3rd generation · U324 (standard) / U354 (EL extended) · 2,012 complaints, 1,339 with mileage
Owners filed 2,012 complaints with NHTSA about the 2007–2017 Ford Expedition, and 1,339 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 38,000 and 108,000 miles. The median is 70,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (16.7% of complaints, typically around 77,000 miles), the electrical system (13.0% of complaints, typically around 90,000 miles), the engine (9.0% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles).
8 recall campaigns cover this generation.
| System | Complaints | Share | Typical mileage | Middle half |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 335 | 16.7% | 77,000 | 37,000–120,000 |
| Electrical System | 261 | 13.0% | 90,000 | 51,120–121,000 |
| Engine | 181 | 9.0% | 84,000 | 51,070–123,800 |
| Service Brakes | 133 | 6.6% | 62,000 | 46,000–90,000 |
| Unknown Or Other | 132 | 6.6% | 79,000 | 26,000–114,477 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 121 | 6.0% | 52,000 | 35,000–96,000 |
| Structure | 110 | 5.5% | 62,750 | 40,000–90,000 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 94 | 4.7% | 65,000 | 48,500–98,000 |
| Visibility | 89 | 4.4% | 96,000 | 60,000–130,000 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic | 85 | 4.2% | 65,744 | 37,222–102,000 |
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2007 | 267 | 226 |
| 2008 | 179 | 142 |
| 2009 | 42 | 31 |
| 2010 | 74 | 60 |
| 2011 | 92 | 77 |
| 2012 | 163 | 116 |
| 2013 | 116 | 84 |
| 2014 | 96 | 57 |
| 2015 | 229 | 156 |
| 2016 | 278 | 170 |
| 2017 | 476 | 220 |
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 70,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 16.7% of complaints (335 reports, 221 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 37,000 and 120,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 13.0% of complaints (261 reports, 144 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 90,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,120 and 121,000 miles.
The engine accounts for 9.0% of complaints (181 reports, 127 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 84,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 51,070 and 123,800 miles.
The brakes account for 6.6% of complaints (133 reports, 84 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 62,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 46,000 and 90,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 6.6% of complaints (132 reports, 52 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 79,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 26,000 and 114,477 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 6.0% of complaints (121 reports, 87 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 52,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 35,000 and 96,000 miles.
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2017 model year drew the most — 476 complaints — while 2009 drew the fewest at 42. The median year sits at 163.
That makes 2017 an outlier: roughly 2.9 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
NHTSA records 8 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the reversing camera and sensors (2), the hydraulic brake circuit (2), visibility equipment (1). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Of the 2,012 complaints filed against this generation, 145 reported a crash; 53 reported a fire; 169 reported an injury; 4 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 7.2% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 38,000 and 108,000 miles, with a median of 70,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the electrical system are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 77,000, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
5.4L 3V cam phaser rattle and timing chain/tensioner wear — oil starvation to the top end at cold start wears the phasers, producing the characteristic rattle; replacement often does not hold and the common field fix is locking out the variable cam timing.
5.4L 3V two-piece spark plugs seizing and breaking off in the cylinder head during service.
3.5L EcoBoost timing chain stretch and cam phaser wear, plus turbocharger and intercooler condensation-related misfires under sustained load.
Rear load-leveling air suspension compressor and air spring failure.
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 25V572000 | 2026-01-13 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 25V270000 | 2025-10-16 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 25V236000 | 2025-09-25 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder |
| 22V648000 | 2023-08-04 | Visibility:Defroster/Defogger/Hvac System:Fan/Motor |
| 22V150000 | 2022-04-29 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Master Cylinder |
| 16V248000 | 2016-09-16 | Power Train:Automatic Transmission |
| 12V190000 | 2012-06-11 | Exterior Lighting:Back Up Lights |
| 12V034000 | 2012-02-21 | Seats:Mid/Rear Assembly |