8 Best & Worst Years For The Ford Expedition

The Ford Expedition is a full-size sport utility vehicle introduced by Ford in 1997 as a replacement for the Bronco.

Since its introduction, it has been one of the best-selling SUVs in America. The Expedition comes in three trim levels: XLT, Limited, and King Ranch.

Since it was first introduced, the Ford Expedition has been a popular option for families.

The SUV is designed with the comfort and safety of up to eight passengers in mind, but some drivers who have purchased the vehicle may wonder if it continues to live up to its reputation over time.

While the current generation of the Expedition is only just now being replaced, there have been three generations available since 1993.

There have been some models that were not as reliable as others. This article will take a look at best and worst years for Ford Expedition.

Best Years for Ford Expedition:

1. 2020
2. 2009
3. 2019
4. 2013
5. 2010
6. 2015
7. 2011
8. 2008

Worst Years for Ford Expedition:

1. 2003
2. 2006
3. 1999
4. 2000
5. 2001
6. 2005
7. 2004
8. 2002

These are all 0f the years that a person should go for or avoid. So, without any further ado, let’s jump straight into it.

Let’s take a closer look at why each of these respective models has ended up on these lists!

List Of The Best Years For The Ford Expedition: What Years To Buy

We will be starting with the best models of the Ford Expedition that are available on the market.

These years have been chosen due to their reliability and overall performance.

Although these years are safe to buy, it is still recommended to read this section completely.

#1 Best Year: 2020 Ford Expedition

With one of the highest-rated and lowest complaints about the model on the market, the 2020 Ford Expedition has been loved by many.

With it being a recent model, it is the perfect choice for anyone looking to get an amazing SUV without any compromises.

The 2020 Expedition is an amazing performer, thanks to its V6 engine. It is a beast on the road even though it has been built for families.

The seats are comfortable, and the interior is spacious, perfect for long drives. The SUV can even tow more than its competition, which is another aspect you have to consider.

#2 Best Year: 2009 Ford Expedition

A vehicle does not have to be the latest one to end up on this list.

You can see this by the fact that the 2009 variant of the SUV, which is more than a decade old, has earned the second spot on the best model of the Expedition.

The SUV was and still is loved by many. It is spacious enough to house eight adults comfortably. It also has an excellent towing capacity.

The 2009 model also received a new suspension and steering systems welcome upgrades for many.

#3 Best Year: 2019 Ford Expedition

Coming back to modern times, the 2019 Ford Expedition comes pretty close to the two models before it.

The SUV features state-of-the-art technologies, such as a great infotainment system and an all-around camera system, great for parking and getting out of tight spots.

The 2019 model shines because of its ease of use. The Expedition uses the entirety of its wheelbase, which allows it to be spacious enough to house many people.

It has a large cargo capacity and an adjustable seating arrangement that many love.

#4 Best Year: 2013 Ford Expedition

The 2013 Ford Expedition is another option that one has to consider. With it being almost ten years old at this point, one wonders if it is worth it.

Well, with an amazing V8 engine under the hood, you will not feel like you are driving a decade-old vehicle.

The SUV has some praiseworthy safety features, including disc brakes, traction control, and even a trailer sway system when you are towing one.

The interior looks and feels luxurious. It is spacious enough for all passengers that are seated inside.

#5 Best Year: 2010 Ford Expedition

Coming in at 5th place is the 2010 model of the popular SUV. The Ford Expedition, from 2010, is a solid contender, even as of writing this article.

Users praised the SUV because of its excellent performance. The riding experience is smooth and relatively shock-free.

The interior of the 2010 model is pretty similar to 2009 one, with a spacious and luxurious feel. Despite it being old, the navigation system is great and works flawlessly.

The sound dampening is also great, which means less sound will be entering the cabin.

#6 Best Year: 2015 Ford Expedition

Another fantastic option for consumers is the 2015 Ford Expedition. Its only con is that it is too big for some, making it difficult to park. The majority has an opposite vote.

The SUV checks all the right boxes, with its amazing performance, excellent towing capacity, and spacious interior. It is perfect for all sorts of activities.

This model was the first one with the V6 engine, which was great and even better than the previous one.

#7 Best Year: 2011 Ford Expedition

Although the 2011 Ford Expedition has scored a low place on the list, it must be clarified that it is a fantastic option for many users.

People came to love this SUV’s amazing ride handling, high towing capacity, and spacious interior.

The interior of the SUV can be utilized in many different ways. The seats are easy to fold, which allows for better use of the cabin space. You can store excess cargo without any issues.

#8 Best Year: 2008 Ford Expedition

The 2008 Expedition is the final one on this list. It is an amazing SUV with excellent features.

Like all other Expeditions on this list, this one has been designed for maximum possible ease of use. It has the same housing capability of up to eight people.

The engine on this SUV is strong enough to tow anything, which is great for families looking to take a trailer with them.

The V8 engine is a great performer and is perfect for any on-the-road experience.

List Of The Worst Years For The Ford Expedition: What Years To Avoid

These years have caused issues for the majority of their owners.

Some have been recalled too, which means they are not good enough for daily use.

With all of the best years now fully explained, we will now be moving onto the models that must be avoided at all costs.

#1 Worst Year: 2003 Ford Expedition

The 2003 Ford Expedition is one of the worst models of the SUV that one can buy. Although the 2001 and the 2002 models were pretty bad, one would expect some improvements.

Well, that was certainly not the case, with the issue of the spark plugs coming out of their cylinder heads.

There were issues related to stalling and sputtering, which were sources of frustration for many.

Unfortunate owners also reported about the fuses blowing and the AC system not working.

#2 Worst Year: 2006 Ford Expedition

Engine issues continued with the 2006 variant of the Ford Expedition.

Although the problems of blowing spark plugs were fixed, there were still major issues that led to it ending up on this list.

Buyers complained about the engine shutting off without any reason. The drive of this specific SUV was pretty rough too.

The 2006 model had paint issues too. Buyers complained about the paint bubbling up, indicating that costs were cut. This means that the look of the SUV may not be as appealing.

#3 Worst Year: 1999 Ford Expedition

Even in 1999, the Ford Expedition had many issues, most of them related to the engine.

You may be surprised to know that the same model had the spark plug blowing out the issue, which many users reported.

There were also reports of coils going bad, which would result in power loss issues. There were many electrical and AC system issues too.

The air conditioner system would fail. Gauges would die, and there were even reports of the vehicle cranking itself without even inserting the key.

#4 Worst Year: 2000 Ford Expedition

With the 2003 and the 2002 models having issues, one would expect the 2000 model to have the same issues.

Well, that was exactly the case. The 2000 Ford Expedition suffered from similar spark plugs blowing out while on the road.

There were also reports of knocking sounds coming from the engine and unexpected misfires. The 2000 model also had similar electrical and AC issues.

The vehicle would try to crank itself automatically. There were severe electrical issues too, including the horn going off suddenly.

#5 Worst Year: 2001 Ford Expedition

Although the 2001 Ford Expedition was better than the next two models, it was still not good enough to be used as a daily driver.

The 2001 variant had the same issue of the spark plugs ejecting from their respective heads. Surprisingly, the manufacturer did not fix these issues for three years.

The engine had a knocking issue and unexpected shutdowns during driving, which is pretty dangerous.

There were few reports of the cruise control being faulty, which means a person could not rely on it.

#6 Worst Year: 2005 Ford Expedition

The 2005 Ford Expedition suffered from several issues.

Buyers complained about the SUV having poor quality injectors, which would result in engine stalling, but the spark plugs failed unexpectedly.

Like the 2006 variant, the 2005 one also had bubbling paint problems. That is not all. Due to quality control issues, there were reports of water leaking into the cabin, which is not good.

The model is pretty bad but is still better than some other variants on this list.

#7 Worst Year: 2004 Ford Expedition

Potential buyers could consider the 2004 Ford Expedition. It had pretty few engine issues, but there were a lot of complaints regarding the vehicle rusting.

Rusting is a pretty serious issue, as it can cause the vehicle’s lifespan to shorten pretty quickly. The structure of a vehicle can also get compromised.

There were also reports of the bubbles appearing under the paint, which was reported in the 2005 and the 2006 models of the SUV.

Although these issues are solvable, they do make owning them inconvenient.

#8 Worst Year: 2002 Ford Expedition

The 2002 Ford Expedition is the best of the worst possible models you can buy.

Although it is two decades old, it had a considerable number of issues, with most of them being related to the engine.

Users complained about the spark plugs coming out of their heads, which would make the SUV stall on the road. Many of you can already imagine how serious this issue is.

The 2002 model also had various electrical and transmission issues. There were several reports of the batteries dying after very short time intervals.

The ignition system would also go faulty, which would prevent the engine from being started.

What Are The Most Common Problems With The Ford Expedition?

I have tried to look for some common problems and following are the ones I’d like to mention that you can face if you are going for Ford Expedition.

1. SUV Shaking Issue

Not a long time after Ford released the 2011-2013 F-150, it was seen that the engine was subject to unexpected shaking, stalling, and misfiring.

This issue began to surface more prominently in humid and dry conditions, which resulted in car owners showing disapproval at the highest levels.

This EcoBoost engine began to cause shuddering in the car and began to enter limp mode even in average driving conditions.

You can only imagine the disapproval of drivers when their Ford Expedition performed below par in various weather conditions.

However, it was reported that ford then redesigned its engine to improve its CAC system for newer models of the Ford expedition.

The problem has not been seen in the latest models of the vehicles, which is great news for many people looking to buy a newer Expedition truck for daily use.

2. Corrosion Of Hoods

For the 2000-2007 models of the Ford Expedition, users began to complain about Ford aluminum hoods being susceptible to corrosion and rust.

The company was faced with a major lawsuit regarding its failure to properly insulate the hoods even though they were aware that the material used would be subject to corrosion and coupling.

The main cause of this corrosion was traced to severe contamination of the aluminum panels that were used for these very models.

It became evident following the lawsuit that Ford knew about this issue but failed to address this in various models from 2000-2007.

Those living in rust-prone states were just not happy with such an issue in these brand-new cars, and this resulted in extreme loss of credibility and image for the company.

3. Spark Plugs Ejection Issue

1999 to 2003 was one of the worst years ranges for Ford Expedition SUVs.

Buyers reported serious issues with it, including one where spark plugs would blow and eject from their cylinder heads.

This problem has been mentioned several times in the article above. The spark plugs would blow at any second, which would result in the SUV stopping unexpectedly.

The reason for this issue is that the threads used on the cylinder heads are too soft, which would result in them coming out.

As the engine works at high pressures, the issue pops up frequently. It could only be fixed by replacing the cylinder heads with aftermarket ones.

Although it is possible, it is going to set you back by a lot.

4. Rough Idle Due To EGR Sensor

The issue of the EGR sensor malfunctioning was reported mostly between 1997 and 2007.

The sensor plays a pretty important part in the exhaust system of the vehicle. If it malfunctions, the first indication may be the turning off of the check engine light.

Another indication could be decreased fuel mileage. Only diagnosing the issue will cost you around $100.

Fixing the sensors will add a bit more money, but using your SUV without it will result in not only poor performance and gas mileage but increased degradation of engine parts.

5. Paint Bubbling Issue

One problem that was seen frequently in the 2005 to 2010 models of the Ford Expedition was the formation of bubbles under the paint of the SUV.

Buyers reported that there were many bubbles that resulted in frustration. The only reason for this problem was that low-quality methods were used to paint the SUV.

As the problem was reported by many people, it is clear that Ford had some fixing to do. They did not fix it for many years. But post-2010, the issue was never seen again.

So, if you do buy a model that had this issue, then you may need to get the whole SUV painted.

6. Electrical System Issues

The final problem on this list is the electrical system issue that is still found in recent Expedition vehicles. Electrical systems are the ones that can malfunction on any vehicle.

Ford Expeditions have had a history of varying electrical issues. Reports of the vehicle trying to crank itself and air conditioner failure are pretty common.

Other problems include the failure of the infotainment system too.

Although all of the above-mentioned issues are repairable, they do make owning the SUV pretty inconvenient. Fluctuating lights and horns are other reported issues too.

Ford should focus on the electrical system in the same manner as to how they fixed their engine and spark plug issues.

Related: Why Won’t My Ford Expedition Start?

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How Long Do Ford Expedition Engines Last?

This answer solely depends on how the SUV is treated. The expected range is anywhere between 150000 to 300000 miles.

300000 miles can only be reached if the vehicle is used with proper care. This included timely maintenance and fixing problems as soon as they occurred.

There have been reports of people crossing the 300000-mile range easily. That can be achieved, but it is not easy.

Q2. What Is High Mileage For A Ford Expedition?

Although these SUVs can last for quite some time, anything above 150000 miles is considered high mileage for them.

As was detailed in the previous question, the Expedition has been designed to last anywhere between 150000 and 300000 miles.

So, if you buy one, you should adjust your expectations accordingly because the one you buy may already have some mileage on it.

Q3. Which Is Better, Honda Pilot Or Ford Expedition?

The Honda Pilot is clearly cheaper between the two. But it must be noted that the number of features on the Expedition is considerably more when compared to the Pilot.

The Expedition has a stronger engine, higher hauling capacity, and is packed with the latest tech. To be honest, there is no competition between the two.

Ford easily beats the Honda in all regards. So, if you are deciding between the two, I think you know who the winner is.

If you are interested in buying Honda Pilot, then I recommend you to read this article on Best And Worst Years For The Honda Pilot.

Q4. Why Does My Ford Expedition Shake?

This is yet another problem that was discussed above. The issue is prevalent mostly in the Ecoboost engine of the SUV.

Although there were some design flaws, there can be other reasons too, including misaligned wheels, a worn suspension system, or worn-out spark plugs.

A shaking issue should not be overlooked and must be checked by a professional immediately. The issue may escalate and could lead to irreparable damage.

Q5. Do Ford Expeditions Hold Their Value?

The Ford Expedition has an incredible resale value. In fact, it has one of the best resale Ford vehicles on the market.

If you are looking for numbers, the Expedition’s price will depreciate 51% after five years. That is pretty decent.

This also means that you will be able to get a 5-year-oldSUV at half the price of the new one. That is an incredible deal for many people.

Conclusion

The Ford Expedition is an amazing SUV. There is no doubt about that. It can be concluded from the above articles that most of the issues that plagued this SUV were before 2010.

Ford actually improved a lot, and I have not seen such a massive improvement over the years. With the 2020 model taking the lead over the competition, it is my recommendation to you all.

If you don’t have the budget, then any one of the models from the best years list will be more than perfect for you.

I hope this article helped you in navigating the best and worst years for Ford Expedition.