Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.
AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA about the 2016 Ford Expedition EL, and it carries no recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.
| Area | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Service brakes | 28 | 15% |
| Power train | 21 | 12% |
| Engine | 15 | 8% |
| Service brakes | 12 | 7% |
| Electrical system | 9 | 5% |
| Unknown or other | 9 | 5% |
| Vehicle speed control | 8 | 4% |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 6 | 3% |
| Electrical system | 6 | 3% |
| Steering | 5 | 3% |
Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.
The vehicle stops accelerating randomly it’s been in the shop (Ford dealer) a few times and they are unable to pinpoint the issue. The warning lamps would come on after the vehicle fails to accelerate. It would lose powe
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The front AC stopped blowing and it got excessively warm in the cab. I thought it may be the blower motor and wanted to start with fuses. Under the hood was so hot that when I tried to pull our a fuse my nails melted. Si
NHTSA complaint: Electrical system
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH and hauling a trailer attached to the tow hitch, the trailer suddenly detached from the vehicle. The trailer hitch had f
NHTSA complaint: Trailer hitches
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 2 MPH, the accelerator was depressed, and there was a grinding sound coming from the rear-end of the vehicle. There were no warning lights illumin
NHTSA complaint: Power train
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the engine made a knocking sound. No warning light was illuminated. The contact related the failure to the cam phasers; however, the
NHTSA complaint: Engine
I experienced the same problem you are investigating in F-150’s: I was traveling on the highway at 75 miles per hour on cruise control - there was a really loud thunk and the Expedition unexpectedly downshifted to a lo
NHTSA complaint: Engine
When backing up the camera goes out and I cannot see what is behind me. This keeps happening intermittently.
NHTSA complaint: Back over prevention
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The vehicle lost motive power
NHTSA complaint: Engine
| Reliability raw | 67 | good |
|---|---|---|
| Longevity est. | 69 | good |
| Maintenance | 60 | average |
| Depreciation | 39 | below average |
| Performance | 71 | good |
| Efficiency | 33 | below average |
| Safety | 93 | excellent |
Percentile ranks against other SUVs in the catalog.
What stands behind each score for this car:
Owners have filed 181 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and service brakes is the most reported area with 28 of them (15%). No recalls are on record for it.
AVOIR scores its reliability 67/100 (good) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.
AVOIR scores its longevity 69/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2016 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.
AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 62/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.
Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.