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2019 Ford Expedition El

Buyable, but go in with open eyes: this car has specific known issues to check before money changes hands.

Recalls, complaint breakdown & inspection checklist, all in a shareable PDF

455 owner complaints · 0 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA

Cautionwillitcar.com

Why caution?

Complaints are still coming in strong late in this car's life, a chronic-problem pattern, not early teething.

Transmission & drivetrain problems dominate (44% of complaints, typically reported near 70k miles).

Zero recalls, rare for a car this age.

The math, shown

Full methodology →
Complaint volume (40%)63
Severity (30%)56
Recall load (20%)100
Trend (10%)40

Complaints filed per year

Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.

20192026 YTD

How it crashes

NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.

5/5 overall

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2019 Ford Expedition EL EXTENDED SUV 4x4

Front crash
Side crash
Rollover

Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 19%

Stability control: StandardForward collision warning: OptionalLane departure warning: Optional

2 open NHTSA defect investigations on file, separate from the recalls above.

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 2019 Ford Expedition El, plotted where owners report it happening.

030k mi60k mi90k mi120k miTransmission & drivetrain~70k mi · 201 reportsEngine~66k mi · 107 reportsSeat belts~9k mi · 73 reports

Also reported (mileage varies): Engine & cooling (31) · Airbags (17) · Electrical system (17)

Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.

Transmission & drivetrain

44%

201 complaints · typically near 70k mi · 113 in the last 2 years

When trying to pass a vehicle between approximately 40-50 mph, transmission slips out of gear, engine revs, lack of acceleration and a light gear grinding sound follow…

Engine

24%

107 complaints · typically near 66k mi · 46 in the last 2 years

When turning on the truck there is an excessive rattle in the engine and it keeps on prolonging more and more.

Seat belts

16%

73 complaints · typically near 9k mi · 41 in the last 2 years

I heard a load pop noise and then smelled almost a burnt type smell. The next day my driver side seatbelt is completely locked. I’ve tried all my ford dealership close…

Engine & cooling

7%

31 complaints · 18 in the last 2 years

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud chattering sound coming from the engine before…

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 2019 Ford EXPEDITION EL beats every score on the internet, including ours.

What to ask for

Not set on the 2019? See how every Expedition El model year scores →

Cross-shopping? Compare the 2019 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.

The fine print: this verdict is computed from public NHTSA complaint and recall records for the 2019 Ford Expedition El as a model, not for any individual car. A well-maintained example of an “Avoid” can outlast a neglected “Buy”. Informational only, so always get a professional pre-purchase inspection.