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2018 Ford Expedition: common problems and reliability
· U553One of the worst Expedition years.
One of the Ford Expedition years to avoid. All Expedition years
682 owner complaints, most about power train. 14 recalls.
Should I buy a 2018 Expedition?The 2018 Ford Expedition has 682 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 14 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are power train and engine. Owners most often flag cam phaser rattle/failure.
Safety record for the 2018 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2018 Ford Expedition vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Expedition years only. How we score it
Is 2018 a good year for the Expedition?
Across the 31 Expedition model years we track, complaint volume runs from 3 (1996) to 1,007 (1999). With 682 complaints, the 2018 Expedition sits above the model's median of 299.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2018 Expedition
fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump
Campaign 18V392000Ford 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.
seats:mid/rear assembly
Campaign 18V805000Ford 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.
seats:mid/rear assembly
Campaign 17V775000Ford 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."
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 18V213000Ford 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.
Show 10 more recalls
visibility:power window devices and controls
Campaign 18V058000Ford 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."
power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Campaign 18V214000Ford 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.
equipment:other:owners/service/other manual
Campaign 23V420000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."
seat belts:pretensioner
Campaign 24V099000Ford 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.
equipment:other:labels
Campaign 24V852000Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
seat belts:pretensioner
Campaign 25V197000Ford 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.
service brakes, hydraulic:foundation components:master cylinder
Campaign 25V236000Ford 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.
seat belts:pretensioner
Campaign 26V344000Ford 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.
structure:interior panels:center console
Campaign 26V368000Ford 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.
power train:automatic transmission
Campaign 26V402000Ford 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.
What owners report on the U553 Expedition
Owners of the 2017-2024 Expedition generally praise the 3.5L EcoBoost powertrain, the smooth ride, the spacious third row, and the upscale interior, with several calling this generation one of Ford's best.
- Very frequentCam phaser rattle/failure
- Very frequent10R80 transmission problems, including CDF clutch cylinder and 4th gear failure
- RecurrentElectrical issues including key fob not detected
Battery drain, and vehicle shutting off while driving.
- RecurrentSYNC/APIM infotainment glitches, reboots, and Bluetooth connection loss
- RecurrentParking aid sensor faults, often from unplugged or loose connectors after bumper work
Owner insights for the U553 Expedition. Read the full U553 owner report.
Typical used price
Used Expedition listings typically run $22,350–$49,244.
Other Expedition model years
Compare every Expedition year side by side to see how 2018 ranks against the rest.
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