There are 4 owner-reported brakes complaints for the 2018 Ford Expeditionin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
During a recent oil change at 14299 miles (04/28/2022), I was told that the rear brake pads were dangerously low and had to be replaced immediately. I previously had an oil change and inspection by the same dealership on 11/17/2021 (10986 miles) and 6/22/2021 at 8685 miles and the brakes were checked ok with no mention of any wear whatsoever. When I asked the service manager what could have caused such a rapid deterioration of the brake pads, I was given a shoulder shake and was told that they didn’t find a problem like calipers sticking and things just happen. This car new with only a couple hundred miles on it when we bought it from the same dealer. My concern is that, at this low mileage, I could have gone longer before I brought it in for an oil change and inspection and, if the pads were that bad, we could have been in a very serious accident. The dealership non-concern about the seriousness of the defect/problem is very concerning. The service facility was QuickLane at Jones Ford, 5757 Rivers Avenue, North Charleston, SC. THE CONSUMER BELIEVED THE USE OF THE CRUISE CONTROL WAS THE CAUSE OF THE BRAKE PADS' RAPID DETERIORATION.
TL* THE CONTACT LEASED A 2018 FORD EXPEDITION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE HIS SPOUSE WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE AT 10-15 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT FAILED TO STOP. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF ANOTHER VEHICLE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY EITHER DRIVERS. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVEN FROM THE SCENE TO THE RESIDENCE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ABS WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE TO THE RESIDENCE, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED SEVERAL TIMES AND WENT TO THE FLOORBOARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BILL BROWN FORD LOCATED AT 32222 PLYMOUTH RD, LIVONIA, MI 48150, (734) 399-4244, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED IN THE FOUR MONTHS SINCE THE CRASH, THE VEHICLE HAD REMAINED AT THE DEALER DUE TO THE ABS MODULE AND SOFTWARE NOT BEING AVAILABLE TO HAVE THE VEHICLE REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. CASE NUMBER: 21685353. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.
TODAY I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES ON MY 2018 FORD EXPEDITION EL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT BUILD ANY PRESSURE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. TO ANSWER THE SPECIFICS REQUESTED BY NHTSA, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 45MPH OR LESS ON A CITY STREET AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD BRAKE PRESSURE WAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUMP THE PEDAL. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD AND FOR HOW MUCH FORD CHARGES FOR A LIMITED EDITION EXPEDITION YOU EXPECT TO NOT HAVE YOUR BRAKES FAIL. THIS IS UNACCEPTABLE, FORD! THANK GOD NOBODY WAS KILLED BY THIS MANUFACTURING FLAW.
PURCHASED NEW 2018 EXPEDITION FX4 XLT WOTH CLASS IV TOWING PACKAGE AND OTHER OPTIONS RELYING ON FORD, ITS DEALERS, AND FORD'S PR, THAT VEHICLE COULD TOW TRAILERS UP TO CERTAIN WEIGHT. BUT, ONCE WENT TO PURCHASE TRAVEL TRAILER TO TOW, DISCOVER THAT FINE PRINT HARD TO FIND FORD DISCLOSURE HAD FAR LOWER TOWING LIMITS UNLESS PURCHASE ADDITIONAL EXPENSIVE TOWING OPTIONS. ALSO, VEHICLE LACKS TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER THAT IS REQUIRED IN MANY PLACES BY LAW AND NECESSARY TO TOW ALMOST ANYTHING SAFELY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BUYERS WILL NOT KNOW THE FOREGOING AND TOW RESULTING IN DANGEROUS RISKS AND POTENTIAL THIRD PERSON INJURIES/DEATHS IN CRASHES INVOLVING THE TOWING OF HEAVY TRAILERS WITH NO BRAKE CONTROLLERS.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on May 4, 2026