2018 Ford Expedition transmission and drivetrain problems
148 of the 375 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Expedition name the transmission and drivetrain (NHTSA’s “Power Train” heading — the transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading). Filed under the same heading: 41 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA complaint database2 of the 148 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 1 injury. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 1 · 2019: 3 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2022: 10 · 2023: 25 · 2024: 32 · 2025: 47 · 2026: 21
Half of the 36 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the transmission and drivetrain problem between 41,000 and 115,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
375 complaints in all about the 2018 Ford Expedition, 21 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Power Train” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Expedition transmission and drivetrain problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the transmission and drivetrain. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
During a routine trip on the highway, as I was trying to overtake a vehicle the SUV shifted from 10th gear to 1st and locked up the wheels. This left my vehicle unable to move for a few seconds while on the highway. I lost all throttle response, the vehicle lit up the wrench icon on the dash.
The vehicle "chatters" when starting first thing in the morning and sometimes after it sits for a few hours(when engine has had time to cool down). It started about two months ago. We recently took our Expedition to an independent mechanic to have it checked over prior to a road trip.
I pulled out of my driveway taking a left and as I pressed the gas to accelerate up the hill it seemed as though my car went into neutral. It would not go. I took my foot off the gas and waited a second or two and then pushed down on the accelerator again and then the car took off as normal.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, a rattling sound was present coming from under the hood of the vehicle. The vehicle was examined by an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the transmission vtc solenoid and cam-phaser were faulty and needed to be replaced and reprogrammed.
We have a 20018 Ford Expedition platinum, 2WD (rear wheel drive). Bought brand new. For the past month we've been having what seems like transmission issues. Car has 45,000 miles on it. A few times a day the transmission fails to shift at all; essentially goes in-between gears, revs high, but absolutely no movement.
What is on file about the transmission and drivetrain
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 26V402000 HighJun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
- 18V213000 CriticalApr 4, 2018 · 142 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
- 18V214000 HighApr 4, 2018 · 292,909 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 F-650 and F-750 vehicles equipped with 6-speed automatic transmissions and 2018 Ford F-150 and Expedition vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions (excluding Expedition vehicles with a Rotary Gear Shift Dial on the console). 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.
41 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54366 Service bulletinNov 12, 2025
- Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
- TSB 25-2476 Service bulletinOct 30, 2025
- This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2132. Reason for update: update the Part List Description and Labor Times Description Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0751, P0752, P075
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P0729 P0731 P0732 P0733 P0734 P0735 P0736 P0751
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Ford Expedition names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Ford Expedition
Source: the same files- engine problems 123 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre transmission and drivetrain problems common on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 148 owner complaints naming the transmission and drivetrain on this model year (39% of everything owners filed about it), and 41 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the transmission and drivetrain on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V402000, 18V213000, 18V214000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do transmission and drivetrain problems show up on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 88,992 miles; half of them between 41,000 and 115,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Power Train" heading cover?
The transmission, transfer case, driveshafts, axles and differentials — NHTSA files them under one heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.