Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2018 Ford Expedition owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the vehicle started sputtering and unintendedly decelerated to 20 MPH. The contact was able to continue driving; however, the vehicle failed to exceed 20 MPH. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuel pump was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where the fuel pump and the Variable Valve Timing (VVT) Solenoid were replaced; however, the failure recurred increasingly, and the vehicle lost motive power on several occasions. The contact veered to the side of the road and restarted the vehicle after several attempts and continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the fuel pump and the fuel pressure rail were replaced; however, the check engine warning light became illuminated. …
The infotainment screen that includes the rear backup camera stopped working intermittently and then completely. The dealer's service department identified that the APIM, a module involved in operating the screen had failed. The backup camera is a significant and necessary safety feature for such a large vehicle. The dealer ordered the new part and replaced it at significant expense. There was no warning of this issue, and the only symptom was the intermittent delay of the infotainment system turning on upon startup of the vehicle.
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2018 Ford Expedition. The vehicle was purchased through a dealer sale. It was discovered that there was a mileage discrepancy per a Carfax report. At the time of purchase per the title, the vehicle mileage was 56,562., However, the Carfax report stated that the mileage was 195, 253 on 3/2/26. The contact stated that the current approximate mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Expedition. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, he heard a loud noise coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the contact was informed that the cam phaser needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure however, no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 83,000.
Electrical fire under hood occurred spontaneously. Just before my vehicle shut off the dash board read something about to conserve battery shut engine off. Pulled over got out of car and it burned . Insurance agent is investigating. Sherriff and fireman said it was electrical fire under hood. Had I not decided to pull over at rest stop when I did we would have been on freeway when it ignited.
About 20 times now, while I am on the freeway, sometimes when I am coasting, and other times when I am trying to quickly accelerate, my car down shifts out of nowhere and loses power, again either when I am in the fast lane coasting, or trying to merge into traffic. It's like it is going to stall and when I step on the gas, it just revs and doesn't get into gear and go. I have almost been rear ended because I go from 70 to like 40 mph. When I was trying to merge into traffic, I got partially into the other lane and then it just wouldn't go. I could easily have been hit. One time when I was coasting and it did it, a warning came on, and then a check manual, but it went away too fast. I have taken it to the dealer and a repair shop multiple times and they can't replicate it. It could definitely cause an accident as my car suddenly slows down and it won't accelerate. …
Our 2018 Ford Expedition Max caught fire while on a test drive after repairs at Canby Ford. It completely caught fire and is a total loss. We were supposed to pick up the car an hour later. If our kids were in the car strapped into car seats, there may not have been enough time to get them out. They could have died. The mechanic who was driving saw the engine smoking and jumped out (he was at risk). The whole car was gone within 2-3 minutes. In my opinion it exploded as all the windows were blown out. The motor block melted, and the front end of the car is gone. There is a report with Canby Oregon Fire Department. Most people would assume it was overheating, get out and open the hood with their family still in the car. If that had happened people could have died. There were no check engine lights on when we took it to Ford. …
I own a 2018 Ford Expedition, and the factory-installed backup camera has progressively failed. Initially, the camera display was intermittent-sometimes showing the rear view and other times freezing or going black. The issue has now worsened to the point that the camera no longer turns on at all when the vehicle is placed in reverse. This failure presents a significant safety hazard, as the rearview camera is critical for detecting pedestrians, obstacles, and other vehicles-especially in a large SUV with limited rear visibility. The loss of this feature increases the risk of an accident while reversing. Additionally, this defect renders the vehicle non-compliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 111, which requires all vehicles manufactured after May 2018 to have a functioning rear visibility system. …
We were having issues with our transmission shifting very abruptly and making a clunking noise back in late June 2023. This was occurring as my wife was traveling out of state for a funeral to Michigan. We were able to drop the vehicle off at a certified mechanic in Ohio, and were told that they were metal shavings inside the transmission. The vehicle sat there for several weeks, waiting on a new/remanned transmission from a local Ford dealership. The transmission was replaced, and I flew back to Ohio to drive the vehicle back to Virginia in early August. At first, the vehicle was shifting and driving normally as it should. However, when I was near Richmond, Virginia, I had to change lanes to pass a semi, and when I pressed the gas, all power was lost and the lights on the dash went completely black. …
What component or system failed or malfunctioned TRANSMISSION, and is it available for inspection upon request YES How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I WAS DRIVING ON A MAJOR 8 LANE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT EXCELERATE SAFTLY TO GET OUT OF THE WAY OF TRAFFIC Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? YES Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? YES, MANUFACTURER FORD & AAMCO TRANSMISSION Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, NO and when did they first appear THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON RIGHT AFTER THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING PROPERLY. …
Electrical complaints in other Expedition years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
NHTSA has 34 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Ford Expedition, 9% of the model year's 382 complaints. The component named most often is starter assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2018 Ford Expedition electrical problems?
No. NHTSA lists no electrical system recall for the 2018 Ford Expedition, though it has 14 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2018 Ford Expedition electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 58% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 2 fires and 6 injuries to electrical system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.