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Ford Expedition Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults

Free Ford Expedition car check

Is the Ford Expedition reliable? We analysed 1,569 real MOT tests across 238 vehicles to find out.

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Data last updated: · Based on 1,569 real MOT tests
MOT Pass Rate
74.2%
Typical Mileage
88,200mi
Annual Mileage
4,712mi/yr
Est. Lifespan
29yrs

The Ford Expedition is about average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include fog lamp not working, position lamp(s) not working and brake pipe excessively corroded. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Ford Expedition.

Ford Expedition Number Plates

Number plates registered to a Ford Expedition. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.

Ford Expedition MOT Pass Rate by Year

How likely is a Ford Expedition to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.

74%
2009
85.5%
2008
79.4%
2007
80%
2006
76.5%
2005
68.3%
2004
72.7%
2003
87.3%
2002
67.9%
2001
70.4%
2000
72.1%
1999
74%
1998
56.3%
1997

Ford Expedition Problems — What Goes Wrong?

The most common reasons a Ford Expedition fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.

fog lamp not working 54
position lamp(s) not working 39
Brake pipe excessively corroded 39
suspension has excessive play in a lower suspension ball joint 35
Direction indicator incorrect colour 32
Tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm 27
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 26
Registration plate lamp not working 26
position lamp(s) incorrect colour 20
Parking brake: efficiency below requirements 19

Ford Expedition Mileage — What's Normal?

How many miles does a typical Ford Expedition owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.

Low usage
2,102 mi/yr
Typical
4,712 mi/yr
Average
6,174 mi/yr
Heavy usage
8,774 mi/yr

Ford Expedition MOT Data by Registration Year

Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Ford Expedition year you're looking at.

Year Tests Pass Rate Low Mi. Typical Mi. High Mi.
2009 50 74.0% 74,112 85,989 138,801
2008 83 85.5% 46,196 59,914 90,940
2007 68 79.4% 32,194 71,768 127,810
2006 80 80.0% 61,094 87,652 98,336
2005 85 76.5% 30,708 48,315 81,265
2004 227 68.3% 64,427 87,339 124,844
2003 187 72.7% 64,474 105,691 134,797
2002 79 87.3% 56,417 77,046 99,198
2001 84 67.9% 69,148 97,172 139,234
2000 108 70.4% 79,498 98,288 121,070
1999 204 72.1% 69,581 98,436 132,410
1998 100 74.0% 77,480 124,106 138,382
1997 64 56.3% 90,033 115,182 144,308

How Long Does a Ford Expedition Last?

Based on 238 Ford Expedition vehicles on UK roads.

Average
10.2 years
Median
9.0 years
Estimated max lifespan
29 years

Ford Expedition Mileage Distribution

Total mileage recorded across all Ford Expedition MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.

Median
88,200 mi
75th Percentile
123,844 mi
95th Percentile
170,832 mi
Max Recorded
785,427 mi

Best Year to Buy a Used Ford Expedition

Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.

Best year
2002

87.3% MOT pass rate from 79 tests

Year to avoid
1997

56.3% MOT pass rate from 64 tests

The best year to buy a used Ford Expedition is 2002, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 87.3% across 79 tests. The 1997 model year has the lowest pass rate at 56.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.

How Does the Ford Expedition Compare?

MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.

Model Pass Rate Tests Typical Mileage Lifespan
Ford Expedition THIS CAR 74.2% 1,569 88,200 mi 29 yrs
Ford Fiesta 72.8% 33,753,820 57,529 mi 34 yrs
Ford Focus 73.8% 28,316,889 72,500 mi 27 yrs
Ford Transit 68.7% 16,371,688 100,614 mi 37 yrs
Kawasaki Gpz 78.7% 3,134 28,501 mi 42 yrs

Compared to the Ford Fiesta (72.8% pass rate) and the Ford Focus (73.8% pass rate), the Ford Expedition outperforms both on MOT reliability.

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Should you buy a used Ford Expedition?

The Ford Expedition has an overall MOT pass rate of 74.2% across 1,569 real MOT tests — roughly in line with the UK average.

The most common problems on the Ford Expedition are fog lamp not working (54 recorded failures), position lamp(s) not working (39), and brake pipe excessively corroded (39). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.

A typical Ford Expedition owner drives around 4,712 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.

In terms of longevity, most Ford Expedition models stay on UK roads for around 29 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.

Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.

Ford Expedition — Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Expedition reliable?
Based on 1,569 MOT tests, the Ford Expedition has a 74.2% pass rate — about average for UK cars.
What are the common problems on a Ford Expedition?
The most common MOT failures are fog lamp not working, position lamp(s) not working, and brake pipe excessively corroded. Check these on any test drive.
How many miles does a Ford Expedition do per year?
The typical Ford Expedition does around 4,712 miles per year. Anything significantly above or below this is worth investigating.
How long does a Ford Expedition last?
Most Ford Expedition models stay on UK roads for around 29 years based on our analysis of 238 vehicles.
Should I get a vehicle check before buying a Ford Expedition?
Yes. An MOT pass rate tells you about the model in general, but a vehicle history check reveals the specific car's finance, stolen, write-off and mileage history — things the seller may not disclose.
What is the best year to buy a Ford Expedition?
Based on MOT pass rates, the best year to buy a used Ford Expedition is 2002 with a 87.3% pass rate across 79 tests.