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Ford Expedition Interior Door Panel Removal Guide
How to take off the plastic interior door panels in a 4th generation 2018, 2019 and 2020 Ford Expedition SUV.

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2018 Expedition Door
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Pry Off Sail Panel
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Friction Fasteners
This automotive maintenance tutorial was specifically written to assist owners of the 4th generation (2018, 2019, 2020 and probably also the 2021, 2022 and 2023 model years) Ford Expedition SUV in taking off the plastic interior door panels in order to upgrade the OEM speakers, add soundproofing material, replace a broken power window motor or fix a faulty electrical switch.

Owners of other Ford or Lincoln vehicles such as the Explorer, F-150, Escape, EcoSport, Transit, F-350, F-250, Edge, Flex, Ranger, Fiesta, Focus, Fusion, Mustang, Bronco, Super Duty, Navigator, Continental, MKZ, MKX, MKC, MKT, Aviator, Corsair and Nautilus may also find these DIY instructions to be helpful.

The tools needed to remove the door panels include a plastic pry bar tool, a flat head screwdriver, a 7mm socket with a short extension bar and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

To remove the OEM door speakers, you'll also need the same 7mm socket with a 1/4" drive ratchet.

The first two steps are to fully lower the power window and then open the door.

Locate the "sail" panel situated at the top inner corner of the door panel near the side view mirror.

Gently pry off the sail panel with the plastic pry bar tool. Try to avoid using excessive force. The sail panel should pop off relatively easily. It is held in place by two white plastic friction fasteners and two metal retaining clips.

On some models or trim levels, the sail panel may contain a tweeter speaker that will need to be disconnected.

Set the sail panel aside in a safe place.



 

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Pry Out Trim Cover
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Below Armrest
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Trim Piece Removed
Move to the area below the armrest and under the black plastic door opener handle.

Use a flat head screwdriver to gently pry out the plastic trim cover situated below the door opener handle.

Set the trim cover aside in a safe place.

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Two Bolts Exposed
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Screw - Top Inner Edge
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Loosen Counterclockwise
Remove the single screw located at the top inner corner of the door panel that was hidden by the sail panel.

Rotate it in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Black Screw Removed
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Loosen Armrest Bolts
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Remove Second Bolt
Set the black screw aside with the sail panel.

Next, remove the two bolts located near the center of the armrest and below the door opener handle by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket, an extension bar and the 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Pull Out With Pliers
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Second Bolt Removed
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Bottom Edge - 2 Screws
Remove the two loose bolts from the door panel by using either a magnet or grab them with some needle nose pliers.

Set the two silver bolts aside with their corresponding plastic trim cover.

Then move to the bottom edge of the door panel and locate the two small black metal screws.

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Loosen Counterclockwise
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Small Black Metal Screw
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Remove 2nd Screw
Remove the two screws on the bottom edge of the door panel by turning them in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.
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3 Screws & 2 Bolts
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Pull Out Bottom Edge
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Release Retaining Clips
Set the two screws aside with the other fasteners.

At this point, you should have removed two plastic pieces, three black screws and two silver bolts.

Insert the plastic pry bar tool or a large flat head screwdriver in between the bottom edge of the door panel and the metal door frame.

Firmly pull out the bottom edge of the door panel to release the metal retaining clips.

Continue pulling out the friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel.

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Lift Panel Up Off Frame
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Tilt Away Top Edge
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Pull Out Door Lock Stalk
Carefully lift the plastic door panel up and off the upper lip of the metal door frame.

Tilt the top edge of the door panel towards yourself to access the back side.

Squeeze together the two white plastic release tabs on the door lock stalk before pulling it out of the top rear corner of the door panel.

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Push In Release Tab
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Disconnect Power Plug
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Small Connector
Remove the electrical connectors for the switch panel, power door lock switch and the tweeter speaker (if equipped).

To release the power plugs, push in the release tab before sliding the electrical connector straight out of their sockets.

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Small Grey Power Plug
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Door Opener Handle Cable
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Pull Back Release Tab
Move to the center of the door panel and locate the door opener handle and the attached cable.

Gently pull back the release tab on the bottom of the cable's mount before pulling it off the bracket.

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Small Release Tab
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Pulled Back - Close Up
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Door Panel Removed
The pictures above show a closer view of the release tab on the mounting piece for the door opener handle cable.

Set the plastic door panel aside in a safe place.

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Metal Door Frame
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Speaker Power Plug
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Four Speaker Screws
The OEM (original equipment manufacturer) front door speaker is located at the front middle area of the door frame.

Push in the release tab on the electrical connector before sliding it straight out of its socket.

Remove the old speaker by turning the four bolts in the counterclockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

The OEM speaker can be replaced with aftermarket car speakers in the following sizes: 6 1/2" (6.5"), 6 3/4" (6.75") and 6"x9".

An adapter mounting bracket or other modifications may be necessary.

I highly recommend applying some Dynamat sound deadening material to the metal door frame and the back side of the plastic door panel to help stop vibrations and rattles when you crank up the volume.

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Hold Panel Near Frame
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Door Handle Cable
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Door Lock Stalk
To replace the plastic door panel, hold it near the metal door frame and tilt the top edge towards yourself.

Lower the top of the door opener handle mount into the bracket and push on it to secure it into place. You should feel or hear the mount "click" securely into the bracket.

Re-insert the door lock stalk into the hole at the top rear corner of the door panel.



 

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Re-Insert Stalk
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Re-Insert Small Power Plug
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Switch Panel Plug
Make sure the door lock stalk "clicks" securely into place.

Replace the electrical connectors for the switch panel, power door lock switch and tweeter speaker (if equipped).

The power plugs should "click" securely into their sockets.

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Power Door Lock Plug
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Lower Panel On Frame
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Line Up Retaining Clips
Carefully lower the top edge of the door panel on to the upper lip of the metal door frame.

Line up the metal retaining clips and plastic pop rivet friction fasteners on the back side of the door panel with their corresponding holes in the door frame.

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Firmly Tap In Fasteners
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Re-Insert Lower Screws
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Tighten Clockwise
Firmly tap in the friction fasteners all along the bottom edge and both sides of the door panel.

Replace the two small screws at the bottom edge of the door panel by turning them in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet until they are snug.

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Replace 2nd Small Screw
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Replace Armrest Bolts
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2nd Silver Bolt
Then replace the two silver 7mm bolts below the door opener handle by turning them in the clockwise direction until they are snug.
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Tighten Clockwise
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Tighten Second Bolt
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Plastic Trim Cover
Check to make sure the white plastic retaining clips on the back side of the trim cover are both in place.

I noticed that one of the plastic clips remained attached to the door panel. So I had to pull it out with a pair of needle nose pliers.

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Replace Stuck Plastic Clip
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Two White Clips
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Line Up Plastic Cover
Then I re-attached the white plastic clip to the back side of the trim cover.

Line up the two clips on the back side of the trim cover with their sockets in the door panel.

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Push To Secure Cover
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Top Inner Corner Screw
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Tighten Clockwise
Push on the trim cover to secure the friction fasteners.

You should feel the retaining clips "click" securely into place.

Replace the screw at the top front corner of the door panel by turning it in the clockwise direction with the 7mm socket and a 1/4" drive ratchet.

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Line Up Sail Panel
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Push To Secure Fasteners
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Door Panel Replaced
Line up the friction fasteners on the back side of the sail panel with their corresponding openings on the top front corner of the door frame.

Push the sail panel back into place.

Sit inside the SUV, close the door and verify that the door opener handle, door lock stalk, power window switch, power door lock switch and the speaker are all working properly.

The steps for removing and replacing the rear passenger door panels should be the same or very similar.

Be sure to write down the speaker upgrade, any repair or other procedure in your vehicle's service records.

Please check out all of my 2018-2020 Ford Expedition DIY Repair & Maintenance Guides.
 

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