2018 Ford Expedition Structure & Body Problems
NHTSA lists 16 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Ford Expedition, 4% of its 375 total complaints, with a median failure mileage of 29,000. Two crashes and four injuries are tied to this category, and three related recalls exist, though none is for door latches.
- Structure & Body complaints
- 16
- 4% of 375
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 4
- Median mileage
- 29,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical body and structure symptoms owners report
- Rear and driver's side door latches freeze or fail to operate in cold weather, sometimes trapping occupants inside.
- Rear door latches pop open while driving, allowing doors to swing open unexpectedly.
- The power liftgate randomly opens or drops down unexpectedly, in one case striking an owner in the head.
- The automatic running board intermittently drops down on its own after the vehicle sits parked for a few hours.
- The rear window defrost connectors detach from the glass, disabling the defroster on either side.
- Interior door mechanisms freeze up in cold weather, blocking passengers from exiting or entering the vehicle.
When 2018 Ford Expedition body and structure complaints were filed
First complaint May 1, 2019, latest Jul 21, 2026.
Structure & Body recalls for the 2018 Ford Expedition
- 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 18V805000Nov 14, 2018Structure & Body34,946 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Ford 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.
Risk: In the event of a crash, a seat that moves may not properly restrain the seat occupant, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row center seat for any missing J-channel reinforcement brackets, replacing the center seat frame assembly as necessary, free of charge. An interim owner notification was sent on December 21, 2018. A second letter will be mailed once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S37
- NHTSA 17V775000Dec 1, 2017Structure & Body462 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Ford 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."
Risk: 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.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row outboard seats for proper seat adjustment travel, replacing the seat frame assembly if necessary. Dealers will also inspect the bolts attaching the seat back to the seat base for the proper installation, correcting it as necessary. These repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on January 10, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C20.
Structure & Body complaints by Expedition model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many Structure & Body complaints does the 2018 Ford Expedition have?
- NHTSA lists 16 Structure & Body complaints for the 2018 Expedition, which is 4% of its 375 total complaints for the year.
- Is there a recall related to these structure and body issues?
- Yes, three Structure & Body recalls apply to the 2018 Expedition: one for chrome center console edges, one for missing seat J-channel brackets, and one for improperly adjusted second-row seats. None specifically covers the door latch complaints described by owners.
- At what mileage do these problems typically appear?
- The median mileage at failure for Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 Expedition is 29,000 miles.
- Were there any crashes or injuries linked to this problem area?
- NHTSA data shows 2 crashes and 4 injuries associated with Structure & Body complaints on the 2018 Expedition.