Ford Expedition 5th generation (2024–2026)
Generation-specific owner insights from 122+ substantive owner discussions, with US complaint and recall records.
Should I buy one?
135
US owner complaints (NHTSA), 2024–2026
15
recall campaigns
unknown or other
most-complained area
What owners say about this generation
Our take, from owner reports
Owner sentiment for the 2024-2026 Expedition is mixed and heavily split between practical praise and serious quality and safety concerns.
10 problems reported (1 very frequent, 1 recurrent, 8 isolated) · high confidence
Problems owners report
- Very frequentVibration and shimmy at highway speed on new 2025 models
Sometimes persisting after tire balancing, tire replacement, and shock absorber replacement.
- RecurrentPoor small-overlap crash test rating on the 2024 model
With owners reporting the driver compartment crumbled and no updated rating for 2025-2026.
- IsolatedInterior build quality described as falling apart or atrocious on a rented 2024 Limited
+ 7 more issuesShow fewer
- IsolatedInfotainment and dash display freeze requiring a reboot by holding the power button, reported on a 2025 Expedition Max
- IsolatedAdaptive cruise control unavailable even after cleaning sensors
With a dealer recalibration and a new sensor ordered, and a separate report of the vehicle thinking a trailer is connected.
- IsolatedSeat motor issue where a seat moved unexpectedly with a child in it
- IsolatedIPMA fault codes pointing to a wiring or connector issue behind the windshield trim
- IsolatedWindshield replacement difficulty due to no OEM windshields in national inventory for the 2025 Expedition
- IsolatedThird-row seat function not working
With owners resorting to pulling a fuse or disconnecting switches to disable.
- IsolatedMissing buttons on an Active trim that owners expected to be standard
Later attributed to trim and package differences.
The version owners recommend
Insufficient owner data available to declare a consensus. Partial signal points to the Tremor trim drawing interest for its high-output EcoBoost, locking rear, slight lift, and 33-inch all-terrain tires, and the Max body style being favored by large families for cargo and third-row space. The Platinum trim is discussed but drew criticism for its tailgate styling.
Competitors to consider
Owners compare it most often with the Chevrolet Tahoe, GMC Yukon, Jeep Wagoneer, Nissan Armada and Toyota Grand Highlander.
Is a 2024–2026 Expedition right for you?
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Overall sentiment
Owner sentiment for the 2024-2026 Expedition is mixed and heavily split between practical praise and serious quality and safety concerns. Owners who value space, third-row access, cargo room, and family hauling generally speak positively, and several describe it as the more practical pick among full-size SUVs. At the same time, a recurring theme across discussions is dissatisfaction with build quality, ride vibration, and crash-test safety performance, with some owners saying they would not buy the vehicle at all. The 2025 redesign drew strong opinions on styling, particularly the rear tailgate treatment, and several owners reported vibration and shimmy issues on brand-new 2025 models. Earlier 2024 examples appear in fewer discussions, and the safety concerns raised are tied specifically to the 2024 model year rating, with owners noting no updated rating exists for 2025-2026.
Positioning vs competitors
Owners position the Expedition as the more practical family hauler against the Tahoe and Yukon, citing better space, easier third-row access, and more cargo room behind the seats, and one owner noted the Expedition has slightly better towing. Against the Armada, owners describe the Expedition as more comfortable and better on tech but floaty, with less driver confidence in high-speed emergency maneuvers, while the Armada is seen as more tank-like and better value. Against the QX80, owners call the Expedition the more family-friendly and spacious choice, with the QX80 feeling nicer inside but older in design and thirstier. Against the Wagoneer, owners repeatedly describe the Jeep as the nicer and safer vehicle, though more expensive. Against the Palisade, owners argue the Expedition holds value better and has a stronger cooling system for extreme heat. Safety comparisons are the sharpest: owners repeatedly state the Tahoe earns an acceptable small-overlap rating while the Expedition earns poor, and some describe the Expedition as one of the worst-performing SUVs on the market in that test.
Recommended configurations
Insufficient owner data available. Owners discussing the 2025 Active note that many features, including the panoramic sunroof and certain buttons, require the 202A package or higher trims, and that base Active examples come with blank knockouts where higher-trim controls would be. One owner reported satisfaction with a used 2025 Expedition Max Active after over 1,000 miles. No engine or model-year configuration consensus emerged.
General recommendations
Owners considering this generation should verify the crash-test rating for the specific model year before purchase, since the 2024 rating drew strong criticism and no updated rating was noted for 2025-2026. Buyers should test drive at highway speed specifically to check for vibration and shimmy, as multiple owners reported this appearing immediately after delivery. Families prioritizing space, third-row access, and cargo room speak positively about the Max, while those prioritizing safety ratings or interior build quality were often steered toward competitors. Several owners advised cross-shopping lightly used examples given steep initial depreciation, and one advised against buying former rental or fleet vehicles. Owners also warned to get an out-the-door price in writing before visiting a dealer and to decline add-on warranties and markups.
Remarks
Several owners noted the 2025 redesign's rear styling resembles the Tahoe and Suburban, and the large black tailgate section drew the most criticism. Owners also noted the 2025 Expedition was excluded from employee pricing promotions. A number of discussions about this generation came from rental experiences rather than ownership, and those rental impressions were notably negative on ride quality. Some owners expressed interest in a future Tremor trim and in a hybrid or V8 option that was not offered. Analysis based on approximately 122 substantive owner discussions about this generation.
Complaints and recalls by model year
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Most-reported area |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 11 | 2 | steering |
| 2025 | 43 | 6 | forward collision avoidance |
| 2024 | 81 | 7 | unknown or other |
Source: US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Higher-selling years naturally accumulate more complaints.
Recall notices for this generation
2026 · electrical system: integrated trailer brake controlcampaign 26V104000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
2026 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 26V606000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Expedition, 2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD vehicles. The headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip, which can result in a loss of daytime running lights, parking lights, high beams or low beams. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
2025 · engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubricationcampaign 25V198000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
2025 · air bags:frontalcampaign 25V439000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.
2025 · service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control module:softwarecampaign 25V488000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
2025 · service brakes, hydraulic:power assist:electric:control modulecampaign 25V823000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of power brake assist.
2025 · electrical system: integrated trailer brake controlcampaign 26V104000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may lose communication with the vehicle, possibly causing a loss of brake and turn signal lights, or a loss of brake function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
2025 · exterior lighting:headlightscampaign 26V606000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Expedition, 2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, and F-550 SD vehicles. The headlight assemblies may contain a contaminated LED chip, which can result in a loss of daytime running lights, parking lights, high beams or low beams. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
2024 · engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubricationcampaign 24V851000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, 2024 Expedition and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with a 3.5L GTDI engine. The engines may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
2024 · equipment:other:labelscampaign 24V852000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
2024 · engine and engine cooling:engine:oil/lubricationcampaign 25V198000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
2024 · service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:hoses, lines/piping, and fittingscampaign 25V314000
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The front brake lines may contact the engine air cleaner outlet pipe and become damaged, possibly resulting in a brake fluid leak and reduced brake function.
2 more recalls not shown. Check nhtsa.gov with your VIN for the full history.
Owner insights summarize real ownership discussions for this generation only. Complaint and recall data is public NHTSA (US) information. Always verify recalls against your VIN at nhtsa.gov.