2007-2017 Ford Expedition

Overview of the Ford Expedition

Ford's full-size Expedition hasn't achieved the long-lasting cultural significance of the Chevrolet Suburban, but for people who need a massive SUV and wouldn't be caught dead in a Chevy, it's just about perfect. The third-generation Expedition, which debuted in 2007 and stuck around until just lately, simply took all the luxury and utility of the previous models and made it bigger and better.

As you might expect from a vehicle that takes up a visible percentage of a city block, the Expedition offers tons of space for audio gear and plenty of space to work with. For those who need even more SUV, there's the extended-wheelbase Expedition EL, which we presume means either "Extra Long," "Extended Length," or "Excursion-Like," because it's all of those things.

Receiver and speaker replacement is the same in both models, though, so if you want even bigger and better sound in your Expedition, you have lots of great options.

Replacing the base radio will improve both performance and functionality (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The factory stereo system

2007-2014 models

Full-size SUV owners expect a lot when it comes to audio and entertainment features, and the 2007-2014 Expedition did not disappoint. The stock gear really wasn’t bad, but it's starting to age and when it comes to connectivity in particular, aftermarket gear can make a big difference.

Depending on what you're starting with (there were several permutations and combinations), there will be some interesting bits to stereo replacement. Whether you're talking to a Crutchfield advisor or using our vehicle selector tool, we'll make sure you get the info you need for the gear you're buying.

Replacing the receiver can mean losing features like XM satellite radio, navigation, SYNC, or even fader control on vehicles equipped with digital amplifiers. If this sounds confusing, don't worry. You can replace and even upgrade some of those features, and we'll give you a deep discount on the wiring harness adapter and dash kit you'll need for your installation.

A variety of single-DIN (2" tall) or double-DIN (4" tall) receivers will fit in your Expedition's dash, and the project is well within the capability of most DIY-ers. Just be warned that a receiver with a fold-down face is not recommended for the Expedition.

Detailed stereo and speaker removal instructions

With step-by-step disassembly instructions and plenty of up-close, detailed photos, our exclusive Crutchfield MasterSheet™ takes the guesswork out of removing the factory stereo and speakers. It's free with your Crutchfield order, or you can purchase one separately for just $9.99.

2015-2017 models

Believe it or not, we haven't yet had a chance to fully review the final version of the third-gen Expedition, so we can't say much about receiver replacement at this time. We'll update this space as soon as we can. The speaker locations and techniques should be the same, though.

Removing your truck's radio is relatively easy, compared to many we've seen (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory radio

The first thing to do with this or any other vehicle is set the parking brake and disconnect the negative battery cable to prevent any electrical short. Safety matters, so make sure you get off to a good start.

Once that's done, pry out the edges of the receiver/climate control trim panel to release the retaining clips. Pry out the lower console trim panel to release those clips, then pull out the entire trim panel. Disconnect the wiring harnesses and remove the assembly. Remove the four 7mm screws securing the factory radio, then pull it out and remove it.

Installing the new stereo essentially involves doing all of that stuff backwards, following the Crutchfield MasterSheet that's included free with your stereo or speaker purchase. The dash kit and wiring harness adapter will include instructions of their own.

Be sure to test the receiver to make sure it's working before you start buttoning things up again. If it isn't, and you’re not sure why, just give us a call. Every Crutchfield car audio purchase includes free tech support for the life of the gear.

Tools needed: Panel tool, 7mm driver

Read our Car Stereo Buying Guide for shopping tips and advice.

Shop for car stereos that fit your Ford Expedition

Steering wheel audio controls

In most cases, it's reasonably easy to retain your Expedition's steering wheel audio controls when you install a new stereo. When you enter your vehicle information, our database will choose the adapter you need to make your factory steering wheel controls work with a compatible aftermarket receiver.

These big front doors deserve some serious speakers (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the factory speakers

The Expedition has a set of component speakers in the front doors, full-range speakers in the rear doors, and, in some cases, a subwoofer in the cargo area.

Removing the front door speakers

The front door speaker array consists of woofers and tweeters in each door. They're not hard to deal with once you remove the door panels, and there are plenty of great aftermarket replacements out there. A set of component speakers will be a great upgrade for your Expedition.

The stock woofers attach to the doors, while the tweeters are attached to the door panels (Crutchfield Research Photo)

The door panel removal process begins with prying off the screw cover behind the door release and removing one 7mm screw. Pry off the door release trim to release the retaining clips and remove the trim, then pry open the screw cover inside the door pull cup and remove two exposed 7mm screws.

Pry open the screw cover on the rear edge of the door panel and remove one Phillips screw, then remove two 7mm screws from the bottom edge of the door panel. Moving back up the door, pry out the sail panel. Hold the sail panel out and lift the door panel to release the hooks from the door. With all that taken care of, you can disconnect the wiring harness and remove the panel.

If that seems like a lot of prying, that's because it is. A set of Bojo panels tools will make this job a lot easier and they're a lot nicer to those plastic panels than a big old screwdriver.

Replacing the tweeters isn't hard, but you'll need a little bit of extra gear to do the job (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Tweeters

The 1.570" tweeters can be replaced by pretty much any component speaker system tweeter, but you'll need to use our universal backstraps (or hot glue or silicone) to secure the new tweeters in place. There's no wiring harness adapter for this location, so you'll need Posi-Products speaker connectors to connect the tweeters to the factory wiring.

The grille is removed with the tweeter and creates a 1.595" hole in the door panel. An aftermarket tweeter can be flush-mounted to the panel, as long as it clears the cutout.

Woofers

The woofers can be replaced by 6"x8" or 5-1/4" aftermarket speakers. With the door panel out of the way, all you need to do is remove the four Torx T20 screws securing the old speaker and get it out of there. Use the speaker wiring adapter to connect the new speaker to your truck's speaker harness. Use the old screws to secure the new speaker to the door, and you're done.

You'll need mounting brackets to mount smaller woofers, and they're included with your Crutchfield speaker purchase at a deep discount.

Be sure to test the speakers to make sure they're working properly before you put everything back together. Also, check to make sure the wiring doesn't interfere with the windows or the locks.

Tools needed: Panel tool, 7mm driver, 1/4" hex driver, Phillips screwdriver

The full-range speakers in the rear doors are very easy to work with (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the rear door speakers

The situation in the rear doors is very similar to what's going on up front, save for the fact that you're only dealing with a pair of full-range speakers. These can also be replaced by 6"x8" or 5-1/4" aftermarket speakers, and the work is basically the same as what you did on the front doors. Complete, step-by-step disassembly instructions can be found in your Crutchfield MasterSheet.

Don't forget to test the speakers and check the doors and locks before you finish up.

Tools needed: Panel tool, 7mm driver, Phillips screwdriver, 1/4" hex driver

Got a free afternoon? You'll need it for this job. (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Removing the rear subwoofer

The Expedition is pretty easy to work on for the most part, but when it comes to replacing the optional rear subwoofer in the right rear side panel, the job is a little tougher. It's not that the individual tasks are all that difficult, it's that there are a whole bunch of them. If you're a DIY-er with basic skills, you can do this, but you might want to block off an afternoon. It's not a thing you can hurry through, so be patient, work carefully, and maybe ask a friend to help. You'll find complete instructions in your Crutchfield MasterSheet, which will also be a big help.

There are a few other things to know before you start.

For one, the stock speaker only receives bass frequencies, so if you try to put a full-range speaker back here, it'll only produce bass frequencies. You're probably not going to do that, but if you're trying to squeeze some extra use out of a leftover speaker, that's what's going to happen. Also, replacing the low-impedance stock sub with a higher-impedance aftermarket speaker will result in lower volume levels. Shop accordingly.

Whatever you put back there (and there are some very cool and very powerful 8" subs that will fit), you'll need to use Posi-Products speaker connectors, because there's no wiring adapter available at the moment.

You'll need to drill new mounting screw holes for that sub, and while this isn't necessarily the hardest thing you'll ever do, you are drilling a hole in your truck, so know what's around the area you're drilling into, work carefully, and always wear eye protection. Your new sub might not include mounting screws, so check the box and hit the hardware store if you need to.

Before you button everything up, make sure the seats and seat belts are secured to manufacturer’s specifications. Safety first, and all that.

Tools needed: 6mm & 7mm drivers, 10mm socket, ratchet and extension, Torx T-50 driver, panel tool

Read our Car Speakers Buying Guide for more information.

Shop for speakers that fit your Ford Expedition

Exactly how big a subwoofer were you thinking about? (Crutchfield Research Photo)

Bass in your Expedition

As you can probably guess, the Expedition offers acres of room for a subwoofer box. If you want to go big, you can, since you have a 51" W x 15" H x 24"/30" D space (measurements taken below side ledges) to work with. Want to put three 12" subs back there? Okay, that could work. Of course, if you still need the Expedition's vast cargo area for vast amounts of cargo, you can go with a smaller box or even a powered subwoofer.

Take a look at our full line of subwoofer boxes for inspiration.

Learn more about building a bass system in our Car Subwoofer Buying Guide.

A rear-view camera is an ideal back-up solution for your SUV

Other options for your Expedition

Here are some other cool ideas for improving your Expedition.

Rear-view cameras for better visibility

The Expedition is an enormous vehicle, and maneuvering in a crowded parking lot can be a big challenge. If you want a better view of what's behind you, we offer rear-view cameras from Kenwood, Alpine, Sony, Pioneer, and more. Some are designed to work with same-brand receivers only, but others come with a composite video connector and will work with almost any video receiver.

Add an amplifier to fill your truck with music

if you want real power, you need an aftermarket amplifier. You'll find plenty of great spots to mount amplifiers in the Expedition (under the seats or behind interior panels, for example), but consider the size of the amp and remember that it will need air to operate efficiently. Learn more about adding amps to your system in our Car Amplifier Buying Guide.

Car security systems

Installing a security system in your Expedition isn't easy (security systems rarely are), but it's definitely a good idea. Our Crutchfield Advisors can help figure out what you need to get the job done, but we usually recommend taking your car and new gear to a professional installer.

Let's get started!

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