Hello all!

I am currently a Suburban owner and I am looking at switching to a Ford Expedition. I am a big Chevy fan, but have had a few incidents that are swaying me towards Ford. I am a son of a mechanic and my father-in-law is a mechanic so I know my way around a vehicle fairly well.

Anyway, I'm looking at the 03-06 body style and looking at an 03 in particular with 98,000 miles. I have a few questions:

1. What are some common issues with the engine, transmission, electrical, etc.? Obviously any used vehicle is going to have some issues, but I'm looking for the bigger or common issues that I should be on the look out for. I read something about the 5.4s blowing spark plugs??

2. What is considered high mileage on these? This is kind of an open-ended question, but I'm looking for kind of a "you shouldn't go over this many miles" sort of answer.

3. What is the general MPGs that people get with these on the highway/town. Anyone can look up what they are rated for, but I'm looking for real world scenarios.

4. Anything else that anyone wants to make me aware of!

Thanks in advance for all your help!

 

Am I missing something here? I thought that the "body style" changed in 04.

I have put a little over 100K miles on the 04 Expy 5.4, also bought an 03 E250 last year with the same motor. That drivetrain seems to be "bullet proof". (Also inserted comments above)
Good luck.

 

[quote=dustybND;13830349]Hello all!

I am currently a Suburban owner and I am looking at switching to a Ford Expedition. I am a big Chevy fan, but have had a few incidents that are swaying me towards Ford. I am a son of a mechanic and my father-in-law is a mechanic so I know my way around a vehicle fairly well.

Anyway, I'm looking at the 03-06 body style and looking at an 03 in particular with 98,000 miles. I have a few questions:

1. What are some common issues with the engine, transmission, electrical, etc.? Obviously any used vehicle is going to have some issues, but I'm looking for the bigger or common issues that I should be on the look out for. I read something about the 5.4s blowing spark plugs??

2. What is considered high mileage on these? This is kind of an open-ended question, but I'm looking for kind of a "you shouldn't go over this many miles" sort of answer.

3. What is the general MPGs that people get with these on the highway/town. Anyone can look up what they are rated for, but I'm looking for real world scenarios.

4. Anything else that anyone wants to make me aware of!

Thanks in advance for all your help![/quote


New to this forum myself. Right now my fusion in my back broke, So I bought an 04 Navi a couple months ago cause i needed something that rode better than my 1 ton dodge diesel. bought it off a private party and took it too a auto repair shop and had a diagnostic done on everything they could short of pulling the plugs and do a compression check. Best hundred dollars I have spent on it, It came out with a very clean bill of health. Beings I am sitting around waiting to get my back to get,
cut on again I have a lot of time sitting in front of this puter and reading this forum about everything that can go wrong. This place is now my bible on the Navi,
I am very happy with this fine truck.

 

Yes you are, it changed in 03.

 

Thanks for the clarification.

 

the blown spark plug thing was addressed in '02 in the trucks, i assume the same for the expy. our drivetrain has been trouble-free in the 3 years we've owned the vehicle. was it '05 i think they went to the 3-valve engine, which had the multiple-piece spark plugs that would break off when trying to remove them. seems like the actuator for the rear seat climate control is a common problem too, one that i'm dealing with on ours now actually.

when we were shopping i wanted something with under 100k, but we came across a spotless one with 118k on it and we were offered a great drivetrain warranty, so we bit, and at almost 150k we haven't had to go back for any service. i've replaced a ball joint, a leaky brake booster, and i think the fan clutch is acting up, but that's been it.

i have 20" wheels and all-terrain tires on ours and it's pretty consistent around 13-14mpg. went on a short road trip in '12 and with the speedo at 70 we averaged 14.5.

our '04 has been a great vehicle. the fuel economy leaves something to be desired but with a <10 mile commute for my wife and the fact that it has been a safe, dependable vehicle, it's a trade-off i live with. i grew up in a strictly-GM family, and my wife and i test-drove all the full-size offerings on the market, but in the end the expy had the interior features (mostly the third-row stowable seating) and overall "feel" that sealed the deal.