Ford Expedition 2018–2024
4th generation · U553 (Ford T3 frame, aluminum body)
NHTSA data through 12 August 20262,266 complaints, 632 with mileageMethod
On this generation, failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 27,000 and 89,000 miles.
- Rest of the range
- Median
- 10%
- 7,400
- 25%
- 27,000
- Median
- 60,000
- 75%
- 89,000
- 90%
- 115,000
Show the numbers
| Mileage | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 0–10,000 | 79 | 12.5% |
| 10,000–20,000 | 37 | 5.9% |
| 20,000–30,000 | 55 | 8.7% |
| 30,000–40,000 | 39 | 6.2% |
| 40,000–50,000 | 47 | 7.4% |
| 50,000–60,000 | 48 | 7.6% |
| 60,000–70,000 | 72 | 11.4% |
| 70,000–80,000 | 45 | 7.1% |
| 80,000–90,000 | 56 | 8.9% |
| 90,000–100,000 | 54 | 8.5% |
| 100,000–110,000 | 26 | 4.1% |
| 110,000–120,000 | 25 | 4.0% |
| 120,000–130,000 | 20 | 3.2% |
| 130,000–140,000 | 15 | 2.4% |
| 140,000–150,000 | 7 | 1.1% |
| 150,000–160,000 | 5 | 0.8% |
| 160,000–170,000 | 1 | 0.2% |
| 190,000–200,000 | 1 | 0.2% |
What this can and cannot tell you: these are complaints owners chose to file, not a failure rate. Popular models accumulate more of them simply by being common. How this is built.
Owners filed 2,266 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018–2024 Ford Expedition, and 632 of them record the mileage at which the failure happened. That is enough to show not just what fails, but when.
Failures are spread across the mileage range, with the middle half between 27,000 and 89,000 miles. The median is 60,000 miles.
The most-reported areas are the transmission and driveline (32.6% of complaints, typically around 69,000 miles), the engine (14.5% of complaints, typically around 70,000 miles), problems owners could not categorise (8.6% of complaints, typically around 9,000 miles).
42 recall campaigns cover this generation.
What fails, and when
- Transmission and driveline69,000median 69,200 miles, middle half 40,000 to 96,000
- Engine70,000median 70,015 miles, middle half 50,000 to 93,000
- Problems owners could not categorise9,000median 8,750 miles, middle half 3,000 to 29,000
- Electrical system25,000median 25,000 miles, middle half 11,000 to 50,000
- Seat belts74,000median 73,532 miles, middle half 60,000 to 96,000
- Throttle and speed control46,000median 46,500 miles, middle half 15,000 to 79,000
- Body structure37,000median 37,000 miles, middle half 24,000 to 87,000
| System | Complaints | Share | Median | 25–75% |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Transmission and driveline | 738 | 32.6% | 69,000 | 40,000–96,000 |
| Engine | 328 | 14.5% | 70,000 | 50,000–93,000 |
| Problems owners could not categorise | 196 | 8.6% | 9,000 | 3,000–29,000 |
| Electrical system | 158 | 7.0% | 25,000 | 11,000–50,000 |
| Seat belts | 135 | 6.0% | 74,000 | 60,000–96,000 |
| Throttle and speed control | 72 | 3.2% | 46,000 | 15,000–79,000 |
| Body structure | 70 | 3.1% | 37,000 | 24,000–87,000 |
| Engine and its cooling system | 65 | 2.9% | 80,000 | 67,000–107,000 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 60 | 2.6% | — | — |
| Suspension | 49 | 2.2% | 21,000 | 5,000–47,000 |
Which systems, and when
Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 60,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.
The transmission and driveline accounts for 32.6% of complaints (738 reports, 160 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 69,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 40,000 and 96,000 miles.
A single system taking 32.6% of all complaints is a concentration worth noting. It means that for this generation, most of what owners reported came back to one area of the car rather than being distributed across many small faults.
The engine accounts for 14.5% of complaints (328 reports, 103 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 70,015 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 93,000 miles.
Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 8.6% of complaints (196 reports, 18 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 8,750 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 3,000 and 29,000 miles.
The electrical system accounts for 7.0% of complaints (158 reports, 45 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 25,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 11,000 and 50,000 miles.
The seat belts account for 6.0% of complaints (135 reports, 58 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 73,532 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 60,000 and 95,801 miles.
Throttle and speed control accounts for 3.2% of complaints (72 reports, 14 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 46,500 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 15,263 and 79,000 miles.
Differences between model years
Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2019 model year drew the most — 612 complaints — while 2023 drew the fewest at 93. The median year sits at 295.
That makes 2019 an outlier: roughly 2.1 times the median year of this generation. A single year standing that far apart usually reflects either a first-year issue that was later corrected, or a component change introduced for that year. Anyone shopping this generation has a straightforward reason to prefer a different year, all else being equal.
Recalls and what they cover
NHTSA records 42 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.
The campaigns cluster around the electrical system (5), the seat belts (5), the transmission and driveline (5). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.
Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.
Reported severity
Of the 2,266 complaints filed against this generation, 61 reported a crash; 38 reported a fire; 165 reported an injury. Crash-involved reports represent 2.7% of the total.
These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.
What this means if you are buying one
For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 27,000 and 89,000 miles, with a median of 60,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.
On inspection, the transmission and driveline and the engine are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The transmission and driveline in particular shows a median failure mileage of 69,200, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.
None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.
Documented problems
Transmission 2018–2020
10R80 10-speed automatic harsh and erratic shifting, clunk on the 4-5 and 6-7 changes, and torque converter lockup shudder. Addressed through repeated PCM/TCM recalibrations rather than hardware.
Engine / Fire Risk 2021–2023
Under-hood fires traced to the engine compartment on 3.5L EcoBoost Expedition and Navigator, prompting a Ford recall with an interim advice to park outdoors and a revised under-hood harness/battery routing remedy.
Electrical
Battery drain and stop/start system faults on early build years.
By model year
| Year | Complaints | With mileage |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 474 | 161 |
| 2019 | 612 | 233 |
| 2020 | 513 | 117 |
| 2021 | 295 | 53 |
| 2022 | 167 | 36 |
| 2023 | 93 | 20 |
| 2024 | 112 | 12 |
Recalls (42)
| Campaign | Date | Component |
|---|---|---|
| 26V204000 | 2026-08-05 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages |
| 25V455000 | 2026-07-27 | Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump |
| 26V104000 | 2026-03-25 | Exterior Lighting:tail Lights |
| 25V886000 | 2026-01-30 | Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel |
| 25V729000 | 2025-11-10 | Visibility:sun/Moon Roof Assembly |
| 25V197000 | 2025-10-22 | Seat Belts:pretensioner |
| 25V315000 | 2025-10-08 | Back Over Prevention:software |
| 25V628000 | 2025-10-03 | Engine |
| 25V236000 | 2025-09-25 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:master Cylinder |
| 25V048000 | 2025-09-18 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
| 25V442000 | 2025-09-04 | Back Over Prevention:software |
| 25V346000 | 2025-06-25 | Electrical System:body Control Module:software |
| 25V314000 | 2025-05-30 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic:foundation Components:hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings |
| 25V198000 | 2025-05-23 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication |
| 24V851000 | 2025-05-23 | Engine and Engine Cooling:engine:oil/Lubrication |
| 25V132000 | 2025-04-11 | Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control |
| 24V852000 | 2024-12-19 | Equipment:other:labels |
| 24V099000 | 2024-07-08 | Seat Belts:pretensioner |
| 23V420000 | 2023-07-21 | Equipment:other:owners/Service/Other Manual |
| 23V128000 | 2023-04-21 | Power Train:axle Assembly |
| 22V250000 | 2022-10-21 | Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:linkages |
| 22V346000 | 2022-07-21 | Engine |
| 22V193000 | 2022-04-22 | Electrical System: Integrated Trailer Brake Control |
| 21V805000 | 2021-11-03 | Air Bags:sensor:side Impact |
| 20V575000 | 2021-02-01 | Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera |
What owners reported
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that all of the shock absorbers were defective and caused the rear of the vehicle to bounce when driving over a pothole. The vehicle's rear would also bounce sideways when making turns. The vehicle was taken to hixson Ford of alexandria (2506 s macarthur…
2018 · 6 miles · Suspension
The vehicle failed to start 3 different times. The first time was immediately after purchase of the vehicle - it started after 30 min and was taken back to the dealership. They replaced the battery and no issues until 4 days then it occurred again. The vehicle was stopped and parked overnight and wouldn't start the…
2018 · 10 miles · Electrical system
Tl* the contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to shut off and the contact disconnected the battery. Also, the running boards failed to retract and the steering wheel pulled to the left and right. The contact stated that the drive control malfunction service requested, hill…
2018 · 500 miles · Electrical system
Cpsc: the purported purpose of Ford's 'projector' headlight design was to increase lumens while decreasing power consumption. Instead of the headlight (as with 'normal' low-beam headlights) being aimed away from oncoming vehicles and displaying the entire road ahead, the headlight road visibility (as viewed by the…
2018 · 730 miles · Exterior lighting
Built from 632 NHTSA complaints with mileage · snapshot 2026-08-12 · open data · reproduce this page