YearToAvoid

2011 Ford Expedition Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

0/100

#16 most-complained of 16 Expedition years

The 2011 Ford Expedition ranks best among 16 model years, with 71 complaints, no recalls, and a complaint index of 0. Top reported issue is Transmission & Powertrain (30% of complaints, median mileage 37,500).

Complaints
71
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
2 / 1
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
15
13 city / 18 hwy

Top 2011 Ford Expedition problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Transmission & Powertrain21 (30%)
  2. Structure & Body19 (27%)
  3. Engine18 (25%)
  4. Electrical System8 (11%)
  5. Other8 (11%)
  6. Fuel System4 (6%)
  7. Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (4%)
  8. Brakes2 (3%)
  9. Visibility & Wipers2 (3%)
  10. Airbags1 (1%)

What owners report

  • Owners report the transmission locking up or making a loud noise before failing to engage gear, sometimes causing a spin on the highway.
  • Some describe the vehicle stalling at low speed (around 20 mph) with the check engine light coming on and a mechanic diagnosing a transmission failure.
  • Several owners say the headrest angle is uncomfortable and cannot be adjusted, with concern it could worsen injury in a crash.
  • One owner reports the rear wheels locking momentarily at 40 mph along with intermittent stalling.
  • An owner reports a burning odor and later a fire linked to the electrical system at high mileage (177,000 miles).
  • One owner reports the passenger airbag deployed in a collision despite no passenger occupying the seat.
2011 Ford Expedition complaints: complaints filed per quarter102011 Q22012 Q42015 Q12016 Q42018 Q32020 Q32024 Q1
88 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2011 Q2 to 2026 Q2; peak 2012 Q3 (10).

2011 Ford Expedition recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2011 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost

City
13 MPG
Highway
18 MPG
Combined
15 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,300
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Gasoline or E85
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2011 compared with other Expedition years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Best2057015
2011Best071015
2012Good27118315.5
2013Best792015.5

All Ford Expedition years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2011 Ford Expedition reliable?
Among Expedition model years, 2011 ranks best (rank 16 of 16, meaning fewest relative complaints) with a complaint index of 0 and 71 total complaints logged with NHTSA.
What are the most common problems with the 2011 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA complaints are led by Transmission & Powertrain issues (30% of complaints, median mileage 37,500), followed by Structure & Body (27%) and Engine problems (25%, median mileage 88,403.5).
Does the 2011 Ford Expedition have any recalls?
NHTSA lists no recalls for the 2011 Ford Expedition.
How does the 2011 Expedition compare to later years like 2019?
The 2011 model has a complaint index of 0 and is rated Best, while the 2019 model has a complaint index of 100 and is rated Avoid, the worst among all years covered.
What is the fuel economy of the 2011 Ford Expedition?
The EPA rates the 2011 Expedition at 15 mpg combined (13 city / 18 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $4,300.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.