What is the best year for a Ford Expedition?

Avoid 2017-2019, which logged 350, 351, and 432 complaints respectively. The 2023 Expedition (56 complaints, 10/10 safety, 8 severe) is the strongest mature used pick. 2025 (21 complaints) is even cleaner but very recent. The 2022-2024 window reflects significant improvement from the troubled prior generation.

How much does Ford Expedition insurance cost?

Expedition insurance averages around $2,681/year — roughly $223/month. The highest insurance rate in the fullsize class.

Is the Ford Expedition or Chevrolet Suburban cheaper to maintain?

The Expedition is cheaper to maintain by $83/year — $861 versus $944 for the Suburban. The Expedition also has significantly lower repair frequency (25% vs. 51%). Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability. The Expedition is the better maintenance value.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Ford Expedition?

Repair frequency of 25% is the lowest in the fullsize segment — a meaningful positive. Major repair probability at the class average. Not a strong warranty case for 2022+ models. For 2017-2019 used models, documented complaint spikes make coverage worth considering.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe expensive to maintain?

The Santa Fe averages $515/year in maintenance — $58 below the midsize segment average of $573. Repair frequency of 24% is well below the class average of 40%. Major repair probability of 10% is well below the 13% norm. Reliability score of 8 is above the midsize average of 7. It outperforms the segment average on every ownership-cost metric.

What is the best year for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Avoid 2013-2014 (604 and 492 complaints) and especially 2017 (929 complaints), which coincides with the Theta II engine recall era. The 2021 Santa Fe (158 complaints, 10/10 safety, 5 severe) is the strongest mature used pick. The current generation is consistent: 2024 (121, 8/10, 11 severe) and 2025 (112, 8/10, 6 severe) are solid options for buyers wanting newer.

How much does Hyundai Santa Fe insurance cost?

Santa Fe insurance averages about $2,430/year — roughly $203/month.

Is the Hyundai Santa Fe or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is cheaper to maintain by $86/year — $429 versus $515 for the Santa Fe. Note the RAV4 is a compact SUV while the Santa Fe is a midsize, so they serve somewhat different buyers. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability (10%); the Santa Fe has a slightly lower repair frequency (24% vs. 26%). The cost gap is real, but so is the size difference.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Hyundai Santa Fe?

Major repair probability of 10% and repair frequency of 24% are both well below midsize segment averages. Extended warranty isn't needed for 2021 and newer. For used models in the 2013-2014 and 2017 range, the documented engine recall history makes coverage worth taking seriously.

Ford Expedition vs Hyundai Santa Fe

Two fullsize SUVs compared on the numbers that matter — maintenance cost, reliability, and insurance.

// VERDICT

Our verdict

Buy the Ford Expedition if its specific features or size suit your needs better.

Buy the Hyundai Santa Fe — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Ford Expedition	Hyundai Santa Fe
Annual maintenance	$861	$515winner
5-year total cost	$4,305	$2,575winner
Reliability score	6 / 10	8 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	15%	10%winner
Cargo space	108.5 cu ft	—
Starting price (new)	$63,400	$35,050winner
Best years to buy	—	2011, 2018

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Ford Expedition	Hyundai Santa Fe
RepairPal score	6 / 10	8 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	272.2	251.5winner
Years to avoid	2010, 2014, 2017	2017, 2019, 2023
Value retained · 3 yr	68.4%	72.5%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	47.4%	54.4%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	33.7%	42%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Ford Expedition	Hyundai Santa Fe
Engine	18.2%winner	45.2%
Electrical	10.0%	5.1%winner
ADAS	8.0%winner	8.8%
Brakes	6.4%	5.7%winner
Suspension	2.0%	—winner
Steering	—winner	4.5%
Fuel system	2.3%	2.0%winner
Tires/Wheels	—winner	2.3%
Glass/Windows	2.5%winner	2.9%
Airbags	2.5%	2.1%winner
Lighting	1.7%	1.2%winner
Seatbelt	3.4%	—winner

One major repair on either model can run $1,500–4,000. A warranty caps your exposure, especially on known problem years.

// INSURANCE

Which is cheaper to insure?

	Ford Expedition	Hyundai Santa Fe
Avg annual premium	$2,681	$2,430winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Ford Expedition

$861/yr maint · 6 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Hyundai Santa Fe

$515/yr maint · 8 reliability

Full model page

// FAQ

Common questions

The Expedition costs $861/year to maintain — $77 above the fullsize segment average of $784. Repair frequency of 25% is well below the class average of 40% — the lowest in the fullsize segment. Reliability score of 6 and major repair probability of 15% both match segment averages. Above-average cost, but meaningfully lower repair frequency than most fullsize rivals.

How we calculated this. Maintenance costs and reliability scores from RepairPal. Complaints and recalls from NHTSA. Fuel economy from the EPA. Insurance averages from CarEdge. Pricing from KBB. Depreciation from iSeeCars. Full methodology →