EXPEDITION EL

The Ford Expedition EL — a SUV explained

The Ford Expedition EL is a SUV built from 2017 to 2017.

Data · NHTSA & EPA · 2017–2017 · 1 model years · Updated Aug 27, 2026 · 4.5 ★★★★★★★★★★ ForCar Score
Quick answer

The Ford Expedition EL is a SUV built from 2017 to 2017. Engines offered: V6. Worth buying? It scores near the top of what we track at 4.5/5 — and the year you pick matters far more than the badge (best and worst years →).

2017–2017
Years
2
Recalls
17
Top MPG
5★
NHTSA
272
Complaints

What the Expedition EL is

The Ford Expedition EL is a SUV that Ford built from 2017 to 2017 — 1 model years. It has been offered with V6 power. Its closest sibling in the Ford range: Expedition MAX.

Ford Expedition EL tire size, oil type & owner specs

The fitment Expedition EL owners look up most — tires, wheels, oil and batteries. Exact wheel and tire sizes decode from your VIN or the driver's door-jamb placard; the universal items are listed below.

Wheels & tires
Wheel sizeby VIN
Tire sizeby VIN
Bolt patternby trim
Tire pressure32–36 PSI
Engine oil
Oil typeFull synthetic
Gradeon oil cap
Capacityby engine
Battery
Main battery12V · group by trim
Key-fob cellCR2032
Wiper blades
Front bladesby generation
Rear bladeif equipped
Fuses
Fuse boxeshood + dash
Diagramon box lid
Light bulbs
Headlightby trim
Tail / brakeby trim
Fogif equipped

Exact tire, wheel, oil grade, capacity and battery group are added per trim and model year — decode your VIN above for the factory fitment. Universal items shown as-is.

What engines does the Ford Expedition EL have? Power & range

The Ford Expedition EL is offered with 1 powertrain — 3.5L 6-cyl. Here's the lineup by engine, transmission and drivetrain — 1 for the Ford Expedition EL, against one or two on most rivals.

FIG.06·Ford Expedition EL Powertrains
EngineDisplacementTransmissionDriveFuel
V63.5L · 6-cylAutomatic (S6)RWDRegular
ROWS 1·SOURCE EPA + NHTSA vPIC

Horsepower, torque and fuel-tank size decode from your VIN — exact figures vary by engine and trim.

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov (engines, drivetrain, range, charge time). Horsepower & torque from NHTSA vPIC on VIN decode.

Can a Ford Expedition EL tow? Towing & payload

As an SUV, the Ford Expedition EL is built to tow and haul. The exact maximum towing capacity and payload depend on the engine, drivetrain and whether it has the factory tow package.

What sets your Expedition EL's tow & payload rating:

  • Engine — a larger or turbocharged engine tows more than the base unit.
  • Drivetrain & axle — 4WD/AWD and the axle ratio shift the rating.
  • Tow package — the factory towing package (hitch, wiring, transmission cooler) raises the max.
  • Payload & GVWR — GVWR caps the combined load; more passengers and cargo lower how much you can tow.

Exact towing capacity, payload and GVWR are added per engine, drivetrain and trim — decode your VIN above, or check the driver's door-jamb and hitch labels. Curb weight from vehicle specifications.

The Expedition EL by the numbers

What the federal and market records say about the Ford Expedition EL. Each line opens the full breakdown by year.

FIG.05·Ford Expedition EL by the numbers
TopicExpedition ELDetail
Recalls2 campaignsNHTSA, all years
Owner complaints272 filedWhat breaks and when
Reliability4.5 / 5Best and worst years
Crash safety★★★★★ NHTSAFrontal, side, rollover
Insurance$1,320/yrEstimated full coverage
Used value264 listingsWhat it sells for now
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA, EPA, HLDI and market listings

Frequently asked questions

What kind of car is the Ford Expedition EL?

The Expedition EL is a SUV, built from 2017 to 2017. Engines offered: V6.

What is the Ford Expedition EL warranty?

New models carry 3 years / 36,000 miles basic cover and 5 years / 60,000 miles on the powertrain. Worth knowing: across our complaint records the typical car reaches the halfway point of its faults at five years, so most repairs land after the basic warranty ends.

Is the Expedition EL reliable?

It scores 4.5/5 in our data. The honest answer depends on the year far more than the model — see the best and worst years, and when this car starts to break.

How do I check a specific Expedition EL?

This page describes the model; it cannot tell you whether that car has an open recall or a branded title. Run its VIN against the records — free, and matched to the exact production run.

More in Ford

More Ford models
ModelYearsRecallsBest MPGForCar score
Ford F-1501981–202646272 mpg4.0/5
Ford Bronco1981–202614627 mpg3.5/5
Ford Mustang1981–202624026 mpg4.0/5
Ford Explorer1991–202621239 mpg4.0/5
Ford Escape2001–202622641 mpg4.5/5
Ford Ranger1982–202627858 mpg3.5/5
ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA + EPA
Data sourced from NHTSA (recalls, complaints, safety ratings) and EPA fueleconomy.gov (MPG). Best/worst-year analysis is ForCar's own aggregation of complaint volume. Last updated Aug 2026. — ForCar Editorial Reviewed by , founder of ForCar.