NHTSA (USA)Critical
This page covers 21 recalls, 349 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2018 Ford Expedition.
19 mpg combined
12.4 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
The 2018 Ford Expedition draws the heaviest complaint volume around the powertrain and engine. Transmission problems are the most frequently reported issue, with owners describing erratic shifting, particularly unexpected downshifts or upshifts at low speeds, along with gear slippage, rough engagement, and in some cases complete transmission failure requiring replacement. Engine complaints come in second, and owners most commonly describe timing chain and camshaft phaser failures, often accompanied by rattling noises, sometimes appearing at relatively low mileage. Engine cooling complaints also surface across multiple reports, though at lower volume. A recurring frustration in the transmission complaints is that dealer inspections sometimes return no confirmed fault, even when owners describe the shifting behavior as severe enough to create hazardous situations during turns or highway driving. The camshaft phaser and timing chain pattern stands out because several owners report the diagnosis occurring well before 60,000 miles.
349
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
9
With Injuries
By System
The 2018 Ford Expedition has 21 recalls, with the most serious being a fuel pump weld that can crack and leak fuel or oil near ignition sources, raising the risk of an engine fire on 3.5L V6 models.
Several recalls center on the transmission and the risk of unintended vehicle movement. A missing roll pin in the 10-speed automatic can cause the Park function to stop working entirely, meaning the vehicle may roll away even with the shifter showing Park on the instrument display. A separate issue with the gear shift cable clip can cause the same false Park indication, leaving the transmission in a different gear than the driver expects. There is also a park pawl problem where the transmission can engage Park while the vehicle is moving, damaging the park system and potentially leading to rollaway as well.
Occupant restraint problems make up the largest group of recalls. The front seatbelt pretensioners can deploy without a crash, potentially injuring an occupant, or can lock the belt so it will not retract or extend, preventing proper restraint in an actual crash. Earlier repair attempts for the pretensioner issue did not fully resolve the problem for some vehicles, which is why multiple campaigns address it. In the second row, the outboard seat backs may not be adequately secured due to an improperly installed bolt, and the seat itself can slide too far forward beyond its intended range. The center second-row seat may be missing reinforcement brackets in its track, allowing it to shift forward in a crash instead of holding the occupant in place.
On the braking side, the brake master cylinder can leak fluid into the
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission park pawl may lock while the vehicle is moving, damaging the park system.
What the fix does
Dealers will update transmission software and replace any damaged transmission parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The chrome plating on your center console may bubble and peel, creating sharp edges.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to have a dealership inspect and replace the center console if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The chrome plating on the center console can bubble and peel, creating sharp edges.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the center console at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver or front passenger seatbelt pretensioner may malfunction, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate and the pretensioners to deploy even without a crash.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will inspect and replace the seatbelt retractors if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner may lock the seat belt in place, preventing it from retracting or extending normally.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver or front passenger seat may lock unexpectedly, preventing the seat belt from retracting or extending.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors at no charge. Contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332 for an appointment.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The brake master cylinder may develop a leak that allows brake fluid to seep from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.
What the fix does
The brake master cylinder will be replaced. If it is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners may malfunction, causing the airbag warning light to turn on and the pretensioners to deploy unexpectedly without a crash.
What the fix does
Dealership will replace the driver and front passenger seatbelt retractors.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver and front passenger seatbelt pretensioners may malfunction, causing the airbag warning light to illuminate and the pretensioners to deploy unexpectedly without a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver and front passenger seatbelt retractors and install an HVAC drain tube if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The seat belt pretensioner in the driver or front passenger seat may deploy without warning and lock the seat belt, preventing it from retracting or extending.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors as needed and install a missing HVAC drain tube elbow if required.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The owner's manual lacks instructions for adjusting or removing head restraints in certain seating positions, making these vehicles non-compliant with federal head restraint safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will mail free owner's manual addendums with instructions for adjusting and removing center-position head restraints.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row center seat may be missing one or both reinforcement brackets. In a crash, a person sitting there might not be properly held in place, raising injury risk.
What the fix does
Dealers will check if both reinforcement brackets are on the center seat. If either is missing, they'll replace the entire seat frame assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row center seat track may be missing reinforcement brackets, allowing the seat to shift during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second row center seat and replace the seat frame assembly if brackets are missing.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The high pressure fuel pump assembly has welds that can crack, potentially causing oil or fuel to leak.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and related parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A roll pin may be missing from the transmission, which could cause the Park function to stop working.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your transmission and install the roll pin if it's missing, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The gear shift cable clip may not be properly seated, causing the transmission to operate in a different gear than what the shift lever shows.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic control module for second row rear power windows may be defective, preventing the window from automatically reversing when it hits an obstruction while closing.
What the fix does
Dealers will check the build date code on second row electronic control modules and replace them if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row power window control module may stop responding intermittently, preventing the window from automatically reversing if something like a finger gets pinched.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and replace the second row window control modules as needed, based on build date codes, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row outboard seats can move too far forward and may have a loose bolt connecting the seat back to its base, affecting head restraint, seating system, and seat belt safety.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the seats for proper adjustment range and bolt installation, replacing the seat frame or tightening bolts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The second row outboard seats may have excessive forward adjustment range and/or an improperly installed bolt connecting the seatback to the seat base, which could allow the seatback to shift during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second row outboard seats for proper adjustment limits and bolt installation, replacing the seat frame if necessary.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
