2018 Ford Expedition: What to check before buying
Owners have filed 358 complaints with NHTSA about this car, most about the transmission, engine, and suspension. The 9 checks below target those problems, in the order you would do them at the car.
2018- Owner complaints
- 358
- Recalls
- 12
- Crashes reported
- 7
- 21 injuries
Your inspection sheet
Tick items off on your phone at the car, or print it. Ticks stay on this device.
0/9 checked
2018 Ford Expedition: inspection sheet
Paperwork and questions
Before you go, or before you touch the car0/2
Walk-around and cabin
Engine off, key in hand0/1
Cold start, engine bay, and underside
Ask the seller not to warm the car up first0/4
Test drive
At least 20 minutes, with some highway0/2
These checks are specific to this model year. For tires, body panels, fluids, and the other basics every used car needs, use the general inspection guide.
Which Expedition is it?
EPA figures for each version of the 2018 Ford Expedition. Use them to confirm you are looking at the version that was advertised, and as a yardstick on the test drive.
| Version | Drive | EPA rating |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L 6-cyl | 4WD, RWD | 19–20 mpg |
- Reset the trip computer at the start of the drive. A Expedition that averages well under the EPA 19 mpg combined on a mixed route may have an engine or tire problem.
Check the odometer against these mileages
Owners report these failures starting around the mileages below. A car inside one of these ranges deserves a closer look at that part, or records showing it was already fixed.
Leaking struts and shocks
20,000–46,000 miles
Transmission slipping and neutral drops
55,700–95,000 miles
Cam phaser startup rattle
70,000–100,500 miles
Why these checks: what owners reported
NHTSA complaints for the 2018 Ford Expedition, grouped by the part owners named. Open a row to read what goes wrong.
Transmission1332 crashes
The 10-speed automatic slips, drops into neutral, or downshifts hard at speed, leaving the truck without power while merging, passing, or turning across traffic. Reports describe rough shifts, lurching, and sudden drops from 9th to 1st gear, often with no warning light. Trouble commonly starts between about 55,700 and 95,000 miles. Dealers often cannot reproduce it, and fluid changes and reprograms rarely fix it, so several trucks needed rebuilds or replacement transmissions. Cold-start rattle from cam phasers and timing chains also shows up here. Two crash reports describe the truck surging while backing up.
Engine83No crashes
A loud rattle on cold start that lasts a few seconds after the truck sits is the main complaint, and it is traced to failing cam phasers. Left alone, it can lead to rough running, a check engine light, and lost power on the highway. Several reports say a dealer software reprogram or phaser replacement did not hold and the noise came back. Failures range widely, from about 25,000 to 122,000 miles, and the worst cases ended in engine replacement. A few complaints in this group actually describe transmission slipping.
Loud clanking or rattling at startup, sometimes with a check engine light, points to cam phaser failure in most of these reports. Dealers often diagnose the problem, but the repair frequently goes undone over cost or coverage disputes. Coolant leaks from hoses and the water pump also appear, sometimes alongside timing chain wear. A few trucks lose power at highway speed. Most failures fall between about 70,000 and 130,000 miles, though one came as early as 35,540.
Suspension24No crashes
Struts and shocks leak oil early, sometimes at all four corners. Drivers notice heavy bouncing over bumps and bridge joints and a harsh ride, and some say the truck wanders toward the next lane. Many leaks are found during tire or oil service. Reported mileage runs from under 10,000 to about 46,000, and some replacement struts start leaking again. Owners past warranty pay for the repair themselves, and a few mention parts on backorder.
Electrical22No crashes
Two reports describe fires starting under the hood. In one, the fire followed a battery-saving warning and engine shutdown. In the other, the truck burned within minutes. More common problems include a center screen that stays dark and takes the backup camera with it, stalls at stops with a message to shift into park and restart, and rear doors that will not unlock. Other complaints cover a truck rolling while the dial read Park, a leaking and stuck panoramic roof, and a PCM that stopped working after a software update.
Exterior lights22No crashes
The passenger-side LED daytime running light dims, turns purple, or lights only part of its strip. Nearly every complaint here is about this one failure. No dash warning appears, so drivers often hear about it from other motorists or find it after buying used. Reports say the only fix is a full headlamp assembly, quoted at $1,200 plus labor. A few drivers also find the projector low beams too dim, with a hard cutoff that leaves unlit roads hard to see.
Acceleration and cruise control71 crash
Uncommanded acceleration is the most serious theme. Reports include a crash after the engine raced and the brakes and ignition did not respond, and a stuck accelerator with cruise control on that pushed the truck to nearly 100 mph. Other complaints describe the transmission losing drive under acceleration and then clunking back into gear, delayed shifts when cold, a speedometer reading lower than GPS speed, and cam phaser rattle at startup.
Seat belts6No crashes
Front seat belt pretensioners fire on their own with a loud pop, sometimes with smoke, and the belt then locks tight and will not retract. This has happened while driving, while starting the truck, and while refueling, and 2 injuries are reported. Another complaint describes an airbag light with a fault message for the passenger pretensioner circuit. Separately, owners say the outboard second-row lap belts are too short for larger adults and dealers have no extender for them.
Airbags53 crashes
Three crash reports say the airbags did not deploy. One was a 45 mph T-bone collision and another a rear impact at highway speed. In the rear-end crash, both front seats slid forward and reclined, bruising the front occupants and trapping children in the second row. Other complaints describe a seat belt airbag going off while driving and an airbag warning light that stays on. These reports record 6 injuries in total.
In owners' own words
Excerpts from complaints Expedition owners filed with NHTSA, as written. Listen for the same symptoms on your test drive.
Cam phaser and timing chain assembly is beginning to fail. Ford has a CSB out on this problem but is unwilling to repair or replace components. Transmission has had to be replaced be cause of failure at 100000 miles. I’ve had to replace the water pump twice on my Expedition. Driver side seat belt no longer retracts.
Filed with NHTSA, April 2025
Transmission is hunting, popping, and jumping out of gear. Started popping into reverse at approximately 20,000 and multiple dealerships told me “I did not understand the transmission”. Power train warranty expired at 60K, at 62K it began violently shifting out of gear on acceleration.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2023
My cam phasers failed. I had a 6 year, 72k mile warranty. All maintenance was done at the dealership at the correct time. The parts failed at 7 years, 75,600 miles. Had to replace the engine. Dealer wanted to charge me $19000. Found a local shop to do it with new Ford engine for $14000. The cam phasers are a known issue. There are hundreds of vehicles out there that have had the same problem.
Filed with NHTSA, February 2026
Cam Phasers failing Rough running and poor acceleration Problem has been confirmed by a dealer Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacture, police or insurance No warning light on, but grinding when cold start. This is the second time it’s occurred! We had it fixed prior about 20,000 miles ago. I called Ford Customer service and they directed me to the NHTSA.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2024
Vehicle has less that 40,000 miles on it. It has become almost uncontrollable if you hit any rough spots on the road. During the last oil change it was noted the rear shocks and struts were bad as well as the front struts. This is far to early for a vehicle to have these issues. It has never been off-road and only towed a small trailer one time.
Filed with NHTSA, November 2021
With only 53500 miles the gears stopped working. The gear shift pulls and hesitates when changing gears. The engine pulls when excelerating even at low speeds while struggling to shift. The Cam is also causing issues with loud start up sounds.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2025
Ford performed Emission Recall 24E13 on my vehicle. The corporate software update bricked the Powertrain Control Module (PCM), rendering the vehicle completely inoperable 30 miles later. Ford corporate is refusing to repair the damage caused by their mandatory safety campaign, leaving me stranded. The vehicle was towed back to the dealership the recall was performed. They ran a full diagnostics and confirmed the PCM is bricked.
Filed with NHTSA, June 2026
There was a recall for cam phasers etc under 21N03. My car was fixed in 2021 but the parts they put it in were not the updated parts. I was told it was the same recalled parts that they used to replace. Now I am having the same issue again . I am not currently driving my vehicle until it can be remedied. I contacted the dealership and they are not willing to cooperate or work with me. I will attach the report that was done back in 2021 below.
Filed with NHTSA, July 2025
How the 2018 compares with other Expedition years
Complaints for this year next to the average for the other model years, area by area.
The 2018 ranks third for owner complaints among 9 Expedition years, about 2.2 times the average of the others. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, so compare like with like.
- Transmission13368
- Engine8318
- Suspension242
- Electrical2212
- Exterior lights221
- Acceleration and cruise control72
Where the 2018 fits in the Expedition's history
Redesigns and mid-cycle updates change what can go wrong.
The 2018 is the first model year of the Expedition's fourth generation (2018–2024). First years of a redesign often carry teething problems that Ford fixes in later years, so the checks above matter more than usual.
Should you avoid the first year of a redesign? See the 45-car study.
Recalls to confirm (12)
Recall repairs are free at any Ford dealer, but the seller may never have had them done. Check each campaign number against the VIN.
26V402000TransmissionJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
26V368000Body and structureJun 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2024 Expedition vehicles. The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
26V344000Seat beltsMay 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
25V197000Seat beltsMay 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.
25V236000BrakesApr 2025
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
Risk: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.
24V099000Seat beltsFeb 2024
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.
18V805000SeatsNov 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Expedition vehicles. The second row center seat track assemblies may be missing one or both of the J-Channel reinforcement brackets, possibly allowing the seat to move in the event of a crash.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat that moves may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row center seat for any missing J-channel reinforcement brackets, replacing the center seat frame assembly as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification was sent on December 21, 2018. A second letter will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S37.
18V392000Fuel systemJun 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition, F-150, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI V6 engines. These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which may cause an oil or fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S17.
18V213000TransmissionApr 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
Risk: Despite the transmission shift lever being placed in 'Park' and the instrument panel display indicating 'Park,' the vehicle may roll away after it has been exited if the parking brake has not been applied, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
18V214000TransmissionApr 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console). The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, allowing the transmission to be in a different gear than indicated by the gear shift lever position.
Risk: If the gear shift cable clip becomes unseated or dislodged, the gear shift lever position may indicate that the transmission is in 'Park' when it may be in a different gear. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
18V058000Wipers and visibilityJan 2018
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The second row window control modules may intermittently stop the movement of the power window. If something, such as a finger, is pinched by the window glass, the stopped window control module may prevent the window from automatically reversing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems.".
Risk: If the window does not automatically reverse when an obstruction is found, it can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row window electronic control modules, and replace them as necessary based on their build date codes, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C01.
17V775000SeatsDec 2017
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Expedition vehicles. The second row outboard seats may have excessive forward adjustment capability and/or may have an improperly installed bolt that secures the seat back to the seat base. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 202a, "Head Restraints", number 207, "Seating Systems", and number 210, "Seat Belt Anchorage System.".
Risk: If the seat back is not adequately secured, and/or the seat occupant is improperly positioned, there can be an increased risk of injury in a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row outboard seats for proper seat adjustment travel, replacing the seat frame assembly if necessary. Dealers will also inspect the bolts attaching the seat back to the seat base for the proper installation, correcting it as necessary. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on January 10, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C20.
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2018 owner complaints, side by side
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- 2018 Ford Expedition358
