2018 Ford Expedition Problems

What owners report

Owners of the 2018 Ford Expedition most commonly report engine rattling on cold starts linked to cam phaser and timing chain wear, and transmission problems ranging from harsh or delayed shifts to outright failure requiring replacement. Both issues tend to surface gradually and worsen over time, with the engine rattle often appearing first at startup and the transmission concerns becoming more pronounced at highway speeds or under load.

1. 1
   Engine

   Cam phaser / timing chain rattle on cold start

   • 107 complaints (28%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 5.9 yrs old (43 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $4,866 (median of 10 quotes)
   • filed 2020–2026

   Owners describe a loud rattling, knocking, or fluttering sound when starting the engine, particularly after the vehicle has sat overnight or for several hours in cold conditions; the noise typically fades once the engine warms up but returns on the next cold start. Many complaints note the check engine light illuminating alongside the rattle. Dealers and independent mechanics consistently diagnose cam phaser failure, and several owners report the noise returning even after a prior cam phaser replacement or software update under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03. Many owners were told their VIN was not covered under available programs, leaving repairs unaddressed. Complaints span a wide mileage range, from under 25,000 miles to over 120,000 miles, though a concentration of reports falls between roughly 60,000 and 100,000 miles; the noise is frequently noted to be more noticeable during cold-weather or overnight starts.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the cam phasers have been inspected or replaced and whether the vehicle was evaluated under Ford Customer Satisfaction Program 21N03; listen carefully for a rattling or ticking sound during a cold start before purchasing.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “25000 miles. Previously quiet on startup. Started making a rattling sound if vehicle sat overnight a month ago. Initially lasted 1-2 seconds. More recently sound heard on startup after sitting only a few hours, and lasts 4-5 seconds. Similar to complaints reported on issue 15-0131 on 2015-era Ford products needing cam phaser, timing chain replacement and scan tool reprogramming. Noise is loud enough now that I fear accelerating timing chain damage possible failure.”

   NHTSA complaint #11355264, filed 2020-09, 25,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the Check Engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cam phasers needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 117,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #11662107, filed 2025-05, 117,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission harsh shift, slipping, or failure

   • 127 complaints (33%)
   • median 89,496 mi at 6.4 yrs old (30 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • owner-quoted repair $5,300 (median of 8 quotes)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners report the 10-speed automatic transmission hesitating to engage, slipping out of gear, jerking or lurching during acceleration, and in more severe cases entering limp mode or failing entirely and requiring replacement. Some complaints describe the vehicle momentarily feeling like it shifted to neutral while accelerating, while others note hard shifts between gears at lower speeds. Dealers have diagnosed failed transmissions, replaced valve bodies, and reprogrammed transmission software, though several owners report the problem recurring shortly after repairs. Reports range from under 40,000 miles to over 150,000 miles; transmission slipping and jerking complaints appear at a wide variety of mileages, while complete transmission failure requiring replacement tends to appear more often above 100,000 miles.

   Recall 26V402000Recall 18V214000Recall 18V21300010 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether any transmission software updates or service bulletin repairs have been performed; during a test drive, pay close attention to smoothness when accelerating from a stop and during highway gear changes, and ask about any history of transmission work.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. It would not go. I took my foot off the gas and waited a second or two and then pushed down on the accelerator again and then the car took off as normal. Since that first time this situation has begun happening almost daily sometimes several times a day. I have taken my vehicle to the dealership and of course they can never get it to duplicate what it does to me. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11415481, filed 2021-05, 74,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the transmission was slipping, and the vehicle failed to exceed 25 MPH while depressing the accelerator pedal. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11548597, filed 2023-10, 36,000 miles
3. 3
   Suspension

   Strut and suspension wear at low mileage

   • 24 complaints (6%)
   • median 18,500 mi at 2.0 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2019–2026

   Owners describe a bouncy or rough ride during normal street and highway driving, with dealers diagnosing leaking or failed front and rear struts at relatively low mileage. Several complaints note that Ford's warranty did not cover the repairs despite low usage, and that strut parts were on backorder. One owner noted the dealer acknowledged replacing struts on other vehicles of the same year and model. Several complaints describe strut failure occurring between roughly 20,000 and 47,000 miles, suggesting premature wear relative to the vehicle's age and usage.

   What to check: Have a pre-purchase inspection confirm whether any struts are leaking or have already been replaced; bounce each corner of the vehicle and listen for clunking or feel for excessive rebound.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I took my 2018 Expedition (with 40k miles on it) in last week because the ride has been really bouncy lately during normal street and highway driving and my wife and kids have complained. I have noticed the bounciness too while driving. This is a new phenomenon for my vehicle but in researching online is not a new issue and Ford is aware, just not doing anything about it. There are 7 (now 8) complaints about struts/suspension for the 2018 Ford Expedition. More detail is below. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11349031, filed 2020-08, 40,000 miles

   “Told needed to replace rear struts when took into service at 46,690 miles. Never had to do this before. Saw Ford has a safety message (ssm 47624) on this for 2017 and 2018 expeditions. Never had to do this so early in a vehicle's life. I don't tow or go off road. Was not covered by extended premium warranty”

   NHTSA complaint #11405997, filed 2021-04, 46,690 miles

Buying note. The 2018 Expedition has a well-documented pattern of cam phaser wear on the 3.5L EcoBoost engine and 10-speed transmission concerns, both of which can involve significant repair costs; a pre-purchase inspection by a Ford-experienced mechanic, along with a VIN check for open recalls including the seat belt pretensioner campaigns, is strongly advisable before buying.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.