2018 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet

Timing chain or cam phaser rattles

71owner reports
82,708median miles
$4,500median quote
0involved a crash

Newest report Jul 16, 2026 · checked Sep 19, 2026

117 of the 372 complaints on this car are about the engine. 71 of those describe timing chain failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Expedition.

Tick what matches of 71 reports

a rattle on cold start that quiets down

the dealer named the cam phasers

the chain jumped or skipped

it was covered by an extended warranty

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the cam phasers (67 reports) and the timing chain (12 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year as of Sep 19, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Expedition

DP05-005opened Sep 22, 2005

Engine And Engine Cooling · model years 1997 to 2004

Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.

NHTSA summary

ON SEPTEMBER 6, 2005, ODI RECEIVED A PETITION REQUESTING THAT THE AGENCY INVESTIGATE ALLEGATIONS OF ENGINE SPARK PLUG EJECTION IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1997 THROUGH 2004 FORD VEHICLES WITH TRITON V-8 AND V-10 ENGINES.ODI RECEIVED A TOTAL OF 474 NON-DUPLICATIVE COMPLAINTS ON THE SUBJECT VEHICLES WHERE THE COMPLAINANT, OR THE DEALER REPAIRING THE VEHICLE, REPORTED THAT A SPARK PLUG DETACHED FROM THE CYLINDER AND/OR EJECTED FROM THE ENGINE.AS OF DECEMBER 8, 2005, ODI IS NOT AWARE OF ANY ALLEGATIONS WHERE THE ALLEGED DEFECT RESULTED IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, A CRASH, AN INJURY, OR A FATALITY IN ANY OF THE 10,319,810 SUBJECT VEHICLES.IN ADDITION, ODI IS AWARE OF ONLY TWO INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE STALLED WITHOUT RESTART.INFORMATION CONTAINED IN THE ODI CONSUMER COMPLAINTS AND OBTAINED FROM 72 TELEPHONE INTERVIEWS WITH COMPLAINANTS SHOWED THE FOLLOWING:(1) 99% OF THE COMPLAINTS WERE ON MY 1997 TO 2002 SUBJECT VEHICLES.(2) MOST THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED HEARING A LOUD POP WHILE DRIVING OR UPON STARTING UP THE VEHICLE FOLLOWED BY A LOUD, REPETITIVE CLICKING OR POPPING SOUND.(3) MANY OF THE COMPLAINANTS REPORTED THAT THE POPPING SOUND WAS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER; HOWEVER, IN 99% OF THE INCIDENTS REPORTED, THE VEHICLE DID NOT STALL.IN THE VERY FEW INCIDENTS WHERE THE VEHICLE DID STALL, MOST VEHICLES COULD BE RESTARTED.(4) ONLY A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF THE COMPLAINANTS CITED THAT THEY SMELLED GAS OR A SLIGHT BURNING SMELL WHEN THE INCIDENT OCCURRED.(5) IN ALL BUT A VER

None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.

What owners paid

9 of the 71 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,000 to $5,500.

$4,000$4,500$5,500

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 51,084 and 103,500 miles, from the 41 reports that gave a mileage.

120

121

322

2223

1924

2125

426

What owners wrote

“My cam phasers failed. I had a 6 year, 72k mile warranty. All maintenance was done at the dealership at the correct time. The parts failed at 7 years, 75,600 miles. Had to replace the engine. Dealer wanted to charge me $19000. Found a local shop to do it with new Ford engine for $14000. The cam phasers are a known issue. There are hundreds of vehicles out there that have had the same problem.”
Filed Feb 5, 2026 · 75,600 miles

“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. Iâve had to replace the water pump twice on my Expedition. Driver side seat belt no longer retracts.”
Filed Apr 20, 2025 · 100,000 miles

“Cam phasers make noise when the car is starting, indicative of poor cam phaser design and performance. It seems clear that Ford is aware of this problem (program 21B10) but refuses to provide support for faulty parts now that that limited program has ended.”
Filed Aug 20, 2024

“Cam Phasers failing Rough running and poor acceleration Problem has been confirmed by a dealer Vehicle has not been inspected by manufacture, police or insurance No warning light on, but grinding when cold start. This is the second time itâs occurred! We had it fixed prior about 20,000 miles ago. I called Ford Customer service and they directed me to the NHTSA.”
Filed Jun 26, 2024 · 20,000 miles

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 71 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.