A Ford Expedition owner says her ongoing transmission issues have turned what should have been routine warranty work into years of frustration.

On January 22nd, Kaleigh (@kaleighleip) posted the latest update in a series of videos explaining her many issues, with the latest video amassing over 26,000 views as of this writing. 

“Exactly what I was afraid was going to happen did end up happening,” she shares. 

What Was The Issue With This Ford Owner’s Expedition?

She said the vehicle continued to shift harshly, prompting the dealership to replace the transmission for a second time. “They ended up putting another new transmission in it,” she said. “So transmission number three in here right now. 12 miles… So far, so good.”

She clarified that while some individuals say she shouldn’t complain as she has a warranty, these transmission replacements were paid for through an extended warranty she purchased separately. 

“It was covered under an extended warranty that I purchased, and so it wasn’t free,” she vents. 

Is The Issue Due To The Overall Quality Of Ford Vehicles?

Many viewers echoed her sense of frustration, arguing that the problem lies within the overall quality of Ford vehicles. 

“At Ford, quality is problem #1,” wrote one user.

“It’s a ford baby,” added another. 

“U deserve something better than that,” a third added. 

Some commenter’s went as far as suggesting different options altogether. “Buy an older used well taken care of Toyota tundra or 4 runner,” wrote one comment. “2021 or older.”

There is evidence that Ford vehicles in general tend to rank lower on reliability and require more maintenance than some competitors. Industry-wide surveys, including J.D. Power and other reliability indexes typically show Toyota significantly ahead of Ford in dependability and long-term ownership metrics. J.D. Power’s comparison found that Toyota vehicles have markedly fewer problems per 100 vehicles than Ford, and in multiple model comparisons, Toyota also topped Ford in reliability scoring and resale value. 

What Issues Has Ford Had With Transmissions?

Specifically looking at the Ford Expedition and transmissions, this user’s experience isn’t just anecdotal. Overall, there is a history of transmission issues with the Ford exhibition, which has even gone as far as Ford issuing a recall. 

Ford has issued multiple recalls related to transmission-linked systems on the Expedition. Although not all directly address the root mechanical failures that many owners complain about. One of the most notable was a 2018 recall covering nearly 300,000 2018 Expedition SUVs because a clip securing the transmission gear shift cable to the transmission could be improperly installed. If that clip came loose, the transmission could actually be in a gear other than what the shifter showed, creating a risk of unintended rollaway.

What Was The Likely Cost Of Repairs?

The out-of-pocket cost for a transmission replacement is not cheap, often running customers around the $3,000–$7,000 range. The reason these numbers are so high is that transmission work is extremely labor-intensive. Espically those 10-speed units are complex and expensive to source.

However, the woman who posted the video did not have to pay directly as she had separately purchased a warranty. In her case, buying that extended warranty likely saved her thousands in parts and labor costs, even if she still had to pay the warranty provider rather than Ford directly. 

While she did not specify how much she paid for her warranty, extended plans on Fords fall somewhere between about $1,500 and $4,500 total on average. While many owners reporting figures around $2,500–$3,500 for broad coverage that includes major powertrain components like the engine and transmission. 

MotorBiscuit reached out to @kaleighleip for comment via TikTok direct message and Ford for comment via email. 

@kaleighleip #expedition #transmission ♬ original sound – Kaleigh