Problem Lookup › Ford › Expedition EL › 2018
Car problem report
2018 Ford Expedition EL problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2018 Ford Expedition EL has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 0safety recalls
- 307owner complaints
- 6crash reports
- 2fire reports
- 15injuries reported
307 complaints, against an average of 177 for the other 8 Ford Expedition EL model years.
Every Ford Expedition EL model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
Buying a 2018 Ford Expedition EL? Get the pre-purchase checklist →
What goes wrong with the 2018 Ford Expedition EL?
The components named most often in the 307 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2018 Ford Expedition EL owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 307 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
- Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL stall, lose power or shut off while driving?33 owners · 10.7%
- What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2018 Ford Expedition EL engine?30 owners · 9.8%
- Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Ford Expedition EL?24 owners · 7.8%
- Has the 2018 Ford Expedition EL had transmission failures?21 owners · 6.8%
- Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?18 owners · 5.9%
- Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL idle rough, misfire or hesitate?12 owners · 3.9%
- Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL overheat?10 owners · 3.3%
Fault codes 2018 Ford Expedition EL owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2018 Ford Expedition EL been recalled?
NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL as of November 2, 2026. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN before you rely on this.
What do 2018 Ford Expedition EL owners report?
12 of the 307 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended, and the transmission shuddered abnormally and unexpectedly downshifted. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was then towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. the contact stated that while driving at 65 MPH uphill, the vehicle lost motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering, and the wrench symbol was displayed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was contacted about the failure and referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 135,000.
The problem is with the cam phasers on the Ford Eco Boost 3.5 V6 Engine. Every morning when the vehicle has been sitting overnight and the engine is cool; the truck makes a loud rattle noise when starting. The rattle goes away within 2 seconds. There are tons of information online pertaining the cam phasers. Ford Motor company is very much aware of this problem on all 3.5 eco boost engines from 2017 through 2020. There have been occasions that if the cam phasers are not replaced there could be major damage to the engine. Knowing it took Ford 4 years for Ford to get it right, this issue should…
There was a recall for cam phasers etc under 21N03. My car was fixed in 2021 but the parts they put it in were not the updated parts. I was told it was the same recalled parts that they used to replace. Now I am having the same issue again . I am not currently driving my vehicle until it can be remedied. I contacted the dealership and they are not willing to cooperate or work with me. I will attach the report that was done back in 2021 below.
Just purchased a certified used vehicle. 1) passenger DTRL is half way burnt out. Upon reading tons of forums online, I’m seeing this is a VERY COMMON issue. 2) the back up guide lines on the back up camera does not show. After master reset of the sync system , the lines appeared once. Since then it has not shown ever again.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the power train warning light was illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer to be diagnosed and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter and transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred several…
Component/System That Failed: The 10R80 automatic transmission is malfunctioning. It causes harsh shifting, delayed acceleration, hesitation, and unpredictable surging. These issues have been confirmed as part of Ford’s internal TSB 23-2250, which directly references this transmission defect. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. Safety Risk: This transmission failure poses a serious safety risk. The hesitation and delay in acceleration occur during merging, turning, and highway driving, which can cause near misses and sudden loss of power. The delayed response time compromises…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the engine. The contact had not contacted dealer or independent mechanic. The vehicle was not taken a dealer or an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and opened a case. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Vehicles Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI - Engine Cam Phaser Replacement); however, the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction…
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, there was an abnormal cranking sound coming from the vehicle. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N03 (Cam Phaser Replacement); however, the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under the program. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.
With only 53500 miles the gears stopped working. The gear shift pulls and hesitates when changing gears. The engine pulls when excelerating even at low speeds while struggling to shift. The Cam is also causing issues with loud start up sounds.
What component or system failed or malfunctioned TRANSMISSION, and is it available for inspection upon request YES How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR 8 LANE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT EXCELERATE SAFTLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES, MANUFACTURER FORD & AAMCO TRANSMISSION Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior…
While parked on an incline, the truck's wheels disengaged and it rolled down backwards. The emergency brake was set. The vehicle has a known defect but the dealership will not expedite the repair.
2018 Ford Expedition EL: questions owners ask
Is the 2018 Ford Expedition EL reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 307 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Expedition EL; the most common categories were power train (111, 36.2%), engine (87, 28.3%), electrical system (24, 7.8%). There are no safety recalls listed for this model year. 6 complaints mention a crash, 2 mention a fire, 15 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Expedition EL?
Across 307 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are power train (36.2% of complaints), engine (28.3% of complaints), electrical system (7.8% of complaints), engine and engine cooling (7.5% of complaints), suspension (7.5% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2018 Ford Expedition EL have any recalls?
As of November 2026, NHTSA lists no safety recalls for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL. Recalls can be issued at any time, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL stall, lose power or shut off while driving?
33 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (10.7%) describe the engine stalling, losing power or shutting off while driving. One owner wrote: "The truck suddenly loses power while driving. Then goes back to normal. Most recently but not only time I lost power on interstate, the dash blinks see manual. I was almost hit by vehicle behind me as i was unable to continue accelerating." (NHTSA complaint 11645592, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
What causes a knocking, ticking or rattling noise in the 2018 Ford Expedition EL engine?
30 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (9.8%) describe a knocking, ticking or rattling engine noise. One owner wrote: "Cam phaser and timing chain assembly is beginning to fail. Ford has a CSB out on this problem but is unwilling to repair or replace components. Transmission has had to be replaced be cause of failure at 100000 miles." (NHTSA complaint 11655666, April 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why is the check engine light on in my 2018 Ford Expedition EL?
24 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (7.8%) describe the check engine light coming on. One owner wrote: "Engine light came on so we took the company car into the Ford dealership. Just received a phone call that the Cam Phasers need to be replaced and it will cost around $4000 to fix." (NHTSA complaint 11571650, February 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Has the 2018 Ford Expedition EL had transmission failures?
21 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (6.8%) describe transmission failure, slipping or a replaced transmission. One owner wrote: "Ford had to rebuild rear differential. The transmission failed, too. Both unacceptable especially at 62k miles and zero utility usage including trailering or 4wd." (NHTSA complaint 11642252, February 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
18 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (5.9%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "This car is a 2018 Ford Expedition with the 3.5L eco-boost and 10 speed transmission with 95,000mi. So it started as just some rough shifting from time to time but got worse after driving through some mountains, after about a week the transmission went from…" (NHTSA complaint 11607274, August 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
12 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (3.9%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "With only 53500 miles the gears stopped working. The gear shift pulls and hesitates when changing gears. The engine pulls when excelerating even at low speeds while struggling to shift. The Cam is also causing issues with loud start up sounds." (NHTSA complaint 11666649, June 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2018 Ford Expedition EL overheat?
10 of the 307 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2018 Ford Expedition EL (3.3%) describe the engine overheating or coolant loss. One owner wrote: "On [XXX] my AC stopped working and there was a major burning smell. I took the vehicle in to determine the issue. The service advisor advised me that the motor blower had overheated and burned the wires completely causes a fire hazard." (NHTSA complaint 11678539, August 2025). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Expedition EL
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2018 only. How these reports are made.