1997 Ford Expedition Reviews, Pricing & Specs
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The 1997 Ford Expedition was Ford's first entry into the full-size sport-utility vehicle market. Ford had a head start in creating the Expedition; its chassis design was based on the hugely popular F-150 pickup, which had dominated the US and world truck market for years.
Styling was big-shouldered, with rounded edges as a bow to aerodynamics. Inside, the Expedition offered roomy comfort. The '97 Ford Expedition was available in two trim choices, XLT and Eddie Bauer, and in two-door and four-door body styles. Four-wheel drive was an option for people longing to take their SUV off-road.
The 1997 Expedition's target market, though, was the buyer looking for a big, solid wagon for family transportation or work. With an almost 10-foot wheelbase, an overall length of more than 17 feet, and 118 cubic feet of cargo space, the Expedition certainly delivered size.
There was plenty of power under the hood as well: the '97 Expedition offered a choice of either a 4.6 liter overhead cam Triton V8 that delivered 215 horsepower and 293 lb.-ft. of torque, or a 5.4 liter Triton V-8 with 230 horsepower, 345 lb-ft. of torque.
Not surprisingly, this behemoth didn't exactly excel in gas mileage, with 13/14 mpg city, 17/18 mpg highway, depending on model.
Published Aug 9, 2022 by CarGurus Editorial Team
User reviews for 1997 Ford Expedition
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by Anonymous
May 09, 2015
The 1997 is the year to own, not the 1998. Too many changes made after '97 that made repairs difficult. Any and all repairs we've made have "do-able". I personally have had the dash apart several times and it was easy to replace bulbs and parts. Rides quiet and has plenty of room for long trips with the kids. So many options on this to list!May 09, 2015
by Steve L
Apr 06, 2015
Solid, everything works. Easy to fix. Carries my stuff and friends. Remained like new its whole life. Always starts. Friends like riding in it. I will buy another Expedition when I need to but it will probably be an older one because the newer ones don't feel as solid.Apr 06, 2015
by Anonymous
Apr 27, 2014
I have owned my expedition for over 10 years now and I love it!! I wasn't the original owner, I bought the truck from a car dealer & it was a beauty when I bought her. Leather insides, immac. Over the years, the two front seats leather has cracked quite a bit but the performance of this truck has been nothing short of Beast mode!! It starts up EVERYDAY! Like a champion! I have had to do such little maintenance on the truck over the years (im a female lol) I can barely remember the maintenance done. It's been almost short of a miracle the performance the truck gives with barely any maintenance. If you want a car that gets up & goes like a horse, no matter what?! Then look no further, the Expedition stays in BEAST mode on! Lol. Lookout!Apr 27, 2014
User rating:
by Anonymous
May 09, 2015
The 1997 is the year to own, not the 1998. Too many changes made after '97 that made repairs difficult. Any and all repairs we've made have "do-able". I personally have had the dash apart several times and it was easy to replace bulbs and parts. Rides quiet and has plenty of room for long trips with the kids. So many options on this to list!May 09, 2015
by Steve L
Apr 06, 2015
Solid, everything works. Easy to fix. Carries my stuff and friends. Remained like new its whole life. Always starts. Friends like riding in it. I will buy another Expedition when I need to but it will probably be an older one because the newer ones don't feel as solid.Apr 06, 2015
by Anonymous
Apr 27, 2014
I have owned my expedition for over 10 years now and I love it!! I wasn't the original owner, I bought the truck from a car dealer & it was a beauty when I bought her. Leather insides, immac. Over the years, the two front seats leather has cracked quite a bit but the performance of this truck has been nothing short of Beast mode!! It starts up EVERYDAY! Like a champion! I have had to do such little maintenance on the truck over the years (im a female lol) I can barely remember the maintenance done. It's been almost short of a miracle the performance the truck gives with barely any maintenance. If you want a car that gets up & goes like a horse, no matter what?! Then look no further, the Expedition stays in BEAST mode on! Lol. Lookout!Apr 27, 2014
by Justin H
Jan 08, 2014
Yeah the fuel mileage is a bit rugged (has averaged 14 mpg combined the whole time I've had it) but what do you expect from something this size? I'm extremely happy with it and the performance I've gotten out of it the last 7 years.Jan 08, 2014
by Zachary E
May 29, 2011
i love this beast so much! its got that 4.6 mustang engine that souns oh so nice and its just a monster. i dont know what this thing is but it seems cool. only four more words to go. doneMay 29, 2011
by Ryan N
Aug 30, 2010
Love how big it is. It is great for going off road and can go many places that most cars cant. Gas is a little pricy but overall it is a nice safe car to drive. I enjoy driving it.Aug 30, 2010
by 'Patrick M
Jun 05, 2010
i like it its roomy rides great and if its rear air bags go out you can replace them like i did with the coil spring kit the only problem with that is the suspension light stays onthen you will never worry about the air ride going out ever lol Jun 05, 2010
by Drew P
Apr 26, 2010
It's a fantastic vehicle as long as you can afford to put gas in it.. Costs me about 80$ to fill it.. Good handling, awesome performance. Lots of aftermarket upgrades available for it. I put a new stereo system in it but the stock system was decent for being 13 years old..Apr 26, 2010
by Todd P
Mar 27, 2010
the truck is good,i really like and i would recommend it to anyone...it is a little high so it takes some work to get into it but once ur in there its the ride of a lifetime...enjoy!!Mar 27, 2010
by Jamil M
Jan 12, 2010
Lets start withe the backbone of every real truck the chassis. Sturdy and not very flexible it lends itself to towing, hauling, and other heavy work. Compared to my moms s class its a cow. compared to the old empty flat bed farm truck its a dream. the brakes are fantastic (maybe the drilled and slotted had something to do with that?) its about 50ish horsepower short of being a street hero although it will put the average Joe back in the seat. interior is pretty good and everything. ONE MAJOR GRIPE: the 5.4 gas motor is an absolute disaster. if you buy a truck like this make sure it already had the spark plug issue handled like mine did. overall though wouldn't trade mine for anything less than a diesel truck. Jan 12, 2010
by Casey L
Jan 03, 2010
performance- handles well for big car
build quality- for a 13 year old car it runs pretty good lol
appearance- looks great for being 13
cost of ownership- hope u like helping out gas comanies
fun factor- well i guess its allright- a lambo would def. be better hahaJan 03, 2010
by Joaquin A
Dec 26, 2009
The Ford Expedition has two problems. One it does
suck in terms of efficiency because it only runs liker 6
miles per gallon. The other problem is there is no
parking space available in the island of Santo
Domingo, country Dominican Republic. Dec 26, 2009
by Anonymous
Oct 15, 2009
Dependable, rock solid body, bullet-proof engine an transmission. 170,000 miles on it so far. little sluggish on acceleration, braking an handling good.gas guzzler, maintenance minimal. fun 2 drive on long trips. Good truck for the money. Ford built 2 last!Oct 15, 2009
by Johnnie B
Aug 08, 2009
My 1997 Ford Expedition was bought primarily as a family outing 'hauler' and an escape from being stuck in snow-drifts after living in Chicago for a few years with a '93 Honda Civic. Needless to say, I was tired of digging the little Honda out of the snow after a few inches of overnight dusting.
The Expeditions power comes from its 4.6L Triton Engine that definitely has enough power to tow trailers and boats significantly larger than the Expedition itself.
The interior comfort makes for a stress free ride while on long-haul adventures. I've driven my Expedition from Chicago to Miami and back a few times, with no problems.
The only downside I see to the '97 Expedition is the amount of gas it takes to keep her going. The 25 gallon tank will show a low level light with 2 gallons remaining - with which you had only traveled approximately 290 to 310 highway miles. This averages out to about 13 mpg Freeway and is not very helpful on the pocketbook - especially when the gas prices had hit all-time highs only a year ago.Aug 08, 2009
by Bill D
Dec 14, 2008
Great off road handling. Superior traction in all conditions. Very few repairs needed since purchased. Great MPG for its year and size. Excellent horsepower because of size of engine (5.4L). Very Fun to drive on or off roads. Terrific traction in the snow. Powerful enough to become a weekend plow truck. Destroys the completion for its year in all suv's. Also it is as heavy duty as a tank, almost indestructible. Only Down part of this truck is it is a gas Guzzler. I would certainly recommend this SUV to everyone who likes to have fun or has a big family (Seats 8 with 3rd row seat)Dec 14, 2008
by Chaz L
Jul 12, 2008
I like everything about my car except for no torque. It looks good, lots of chrome, nice rims and has a really good stereo. There are alot of extras for this vehicle and they are cheap too. It is a good car to add modifications to.Jul 12, 2008
by Patrick D
Jun 24, 2008
I ran into my gate and scratched up the entire driver's side back end of the car. I am also missing my front two hubcaps and my paint is fading too, so my "laser red" is looking "laser pink"!Jun 24, 2008
by Bill L
May 14, 2008
Typical high school car. Loud and obnoxiuosMay 14, 2008
by Royal M
May 11, 2008
For its size, the truck handles great. May 11, 2008
by Tim H
Apr 29, 2008
Spend lots of time in it on long camping trips where we take a large group.Apr 29, 2008
by Kristie T
Apr 22, 2008
Great SUV, but sucks on gas Apr 22, 2008
by Jude C
Mar 22, 2008
Its a truck for all ocasions and seasons. It handels like a sports car and drives like nascar.Mar 22, 2008
by Katie P
Mar 21, 2008
Definately a wonderful truck. Equiped with a 6 disk CD changer, and great sound. A good truck for when you need to change from plenty of sitting room to good cargo capacity!Mar 21, 2008
by Akilah P
Feb 24, 2008
Loved the car, allowed me to drive carpool and field trips. Roomy enough for a group of adults to go out on the town. 7 drinkers one driver! Fun for the kids, but expensive on gas.Feb 24, 2008
by Ryan D
Feb 03, 2008
I don't know if this is any better or worse than the Suburban. It's just a different vehicle (obviously).Feb 03, 2008
What users have asked
814 views
New alternator new battery still won't charge
1997 Ford expedition 6.1 Triton this is the third new alternator I've tried
1544 views
Should i rebuild engine or buy a used one?
I'm buying an expedition from a family member who parked it for 1 year because they sent it to a horrible mechanic who was gonna fix the engine and when they were fixing it, they dropped a button from there shirt into the engine and stop working on it and my family member just got it towed back to there house and it sat, so I'm going to buy it but I don't know if I want to Rebuild the engine or replacing it with a used one off of eBay Help will be very appreciated.
175 views
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1997 Ford Expedition Pricing
Original MSRP
$28,160 to $34,765Price range
N/AAverage price on CG
N/AYoY price change
N/ATrims & specs
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Front bumper color: chrome · Rear bumper color: chrome
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: captains chairs
Seats
Front seat type: split-bench · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
4WD Type: part time w/ on demand setting
Exterior Features
Front bumper color: chrome · Rear bumper color: chrome · Skid plate(s): front and rear
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Rear Seats
Type: captains chairs
Seats
Front seat type: split-bench · Upholstery: cloth
Tires and Rims
Wheels: alloy
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
Single disc in-Dash CD · AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Exterior Features
Front bumper color: chrome · Rear bumper color: chrome
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: heated
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent
Airbags
Dual front airbags
Audio System
AM/FM radio
Brakes
ABS: 4-wheel
Comfort Features
Steering wheel trim: leather
Convenience Features
Multi-function remote: keyless entry · Steering wheel: tilt-adjustable
Drivetrain
4WD Type: part time w/ on demand setting
Exterior Features
Front bumper color: chrome · Rear bumper color: chrome · Skid plate(s): front and rear
Lights
Exterior entry lights: security approach lamps · Headlights: Auto on/off
Mirrors
Exterior mirrors: power
Roof
Moonroof: power · Roof rack color: black
Seats
Front seat type: captains chairs · Upholstery: leather
Tires and Rims
Wheel type: aluminum alloy · Wheels: chrome
Windows
Front wipers: intermittent