Is the 2018 Ford Expedition a bad year?
383 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 149, 8.3× a quiet Expedition year.
Keep it, but watch the transmission
The transmission draws 8.3× the complaints of a quiet Expedition year, spread over 38k–115k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
The verdict moves with mileage: the same car reads differently at 30,000 and at 150,000 miles.
What 2018 Expedition owners report, by mileage
Each system owners named in five or more complaints, with the mileage range where the middle half of those complaints were filed. Read at 80,000 miles.
| SYSTEM | COMPLAINTS | MIDDLE HALF FILED AT | TYPICAL US REPAIR BILLS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and drivetrainSTANDS OUT | 149 (39%) | 38k–115k miles · around this mileage | CV axle / CV joint replacement (one side) $300–$1,500 · Automatic transmission replacement $2,500–$7,000 |
| EngineSTANDS OUT | 119 (31%) | 50k–99k miles · around this mileage | Valve cover gasket replacement $110–$500 · Timing chain replacement $1,000–$4,000 |
| Electrical system | 34 (9%) | 46k–100k miles · around this mileage | 12-volt battery replacement $100–$400 · Starter motor replacement $350–$1,200 |
| Brakes | 15 (4%) | 60k–115k miles · around this mileage | Brake pad replacement (one axle) $115–$390 · Brake pads and rotors replacement (one axle) $200–$1,084 |
| Seat belts | 14 (4%) | 63k–111k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Visibility and wipers | 9 (2%) | 56k–114k miles · around this mileage | — |
| Suspension | 26 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Exterior lighting | 25 (7%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Speed control | 15 (4%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Body structure | 13 (3%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Fuel system | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Wheels | 9 (2%) | too few with a mileage | — |
| Air bags | 5 (1%) | too few with a mileage | — |
Bills are typical US ranges from the sources named in the tool (J.D. Power, Kelley Blue Book, CarParts.com and others), printed only for systems that stand out or sit at or ahead of 80,000 miles. Not a quote.
What owners reported alongside their complaints
Of 383 complaints: 8 mention a crash · 2 mention a fire · 11 report an injury · 8 say the car was towed.
60 complaints were filed in the last 12 months, the newest in Oct 2026.
Counts of what owners wrote in their complaints, not verified by anyone.
In owners' own words
I pulled out of my driveway taking a left and as I pressed the gas to accelerate up the hill it seemed as though my car went into neutral.
Transmission that's was replaced approx 3 yrs ago is hard shifting from park to drive and park to reverse on flat level surface.
Power train failure indicator light came on about 800 miles into a road trip. Vehicle was being driven on city streets in extreme stop and go traffic after recently exiting the interstate.
Unedited excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, chosen by mileage (nearest 80,000 miles), not by content. Unverified.
Recalls for the 2018 Ford Expedition: 14
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
The chrome plating on the center console may bubble and peel, resulting in sharp edges. Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
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. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
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. Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster. A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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. Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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. In the event of a crash, a seat that moves may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which may cause an oil or fuel leak. A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.
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. 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.
A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function. 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…
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. If the window does not automatically reverse when an obstruction is found, it can increase the risk of injury.
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. 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.
A recall may cover only some cars of a model year; the campaign size counts every model and year it lists. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls: dealers fix open recalls free.
Service bulletins from Ford: 163
Repair instructions Ford sent its dealers for symptoms seen in the shop on the 2018 Ford Expedition. Ask a dealer or mechanic for a bulletin by its number.
Some vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
Detected with the CDF clutch cylinder following this article, technicians should carefully inspect and replace other transmission components and flush…
On your vehicle, the OBD monitoring system for the catalytic converter may not be operating as intended
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift…
NHTSA defect investigations: 1
Seat Belt Retractor Pretensioner Inadvertent Deployment
Neighbouring years
2017 Expedition: 359 complaints, keep it · 2019 Expedition: 530 complaints, keep it, but watch the transmission.
Every Ford Expedition year
2000 · 2001 · 2002 · 2003 · 2004 · 2005 · 2006 · 2007 · 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2011 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2021 · 2022 · 2023 · 2024 · 2025 · 2026 · All Expedition years side by side
Other Ford models: Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Explorer · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Questions
Is the 2018 Ford Expedition a bad year?
383 owner complaints to NHTSA. Transmission complaints: 149, 8.3× a quiet Expedition year. At 80,000 miles the tool says: Keep it, but watch the transmission. The transmission draws 8.3× the complaints of a quiet Expedition year, spread over 38k–115k miles, so there's no single mileage to plan around.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Expedition?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: transmission and drivetrain (149), engine (119), electrical system (34), brakes (15), seat belts (14). Half of the transmission complaints were filed between 38k–115k miles.
How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Expedition have?
14 recall campaigns list this model year: Transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA 26V-402), Body structure (NHTSA 26V-368), Seat belts (NHTSA 26V-344), Seat belts (NHTSA 25V-197) and more. A recall may cover only some cars; check by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Method: counts of unverified owner complaints filed with NHTSA, compared only with other years of the same model (sales volumes are unknown, so no failure rate is computed). A system stands out at 40+ complaints and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share across every vehicle of that model year. The mileage range is the 25th to 75th percentile of the mileages owners reported. Data received by NHTSA through November 5, 2026. Repair prices are typical US ranges from named sources, not quotes. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Check this car at your own mileage.