2018 Ford Expedition Transmission & Powertrain Problems
Transmission & Powertrain issues account for 146 of 375 complaints (39%) filed on the 2018 Ford Expedition. NHTSA lists three related recalls, and median mileage at failure is 80,000. Reported crashes tied to this area total 2, with 1 injury and 0 fires.
- Transmission & Powertrain complaints
- 146
- 39% of 375
- Crashes reported
- 2
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 1
- Median mileage
- 80,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 3
Typical transmission symptoms owners report
- Vehicle unexpectedly moves or lurches forward/backward on its own when shifting from park, sometimes causing a crash.
- Rough or hard downshifting between gears, especially from 10th to lower gears, causing shaking, jarring, or banging.
- Transmission overheats or the powertrain warning light comes on during highway driving or towing, followed by rough shifting.
- Vehicle briefly loses power or feels like it drops into neutral while accelerating, then resumes normal operation.
- Rattling or chattering noise from under the hood at startup, linked by owners to transmission or timing chain components.
- Vehicle gets stuck in park or fails to shift into gear, sometimes accompanied by dashboard warnings and loss of display functions.
When 2018 Ford Expedition transmission complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 31, 2018, latest Sep 11, 2026.
Transmission & Powertrain recalls for the 2018 Ford Expedition
- 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 18V214000Apr 4, 2018Transmission & Powertrain292,909 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission:gear position indication (prndl)
Ford 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.
Risk: 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. Additionally, despite selecting 'Park', if the parking brake is not applied before the vehicle is exited, the vehicle may roll. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the shift cable locking clip and properly seat it, if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for the recall is 18S10.
- NHTSA 18V213000Apr 4, 2018Transmission & Powertrain142 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford 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.
Risk: 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, increasing the risk of injury or a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the transmission to make sure it has the roll pin, installing one if it is missing, free of charge. The recall began on April 13, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S09.
Transmission & Powertrain complaints by Expedition model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How common are transmission problems on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
- NHTSA lists 146 Transmission & Powertrain complaints for the 2018 Expedition, which is 39% of all 375 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a transmission recall for the 2018 Ford Expedition?
- Yes. NHTSA lists three related recalls: campaign 26V402000 for a transmission park pawl that may engage while moving, campaign 18V214000 for a shift cable locking clip issue, and campaign 18V213000 for a missing transmission roll pin.
- At what mileage do 2018 Expedition transmission problems usually appear?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 80,000 miles for Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Expedition.
- Have transmission issues caused crashes or injuries in the 2018 Expedition?
- NHTSA data links 2 crashes and 1 injury to Transmission & Powertrain complaints on the 2018 Expedition, with 0 fires reported.