Tl;dr: Thinking about buying a 2019 Expedition for $34k with 75k miles. Curious about long-term reliability and if this is a good move. Also considering a 2021 Highlander for $33k with 55k miles. My family is growing, and we have two big dogs, so space is important. Any advice?
I’ve been researching a lot online and in this forum. People generally seem positive about 2019 Expeditions and their reliability, but I’ve only ever bought new cars, so I’m hesitant about a used one with this many miles.
Are there any specific issues I should look out for? Do warranties make a difference? Would love to hear your experiences, especially if you’ve faced a similar decision!
Watch out for the cam phasers and the transmission (CDF drum issue) on the 2019 Expeditions. These are known problem areas.
The Highlander is a unibody vehicle, so the third row is pretty useless. The Expedition is body-on-frame, making it better for towing or off-roading.
If you’re just commuting or running errands, the Highlander might be a better fit. It’s probably more reliable, but it won’t handle towing or rough terrain as well.
I’m sitting in my 07 Expedition right now at 200k miles. I’ve only replaced the alternator and starter. The suspension was redone before I bought it.
If you go with the Expedition, check the “maintenance-free” transmission. There’s a hidden dipstick—start a maintenance schedule for it like the older models. These trucks can last a long time if taken care of.
For reference, my 10th-gen Ford truck had 345k miles before I let it go. The powertrain was great, but everything around it rusted out.
Go for the Highlander if you want reliability. The Expedition has potential issues with the transmission and cam phasers in that model year. If you’re okay with the risk and can afford possible repairs, it might still be worth considering. But if you don’t want the headache, the Highlander is the safer bet.
I have a 2016 Expedition and a 2015 Lexus LX570. The Lexus is rock solid, but the Ford feels like a rattletrap. I’ve had multiple check engine lights and engine stumbles on road trips with the Expedition. Losing confidence in the 3.5 at 100k miles. If reliability matters, I’d recommend a Toyota.
Thanks for the input, everyone. I’ve decided to pass on the Expedition for now—75k miles is more risk than I’m comfortable with.
That said, I’ve found a 2018 Yukon with 51k miles. It’s slightly smaller than the Expedition, but does anyone have experience with GM SUVs or know someone who does?
My family has always had Yukons—97, 04, and 15 models—and they’ve all been reliable. We recently shopped for a Yukon, Tahoe, or Expedition and ended up with a 2020 Expedition for $39k with 29k miles.
We found better deals on Expeditions and Tahoes but had trouble finding a good price on a Yukon. My preference would’ve been Yukon, then Tahoe, then Expedition, but we went with the best deal.