2000-2005 Ford Excursion Full Review - Consumer Guide Automotive

Our in-depth review covers everything you need to know about this generation Ford Excursion. Get the latest news, find a local dealer, and get a free price quote for this generation Ford Excursion.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion Review

Somebody always has to be the biggest. In the case of full-size sport utility vehicles, Ford took that prize with the introduction of the Excursion. The world's largest and heaviest SUV, it was 7.4 inches longer than the Chevrolet Suburban, on a wheelbase 7 inches longer, and 6 inches taller. The Excursion also was some 1,900 pounds heavier, tipping the scales at more than 7,000 pounds. Critics from the environmental and safety camps were quick to take aim at the Excursion as an example of wretched automotive excess and waste. Ford responded by noting that all three available engines ranked as LEV (low emission vehicle), and that the Excursion made extensive use of recycled materials. In addition, a new BlockerBeam was installed. This was a steel crossmember below the front bumper, designed to prevent a passenger car from sliding under the Excursion in a crash. Based on Ford's 3/4-ton F-Series pickup trucks, the Excursion came in XLT and Limited trim, with either rear-wheel or four-wheel drive. The body had four side doors as well as center-opening rear half-doors below a one-piece, top-hinged tailgate window. Seating as many as nine occupants, the Excursion competed against the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburban, and GMC's Yukon/Yukon XL/Denali--all of which had seemed quite large until Ford set a new dimensional peak. Base engine was a 5.4-liter V8. A V10 was standard with four-wheel drive, and optional with two-wheel drive. Ford's turbodiesel V8 also was available. All engines drove a four-speed automatic transmission. The four-wheel-drive system shifted between 2WD and 4-High or 4-Low via a dashboard switch, but was not intended for use on dry pavement. Ford's smaller but full-size Expeditions, and GM rivals, had 4WD systems that could function on dry surfaces. Antilock braking was standard, but side-impact airbags were not available. An optional reverse-sensing system warned of objects in the Excursion's path while backing up. Front bucket seats were standard in the Limited, and available in the XLT to replace its three-place bench. Both versions had a fold-down second-row bench and a removable third-row bench. Leather upholstery was standard in the Limited, optional in the XLT.

Year to Year Changes

2001 Ford Excursion: For 2001, the turbodiesel engine gained 15 horsepower. Foglamps became standard on the Limited, along with mirrors that contained built-in turn signals.

2002 Ford Excursion: Power-adjustable brake and throttle pedals were optional on XLT and XLT Premium Excursions, and standard on the Limited and Limited Ultimate. On the Ultimate, they came with a seat/pedal memory feature. An optional rear-seat video entertainment system included a VCR and wireless headphones, with a DVD system expected later in the model year. An in-dash six-CD changer also was optional. When properly equipped, Excursions could tow as much as 11,000 pounds.

2003 Ford Excursion: At midyear Ford switched turbodiesel V8s, from the 7.3 liter with 250 hp and 525 lb-ft of torque to the 6.0 with 325 and 550. It mated to a 5-speed automatic transmission. A new Eddie Bauer sloted between the base XLT line and top-range Limited models. It was distinguished by front and rear body-color trim set off by beige accents

2004 Ford Excursion: No significant changes were made for 2004.

2005 Ford Excursion: The largest SUV sold in America got minor cosmetic changes for 2005.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion Road Test

Pros	Cons

Passenger and cargo room	Fuel economy

Trailer-towing capability	Maneuverability

Seat comfort	Rear visibility

Consumer Guide® Road-Test Evaluation

Both the V10 engine and the turbodiesel get this heavyweight up to cruising speed fairly quickly. Passing power is impressive, aided by smooth, prompt downshifts. A 2WD V10 Limited averaged 10.8 mpg--one of the lowest figures we've recorded. A stable straight-line cruiser, the Excursion easily soaks up most broken pavement, but bigger bumps register rather sharply. Though not really ponderous in normal driving, steering is rather light but slow-responding. Curb-to-curb turning diameter is almost 50 feet, so swinging into a driveway or parking lot can be a chore. Stopping power feels strong and brakes are easily modulated, but stopping distances are long. Wind rush and road roar are suppressed quite well. The diesel idles noisily but cruises without fuss. Eight adults fit without painful squeezing. Second-row passengers enjoy exceptional leg room. The driver's seat is comfortable, but a wide transmission tunnel intrudes somewhat into the front passenger's footwell. Even with all seats in place, cargo volume is a class-leading 48 cubic feet. The one-piece third-row bench folds nearly flat and can be removed, though it's heavy and cumbersome. Gauges are easy to see. Controls are well within the driver's reach, though the steering wheel partially conceals the 4WD switch. Forward visibility is fine, but a smaller vehicle can hide along the Excursion's tall flanks, demanding caution. Four-wheel-drive models ride three inches higher than 2WD Excursions, but entry/exit isn't bad. Running boards provide a useful foothold, rear doors are long, and clearance to the back seat is adequate.

Value for the Money
Massive size and weight are serious drawbacks for anything intended to be used as a "suburban utility vehicle." The Excursion is simply too cumbersome for ordinary driving, suffering abysmal fuel economy as well as impaired mobility. Towing capacity and four-wheel drive are the positive points.

Consumer Guide® Road Test Ratings

Ford Excursion XLT w/V10, 4WD	Rating

Performance	3

Fuel Economy	1

Ride Quality	3

Steering/Handling/Braking	2

Quietness	3

Controls/Materials	6

Interior Room	9

Room/Comfort (rear)	9

Cargo Capacity	9

Value within Class	2

Total:	47

Each vehicle report contains one rating chart for representative model. Consumer Guide® rates in ten key areas: Performance, Fuel Economy, Ride Comfort, Steering and Handling, Interior Noise, Controls and Materials, Driver Room, Passenger Room, Cargo Capacity, and Insurance Costs. These ratings compare the particular vehicle rated to ALL other vehicles, not a vehicle's standing in a particular class. In the ratings table, "1" is the lowest rating and "10" is the highest rating.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion Reliability

Trouble Spots

Consumer Guide's® Auto Editors have scoured repair bulletins and questioned mechanics to search for commonly occurring problems for a particular vehicle. In some cases we also give possible manufacturer-suggested solutions. In many instances these trouble spots are Technical Service Bulletins posted by the manufacturer, however, we have our own expert looking at additional vehicle problems.

Ball joints: Lower ball joints wear causing stiff steering, poor steering wheel return, and possible wandering. A replacement ball joint, with a grease fitting, should be installed and regularly lubricated. (2000-01)

Heater core: Repeated heater core failures are common and may require redundant electrical system ground connections and a restrictor in the heater inlet hose. (2000-02)

Ignition switch: The ignition switch may be hard to turn or may not spring back from the start position. (2000-02)

Spark plugs: Spark plug hole threads in cylinder heads are easily damaged or stripped out when removing plugs because carbon builds up on them. (2004-05)

Tail/brake lights: Beware when buying a used fleet vehicle (e.g. police car, etc.) that had a system that flashed the brake lights because the transmission-and-brake shift interlock will have been disabled. (2000-02)

Consumer Guide® Estimated Repair Costs

This table lists costs of likely repairs for comparison with other vehicles. The dollar amount includes the cost of the part(s) and labor (based on $50 per hour) for the typical repair without extras or add-ons. Like the pricing information, replacement costs can vary widely depending on region. Expect charges at a new-car dealership to be slightly higher.


Item Name	Repair Cost

A/C Compressor	$1,140

Alternator	$485

Automatic Transmission or Transaxle	$1,105

Brakes	$290

Clutch, Pressure Plate, Bearing	$0

Constant Velocity Joints	$845

Exhaust System	$390

Radiator	$475

Shocks and/or Struts	$975

Timing Chain or Belt	$615

NHTSA Recall History

2000: Headlamp switch knob can fracture and separate from the switch, making it difficult to activate the headlamps.

2000-01: Wiper function may be lost due to a switch malfunction.

2001: Airbag inflator canister may not be welded to standard and could keep the airbag from deploying as intended.

2001: Driver- or passenger-outboard seatbelt may not fully latch.

2003 Excursion vehicles equipped with speed control: The speed control deactivation switch may overheat and possibly cause a fire. Dealers will install a fused wiring harness into the speed control system free of charge.

2003 w/6.0-liter diesel: Engine ground stud that attaches negative battery terminal to engine block may be loose, which can cause radio suppression strap to heat and potentially melt.

2004-05 w/6.0-liter diesel: Engine may stall without warning while driving, and may or may not restart.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion Prices

Prices	Good	Average	Poor

2000
Excursion 2WD	$7,000-9,000	$6,200-8,000	$3,300-4,200
Excursion 4WD	$8,500-10,200	$7,700-9,200	$4,400-5,300

2001
Excursion 2WD	$8,200-11,000	$7,400-9,900	$4,200-5,600
Excursion 4WD	$9,800-12,500	$8,800-11,300	$5,100-6,500

2002
Excursion 2WD	$10,000-13,000	$9,000-11,700	$5,200-6,800
Excursion 4WD	$12,000-14,500	$10,800-13,100	$6,700-8,100

2003
Excursion 2WD	$11,800-14,800	$10,600-13,300	$6,600-8,300
Excursion 4WD	$13,800-16,000	$12,600-14,600	$8,300-9,600

2004
Excursion 2WD	$13,700-17,500	$12,500-15,900	$8,200-10,500
Excursion 4WD	$15,700-19,700	$14,300-17,900	$10,000-12,600

2005
Excursion 2WD	$16,000-20,500	$14,600-18,700	$10,200-13,100
Excursion 4WD	$18,300-22,500	$16,800-20,700	$11,700-14,400

This chart details a range of prices in year-by-year listings for vehicles in three condition levels:

Good: a clean low-mileage, solid-running vehicle that needs little or no repair.

Average: a car with normal miles on the odometer, perhaps a few scrapes or dings; engine might need a minor repair or two, but runs acceptably well.

Poor: might have potentially dangerous problems with the engine and/or body, or abnormally high mileage; definitely in need of mechanical attention. Valuations reflect wholesale prices paid by dealers at auction, and retail prices on used-car lots. Each range covers all trim levels and engine types for a vehicle with a typical amount of equipment--usually an automatic transmission, air conditioning, stereo, etc. Fully loaded vehicles may cost more. Average mileage is 12,000 miles per year. Keep in mind that these are guidelines only. Actual selling prices vary- especially from region to region.

2000-2005 Ford Excursion Specs & Safety

Vehicle Dimensions

Specification	4-door wagon

Wheelbase, in.	137.1

Overall Length, in.	226.7

Overall Width, in.	79.9

Overall Height, in.	80.2

Curb Weight, lbs.	1087

Cargo Volume, cu. ft.	146.4

Standard Payload, lbs.	--

Fuel Capacity, gals.	44.0

Seating Capacity	9

Front Head Room, in.	41.0

Max. Front Leg Room, in.	42.3

Rear Head Room, in.	41.1

Max. Rear Leg Room, in.	40.5

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

Powertrain Options and Availability

At introduction the base engine was Ford's 5.4-liter V8. Optional was a V10 that made an impressive 425 pounds-feet of torque. Also available was a 7.4-liter turbodiesel V8. All mated to 4-speed automatic transmissions. In mid-2003 Ford switched to a new smaller, but more powerful diesel. It displaced 6.0-liters but made 325 horsepower and 550 pounds-feet of torque. It mated to a new 5-speed manual.

Engines	Size liters / cu. in	Horse- power	Torque	Transmission: EPA city/hgwy	Consumer Guide Observed

ohc V8	5.4 / 330	255	350	4-speed automatic: --	4-speed automatic: --

ohc V10	6.8 / 415	310	425	4-speed automatic: --	4-speed automatic: 10.8

Turbodiesel ohc V8	7.3 / 444	235-250	500-505	4-speed automatic: 15/18	4-speed automatic: --

Turbodiesel ohv V8	6.0 / 363	325	550	5-speed automatic: --	5-speed automatic: --

Specifications Key: NA = not available; "--" = measurement does not exist.

NHTSA Crash-Test Results

Vehicle crash test information not available at this time.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) tests a vehicle's worthiness in front- and side-impact collisions and rates its resistance to rollovers. Front-impact crash-test numbers indicate the chance of serious injury: 5 = 10% or less; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-35%; 2 = 35-45%; 1 = More than 45%. Side-impact crash-test numbers indicate: 5 = 5% or less; 4 = 6-10%; 3 = 11-20%; 2 = 21-25%; 1 = More than 26%. Rollover resistance numbers indicate the chance for rollover when the vehicle leaves the roadway: 5 = Less than 10%; 4 = 10-20%; 3 = 20-30%; 2 = 30-40%; 1 = More than 40%.

Built In: USA

Drive Wheels: longitudinal front-engine/rear- or 4-wheel drive

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Also in the 2000-2005 Ford Excursion Review:

Ford Excursion

Ford Excursion Road Test

Ford Excursion Reliability

Ford Excursion Prices

Ford Excursion Specs & Safety

Ford Excursion Photos

Ford Excursion Full Review