Is the 2018 Ford EXPEDITION reliable?

The 2018 Ford EXPEDITION has 449 complaints filed with NHTSA (2.8x the segment average). Our reliability verdict: below-average. Most common issue: TRANSMISSION problems.

What are common problems with the 2018 Ford EXPEDITION?

Top problems: TRANSMISSION (136 complaints, avg repair $500); ENGINE (120 complaints, avg repair $500); ELECTRICAL (31 complaints, avg repair $500). Issues typically appear around 50K miles.

Are there any recalls on the 2018 Ford EXPEDITION?

Yes, there are 14 recall(s): FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP, SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL), EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL, SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS, SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:MASTER CYLINDER, SEAT BELTS:PRETENSIONER, STRUCTURE:INTERIOR PANELS:CENTER CONSOLE, POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION. Contact any Ford dealer to verify if recalls have been completed on your specific vehicle.

How much does it cost to fuel a 2018 Ford EXPEDITION?

The 2018 Ford EXPEDITION gets 20 MPG combined. At current US average gas prices, driving 12,000 miles per year costs roughly $2400. See the interactive fuel cost calculator on this page for state-specific pricing.

How much does it cost to insure a 2018 Ford EXPEDITION?

Estimated US average full-coverage insurance for the 2018 Ford EXPEDITION is approximately $1,652/year (suv-midsize class). Actual quotes vary heavily by state, driver age, driving record, and credit — see the interactive insurance estimator on this page for state-specific pricing.

2018 Ford EXPEDITION

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford EXPEDITION has 449 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 2.8x the segment average of 163. The most common issue is transmission problems (30% of all complaints), specifically: the truck was being backed into a parking spot ,the trucks turned off i pushed the pedal to start the truck to back up and it propelled into the wall of the establishment that i was going into to eat dinner causing a great deal of damage to the building and my vehicle. my biggest concern is this pro. There are 14 recalls issued for this model year. ⚠️ 3 fire reports filed.

3 fire reports 7 crash reports 26 injuries

449

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

5/5

Safety Stars

2.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems(top 5 of 8)

TRANSMISSION

136 complaints

30%

• THE TRUCK WAS BEING BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT ,THE TRUCKS TURNED OFF I PUSHED THE PEDAL TO START THE TRUCK TO BACK UP AND IT PROPELLED INTO THE WALL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT I WAS GOING INTO TO EAT DINNER CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND MY VEHICLE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THIS PRO
• ELECTRONIC DIAL SHIFTER WILL AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH FROM DRIVE TO PARK IF THE VEHICLE START STOP BUTTON IS DEPRESSED WHEN THE CAR IS RUNNING. THE PARKING BRAKE ALSO AUTOMATICALLY SWITCHES ON AT THE SAME TIME. CONSIDER WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF A 2018 FORD EXPEDITION IS TRAVELING ON A FREEWAY IN TRAFFIC AND
• I WAS BACKING UP AND THE TRUCK TOOK OFF WITHOUT MY FOOT ON THE GAS PEDAL. I HAVE ABOUT 15K IN DAMAGE TO MY VEHICLE. I HAVE FOUND A FEW OTHERS THAT HAVE HAD THE SAME PROBLEM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“THE TRUCK WAS BEING BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT ,THE TRUCKS TURNED OFF I PUSHED THE PEDAL TO START THE TRUCK TO BACK UP AND IT PROPELLED INTO THE WALL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT I WAS GOING INTO TO EAT DINNER CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND MY VEHICLE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THIS PRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

When Problems Appear on the 2018 Ford EXPEDITION

Based on 161 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 50K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.

Overall complaint distribution by mileage

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SUSPENSION

In line with typicalmedian 20K mi · 13 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

ELECTRICAL

In line with typicalmedian 19K mi · 12 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BODY/STRUCTURE

In line with typicalmedian 29K mi · 7 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

LIGHTING

In line with typicalmedian 10K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

In line with typicalmedian 17K mi · 6 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

BRAKES

In line with typicalmedian 15K mi · 5 reports

0-30K

30-60K

60-100K

100-150K

150-200K

200K+

Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.

Recalls (14)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP12/06/2018

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.

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

Fix: 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.

Fuel Cost Calculator for 2018 Ford EXPEDITION

Live EIA prices

Annual miles driven: 12,000

Your state (affects local gasoline price)

Per year

$2,401

Per month

$200

Per mile

20.0¢

MPG

City driving (worst-case MPG)

$2,824/yr

Highway driving (best-case MPG)

$2,001/yr

Based on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.

5-Year Gas Price History

EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → today

Show:

Current

$4.00

5-year low

$2.78

5-year high

$5.01

Since 2021

+27%

Source: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.

Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Ford EXPEDITION

Estimate only, not a quote. Modeled from NAIC + HLDI averages for a hypothetical 35-year-old driver with clean record + full coverage. Your actual quote depends heavily on your age, driving history, credit, ZIP code, and insurer.

Your state (affects local premium average)

Full coverage / year

$1,652

Full coverage / month

$138

Liability only / year

$600

vs US avg

-1%

How this estimate is calculated

US base full-coverage premium$1674

× state (US)1.00x

× vehicle class (suv-midsize)1.05x

× theft risk1.00x

× safety rating0.94x

× vehicle age1.00x

= Full coverage estimate$1652

Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.

Maintenance & Warranty

Recommended Ford EXPEDITION Service Intervals

Oil change

8K mi / 12 mo

Tire rotation

8K mi

Brake fluid

36 months

Transmission fluid

30K mi

Engine coolant

100K mi

Spark plugs

100K mi

Cabin air filter

20K mi

Engine air filter

30K mi

Differential (AWD/4WD)

30K mi

IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.

"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.

Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage

Bumper-to-bumper (basic)

3 yr / 36K mi

Powertrain

5 yr / 60K mi

Hybrid/EV battery

8 yr / 100K mi

Corrosion (rust perforation)

5 yr / unlimited mi

Roadside assistance

5 yr / 60K mi

These are the terms for a new Ford. If you're buying a used 2018 EXPEDITION, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Ford dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

SUSPENSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 449 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: THE TRUCK WAS BEING BACKED INTO A PARKING SPOT ,THE TRUCKS TURNED OFF I PUSHED THE PEDAL TO START THE TRUCK TO BACK UP AND IT PROPELLED INTO THE WALL OF THE ESTABLISHMENT THAT I WAS GOING INTO TO EAT DINNER CAUSING A GREAT DEAL OF DAMAGE TO THE BUILDING AND MY VEHICLE. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS THIS PRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: I BOUGHT THIS NEW EXPEDITION JUNE OF 2018. IT HAS PUT ITSELF INTO DEEP SLEEP MODE 8 TIMES. 06/11/18, 08/09/18, 08/19/18, 08/22/18 TWICE!, 10/13/18, 11/11/18, 02/06/19. EACH TIME IT HAD TO BE JUMPED WITH ANOTHER LARGE VEHICLE TO START IT UP. THE FIRST TIME WAS JUNE 11TH JUST DAYS AFTER I BOUGHT I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: THE RETRACTABLE/AUTOMATIC RUNNING BOARD ON THE PASSENGER SIDE INTERMITTENTLY DROPS DOWN WHEN THE CAR IS IN PARK AND IN A STATIONARY POSITION FOR A PERIOD OF TIME. (IE. 2-3 HOURS AT REST) WHEN I RESTART THE VEHICLE AND OPEN/CLOSE THE DOORS, THEN SHUT OFF THE VEHICLE, THE RETRACTABLE RUNNING BOARDS
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
RECALLS: Verify all 14 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)