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2017 Ford Expedition El
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
272 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (26% of complaints).
Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2017 Ford Expedition EL EXTENDED SUV 4x4
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 20%
No open NHTSA defect investigations on file.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Ford Expedition El, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Electrical system (70) · Brakes (65) · Visibility & wipers (30) · Fuel system (20)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
26%70 complaints · 17 in the last 2 years
“Rear blower motor caught on fire, causing smoke to cover the inside of the vehicle. Part had to then be removed from the car. Melted plastic around the inside of the f…”
Brakes
24%65 complaints · 13 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V236000 (Service Brakes, Hydraulic); however, the part to do the…”
Transmission & drivetrain
14%38 complaints · typically near 34k mi · 5 in the last 2 years
“TSB 23-2143, citing cold-start cam phaser rattle as a manufacturing defect that impacts reliability and safety (loss of power, premature wear, noise).”
Engine
12%33 complaints · typically near 60k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“Transmission unable to shift out of park periodically, transmission downshifting at highway speeds and engine shutting down. Speedometer and RPM guage going crazy then…”
Recalls (0)
No recall campaigns on file for this model year.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Ford EXPEDITION EL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Expedition El model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Ford Expedition El against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.