10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 19,843 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
« Read the previous 20 complaints
See attached document for complaint.
- Fayetteville, NC, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked and occupied, the gear shifter failed to shift into drive(D). The shift system fault message was displayed. The contact exited the vehicle, opened the hood, moved a wire on the transmission, and the vehicle operated as intended. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and test-driven without failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle warranty had expired. No additional assistance was provided. The contact related the failure to an undisclosed TSB. The contact was referred by the manufacturer to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 88,992.
- Rock Springs, WY, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode with the maintenance warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the 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 referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
- Cerro Gordo, NC, USA
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. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked, and the transmission shifted hard. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure occurred while driving on a busy highway. The contact and five minor children were inside the vehicle during the failure. The contact feared for her and her families safety. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with CDF drum failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be rebuilt or replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
- Hanna City, IL, USA
My wife was driving home from a sports class with my kids in the car. She went to make a left turn against oncoming traffic and the car completely lost power. Pressing the gas did not give any power to the car and the car felt like it was in neutral. if the car did not have enough power at the time of the turn to make it through the oncoming lane, it would have been hit by the oncoming car endangering the lives of the occupants of both vehicles. Our vehicle continued to exhibit the same behavior and I drove it to the dealer. While on the way to the dealer it had 2 powertrain failures before I got it there (30 miles away). The dealership ran diagnostics and said it would be best to get a new tranny as opposed to overhaul since the vehicle only has 90,000 miles and is less than 7 years old. We ended up getting it towed to a local transmission shop who confirmed the diagnostic. They said the seal on the CDF drum plate failed and there was nothing that could be done to stop it. The tranny was rebuilt with all new parts, half a dozen of them upgraded parts from Ford. Upon researching the symptoms, I found this vehicle exhibited a neutral out condition and Ford wrote a technical service bulletin because this issue is so common. I'm frustrated because my family could have been seriously injured or killed because of a known issue that Ford knows about yet chooses to not fix even though this issue puts passengers in life threatening situations. I would not have known about this issue prior to my car exhibiting the neutral out behavior. My local transmission shop has all the parts that were taken out of the transmission and they are available for inspection.
- Weatherford, TX, USA
I have had several issues with this vehicle throughout the years I have owned it. The current issues I am writing about include: transmission failure and replacement, rear passenger door no longer opening and continued issues with the Catalytic convertors. When it comes to the transmission it was unsafe to drive as the gears continued to slip while driving and cause the vehicle to temporarily loose power. This could have resulted in an accident. The vehicle is currently having the transmission replaced at a repair shop where they confirmed the issues. They will also be looking at the other two issues as well. The door not opening poses a huge safety concern as we are only able to use one rear door for entering and exiting.
- Riverside, CA, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the gear shifter was shifted into drive; however, the vehicle failed to respond as intended. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the 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 was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
- Chesterfield, MI, USA
2018 Ford Expedition Max 4wd; For the last 4 years I have consistently (1-2x a year) brought this car into a ford dealership for the transmission failing to go into gear at random times while driving under normal conditions. Even though multiple TSB's had been sent out, they "couldn't replicate" or "no codes found" or "the transmission tech is 4-?"6 weeks out"... nothing was done. Twice while merging into on coming traffic the transmission has been stuck in a gear, will not accelerate or go, and the entire dash illuminates with all the flashing symbols. I'm just glad my children were not in the car with me. It was terrifying. Now, the week of May 18, 2025, I'm back for my annual transmission issue as it stalled on 4/26/2025, and I almost was hit by an 18 wheeler, the ford dealership said "you need a transmission overhaul, TCM reprogram, and there is internal failure, the CDF drum comes apart and Ford is aware they have a faulty seal." The total to fix is $8,214.25 and guess what, NONE of it is covered. I have kept my vehical serviced and always taken care of it. But I will have to pay the price to fix it, or worse if there is a car accident.
- Johns Island , SC, USA
1. The issue involves the transmission and camshaft components of the vehicle. Despite the fact that both the transmission and camshaft were replaced by the Ford dealership after purchase in 2018, the vehicle continues to experience problems. These components have been inspected by the dealership, and the vehicle is available for further inspection upon request. 2. The vehicle-??s loss of power during highway driving and while attempting to accelerate poses a significant safety risk. On several occasions, the vehicle has lost power while making turns or driving on the highway, nearly causing accidents with other vehicles. This has been a very frightening experience for us, as the sudden loss of power could have led to a collision. 3. Yes, the problem has been confirmed by the Ford dealership, which replaced the transmission and camshaft components. However, the vehicle continues to run roughly, indicating that the issues have not been fully resolved. These repairs were not covered under warranty, and we had to pay for them out of pocket. 4. The vehicle has been inspected by the Ford dealership multiple times. Despite the repairs, the problems persist. The vehicle has been regularly maintained and garage-kept. 5. There were no warning lamps, messages, or error codes indicating the problem before the failure. However, there has been a loud ticking sound when the vehicle is started and running, which started to occur after the initial repairs. The vehicle has had no other prior indicators to suggest the underlying issue. We purchased the vehicle brand new with only 11 miles on it it currently barely has 70k miles on it. We dropped the vehicle off at the beginning of August 2024 and didn't get it back until almost the end of October, with us needing to bring it back to the dealership for more checks/repairs in December of 2024. We have to pay out of pocket and are without a vehicle because of the constant issues and safety concerns. we can provide receipts and more docs
- Forest, VA, USA
Cam phaser failure, yes, available for inspection. This disrupts the engine's timing and can lead to oil pressure issues as well as engine stalling or engine damage. Yes, confirmed by ford dealer. No, not been inspected by manufacturer or others. No warning lamps yet but the noise was the first indicator and it began about 6 weeks ago. My 2018 Ford Expedition is experiencing cam phaser failure. I had an extended warranty that i have not reached the mileage for yet but the date causes me not to be able to have it fixed under warranty. This is a very expensive repair and I am finding out more and more of these vehicles in this age range are having the same problems. I would ask that Ford be required to pay for this repair. I have reported this to Ford and received a case number of [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Houston, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted without warning. The transmission also shifted hard, and the vehicle jerked while driving at various speeds. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure. The transmission was rebuilt. The following day while driving approximately 65 MPH, the transmission shifted hard, and the contact became aware that transmission fluid was leaking from the vehicle after exiting and inspecting the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who diagnosed the vehicle with transmission failure and replaced the transmission. The contact stated that the transmission still shifted hard while driving and the message that the engine was overheating was displayed. The vehicle was returned to the dealer who had rebuilt the new transmission. After having the third repair, the failure recurred. The vehicle was returned to the dealer but was not yet diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.
- Lehi, UT, USA
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. I-??ve had to replace the water pump twice on my Expedition. Driver side seat belt no longer retracts.
- Basye, VA, USA
I cash purchased a 2018 Ford Expedition on [XXX] - I have a 90 day warranty and purchased an extended 2 year warranty. I've taken the vehicle back twice to Auto Nation in Denver Co for transmission issues. The transmissions slips and makes a horrible nose when it shift. I can't drive it due to it being unsafe to drive. I do not feel safe driving the vehicle. Auto Nation continues to declining to repair the vehicle. I've owned the vehicle for 2months and maybe drove it for only 100 miles due to the unsafety. Ford has know issues with these 10speed transmissions. I was never informed by the dealer of these know issues therefore was sold a lemon. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Monument, CO, USA
In January 2025, we had issues with the transmission not shifting smoothly while out of town. While driving on the freeway at around 65MPH, in traffic, the transmission suddenly downshifted from 10th to either 3rd or 4th gear immediately slowing the vehicle. We almost got rear ended and tried to get over to the shoulder. By the time we could get over, which took about a minute, the transmission recovered itself and went back into the correct gear. We arrived home, took the truck in and was told the transmission needed to be rebuilt. There was a known issue with the transmission in these vehicles. We paid to have the transmission rebuilt. In April 2025, we heard rattling in the engine. We took it in and was told the Cam Phasers were bad and needed to be replaced. Another known issue. We have had the cam phasers replaced in 2020 under warranty. We had them reprogrammed again in 2022 for a recall. Now we are having to replace them again out of pocket. We again, paid for the repairs and got the vehicle back. I called Ford customer service and asked about any programs or reimbursement for these known issues. (Ref # [XXX]) I was told there are none at this time, despite Ford knowing they have issues. Ford has done nothing to correct the problems, but is obviously aware of the issues. Our vehicle only has about 50K miles and has had the most repairs on any vehicle that I've ever owned. We have already purchased the vehicle, and I'm having to "purchase" it a second time with the high cost of repairs. At the very least, Ford should repair the defective parts and cover the cost of such repairs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
- Deer Park, TX, USA
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition Max. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was jerking slightly. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission computer software was updated; however, the failure recurred while driving. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the vehicle was attempting to learn the contact's driving pattern and was operating as designed. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the vehicle jerked and experienced an unintended transmission downshift into first gear. A message advising that the power train was disabled and to take the vehicle to the dealer was displayed. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while driving, causing the contact to sustain whiplash and neck pain. The contact stated that she was already afflicted with osteoporosis on the neck and spine, and her husband was afflicted with heart disease. The contact was concerned that the failure could further damage their health. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure, and the dealer provided an estimated fee for the transmission replacement. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The vehicle was then taken to a transmission specialist, where the same assessment was made. The mechanic informed the contact that the vehicle could be repaired for a cheaper amount. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The manufacturer informed the contact that they would consider covering 40 percent of the expense. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.
- Hernando, FL, USA
Transmission issue: Vehicle will sometimes not go into gear. When I pull out into traffic sometimes vehicle will not go into gear. Mostly occurs with 2nd and 4th gear but has happened with other gears as well. Also when shifting g into gear sometimes it takes a while and sometimes he vehicle jerks during shifting.
- Westlake, OH, USA
The car will drop into neutral while on the highway. This happens mostly when trying to accelerate to merge into traffic, down shifting to pass someone etc. Once the car goes into neutral you lose all power. This presents a safety risk as you can be trying to pass someone or merge into traffic and your vehicle stops accelerating. This happened to me when trying to merge onto a busy freeway. I had to pull to the side to avoid getting into an accident. Then once on the side of the road i had to get the car back into gear and then work to merge from a dead stop. Apparently this is a known issue called a neutral out. Once this happened to me the transmission had to be rebuilt.
- Tucson , AZ, USA
The transmission suddenly and violently knocked from drive into neutral while driving. I had the vehicle towed home, and have been driving it until the suspect part finally breaks for good.
- Belle Plaine, MN, USA
I bought the vehicle used with 108, xxx miles on it in May of 2024. In July I had in the repair shop for one issue and noticed there was an issue with the Auto Start/Stop. When the Auto Start/Stop is engaged and the brake is depressed it jams into first gear like a standard vehicle when the clutch is released to early. Transmission fluid was checked to be low so it was refilled. I was told to change my driving habits, which is what I did. I no longer use it because it still has the issue. Move forward to December 2024. I was driving and realized it was skipping 2nd, 4th, and sometimes 6th gears. Upon further research I found that it was normal to happen. When I was driving it home on February 20 I lost 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. I was close enough home where I was able to get home. When I got home I restarted and still had no lower gears. I let it sit for a couple of hours and drove it again and I had the normal gear shift. I called the dealership and had an appointment scheduled. I was told from that appointment a brand new transmission was needed or a transmission overhaul was needed to fix the issue. I was told to contact Ford Customer Support to find out if there were any options about the warranties that may be out there or recalls about the 10-speed transmission. When I called Ford about the possibility of my 10-speed transmission being under the recall for the transmission I was told that because the VIN did not need to recalled. Upon further research I have found multiple people with this issue in this vehicle. Ford would not cover anything as the vehicle is out of warranty and over 100,000 miles. I was told to file a claim with NHTSA because of the risk it may cause others, but at this time there was nothing more that could be done.
- Sabattus, ME, USA
- Fayetteville, NC, USA