These help you judge whether this one is worth its price.
Costly problem zones ahead at your miles come with a Car Hunt Pass or Pro. See plans
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What about the price? Check the asking price on two listing sites. Buying from a dealer? Run its offer through the offer X ray.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
The full record
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What owners complain about
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Seller kit
Questions for the seller, test drive checks and price points
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Walk up to the seller ready
Questions to ask the seller of a 1997 Ford Expedition, built from this year's owner complaints and recalls. What to feel, hear and look at on the test drive, with boxes to tick at the car. Honest points to raise on price, from the records and never from guesses. Copy the questions to your phone in one tap.
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Write your offer
A ready to send offer for the seller, by text or email
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Send the seller a fair offer
Type the asking price and your own offer for the 1997 Ford Expedition, tick what you found, and get a polite message ready to text or email. Its reasons come from this year's owner complaints, recalls and crash ratings, and never from made up repair prices.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
When problems show up
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Will it outlast the loan?
The month of your loan each problem zone lands in
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Recalls
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Crash ratings
NHTSA's stars out of five, for each version it tested. Front crash stars only compare cars of about the same size and weight. The tests changed for 2011 models, so these stars do not line up with newer ones.
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Fuel economy
The EPA's estimates for each engine and transmission, and its own yearly fuel cost. Yours depends on how you drive and the shape the car is in. Figures for 2007 and older use the EPA's 2008 method, so they may be lower than the original sticker.
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True cost to own
The loan, fuel, insurance and upkeep, a month and over 5 years
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What it really costs to own
What the 1997 Ford Expedition costs a month and over 5 years: the loan and its interest, fuel worked out from the EPA's figures for the version you pick, and your own insurance, registration and upkeep. A cost a mile, a link that reopens your numbers, and the breakdown copied to your phone in one tap.
Car Hunt Pass: $15 once for 30 days, a launch price. It never renews. Full refund if you ask within 7 days.
Every year of the Expedition
Owner complaints for each model year, this one outlined. Tap a year to open it. The newest 2 are not judged yet. Bars are totals, so older years stand taller; the verdict compares every year at the same age.
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Before you buy this one
Built from this year's numbers. Whatever the data says, the car in front of you is the one that counts.
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Not every car needs every fix. Run the VIN at NHTSA to see which are still open. Repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand; ask before any work.
Lights
Aug 1, 2006 · Recall 06E067000
Certain maxzone headlight assemblies, depo brand, p/nos. 331-1129l-asn and 331-1129r-asn, sold for use as aftermarket equipment for the above listed passenger vehicles. These headlamps fail to conform to the photometric requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment.
What can happen
Decreased lighting visibility may result in a vehicle crash.
The fix
Maxzone will notify owners and offer reimbursement for any noncompliant headlights. The recall began on july 28, 2006. Owners may contact maxzone at 909-822-3288.
Lights
Jun 29, 2006 · Recall 06E060000
Certain aai motorsports combination lamps sold as replacement lamps for use on the above list passenger vehicles. Combination lamps not equipped with amber side reflectors fail to conform with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
What can happen
Lack of amber side reflectors in the lamps will decrease lighting visibility to other drivers and may possibly result in a vehicle crash
The fix
Aai motorsports will notify owners and replace the lamps free of charge. The recall began on august 1, 2006. Owners may contact aai motorsports at 909-923-9188.
Cruise and speed control
Sep 7, 2005 · Recall 05V388000
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles equipped with speed control, the speed control deactivation switch may overheat, smoke, or burn.
What can happen
A fire at the switch could occur.
The fix
By letter dated september 12, 2005, owners were instructed to return their vehicles to their dealers to have the speed control deactivation switch disconnected. Owners who have had their speed control deactivated are being notified that parts will be available and advised to make an appointment to reconnect the speed control beginning in february 2006. Owners who did not have their speed control deactivated are being notified to have their system remedied beginning in february 2006. Owners are urged to avail themselves of the free disconnect service as soon as possible because of the significant risk of fire. Owners may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. (note: also see recalls 05v017 and 06v286)
Steering
May 27, 2003 · Recall 03V196000
On certain pickup trucks and sport utility vehicles, if the intermediate shaft yoke separates from the steering gear input shaft, the steering system becomes disconnected.
What can happen
This could result in loss of steering control, potentially resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
The fix
Dealers will inspect the steering intermediate shaft yoke to determine if the yoke is fully seated on the steering gear input shaft. If the yoke is fully seated no service is required. If the yoke is not fully seated and bolt groove and spline is visible, the intermediate shaft and bolt will be replaced as well as the bolt at the steering column connection. Owner notification began on may 30, 2003. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673.
Lights
Jun 19, 2000 · Recall 00V168000
Vehicle description: mini vans, light pickup trucks, and sport utility vehicles. Off lease canadian vehicles equipped with daytime running lights which meet canadian requirements and not the photometric requirements of fmvss 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." according to Ford, the vehicles were imported into the u.s. Erroneously.
What can happen
The light given off from the daytime running lights is brighter than allowed by u.s. Standards.
The fix
Dealers will be advised to deactivate the running light function and to complete any outstanding safety recalls on these vehicles.
Equipment and accessories
Mar 7, 2000 · Recall 00V073000
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly to the frame attaching bolts could lose the clamp load.
What can happen
The trailer hitch could then separate from the vehicle.
The fix
Dealers will replace the trailer hitch mounting bolts and nut plates.
Show 3 more recallsShow fewer recalls
Wheels and tires
May 13, 1998 · Recall 98V095000
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles and light duty pickup trucks. The lug nuts on these vehicles may not create sufficient clamp load allowing wheel movement in relation to the hub/rotor mounting surface.
What can happen
This can result in the loosening of lug nuts, stud fatigue failure, and the potential for a wheel separation from the vehicle, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
The fix
Owners of these vehicles will be receiving two notifications. The first notification, which began in may 1998, will provide an interim repair procedure until parts become available. This interim procedure can be completed by owners or their dealers. It specifies that the lug nut torque must be verified to be 100 lbs. Then the lug nuts need to be tightened an additional 1/8 to 1/4 turn more. There will be a second owner notification, which is expected to begin july 20, 1998, under which dealers will inspect the wheel studs and replace the wheel lug nuts.
Vehicle description: light duty pickup trucks and multi-purpose passenger vehicles. If the automatic transmission shift cable assembly was not fully attached to the steering column bracket, the shift cable assembly can come out of the bracket. The vehicle operator would then not be able to shift the transmission from one of the drive gear positions into the park position even though the gear shift selector would indicate "park."
What can happen
The condition would not allow a disengagement of the transmission from the park position or affect proper neutral start switch operation. Unintended vehicle movement could occur if the parking brake was not set.
The fix
Dealers will make the proper attachment of the transmission shift control cable to the steering column bracket and add a tie strap to that connection.
Suspension
Dec 18, 1996 · Recall 96V252000
The rear axle track bar bracket can separate from the frame due to missing welds or inadequate weld penetration.
What can happen
If both brackets separate, the rear axle can move laterally until the tires contact either the frame or the wheelhouse resulting in either tire damage or a significant reduction in vehicle handling performance.
The fix
Dealers will install a track bar bracket reinforcement kit and inspection of the axle tubes. The suspect axle tubes do not have a stamped date code on the tube. Axles without date codes on the tubes will be replaced.
906 complaints; the part named most is the suspension
Unverified reports, not adjusted for sales. One complaint can name several parts, so shares add up past 100%. Filed Feb 28, 1996 to May 29, 2024. 23% name a part that is usually costly to fix.
Owners reported 53 crashes, 76 fires, 53 injuries and 11 deaths in these complaints.
Suspension141 · 16%
Brakes116 · 13%
Engine104 · 11%Usually costly to fix
What one owner wrote about the suspension
Takata recall, my steering is bad like im fishtailing on the freeway, when I hit a bump it pulls to one side. Theres alot of play in the steering wheel.
Filed Dec 7, 2018NHTSA complaint 111567121 of 18 owner quotes
Car Hunt Pass or Pro
15 more parts, and 18 owner quotes
Every part owners name for the 1997 Ford Expedition, with their own words about what went wrong. Usually costly to fix among them: Transmission and drivetrain, Body and frame.
Run the VIN at NHTSA to confirm every recall was fixed.
This year has 9 recalls on file. Recall repairs are usually free at a dealer for the brand. Ask the dealer to confirm before any work is done. Look up a VIN at NHTSA.
Ask the seller for the service records.
Look closely for any work on the suspension. It is the part owners complain about most for this year.
Have a mechanic you trust inspect it before you pay.
Ask them to look at the suspension first.
Look at a vehicle history report.
It can show reported crashes, flood or salvage titles, and mileage that does not add up.
On the test drive, pay attention to the suspension.
Listen for clunks over bumps, and notice if the car wanders or leans hard.
1997 Ford Expedition: problems, recalls, verdict · WhipWorthy
Year verdict
Maybe
1.5× a typical year
More owner complaints than usual. Buy only with records and an inspection.
Confidence: Medium
Close to the Maybe line, so a few complaints either way could tip it.
How the dial was counted
Year verdict: Typical year: 399 complaints, the median of 8 nearby years. Each counted over its first 8 years from January 1996; this one had 629.
Same car, better year: 2001 or 2002 Expedition (both Worthy)
