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 Kia Sportage expensive to maintain?

The Sportage averages $462/year in maintenance — $59 below the compact segment average of $521. Repair frequency of 19% is well below the class average of 30% — owners visit for unscheduled repairs far less often than most rivals. Major repair probability of 11% is at the class average. Low cost and low visit frequency make it a strong ownership value.

What is the best year for a Kia Sportage?

The 2022 Sportage (42 complaints, 10/10 NHTSA safety, 6 severe) is the standout used pick — the mature end of the fourth generation before the 2023 redesign. The new fifth-generation launch in 2023 had 177 complaints but settled quickly to 62 in 2024 and 46 in 2025. Avoid 2012-2013 and 2017, which saw complaint spikes tied to the Theta II engine recall era.

How much does Kia Sportage insurance cost?

Sportage insurance averages around $1,997/year, or about $166/month.

Is the Kia Sportage or Toyota RAV4 cheaper to maintain?

The RAV4 is $33/year cheaper — $429 versus $462 for the Sportage. Both carry the same reliability score and major repair probability. The Sportage's repair frequency of 19% is significantly lower than the RAV4's 26%, meaning fewer unscheduled shop visits despite the slightly higher annual maintenance figure.

Should I buy an extended warranty for a Kia Sportage?

Major repair probability of 11% at the class average, repair frequency well below it. Low-risk ownership. Extended warranty isn't strongly warranted for 2021+ models. For 2012-2013 and 2017 used models with documented engine recall history, coverage is worth taking seriously.

Ford Expedition vs Kia Sportage

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 Kia Sportage — lower 5-year cost and better reliability.

// COST HEAD TO HEAD

Maintenance and ownership cost

	Ford Expedition	Kia Sportage
Annual maintenance	$861	$462winner
5-year total cost	$4,305	$2,310winner
Reliability score	6 / 10	8 / 10winner
Major repair risk (5yr)	15%	11%winner
Cargo space	108.5 cu ftwinner	73.7 cu ft
Starting price (new)	$63,400	$30,900winner
Best years to buy	—	—

// RELIABILITY

Which is more reliable?

	Ford Expedition	Kia Sportage
RepairPal score	6 / 10	8 / 10winner
NHTSA complaints / 100k	272.2	176.6winner
Years to avoid	2010, 2014, 2017	2010, 2012, 2013
Value retained · 3 yr	68.4%	75.7%winner
Value retained · 5 yr	47.4%	56.8%winner
Value retained · 7 yr	33.7%	45%winner

// COMMON PROBLEMS

What breaks — and what it costs

	Ford Expedition	Kia Sportage
Engine	18.2%winner	55.6%
Electrical	10.0%	6.1%winner
ADAS	8.0%	5.8%winner
Brakes	6.4%winner	8.5%
Suspension	2.0%	—winner
Steering	—winner	1.5%
Fuel system	2.3%	1.1%winner
Tires/Wheels	—winner	0.5%
Glass/Windows	2.5%winner	2.7%
Airbags	2.5%	2.5%winner
Lighting	1.7%	1.0%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	Kia Sportage
Avg annual premium	$2,681	$1,997winner

// FULL MODEL PAGES

GAS

Ford Expedition

$861/yr maint · 6 reliability

Full model page

GAS

Kia Sportage

$462/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 →