We’ve got our 4th baby on the way and are considering a 2007 Ford Expedition. The plan is to have three kids in car seats in the middle row, and the oldest (who’s out of a car seat) in the third row. I’ve seen that some Expeditions have a ‘tilt & slide’ feature on the second row to make it easier to access the third row. Is that something all Expeditions have, or is it only on newer models?
The one we’re looking at is a 2007. Would love to hear from anyone who’s owned one. Thanks!
Accessing the third row in these can be a pain, especially with three car seats in the second row. Your best bet might be having your oldest climb in through the rear hatch.
The 2007 Expedition can be a nightmare for repairs, especially as the miles pile up. If you’re looking at one with high mileage, be prepared for potential headaches.
Honestly, if you’re mainly hauling kids, a minivan would make life way easier. Sliding doors and easy third-row access are a game-changer when you’ve got little ones.
I’ve got a 2007 Expedition Limited, so here’s my take:
I don’t think the ‘tilt & slide’ feature was available back then. My dad had a 2008, and his didn’t have it either. With three car seats in the second row, getting into the third row will be tough unless you remove a seat (which is a hassle) or have them climb in through the back.
If you can find one with captain’s chairs in the second row, that would make access a lot easier. It depends on whether you’re using rear-facing seats or not.
The 3rd-row seats eat up cargo space when upright. If you need room for strollers and gear, look for the EL model.
The 5.4L 3V engine has a rough reputation, but maintenance is key. I’m at 210k miles and still going strong, but I do all my own oil changes with full synthetic every 10k miles. If you’re buying used, check the service records—if it wasn’t well maintained, I’d pass on anything over 125k miles.
Everyone talks down on the 5.4L 3V, but my dad had a 2007 Limited and ran it up to 237k miles before trading it in. Now he’s got a 2014 King Ranch EL with 410k miles, still running the original engine and transmission.
The key is maintenance—regular oil changes and replacing spark plugs on time. The real risk with buying used is not knowing how well it was maintained. If the previous owner kept good records and took care of it, you’ll be fine.
Also, try to find one with second-row bucket seats. That makes getting into the third row a lot easier!
I bet it’s like my old Ford Explorer—I had it for three years before I even knew the seats could do that! Try this: lift the latch to tilt the seat forward, and then keep lifting. The whole seat should slide up. Took me forever to figure that out!