2017 Ford Expedition — Should You Buy One?
Typical asking price: $20,000–$30,000. This is one of the more reliable vehicles in its class — here's what to watch for anyway.
Kestrel Take
A hugely spacious full-size SUV with a genuine advantage: the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 makes big torque, tows hard, and (unlike a big V8) uses less fuel doing it. The last year before the aluminum redesign. Watch EcoBoost cooling/turbo maintenance and the usual big-SUV consumables. A powerful, roomy hauler if the turbo V6's history is clean.
What we checked
Partly reconciled against public records, 2026-09-11
NHTSA holds 356 owner complaints for the 2017 Ford Expedition, across 4 recall campaigns.
A big number here usually means a lot of these were sold, not that it is a bad vehicle — popular models collect more complaints for the same rate of trouble. So the total on its own says little. What is worth reading is the shape of it. The largest single group is electrics and electronics at 26%. That is notable without being overwhelming — worth checking, not worth panicking about.
4 recall campaigns cover this model year. Recalls are repaired free, for any owner, with no time limit on most safety campaigns — but only if someone books it in. Ask the seller to show it was done, or have any dealer check the VIN; it takes them a couple of minutes and costs nothing.
Not written up yet: the brakes (77 complaints), the transmission and drivetrain (51 complaints). Those groups are in the public record and are not covered by the issues below. Treat them as something to ask about, not as absent.
Counts come from the NHTSA complaint and recall database — free, public, and worth checking yourself.
Known Issues for the 2017 Ford Expedition
Ranked by wallet impact. These are documented, recurring problems — not freak accidents.
The twin-turbo V6 wants clean oil and healthy cooling; the intercooler can collect condensation causing stumble. Check history.
Repair cost (estimate): $150-$1,500
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (43).
Some EcoBoost V6s develop cam-phaser rattle at cold start; listen carefully.
Repair cost (estimate): $1,000-$3,000 if affected
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under the engine (43).
Occasional infotainment and sensor faults.
Repair cost (estimate): $100-$600
Source: NHTSA complaints filed under electrics and electronics (92).
Walk-Away Red Flags
- ✗Cam-phaser rattle at cold start
- ✗Turbo coolant loss / neglected oil
- ✗Overheating or tow abuse
- ✗Outstanding recalls
Good Signs
- ✓Quiet cold start, documented oil service
- ✓Healthy cooling, clean tow history
- ✓One or two owners
Found a specific Ford Expedition?
This page covers what goes wrong on the 2017 Ford Expedition in general. The Kestrel report covers this specific car— the asking price vs. market, the photos, the seller's description, and a BUY / NEGOTIATE / WALK AWAY verdict with a negotiation script.
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Not ready to pay for one? The free read is instant and needs no card — it checks the asking price against the market and names the top issues for this year. It stops short of the verdict, because that needs the photos.
Known issues on this page are based on documented owner reports, NHTSA complaints, class-action records, and manufacturer technical service bulletins. Individual vehicles vary. A pre-purchase inspection by a trusted mechanic is always worth doing.
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