Love Our 2010 Expedition EL XLT
Purchased new in early 2010. Has proven *highly reliable*, and until recently, very cheap to maintain. Used principally by soccer mom, and once annually for major road trips. Not used for hauling.
Things to look for:
1) Drive shaft is two piece design, with a bearing suspending the two halves to the bottom of the passenger compartment. Mine failed at 70k miles. Put truck in gear and start normally. If you hear a faint whirring sound start at 15mph, and grow in intensity to 45mph, the bearing has most likely failed. (R&R $145 at local stealership) Dont confuse with a differential failure. If in doubt, take to a shop for further examination.
2) Independent Rear-Wheel-Suspension: check for dripping around the differential. At 90k miles, I had a little dripping on the driver side axle shaft joint. Check to ensure that you dont have excessive dripping.
3) Shifting from park to drive at 100k should not produce a "thump" or a bang. In fact, at 100k miles, I still can not feel the down-shift when rolling to a stop. Transmission should be smooth as silk. (have never serviced transmission)
4) Transmission: at 100k, have noticed that pan gasket is failing at the rear of the transmission (under cross member). Examine and ensure that yours has not blown.
5) O2 Sensors: passenger side fore (before Cat) failed at 75K - computer will tell you which is failing, and adjust your mileage accordingly. Recommend that before purchasing: obtain an OBD2 reader that checks the status of the Emissions System, and verify that the exhaust system is working as advertised. A *partially* failing O2 sensor does not throw a code until total failure. (Cost to replace all 4 sensors: $540 (Bosch quality) - easy to do yourself - passenger side requires contortionist). Make sure to use plenty of high-temp Anti-Seize when re-installing, and DO NOT over-torque...
6) Automatic Running Boards: This has proven to be the most $$$ failure on my vehicle. Driver side running board extender trapeeze motor/gear box failed (icy weather froze board to bottom of vehicle). As a result, motor gears bound and stripped, causing board to remain extended. Unable to replace just the motor/gear box: cost to replace trapeeze was $1850 (for just the driver side(fordparts.com)). Recommendation: if yours has electrical auto-extend running boards, turn off vehicle, and in the configuration options (dashboard computer), extend/retract the running boards. If they do so *quietly*, they are most likely OK. If you hear gear noises, but they still actuate: beware. If they fail to extend or retract, consider the price to repair them yourself...
7) Engine has been completely reliable without trouble codes or failures. Performance today is like it was off-the-lot - excellent. Have performed basic regular maintenance - oil (Mobile1 5w20), filter (WIX 51592), and Air Filter. There is no PVC valve, no interior air filter, and no user-serviceable fuel filter. Water pump is still solid (not weeping). However, rear main seal is moist (union between engine and tranny) - no drip, but is moist with oil. Replaced rubber hoses at 90k - the lower radiator hose was hard to find in the Dallas Area - R&R is simple for that hose, but be careful. ALSO: auto parts store will try to sell you the *wrong* thermostat - always note the temp rating when removing the factory thermostat, and replace with identical temperature value. Vehicle will throw an error code if wrong thermostat is installed. Caution: note torque when re-installing that thermostat housing - 85in/lbs - you can strip those bolt holes very easily...
8) Interior: For such a great vehicle, Ford really used cheap carpeting in the rear cargo area... It has not stood up so well to the kids. Too, the driver seat (faux leather) also has not stood up so well over the last 4 years - it is getting hard (feels like a picket fence to sit on now). Re-appolster?
9) In-Dash Navigation/Entertainment: System still works as expected without trouble. Have converted my music collection of 600 CDs and put them on a hard drive in the center console. Nice to be able to select music push-button without fumbling with all those disks. About to purchase the upgrade DVD for the maps. Will let you know how that goes.
10) Moon Roof: I guess this is the only complaint that I have about the vehicle - the moon roof leaks. The dealership has been unable to stop the leak. It has leaked throughout the life of the vehicle. It leaks if we have a drizzle outside, and it leaks in a down-pour.