Ford Expedition Used Buying Guide: Known Issues

• Common Expedition issues vary from model year to model year, and they range from finicky old infotainment systems to off-putting spark plugs.
• Don’t commit to a used Expedition without checking to see whether it’s had all the necessary recall repairs!
• For a used Expedition that can handle the rocky Colorado terrain, visit us at Brighton Ford, where our used inventory has been inspected for reliability.

The used Expedition’s common issues don’t extend to every model year! After all, Ford’s full-size SUV has been around since the late 90s, and it’s changed a lot over the years. That’s why, for each of these common problems, we’ve made sure to let you know which model years you need to worry about.

With its laggy touchscreen, the MyFord Touch infotainment system was famously frustrating. But that’s far from its only issue. When this technology crashed or wouldn’t restart, drivers were unable to access important accessories — including their windshield defroster! Issues were so prevalent that Ford ended up paying drivers a $17-million settlement.

Although Ford officially introduced the MyFord Touch system for the 2010 model year, this finicky technology is only found in the 2015 Expedition. By the 2016 model year, the Expedition was sporting the much more popular SYNC 3 interface! If your used 2015 Expedition has the cursed MyFord Touch, replacing it with one of Ford’s newer infotainment systems is easy enough!

Is there a Triton V8 under your used Expedition’s hood? Depending on the model year, you may have some unique issues on your hands. During the Expedition’s 2005-2008 model years, Ford produced special spark plugs for its Triton V8 engines that were designed to last 100,000 miles. The trouble came when it was time to change them, and their two-part design would leave half the spark plug broken off inside the engine.

The issue has been so prevalent that we don’t recommend trying to change these spark plugs yourself. And not just any mechanic can change them, either. To service your 2005-2008 Expedition Triton V8, take it to a shop with the specialized tools required to safely change these unique spark plugs, such as your local Ford dealer.

And that’s just the half of it when it comes to spark plugs. Older Expeditions, featuring any version of Ford’s Triton V8 engine, have also been known to fully eject their spark plugs! Whether this is an issue with worn-out spark plug threads or the aluminum cylinder head’s grip on them is debatable. In any case, spark plugs that lose their hold on the cylinder head (or vice-versa) can fly out of it. This tends to happen on high-mileage models, when the engine has seen 100,000 miles or more. To help avoid this problem, ask your service tech to install some Lock-N-Stitch threads the next time you get your spark plugs changed.

Some third-generation Expeditions equipped with the 3.5-liter EcoBoost V6 engine have had an issue with their charge air cooler (CAC). Normally, the CAC cools the air from the turbocharger before sending it to the engine. This particular CAC suffers from insufficient ventilation, and the excess moisture it collects can become a major issue if that moisture ends up in the engine itself.

If moisture is drawn into your Expedition’s EcoBoost engine, you may notice excessive shaking or shuddering under the hood. The engine could also misfire. Some drivers report that this issue triggers “limp home” mode, which is essentially a safe mode for your engine. To fix the problem, Ford instructed technicians to install a new bottom air deflector to reduce moisture accumulation inside the CAC. Unfortunately, the automaker never issued a recall for this problem, and fixing (or avoiding) this problem is up to drivers!

While some Expedition model years skate away without any recalls at all (as of this writing, anyway), others had more than one. But recalls aren’t uncommon, no matter the vehicle make or model. That’s why, when you’re shopping the used market, it’s important to verify whether a vehicle is up-to-date on any necessary recall repairs! To give you an idea of why this is important, let’s take a look at some recent Expedition recalls.

Some 2022 Expedition models were recalled for a potentially faulty trailer brake controller. Make sure this issue is resolved — otherwise your SUV may not be able to properly apply the trailer brakes!

In some 2018 Expeditions, the high-pressure fuel pump flange weld was known to crack. This damage allows the high-pressure fuel pump to move while the engine is running, increasing the risk of a fuel leak. And a fuel leak so close to an ignition source could result in a fire!