2018 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet
Timing chain or cam phaser rattles
- 72owner reports
- 83,000median miles
- $5,000median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 11, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
118 of the 375 complaints on this car are about the engine. 72 of those describe timing chain failure, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2018 Expedition.
Tick what matches of 72 reports
Timing chain failure on other Expedition years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This sheet is about a rattle from the front of the engine, often at its worst right after a cold start, that dealers trace to the timing chain or the cam phasers. It's heavily concentrated: the 2017 to 2019 Ford F-150 accounts for about four in ten of these complaints across the site.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the cam phasers (68 reports) and the timing chain (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the engine covers the 2018 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the engine on the Expedition
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
What owners paid
11 of the 72 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,000 to $5,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 51,084 and 107,762 miles, from the 42 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 2 service bulletins or notices for the 2018 Ford Expedition that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after your vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time, or as a knocking noise when ...
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine. This noise might occur as a rattle when starting the engine after the vehicle was turned off for an extended period of time or as a knocking noise ...
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 72 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 57 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 42 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 38 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 26 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 25 reports