I’m on the hunt for something with towing capacity (5k+ min.), If I go with a full size SUV I was thinking Tahoe/Yukon or potentially Sequoia. A real clean looking 2005 Expedition Eddie Bauer edition just popped up for sale locally. What are the issues, concerns, and things to look out for with these? Should I just stick with the original plan?
No first hand experience, but research that year. 5.4 motors have some issues that include the spark plugs and cam phasers. I’ve seen Expeditions with huge mileages, but they may have never had trailer hooked up. I was tempted to buy the Expedition that was advertised here.
The EB edition ones have air shocks on the rear end that can get leaky with age. Mine would spend 20 seconds pumping up after sitting for a day. Otherwise they are really solid, better brakes than the Tahoe/Suburbans and independent rear suspension rides nicer. Plastic chrome on the interior can peel and be really sharp so be aware of that (I cut my finger one day adjusting an AC vent)
My parents had a 2008 for a long time. Besides the well known spark plug issue it was pretty reliable. I think in the end rust and dirt roads killed it.
My aunt had a first gen and my cousin a second gen. No clue on the engines, but both were reliable to an old age (200k+ miles). My cousin replaced his with a 3rd gen Navigator.
However, based on my [extremely limited] time in both of them and comparing to 2 different Tundras, I would go Sequoia every single time unless it was about 1/2 the price of the Sequoia.
The IRS means you also get more cargo room via a lower floor, and the third row folds flat.
Around here the eariler expeditions are either gone or rotted out hood rides and the Tahoes, Suburbans, and Yukons are still ticking. Really had to beat GM for a full size SUV. Plus you can get a Suburban or Yukon XL (or Avalance) as a 2500 chassis with a 6.0 motor.
The 5.3 in a full size Suburban is a bit gutless, I would go for a Denali and get the 6.0 since you will take a small MPG hit but the power is much better. Only issue I see on the early Denalis is torn seats and rust under the body cladding.
If you live where things rust, the rear control arms/trailing arms can be an issue. They like to rust and snap in half up here in the Northeast. As others have said, check to see if 2005 is one of the years where the engine likes to poop out the spark plugs.
Beware some top trim GM SUVs came with the 6.2 motor, it likes to rev but at the cost of using the higher gears while towing so they just suck more gas. Sorry, nothing to do with a Ford.
In reply to Tony Sestito :
I think all Tritons V8s have been known to spit spark plugs, at least that was my impression. I don't think the year matters much. Maybe some years are worse.
Edit: It sounds like they increased the number of threads in 2002 sometime, but went to a weird 2-piece spark plug design then too, that also caused problems.
Quoted from some Ford forum:
1997-2003 5.4 trucks were known for spark plugs ejecting while going down the road due to not enough plug threads. I don't think that happens too often, but they were known to, nonetheless.
2004-2007 5.4 engines had better threads and didn't have the plug blowing issue but instead they had 2 piece plugs (the bottom of the plug was a porcelain shell and a separate piece from the top part) and they were known for breaking off in the head upon removal. They had plug problems for a long time until finally in 2008 they started using 1 piece plugs again and there were no more issues afterwards.
my friend is selling his 2003 XTL expedition with 189k miles on it ,
no motor problems , rear end had a bearing noise and fixed , AC died 2 times ,
overall not many problems for that old of a car , but the dealer did not want it as a trade in when he bought a new expedition.
New one will not last that long , too many bells and whistles to break !
Tony Sestito said:If you live where things rust, the rear control arms/trailing arms can be an issue. They like to rust and snap in half up here in the Northeast. As others have said, check to see if 2005 is one of the years where the engine likes to poop out the spark plugs.
QFT re: control arms. A friends dad’s almost crumbled and collapsed.
We had a 2003, replaced the air suspension with coilovers, easy enough.
Wound up having to replace the entire fuse panel, about $400 from Ford, to solve the randomly dying while driving issue. Fuel pump relay on the fuse panel burns up, and is not serviceable unless you are much better at soldering than I am.
Worst part of ownership for me was changing the plugs and coils, motor is tucked so far back under the cowl that you need toddler sized hands to get to the rear plugs. That experience just about burned me on Fords.
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