‘I Would Have Just Cried and Waited for Everyone to Leave:’ Woman Tries to Park Ford Expedition at the Airport. It Backfires

'I would cry.'

Woman tries to park Ford Expedition at the airport

Photo by: @rebeka.johanna23

Alexandra Samuels

By: Alexandra Samuels

Jun 23, 2025 at 1:00pm ET

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A woman trying to park at the airport faced a problem familiar to many SUV drivers: her dad’s Ford Expedition was too big for the spot.

Rebeka Rodriguez (@rebeka.johanna23) was trying to park at an unidentified airport when she realized the SUV barely fit between the lines. From the looks of her now-viral TikTok, she had already parked but was wedged just millimeters from the car next to her. She appears to be stuck in the spot.

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“Girl problems,” she writes in the on-screen caption.

“I’m this close to losing my [expletive] right now,” she says.

People found her predicament both relatable and emblematic of everything they dislike about their fellow drivers.

Rodriguez’s post had racked up more than 6.1 million views as of Monday.

Have People Gotten Worse at Parking?

No definitive data proves it, but many people are convinced that drivers have gotten worse at parking, especially over the past few years. A 2023 survey by Verra Mobility found that 54% of Americans think drivers have worsened since the pandemic. That perception likely stems from a mix of factors, including more cars on the road, tighter lots, and bulkier vehicles.

So what’s behind the surge in bad parking? More congestion and fewer spaces can make things feel more chaotic. But some drivers, especially younger ones, are often blamed for lacking the fundamental skills.

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In reality, parking ability varies widely. Some people are simply less skilled or less careful than others.

In Rodriguez's case, with her dad’s Ford Expedition, the issue may not have been her parking skills or lack thereof, but that the vehicle was simply too big for the spot.

“Trying to park my dad’s Expedition at the airport when I’m literally just a girl,” she jokes in the caption.

The size of modern vehicles doesn’t help, either. Vehicle sizes have ballooned over the years. Last year, nonprofit Transport and Environment reported that vehicles have grown wider at a rate of 0.4” every two years.

Meanwhile, many parking lots haven’t been updated to match, leading to tighter fits and awkward angles. Even with parking assistance technology like backup cameras and sensors, it can be difficult to wedge a larger vehicle into a space.

Frustrated drivers are taking notice.

In January, the Autopian reported that some have started carrying “shame” stickers to slap on poorly parked cars. One person purportedly even brags online about keeping a stash of them in his glove box—ready to roast bad parkers one passive-aggressive decal at a time.

Are Ford Expeditions Too Big for Most Spaces?

At 80” wide and a length of 210” for the standard trim and 221.9” for the MAX trim in 2025 models, Ford Expeditions are classed as full-size SUVs.

For some drivers, maneuvering a vehicle that size just isn’t second nature, especially when it comes to parking.

The average parking space typically ranges from about 90” to 108” wide, though there are larger and smaller spaces in some lots.

So someone driving a Ford Expedition trying to park in a smaller space could be left with roughly 5” clearance on either side if they parked precisely in the middle—not enough for an adult to get in and out of the vehicle.

Big Vehicles Aren’t for Everyone

While Rodriguez seemed amused by her parking predicament, not everyone saw the humor. Many viewers argued that if you can’t handle a large vehicle, you shouldn’t be behind the wheel of one.

“If you can’t drive a big car, don’t buy a big car,” one annoyed commenter wrote.

“If you don’t know how to park, you shouldn’t have a driver’s license,” another critic chimed in.

Others, though, were sympathetic, admitting they’d probably panic in the same situation.

“I would have just cried and waited for everyone to leave,” one woman joked.

“I would cry,” another wrote. “I get it.”

“You’re not the only one, am guilty also,” a third admitted.

Some even offered tips for navigating SUVs in tight spots. The most common advice? Park as far from other cars as possible.

“Go park highest level,” one suggested. “Or far away.”

“I think go back slowly or turn your wheels right away lol,” another offered. “I’d have to be there to figure it out lmao.”

What do you think?

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Rodriguez does appear to have figured out her parking problem. Her next TikTok is from inside the airport.

Motor1 has reached out to Rodriguez via a TikTok comment. We’ll be sure to update this if she responds.