2018 Ford Expedition · symptom sheet
Transmission fails or needs replacement
- 26owner reports
- 93,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Jun 24, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
146 of the 375 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 26 of those describe transmission failure.
Tick what matches of 26 reports
Transmission 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, 2022, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the end of the road for a transmission: the car stops moving under its own power, or a shop says the unit has to be replaced or rebuilt. Half of the owners here mention a warning light or message, and a quarter mention it happening again or to a second unit.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (26 reports).
Recalls and investigations
3 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2018 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
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.
All 14 recalls on the 2018 Ford Expedition, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Expedition
Unexpected transmission downshift. Closed oct 22, 2019, led to recall 19V-075.
None of these investigations covers the 2018 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 50,000 and 120,000 miles, from the 17 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Since November 2024 to date the transmission has reduced power when trying to accelerate thus being unsafe when trying to pull out into traffic. It also will not engage reverse thus again impeding when in traffic. It appears randomly. Verified software has been updated. Ford is saying complete transmission replacement is needed on a vehicle that is only 7 years old.”
Filed Oct 13, 2025
“Ford had to rebuild rear differential. The transmission failed, too. Both unacceptable especially at 62k miles and zero utility usage including trailering or 4wd.”
Filed Feb 12, 2025 · 62,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 26 reports involved a crash and 1 people were hurt. 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Timing chain or cam phaser rattles 72 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 57 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 42 reports
- Engine rattles or ticks 38 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 25 reports