My husband & I were on 80 west approaching the bay bridge in the middle of severe weather and packed traffic, when the engine fail safe mode flashed across the dash, it seemed to have no throttle power yet we were able to coast across to the side . We put the expedition in park & turned the key to the off position, sat and gathered our bearings (was a very scary situation, could have ended badly) and tried to figure what was wrong. My husband turned the ignition over and it started right up (left off approx. couple minutes), we continued to the San Francisco airport to pick our son up and returned home (3 hr drive), the expedition drove like normal as if nothing had ever happened. No check engine light on, temp was normal and all fluids at normal levels.

This has happened numerous times over the past 4 years. The first time was when I was driving home from the dealership after repairs that had been covered under an extended warranty. The car stalled on the highway during rush hour. I immediately called the dealership because I had just left(imagine that). They were rude and not helpful as I was a single female sitting on side of the road $400 later. I tried to start it and it started.

It happened a few months later and I took it to another mechanic who told me it was a computer part that needed to be replaced but the extended warranty that I purchased covered everything but computer parts. When purchased I thought I made sure it covered all because I knew from past that electric windows and seats are extra coverage. He told me the part was almost $1000. I opted for not fixing it. The first occurrence I had just over 100,000 miles on it. It happens periodically.

My 15 year old daughter and I were driving on interstate 66 around 6:15 pm in December in rush hour traffic. All of a sudden the engine fail safe light came on and I lost all power to the car as it shut down. Thankfully I was on the right side of the road going under 10 mph and there was room to pull off (or rather coast) to the side where the zebra lines on the road were . Picture this.... rush hour traffic, night time, freezing outside and we were stranded in a very hard to reach area as we were about to merge from an overpass.

Thankfully I did not let me daughter drive on this particular trip (she has her learner's permit). I waited on the side of the road for a few minutes then started the car and it started right up. A very nerve wracking journey off the interstate fearful that it would shut off again.

Mechanic said it was the throttle body - WAY scary as it could have ended VERY badly.

Same problem as everyone else this morning. Fortunately, I was only going 35mph and was able to pull over with no power steering or brakes. As with everyone else, I was able to restart and the "check engine" light did not come on. Normally, I would not expect a recall from a manufacturer when a part fails after 100k miles, however, this appears to be an issue with only 2006 Expeditions and creates a life threatening situation. I will (and encourage everyone else with this problem) file a complaint with the NHTSA.

This is my second Expedition and I currently own three Ford products. As soon as I can replace the throttle body, I will be trading this one in. Then, I will only own TWO Ford vehicles!

Second time this has happened, first time documenting complaint. Was driving normally when fail safe mode came on, steering locked up and car shut down. I was luckily able to pull over to the side of the road, turn the car off for a few minutes and it started back up and I was able to get to work. I was on a residential street today, the first time I was on a major highway, luckily in the right lane and I managed to pull over. VERY dangerous. I'll be contacting Ford corporate today.

Update from Mar 27, 2014: I urge all of you to contact National Highway Traffic and Safety Administration (NHTSA) as well as Ford corporate to file a complaint - I emailed Ford corporate today and already received a reply - not offering ANY assistance, but it is documentation. This is unacceptable. Here's the link to contact Ford. http://corporate.ford.com/footer/contact-ford You may need to copy & paste. Don't stop complaining - this is a major safety issue.

I was driving down a very busy road my steering wheel locked up and vehicle shut off and I was turning at a stop light almost hit a car head on. Failed engine came across the place where it shows mileage. I was going around 35 mph and make a left at stop light it was green so I wasn't just stopped and then went. I was in the middle of turning when this happen. Very very dangerous. I was scared to death this needs to be some kind of damn recall. I called Ford dealer they said they never heard of this. After reading this page I find that hard to believe and will be calling there corporate office tomorrow.

I thought I'd offer this information as a preventative for all you Expedition and F150 owners.

A few months ago I had a problem with engine cutting out shortly after starting. The engine light went on and it restarted without a problem. I planned on having it serviced soon, and since it didn't happen again I assumed it was bad gas, in need of a tune up or something minor.

Well, it reared it's ugly head last week while I was on an island in New Brunswick, Canada. This time it would start and then stall out repeatedly.We towed it to the local mechanic for diagnostics, as the Ford dealership was on the mainland. I was told it probably was the fuel pump. I called the parts department of Downey Ford in St. Stephen, NB to get an idea of cost of a fuel pump. The customer service person was kind enough to suggest that the fuel pump module should be looked at as the cause of the problem. A much less expensive fix and overlooked as a possibility by the mechanic. The module is located near the spare tire where it gets lots of road salt and rots out. It was a relief to know that instead of a costly repair it was a minor one that only took an hour. This is a common repair on F150's. Ford should place this module somewhere where it isn't so exposed to road salt and put a better coating on it. I understand that after market modules are not only much less expensive, but also are coated better and have a spacer that holds it away from the body.

Thank you to the informative customer service person at Downey Ford! You have gone above and beyond to help a total stranger. I hope this helps other Expedition owners.

Driving 40 mph and failsafe light came on and the engine shut down. I was able to pull off the rode. I restarted the engine and was able to drive home (2miles). I contacted the Ford dealer and had the vehicle towed in and they diagnosed the problem and replaced the throttle body. Very dangerous situation and I understand that this has been corrected but is not a recall. I would expect that this should be a recall item. Also, to add to the issue my after market extended warranty said they will not cover it even though it is part of the engine fuel control system. I feel cheated all the way around--dangerous situation that is not backed up and shafted by the warranty company.

I'm glad to know that I'm not the only one that has had this "almost identical" problem based on the descriptions I have read, and most specifically the 'fail safe mode' operation. I too was traveling the interstate at around 68 mph, and all of a sudden, without warning and due to no fault of my own (other than maybe touching the steering wheel?!) the engine begins to run 'quite roughly', shall i say, to the point that I immediately knew this was not good and that I had to turn around and head back towards home with hopes I would make it there. I proceeded to find the nearest cut-across and turned around heading back to where I had just left 10 minutes before. The 'fail safe mode' was being indicated in the dash and I didn't know if the vehicle would make it back to home or not....my most immediate concern was pulling back onto the interstate knowing I had 70mph traffic approaching in both lanes that were available. Thank God I made it safely by using the 'outside emergency lane' until I could get back to the best speed it would attain, about 60 mph. I made it home, about 7 miles, but wasn't sure I was going to. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer soon thereafter and this was their diagnosis.

WELL....just today, a similar issue occurred. This time there was no 'fail safe' mode, but the vehicle began running 'rough' again (as I travel the on-ramp onto the interstate) and this time the 'battery indicator' was flashing and it felt as though the vehicle was missing on a couple of cylinders, for lack of a better definition. About a mile further down the interstate, this condition cleared (this is not the 'first' time since it was fixed that this has happened!) and that's the only reason i continued driving...assuming it would once again correct itself.

I don't know exactly what or where this problem is, but I will definitely question my dealership, and specifically about the TPS that Linda (from kentucky, i think) mentioned before and which her husband had replaced and fixed their problem. (or at least she hopes!!!!) I have been a Ford owner since 1988, but I'm certainly not opposed to never buying another one if FORD MOTOR COMPANY doesn't admit this is a problem and fix it from this point forward. As many others mentioned already, that was a very uncomfortable and dangerous situation I put myself in when I had to turn around on the interstate!

Driving 70mph in left lane of toll way, car stalls, lights come on dash, lose all power says fail safe mode. This is obviously a known problem with this vehicle. Of course, dealership will not admit that. I am having the throttle body assembly replaced as I cannot drive this vehicle this way, it is too dangerous. I am in the process of teaching a 16 year old to drive. I cannot have her drive this vehicle. I agree....Shame on you Ford. I have reported this to the transportation safety administration. They've heard it many times. Keep complaining.

While driving my truck would engine would shut off and 'fail engine safety' light would come on....scared me several times, especially when the kids were in the truck. Great full always happened right after I would start to drive after idling-so not far on the road in traffic, but very annoying. Thought it was bad gas at first but after filling up several times it still would die. Did research at this site and others. Found it to be the throttle....had it replaced at North County Ford for about $275. Runs good so far and have a warranty on it now....thank goodness! Driving across country and thanks car complaints.com and those who have posted for answers in helping me solve a problem when I was so frustrated with my truck in which I love driving and is paid for!

Simona

I see that this is a common problem with this vehicle. This is my third Expedition, and I had a Navigator in between this one and the last one. The first time this happened, I was on a residential street in a school zone, and was able to pull over, turn the car off, and it restarted and everything was fine. So I just thought, "wow, that was weird" and moved on. This morning on my way to work, I was traveling at 65 mph on the freeway in a construction zone where there are no shoulders and there are concrete barricades right next to the lane, when it happened again. No power, no acceleration, dash says "engine failsafe mode"... and no where to pull over!!! Since I didn't die, and actually made it to work, I looked up the problem, which led me here. I have called Ford Customer Care (800-392-3673), who took all the information and directed me to take the vehicle to the dealership where I would be responsible for the diagnostic charge and the repair costs. She acted like she had never heard of this problem before. My next call was to file a complaint with the National Highway Safetey Board (800-424-9393), who took all my information and indicated that they were going to try to get a recall issued. If everyone will call and file a complaint, it will be more likely to happen before someone actually dies.

Thank everyone who has taken the time to post on this site. We had our fail safe come on tonight and shut down the engine, thank goodness we were in a parking lot and not on the interstate like so many others. I will be making calls to Ford and anyone else that can help our cause on getting this recalled. I shut the engine off for a minute and then it cranked right up. I was reading that this hasn't been a problem after 06 and maybe looking to trade if I do not see more positive post on how to fix this. If anyone else has this problem post it and make the calls.