2018 Ford Expedition Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2018 Ford Expedition ranks 4th worst out of 21 model years, with a complaint index of 85 and 375 complaints, largely tied to transmission, engine, and electrical problems plus 14 recall campaigns. NHTSA data supports an Avoid verdict relative to other Expedition years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 85/100
- #4 of 21 Expedition years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 375
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 14
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 8
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 2
- Injuries
- 25
- Top issue
- Transmission & Powertrain
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 19
- 17 city / 22.5 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 25 / 0
Top 2018 Ford Expedition problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain146 (39%)
- Engine126 (34%)
- Electrical System56 (15%)
- Other34 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires34 (9%)
- Structure & Body16 (4%)
- Brakes15 (4%)
- Seat Belts12 (3%)
- Fuel System9 (2%)
- Visibility & Wipers9 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Owners report the vehicle unexpectedly propelling forward or backward while parking, even with the driver's foot off the pedal, sometimes causing crashes into buildings or other vehicles.
- Owners describe brake failure where the pedal goes to the floor and the vehicle fails to stop, in some cases sending the vehicle through curbs before it could be stopped with the parking gear.
- Owners report electrical fires starting spontaneously under the hood, in one case preceded by a dashboard warning about conserving battery power before the engine shut off.
- Owners describe airbags failing to deploy during crashes, including a T-bone collision at 45 MPH and a rear-end collision, resulting in injuries such as whiplash.
- Owners report the infotainment screen and backup camera failing intermittently before stopping completely, traced by dealers to a failed APIM module.
- One owner described the engine as underpowered for the vehicle's size given its 6-cylinder configuration.
2018 Ford Expedition recalls
14 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V402000Jun 24, 2026Transmission & Powertrain741,195 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford 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.
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V368000Jun 9, 2026Structure & Body548,463 vehicles
Structure:interior panels:center console
Ford 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.
Risk: Vehicle occupants may contact the center console's sharp edges, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the center consoles as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 16, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S38. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 10, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V344000May 27, 2026Seat Belts419,967 vehicles
Seat belts:pretensioner
Ford 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.
Risk: Seat belts that do not retract or extend can fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 8, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S34. This recall replaces and expands previous NHTSA recalls 24V099 and 25V197. Vehicles previously inspected or repaired under the prior recalls will need the new repair completed.
2018 Ford Expedition fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 17 MPG
- Highway
- 22.5 MPG
- Combined
- 19 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,400
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2018 compared with other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2018 Ford Expedition reliable?
- Compared to other Expedition model years, the 2018 ranks 4th worst out of 21 years tracked, with a complaint index of 85 and 375 NHTSA complaints. NHTSA data points to transmission, engine, and electrical problems as the leading issues.
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Expedition?
- NHTSA complaint data shows Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 39% of complaints (146 complaints), followed by Engine problems at 34% (126 complaints) and Electrical System issues at 15% (56 complaints).
- Does the 2018 Ford Expedition have recalls?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 14 recall campaigns for the 2018 Expedition, covering areas including transmission park pawl engagement, seat belt pretensioners, brake master cylinder leaks, and structure/body issues like peeling chrome trim.
- How does the 2018 Expedition compare to the 2019 and 2020 model years?
- The 2018 has a complaint index of 85, lower than the 2019 (95) and 2020 (100), which are the worst-ranked years with 503 and 414 complaints respectively. All three years carry an Avoid verdict relative to other Expedition years.
- At what mileage do 2018 Expedition problems typically show up?
- NHTSA data shows a median mileage at failure of 54,736 miles overall, with Transmission & Powertrain and Engine complaints both showing a median of 80,000 miles, while Electrical System complaints showed a lower median of 16,750 miles.