We’re thinking about getting a 2007 Expedition because our fourth baby is on the way. We plan to put three car seats in the middle row and have our oldest, who isn’t in a car seat, sit in the third row. I heard that some Expedition middle row seats can tilt and slide to make it easier to get to the third row. I’m wondering if this feature is available on all 2007 models or if it’s just on newer ones. Anyone with the experience?
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It’s similar to my Ford Explorer which I had for three years before I realized you could lift a latch to tilt the seat, and then keep lifting to move the whole seat up. I only discovered this when I was trying to remove the backseat to install some wires.
A couple of things: 1) Getting to the third row is really difficult. It’s easier to have them climb in through the lift gate. 2) The 2007 Expedition is a nightmare to service, and it gets worse as it gets older.
I’d go with a minivan. It’s much easier to load kids in and out with sliding doors on both sides.
I don’t think the “tilt and slide” feature is on the older models. My dad had a 2008 Expedition, and it didn’t have it either. With three child seats in the middle row, you’ll need to access the back row through the rear hatch or remove a car seat to fold the seat up, which isn’t practical for daily use with a full crew. You might want to find one with captain’s chairs and put a car seat in the third row. This might make accessing the third row easier, depending on whether your seats are rear-facing.
Also, each third-row seat that’s folded up takes up a lot of cargo space, so don’t plan on carrying four kids and big strollers unless you get an EL model.
Regarding service and reliability, the 3v 5.4L engine is known for issues (look it up on FordTechMakuloco). I’m at 210k miles and use full synthetic oil every 10k miles with oil stabilizer (I do it myself). It depends on how it was driven and maintained before you. If the price is right and you can buy from someone you trust with a known history, it might be worth it. Otherwise, I’d avoid it if it has over 125k miles.
People often criticize the 5.4 3v engine, but my dad had a 2007 Limited and put 237k miles on the engine and transmission before trading it for a 2014 King Ranch EL, which now has 410k miles on the original engine and transmission. As long as you change the oil and spark plugs on time, these engines are very durable. When buying used, check if the seller has maintenance receipts or records on the Carfax. Also, look for one with second-row bucket seats; it makes getting to the third row much easier. They’re good cars and can last a long time with proper care.
Watch out for problems with the 5.4L 3v Triton engine.
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