Ford Expedition EL: Years to Avoid and Best Years to Buy
Ford Expedition EL: 3 model years scored from 453 NHTSA owner complaints and 0 recall campaigns. Worst year 2017, best year 2016.
Year-by-year data table
Best year in our data: 2016 (score 90). Worst: 2017 (score 78, BUY).
| Year | Score | Verdict | Running cost / yr | NHTSA complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | 78 | BUY | $5,824 | 272 | 0 |
| 2016 | 90 | BUY | $5,734 | 181 | 0 |
| 2015 | — | DATA PENDING | $5,530 | 0 | 0 |
Running cost is fuel or energy plus the maintenance band midpoint for that car at its age today, re-priced to your country. Purchase price, insurance and depreciation are not included.
Photographs and every generation of the Expedition EL, through the years →
Expedition EL sub-models & family
What goes wrong on the Ford Expedition EL
Across every Expedition EL model year in our index, owners report these component groups most often. The cost beside each one is the representative repair for that group at a US independent shop, re-priced to your country.
- Service Brakes119 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Pads, rotors and caliper service, both axles$580–$1,140
- Electrical System93 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Alternator, battery-drain or body-module diagnosis and replacement$540–$1,310
- Power Train71 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Transmission service or clutch-pack repair$1,290–$4,040
- Engine69 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Cooling-system or timing-drive repair$1,040–$2,220
- Hydraulic48 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Brake master cylinder or ABS module replacement$680–$1,520
- Visibility27 complaints across all Expedition EL years · typical job: Glass, wiper or defogger repair$490–$1,200
Flat-rate labour hours x local shop rate plus a parts band. An estimate of what this class of failure costs, not a quote. Formula.
FAQ
What is the best year for the Ford Expedition EL?
On our data the 2016 Ford Expedition EL scores 90/100 — the highest of the 3 model years we hold, with 181 NHTSA complaints and 0 recall campaigns on record.
Which Ford Expedition EL years should I avoid?
The 2017 is the weakest year we score, at 78/100 (BUY), on 272 complaints and 0 recalls. Check the year-by-year table above before committing to any particular car.
What is the most common Ford Expedition EL problem?
119 of the complaints filed against the Expedition EL across all its model years sit in the Service Brakes group — more than any other component.
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Sources: NHTSA, EPA · Methodology · Updated 2026-10-04