2018 Ford EXPEDITION: complaints, problems and recalls

2018 FORD EXPEDITION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE BEING SEVERELY UNDER POWERED HAVING ONLY A 6-CYLINDER ENGINE IN A VEHICLE SO LARGE. *LD *JS

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11093148 at NHTSA ↗

CPSC: THE PURPORTED PURPOSE OF FORD'S 'PROJECTOR' HEADLIGHT DESIGN WAS TO INCREASE LUMENS WHILE DECREASING POWER CONSUMPTION. INSTEAD OF THE HEADLIGHT (AS WITH 'NORMAL' LOW-BEAM HEADLIGHTS) BEING AIMED AWAY FROM ONCOMING VEHICLES AND DISPLAYING THE ENTIRE ROAD AHEAD, THE HEADLIGHT ROAD VISIBILITY (AS VIEWED BY THE DRIVER THROUGH THE WINDSHIELD) HAS A DISTINCT, HORIZONTAL LINE ABOVE WHICH IS ABSOLUTELY DARK AND BELOW IS LIT. *DT *JS *TT

Owner-reported narrative. 730 miles reported. Look up ODI 11109448 at NHTSA ↗

RECENTLY I RENTED A FORD EXPEDITION. MUCH OF THE DRIVING WAS IN AN AROUND THE MOUNTAINS SURROUNDING YELLOWSTONE NATIONAL PARK. WHILE I FOUND THE VEHICLE EASY TO DRIVE THERE IS ONE GLARING SAFETY ISSUE CONCERNING THE ABILITY TO DOWNSHIFT. ONE MUST TAKE THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD TO LOCATE THE + OR - BUTTONS ON THE CENTER CONSOLE TO CHANGE GEARS. THESE BUTTONS SHOULD BE LOCATED ON THE STEERING WHEEL. NOT ON THE CENTER CONSOLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11115787 at NHTSA ↗

PURCHASED NEW 2018 EXPEDITION FX4 XLT WOTH CLASS IV TOWING PACKAGE AND OTHER OPTIONS RELYING ON FORD, ITS DEALERS, AND FORD'S PR, THAT VEHICLE COULD TOW TRAILERS UP TO CERTAIN WEIGHT. BUT, ONCE WENT TO PURCHASE TRAVEL TRAILER TO TOW, DISCOVER THAT FINE PRINT HARD TO FIND FORD DISCLOSURE HAD FAR LOWER TOWING LIMITS UNLESS PURCHASE ADDITIONAL EXPENSIVE TOWING OPTIONS. ALSO, VEHICLE LACKS TRAILER BRAKE CONTROLLER THAT IS REQUIRED IN MANY PLACES BY LAW AND NECESSARY TO TOW ALMOST ANYTHING SAFELY. IT IS POSSIBLE THAT BUYERS WILL NOT KNOW THE FOREGOI…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11118957 at NHTSA ↗

AFTER CALLING 3 FORD DEALERS AROUND KANSAS CITY MO. THEY ALL TOLD ME THAT FORD DOES NOT HAVE SEAT BELT EXTENSION FOR 2018 EXPEDITION.

Owner-reported narrative. 2,950 miles reported. Look up ODI 11121769 at NHTSA ↗

THE HEADLIGHTS ON THIS VEHICLE ARE ABSOLUTELY THE WORST OF ANY CAR I'VE EVER DRIVEN. DID NIGHT DRIVING YESTERDAY; THE PERIPHERAL LIGHTING WAS VIRTUALLY NON-EXISTENT, AND I COULDN'T EVEN SEE MY DRIVEWAY FROM THE ROAD. THERE IS NO MENTION ON THE WINDOW STICKER ABOUT WHAT TYPE OF LIGHT FIXTURES THE CAR HAS. I FEEL EXTREMELY UNSAFE WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE AT NIGHT, AND WILL LIMIT THIS EXPOSURE WHEN I CAN. TOTALLY UNSAFE IN THE DARK OF NIGHT. THE ROAD TO OUR PLACE IS UNLIGHTED AND KINDA COUNTRY . . . COULDN'T SEE THE DRIVEWAY AT 10MPH WITH T…

Owner-reported narrative. 1,400 miles reported. Look up ODI 11122445 at NHTSA ↗

THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS SHINE VERY LOW AND NOT FAR ENOUGH AHEAD OF THE VEHICLE. THEY ARE ALSO VERY DIM.

Owner-reported narrative. 39 miles reported. Look up ODI 11123923 at NHTSA ↗

TODAY I EXPERIENCED A COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE BRAKES ON MY 2018 FORD EXPEDITION EL. THE BRAKE PEDAL WOULD NOT BUILD ANY PRESSURE WHICH ALMOST CAUSED AN ACCIDENT WITH MY CHILDREN IN THE VEHICLE. TO ANSWER THE SPECIFICS REQUESTED BY NHTSA, THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN AT 45MPH OR LESS ON A CITY STREET AND THE PROBLEM STILL PERSISTED WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS STOPPED. THE ONLY WAY TO BUILD BRAKE PRESSURE WAS TO TURN THE VEHICLE OFF AND PUMP THE PEDAL. THIS VEHICLE IS LESS THAN 6 MONTHS OLD AND FOR HOW MUCH FORD CHARGES FOR A LIMITED EDITION EXPEDITION …

Owner-reported narrative. 12,780 miles reported. Look up ODI 11132898 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2017-12-01 (December 1, 2017)

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."

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-01-16 (January 16, 2018)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The second row window control modules may intermittently stop the movement of the power window. If something, such as a finger, is pinched by the window glass, the stopped window control module may prevent the window from automatically reversing. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 118, "Power-Operated Window Systems."

Consequence: If the window does not automatically reverse when an obstruction is found, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the second row window electronic control modules, and replace them as necessary based on their build date codes, free of charge. The recall began on February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18C01.

Reported: 2018-04-04 (April 4, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-04-04 (April 4, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2018-06-12 (June 12, 2018)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Expedition, F-150, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI V6 engines. These vehicles have high pressure fuel pump assemblies with welds that can fracture, which may cause an oil or fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the high pressure fuel pump and associated components, free of charge. The recall began July 17, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S17.

Reported: 2018-11-14 (November 14, 2018)

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.

Consequence: 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

Reported: 2023-06-09 (June 9, 2023)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with third-row seating; and 2019-2023 F-Super Duty F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 SuperCab vehicles. The owner's manual does not include instructions for adjusting or removing certain head restraints. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 202, "Head Restraints."

Consequence: Without instructions, the head restraints may be improperly adjusted, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail the Owner's Manual addendums that describe how to adjust and remove the head restraints for the center seating positions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 21, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C20.

Reported: 2024-02-09 (February 9, 2024)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The seat belt pretensioner in the driver and/or front passenger seat may inadvertently deploy and lock the seat belt, which will not allow the belt to retract or extend.

Consequence: Seat belts that do not retract or extend may fail to restrain an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat belt retractors, as necessary. Additionally, dealers will install an HVAC drain tube elbow if it is missing. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S06.

Reported: 2024-11-08 (November 8, 2024)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Consequence: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

Reported: 2025-05-23 (May 23, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 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.

Consequence: 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 replace the seat belt retractors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S31. Some vehicles in this recall that were previously inspected under recall 24V-099 and did not have parts replaced will need to have this new recall remedy completed.

Reported: 2025-04-11 (April 11, 2025)

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 F-150, Expedition, and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The brake master cylinder may allow brake fluid to leak from the front wheel circuit into the brake booster.

Consequence: A brake fluid leak can cause reduced brake function and extend the distance required to stop, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the brake master cylinder. If the master cylinder is leaking, the brake booster will also be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S37. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall number 22V-150.

Reported: 2026-05-27 (May 27, 2026)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2026-06-09 (June 9, 2026)

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.

Consequence: 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.

Reported: 2026-06-24 (June 24, 2026)

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.

Consequence: 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.