Some 2017-2018 Expedition/Navigator vehicles may experience a noisy, soft, spongy and/or bouncy ride quality while driving. This may be the result of a shock absorber that is leaking fluid. To assist with the investigation please use the Report a Vehicle Concern link at the bottom of the OASIS tab on the PTS website. Include detail on which shock absorber(s) appear to be leaking and if the vehicle is in for a repeat repair for this concern. To further aid in this investigation, please attach a photo of the shock absorber date code label from the leaking shock(s). This label will have the word CAUTION at the top and may appear silver in color with a colored stripe on one side. Engineering is
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Ford Expedition suspension problems
moderate Owners of the 2018 Ford Expedition have filed 24 NHTSA complaints about the suspension, typically surfacing around 21,411 miles at roughly $900 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of August 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See suspension across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
24
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$900
| Model year | suspension complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Expedition | 3 |
| 2018 Expedition (this page) | 24 |
| 2019 Expedition | 14 |
When does it fail?
Of the 24 suspension complaints filed for the 2018 Ford Expedition, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 7 model years of Ford Expedition we track for suspension problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 24.
No new NHTSA suspension complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 4 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering suspension on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report all four struts leaking hydraulic fluid and failing prematurely across the 2018 Expedition model year. Failures occur between 6,000 and 46,000 miles under normal city and highway driving, with no off-road use, towing, or crash history. Symptoms include excessive bouncing over minor road irregularities, rough boat-like ride quality, body sway during turns, and loss of vehicle control on bridges and uneven surfaces. One owner reported the rear bouncing so violently during an overpass crossing at 50 mph that control was nearly lost with family in the vehicle.
Owners describe taking their vehicles in for routine maintenance and discovering all four struts leaking during tire rotations or oil changes. Replacement costs run $1,467–$1,700 per set. One owner had a strut replaced under warranty at 7,000 miles, only to have the same strut leak again by 27,800 miles.
Ford has issued a Safety Service Message (SSM 47624) for 2017–2018 Expeditions, but it directs dealers only to monitor the struts, not replace them. The manufacturer refuses recalls and denies responsibility, often stating no recall exists or that leaking shocks are not a covered defect. Extended warranty coverage is routinely denied because Ford's parts catalog lists these components as "shock absorbers" rather than "struts," creating a mismatch with coverage language. Owners express frustration that the issue is widespread and documented across multiple complaints yet remains unaddressed.
Same Ford Expedition suspension reports on nearby years: 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Strut/Shock Leaking and Loss of Damping
All four struts leak hydraulic fluid prematurely, causing loss of suspension damping and a bouncy, uncontrolled ride. Leaks occur as early as 6,000–46,000 miles under normal city/highway driving with no off-road use, towing, or impact damage. Owners report the vehicle bounces excessively over small road irregularities, feels unstable during lane changes and turns, and exhibits body sway. One owner reported the rear bounced so much during an overpass crossing at 50 mph that control was nearly lost. The defect is widespread across the model year but Ford denies responsibility and has not issued a recall.
When: 6,000–46,000 miles; typically within 2–3 years of ownership and often before extended warranty expiration
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive bouncing during normal driving; Rough, boat-like ride quality; Loss of vehicle control on bridges and rough road surfaces; Body bounce and sway during turns; Visible fluid leaks from strut housings; Children reported bouncing in rear seats
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of all four strut assemblies; costs reported as ~$1,467–$1,700 per set. OEM struts (part JL1Z 18124 E Shock Absorber Asy.) are the replacement but may fail again. Ford parts catalog lists only 'shock absorbers,' not 'struts,' creating warranty coverage confusion.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford issued Safety Service Message (SSM) 47624 for 2017–2018 Expeditions directing dealers to monitor strut condition but not replace under warranty. Ford denies responsibility, citing no active recall, and often refuses reimbursement. Extended warranty programs exclude struts due to catalog labeling mismatch (struts coded as shocks, which are not covered).
Rear Differential Retainer Bushing Loose at Delivery
Factory defect in which the rear differential retainer bushing was left loose and not fully installed, allowing the entire rear suspension system to rotate when it should have been fixed. This causes a loud clunking noise in the rear suspension with each transmission downshift and hard acceleration, resulting in premature tire wear and apparent fluid loss in shock absorbers.
When: Present at delivery from factory
Symptoms owners cite: Loud, distinct clunking in rear suspension; Clunking with each downshift of 10-speed transmission; Hard clunking on acceleration; Harsh ride quality; Premature tire wear
Repairs/costs cited: Rear differential retainer bushing requires reinstallation/tightening.
Passenger Side Front Axle Seal Failure
Passenger side front axle seal failure causing rattling noises from the engine compartment when the vehicle is started and body shift during driving.
When: Approximately 70,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Rattling sound from engine compartment on startup; Body shift during driving; Occurs at various speeds
Synthesized from 24 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
Left front Strut was leaking at 7000, was replaced by ford. 12/6/2, the SUV has 27,800 miles and the same Strut is leaking again. The car is been only drive on city roads and freeway. I can see many people are complaining about the same issue.
During a routine oil change, the Ford dealer found all four of my suspension struts were leaking. Unless the vehicle was dropped from 50 feet in the air, there is no reason four struts should be leaking. It has to be defective struts.
Vehicle has less that 40,000 miles on it. It has become almost uncontrollable if you hit any rough spots on the road. During the last oil change it was noted the rear shocks and struts were bad as well as the front struts. This is far to early for a vehicle to have these issues. It has never been off-road and only towed a small trailer one time.
Had suspension trouble with your 2018 Ford Expedition?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the suspension problem on the 2018 Ford Expedition?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 24 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $900 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the suspension typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most suspension failures cluster between 10,000 and 44,000 miles, with the median around 21,411. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,000; a quarter make it past 44,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $900 for suspension repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to suspension?
No active recalls currently cover suspension issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2018/Ford/Expedition.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.