20V263000 · May 2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and 2019-2020 Mustang vehicles. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime duration are shorter than intended.

Risk: If the driver exits the vehicle without the transmission being shifted into park, unintended vehicle movement may result, increasing the risk of injury or crash.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall began May 26, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…

9 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
structure: interior panels: center console26V368000 · Jun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
seat belts: pretensioner26V344000 · May 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the…
electrical system: instrument cluster/panel25V886000 · Dec 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 20V263. The "Transmission Not In Park" warning message and associated chime…
seat belts: pretensioner25V197000 · May 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the…
equipment: other: labels24V852000 · Nov 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning…
seat belts: pretensioner24V099000 · Feb 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and…
equipment: other: owners/service/other manual23V420000 · Jun 2023
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab…
suspension: rear19V773000 · Oct 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2019 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The rear suspension toe link fasteners may not have been properly tightened to the frame, possibly…
seats: front assembly: recliner19V633000 · Aug 2019
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020…

Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model; one of NHTSA's listings did not answer when this page was built, so the list may be incomplete. Checked October 3, 2026.

Checking one particular 2019 Ford Expedition? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.

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Questions people ask about the 2019 Ford Expedition

Does the 2019 Ford Expedition have transmission problems?

Owner complaints say yes, heavily, as a model-year pattern. 315 of 395 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Expedition concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (80%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.

What is the most common problem with the 2019 Ford Expedition?

Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2019 Ford Expedition is power train: 220 of 504 complaints (44%) name it, followed by engine (107) and seat belts (101). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.

Is the 2019 Ford Expedition reliable?

On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 80% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (very high signal). That is worse than 97% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Expedition years we score, it ranks worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2019 Ford Expedition?

Yes. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2019 Ford Expedition involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 26V402000 (power train: automatic transmission), 20V263000 (power train: automatic transmission: gear position indication (prndl)). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Ford Expedition years are better?

Among the Ford Expedition years we track, the 2022 (25%), the 2023 (27%) and the 2017 (30%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2019 (80%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/ford-expedition

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.