2002 Ford Expedition

The 1997-2002 Ford Expedition is the first generation of Ford's full-size SUV, built on the F-150 platform and positioned above the Explorer. Engines were the 4.6-liter and 5.4-liter Triton V8s paired with a four-speed automatic, with rear-wheel drive standard and four-wheel drive optional. The body is a four-door wagon with three rows of seating, and the longer Lincoln Navigator shared the same architecture.

The Expedition arrived as full-size SUVs were reaching peak popularity and offered a genuinely large third row along with substantial towing capacity. It replaced the two-door Bronco in Ford's lineup with a family-oriented four-door. The second generation that followed in 2003 introduced an independent rear suspension and a significantly better third-row arrangement.

As a used buy, first-generation Expeditions are inexpensive and mechanically straightforward, but the two-valve Triton V8s of this era are known for spark plugs backing out of the aluminum cylinder heads, a repair that often requires thread inserts. Intake manifold coolant crossover failure on the 4.6-liter is another common age-related item. Rear air suspension on equipped vehicles frequently fails and is often converted to conventional springs. Frame and body corrosion should be inspected carefully at this age.