2018 Ford Expedition Complaint Log

Vehicle experienced catastrophic timing system failure causing engine to jump time and stall at idle, creating a safety hazard due to risk of sudden loss of power. This is a repeat issue originally documented under warranty (2020) and again during recall/service program 21N03 (2021), where repair was declined as “not severe enough.” Recall 24E13 (software update intended to prevent timing chain failure) was completed in 2025, but failed to prevent this exact condition. Vehicle is now inoperable and unsafe. This raises concerns about the effectiveness of the recall remedy and prior service handling. We've also submitted a case to Ford: CXH07545978W9W1D2

The CDF drum is starting to fail and it will shift from a low gear to a high gear at certain speeds. It’s definitely not safe and is extremely expensive to repair.

"Verified internal hydraulic cross leak due to CDF drum bushing movement. Transmission has delayed engagement in 4th, 5th, and 6th gears. This is a known manufacturing defect in the 10R80 transmission."

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at 45 MPH, another vehicle drove through a stop sign, causing the contact to T-bone the other vehicle, causing damage to the front end of the vehicle. The contact stated that no air bags did not deploy in his vehicle. The contact stated that he sustained whiplash to the neck and upper back. No medical attention was required. The contact mentioned the vehicle was towed to a collision center. The contact stated that a police report was filed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and they informed him to take the vehicle to the dealership. The approximate failure mileage was 88,000.

Back up camera does not display or turn on. There has been no damage to the vehicle but radio which includes the back up camera do not turn on or function. This is a safety hazard for this car when backing up.

I am writing to express concern regarding a significant engine issue with my 2018 Ford Expedition. At approximately 122,000 miles, the vehicle developed a cylinder 4 misfire accompanied by low compression, indicating an internal engine failure. This type of issue seems premature for a well-maintained vehicle and has resulted in major repair considerations, including potential engine replacement. Given Ford’s reputation for durability and reliability, I find this failure both unexpected and concerning. I have kept up with regular maintenance and did not anticipate facing a major engine issue at this mileage. I am requesting that Ford review this situation and consider a recall. I have seen and heard of a lot of folks having this same issue at such an early mileage

Front passenger DRL fail in lower 2/3 of LED strip. Im afraid other cars won't see me as well. No warnings on the inside dash display. A car flagged me down to tell me.

The vehicle often feels like it is slipping when it is changing gears at lower speeds. When trying to accelerate quickly getting on the highway, it fails to increase speed. The gas pedal is pressed and the engine revs and it does not increase speed. This has happened more than once and has caused me to nearly be in accidents because I cannot enter the highway as I should. I took it to a dealer initially in 2023 and they repaired the transmission cooler. Was told it was operating as designed after that. Then in 2024 I took it in for the same issue and was told I needed an engine replacement. I paid for an entire engine replacement and was told the issue was fixed. I am now having the same issue and will be taking it back for a 3rd time. My local shop (not the dealer) told me it is the timing belt which is part of the engine. I feel unsafe in my vehicle and do not feel my $16,000 repair fixed the problem.

While driving at approximately 55 mph, the vehicle intermittently loses throttle response. Pressing the accelerator results in no increase in RPM or vehicle speed, even when the pedal is fully depressed. After 3–5 seconds, power suddenly returns. The issue consistently occurs after the vehicle has been driven for about 20 minutes and is at normal operating temperature. During some events, a “Powertrain Malfunction / Reduced Power” warning with a wrench indicator appears. The vehicle is equipped with the 10R80 10-speed automatic transmission. The failure occurs during steady highway cruising and creates a serious safety concern, as the vehicle will not accelerate when needed for merging or passing. A buzzing noise is heard during the loss of power, and engine RPM remains steady with no response to throttle input. This intermittent loss of power at highway speeds presents a significant safety risk.

My 2018 Ford Expedition had an open recall for back up screens not working at all. I have a 2018 Ford Expedition Limited, purchased new for $72,000 in April 2018. The issues that have been repaired are endless however this one is a HUGE safety issue. It is a known issue and my VIN is not included in the recall. I called dealership and they will do a $285 “free” software fix as they did to the VIN included in recall: this is a known 2018 Ford Expedition recall and my VIN is not included but has the issue.

When attempting to pass a slow moving vehicle on a 2 lane highway when driving up a hill the transmission failed to properly shift instead making a loud clunking and grinding sound before eventually managing to shift into a gear. This failure to shift properly meant that the vehicle was unexpectedly without power when trying to change lanes leading to a dangerous situation.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with camshaft phaser and timing chain failures. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,540.

My vehicle has started to have problems shifting in some gears(3rd & 7th). I have been doing research, and this seems to be a recurring problem for vehicles with the 10r80 transmission. Where this has caused a big safety risk, is that a few times, the vehicle wouldn't move when pushing on the gas after having the foot on the brake after I had already left and been driving it for 5-10 minutes. This has put me at risk of getting hit by oncoming cars since I couldn't get the vehicle to go as it should to cross a road or intersection. My vehicle shows no dashboard warnings that anything is wrong. I have had all regular maintenance done, don't use the vehicle for towing, and I only have 70k miles on the car. Over the years I have had it where it just feels like the vehicle won't shift, but it has gone away pretty quickly. It's only been since this summer that it is now a persistent issue. I have brought it up over the years to the ford service department, and nothing was shared with me that there was an issue with the vehicle transmission. It is now that it's been consistent(only when the transmission is cold) that this happens on every drive. All Ford wants to do is charge me to rebuild the transmission conveniently now that I am out of warranty!

While driving on to a rough area such as a bridge crossing the vehicle exhibited excessive bouncing and caused the direction of travel toward the next lane. Repairs to the front struts were made at the dealership where the vehicle was originally purchased. The repair part was described as JL1Z 18124 E Shock Absorber Asy. The service advisor said struts are described this way due to the way it is listed in the parts catalog. Since this repair the vehicle has increasingly repeated the same bouncing and driveability to the extent that another service call is required.

I was driving down the road at 45 MPH, I pushed the accelerator then my vehicle shifted out of drive to neutral, the RPM increased, the car speed decelerated, then the vehicle put itself back in gear severely downshifted so much that my car lost 20 MPH then the engine returned to normal after a violent shake and loud grinding noise. The car could have caused an accident had there been anyone behind me. Luckily there were no other cars around me. I had the vehicle towed to the dealer. They are unable to duplicate the issue I stated but did indicate a skip in cylinders when they hooked it up. I had the transmission overhauled at 53K when it was not shifting properly. I asked Ford to replace the transmission however they elected to overhaul it. From time to time the transmission would shift odd but nothing of over concern. The incident on Nov 3 was very unusual and safety of travel for me. The vehicle had done something similar earlier that morning but that time it was from a stop and no speed so not nearly as violent as the one later that evening. The vehicle is currently sitting at a dealer needing a transmission replaced, however the vehicle is 500 miles over the 75K ESP. Ford is refusing to discuss the problem.

The chrome trim on the upper center console of my 2018 Ford Expedition Platinum Max has begun peeling and lifting, creating a razor-sharp exposed metal edge in the front passenger compartment. The sharp metal edge is located where the driver and front passenger/children rest their arms and where the console storage is opened and accessed during normal use. The edge is sharp enough to cause deep lacerations with normal contact. This defect has already resulted in multiple significant cuts to occupants, producing wounds that bled for several hours and required medical care to control bleeding. The center console cannot be used safely without risk of injury, and occupants cannot reasonably avoid contact with the affected area. A vehicle interior surface should never create the risk of open wounds to occupants during ordinary operation. Manufacturer Response Ford Motor Company, Ford Customer Care, and Ford Protect have been notified of the safety risk. Despite documented injury, the dealership and Ford warranty administrators have refused to repair the component, stating that the part is categorized as “cosmetic” in their parts system. Because of this internal categorization, they declined to submit or review the issue as a safety-related failure, and no remedy has been offered. Reason for Filing The failure of interior trim material to maintain structural integrity has resulted in dangerous exposed sharp metal, causing real injury and presenting a continuing safety hazard to vehicle occupants. Manufacturer refusal to take corrective action after injury demonstrates the need for federal safety review.

Passenger side daytime running lights (DRL) have dimmed, diminishing daytime visibility . LED bulb may be out. Seems to be a common problem per other Expedition owners. There were no warnings or messages stating problem. The only way to fix the problem is by replacing the entire headlamp assembly ($1,200 plus labor).

At approximately 100,500 miles, my 2018 Ford Expedition XLT 3.5L EcoBoost developed loud rattling noises consistent with cam phaser failure. Zeigler Ford confirmed the failed cam phasers on October 20, 2025. These phasers were previously replaced on the vehicle at 51,000 miles on February 10, 2022, at Al Piemonte Ford under the Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03. They used the old phasers HL3Z-6C525-CD which are known to be defective rather than the new updated phasers ML3Z-6C525. Cam phaser failure can cause engine misfires, loss of power, and potential engine damage, creating a serious safety risk, especially at highway speeds. This issue has been reported by multiple Ford Expedition owners, indicating it is not isolated. I request that NHTSA investigate whether this defect warrants a recall or expanded coverage for vehicles like mine that exceed CSP mileage limits. My vehicle has been properly maintained, and the failure is due to a known defect in the 3.5L EcoBoost cam.

The transmission started jerking and downshifting and and like the brakes was coming on and stoping you and I was pulling out onto the road and it wouldn’t go and I was setting in the middle of the road with oncoming traffic and scared for my life, luckily I didn’t have anyone with me and it moved a little and I was finally able to get it out of the road. This is the problem everyone is having FORD you need to recall these transmissions and replace them with new ones that are better this is a shame and bad business. It is hard enough to afford buying vehicles in this day and time and then it need a transmission that is expensive to replace.

The transmission was shifting into neutral while driving, causing hesitation with oncoming traffic approaching, at one point it actually shifted into park or reverse while driving in forward gear. We could easily been stalled or lost forward motion with the intent of thinking we were OK to proceed thru oncoming traffic, which would result in collision or accident, jeopardizing our safety or our grand children in car seats safety. The car was taken to Ford dealership and they said there were no codes on the autos computer and that the car would not reproduce the failure, however up on bringing the vehicle home it continued to slip into neutral while driving. The first failure started in October 2025 and was taken to the Ford dealer for repair in November 2025. I contacted Ford Regional Management and they gave me a case #CXH-07154008-P4F3D0 in February 25, 2026

Since November 2024 to date the transmission has reduced power when trying to accelerate thus being unsafe when trying to pull out into traffic. It also will not engage reverse thus again impeding when in traffic. It appears randomly. Verified software has been updated. Ford is saying complete transmission replacement is needed on a vehicle that is only 7 years old.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving over 40 MPH, the vehicle stalled on two occasions. The contact stated that while driving a roundabout, the vehicle lost motive power. The accelerator pedal was depressed, but the vehicle jerked and was sluggish, and there was no area to pull over to. Upon parking the vehicle, the power train warning light was illuminated. The contact called an independent mechanic who was unable to service the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the vehicle was jerking due to the CS drum and transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted regarding the latest symptoms that the vehicle had displayed. The manufacturer was contacted, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

The sunroof on my 2018 Ford Expedition is leaking at multiple points and has become stuck and inoperable. The dealership advised that the brackets are broken and the entire sunroof assembly must be replaced. The leak occurs in several areas across the Vista Roof, causing water to enter the cabin. This appears to be related to known design defects already referenced in multiple Ford Technical Service Bulletins (TSB 18-2374, TSB 19-2374, and TSB 21-2292). Details: I purchased this 2018 Ford Expedition on August 17, 2024, from Battlefield Ford in Culpeper, Virginia, where it underwent a Ford Blue Warranty inspection before sale. The vehicle had approximately 98,000 miles at purchase and now has around 109,000 miles. Shortly after purchase, I noticed water intrusion from the sunroof area. The vehicle was inspected at Sheridan Ford in Smyrna, Delaware, where technicians confirmed leaks at four separate points, broken sunroof brackets, and recommended complete sunroof replacement. In addition to the leaks, the sunroof is stuck and will not operate properly. Ford customer service was contacted, but they stated that no assistance or goodwill coverage would be provided. I find this unacceptable given the severity of the issue, the existence of related TSBs, and the potential safety hazards associated with electrical and visibility impairment due to water intrusion. The vehicle also required brake replacement shortly after purchase, despite being reported as low 3 mm during the Blue Warranty inspection, which raises additional concerns about the adequacy of Ford’s inspection process and potential oversight of critical components. Safety Concerns: Water intrusion may affect electrical components, airbags, or roof-mounted sensors, increasing the risk of malfunction or short circuits. The sunroof’s inability to close or seal properly could result in driver distraction, loss of visibility, or mold and corrosion inside the cabin.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while refueling the vehicle, the contact heard an abnormal firecracker-like sound coming from the vehicle. The contact later noticed that the front driver's side seat belt had retracted and was locked. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that the seat belt pretensioner had deployed, causing the seat belt to be locked. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the same assessment was made; however, the vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to continue driving the vehicle even though the front driver's side seat belt was inoperable. The failure mileage was approximately 121,992.

At highway speed the car erratically shifted and lost power most likely due to cdf drum failure in the transmission. It happens randomly due to a known transmission issue. Can you imagine loosing power at hwy speed with a vehicle full of children?

The transmission unexpectedly shifts into neutral while accelerating, particularly between 3rd and 5th gear. This is very dangerous, as the car loses power and stalls. This has led to several close calls, such as when merging into traffic or accelerating from a stoplight, which almost resulted in me being rear-ended or t-boned.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission independently upshifted and then shifted into neutral. The contact stated that the transmission temperature gauge became elevated, and the vehicle shuddered while accelerating. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the transmission was previously replaced twice before owning the vehicle. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired because the warranty had expired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

As I was driving yesterday, my transmission began making a strange noise and did a hard shift. About 1/2 mile later it made the noise again and downshifted to first and would not shift up. I was able to turn off the main road I was on to a side street where I put the car in park and shut it off to look under and around it. Not seeing anything I got back in and started it. I wanted to try to get it into a nearby parking lot, but after being shut off it began shifting again and I was able to get it home. It has had hard shift issues before and lagging response issues, but this is the first time it has done the downshift and noise. I went to some online forums and found multiple people with a similar issue, one of which suggested reporting it.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while her husband was driving at 20 MPH, the front driver's side seat belt exploded, making a loud popping sound, and the seat belt tightened and pulled the driver back into the seat. Additionally, the automatic emergency braking system engaged, causing the vehicle to stop. No warning light was illuminated. The contact's husband stated that the cabin was filled with smoke and an electrical burning odor was noticed. The driver pulled over, but the seat belt had significantly retracted and was able to be unbuckled after several attempts. The contact’s husband sustained a seat belt mark on the left shoulder, but no medical attention was received. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was informed of that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V197000 (Seat Belts); however, the contact stated that the recall notification had not been received and the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 26,600.

DRL failure is widespread across ford vehicles and should be addressed by the manufacturer.

On [XXX] my AC stopped working and there was a major burning smell. I took the vehicle in to determine the issue. The service advisor advised me that the motor blower had overheated and burned the wires completely causes a fire hazard. Later to find out there was the same recall under incident number 22S56, but my year vehicle was not included. I called Ford customer service and was told they have heard customers having the same issue with 2018s but has yet to be recalled. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

My vehicle is having the exact same issue addressed in Recall 24S06. Although Ford’s system indicates that my VIN is not included in the recall due to its manufacturing date, my vehicle is exhibiting the same safety defect that the recall resolves. My vehicle was manufactured 2 months prior to the date of manufacture that was included in the recall. My Vehicle is the same year, make and model of the vehicles included. Specifically: The Airbag light is on and received a message that says: The restrains control module has detected a fault with the passenger seatbelt retractor pretensioner circuit , causing drivability and safety concerns.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the transmission shuddered abnormally and unexpectedly downshifted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 129,617.

Passenger side DRL (daytime running light) has dimmed and turned purple. Upon further research, this is happening to thousands of Ford Expeditions specifically on the passenger side. The only repair is to replace entire housing.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. the contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH uphill, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering, and the wrench symbol was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.

Just purchased a certified used vehicle. 1) passenger DTRL is half way burnt out. Upon reading tons of forums online, I’m seeing this is a VERY COMMON issue. 2) the back up guide lines on the back up camera does not show. After master reset of the sync system , the lines appeared once. Since then it has not shown ever again.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the sunroof made a grinding sound while retracting and failed to close properly. Additionally, the slide cover was unable to close as designed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The contact believed that the failure was related to the sunroof motor or the gears, or both. The manufacturer was informed of the failure and opened a case. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that when the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the vehicle. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure; however, unofficially the failure was diagnosed as a failed cam phaser. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with the recall. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer for a diagnostic test. Additionally, the contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 82,708.

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.

See attached document for complaint.

Went to leave for work and as I started my vehicle and pulled my seat belt to put it on and the seat belt pretensioner went off.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. While contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the low tire pressure warning light illuminated. The contact's son drove the vehicle to the intended destination. The contact's son inspected the tires and determined that the front passenger’s side tire was cracked and needed to be replaced. The contact arrived at the location. The contact and son attempted to remove the lug nuts and bolts; however, the OEM provided lug removal tool did not fit the nuts and bolts. The vehicle was towed to the dealer where the contact was informed that in hotter states the nuts and bolts occasionally would become swollen, and the provided lug tool would not work as intended. The contact requested that all the nuts and bolts be replaced, to prevent the failure from reoccurring. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.

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.

2 instances have occured while driving. Stored codes are P0562 Charging system voltage low and P07E6 Stuck in Park (6/6/2025) and P07E6 Stuck in Park (7/12/2025). I believe the issue may be related to TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN - Momentary Neutral-Out Condition In Drive - 23-2120 Upon acceleration to pass a car, I heard a loud knock, lost power, let off the gas, an Engine failure error flashed on my screen, regained power and was then able to accelerate again. The potential cost could be $5,600 and potentially higher due to labor. Ford's have been plagued by transmission issues year after year. How many vehicles need to be affected before a formal defect investigation focused on the 10R80 transmission can be made.

My car started having cam phaser issues and caused a decrease in my ability to increase speed when on the interstate. This could have resulted in injury.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked, and the transmission shifted hard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving on a busy highway. The contact and five minor children were inside the vehicle during the failure. The contact feared for her and her families safety. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with CDF drum failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal cranking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Cam Phaser Replacement); however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was a loud clanking sound coming from the vehicle with smoke coming from the engine compartment. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the heater hose and cam phaser had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

I have had several issues with this vehicle throughout the years I have owned it. The current issues I am writing about include: transmission failure and replacement, rear passenger door no longer opening and continued issues with the Catalytic convertors. When it comes to the transmission it was unsafe to drive as the gears continued to slip while driving and cause the vehicle to temporarily loose power. This could have resulted in an accident. The vehicle is currently having the transmission replaced at a repair shop where they confirmed the issues. They will also be looking at the other two issues as well. The door not opening poses a huge safety concern as we are only able to use one rear door for entering and exiting.