A used Ford Expedition is a strong pick if you need real towing and an adult-sized third row, but in mid October 2026 the 2018-2021 trucks carry a transmission park pawl recall whose fix is not expected until April 2027. So match the year to your patience. A 2022-2024 truck has its own brake line and wiper campaigns, and a 2025-and-later refresh adds brake booster and headlight campaigns. Run the VIN either way, and read the ownership history for fleet or rental use.
We pulled every Expedition recall NHTSA had for 2018 through 2026 on October 13, 2026. The list is long, which is normal for a high-volume Ford that shares parts with the F-150 and Lincoln Navigator. Several of the newest campaigns have interim letters out and no final remedy yet. That changes how you negotiate. A seller cannot fix a recall that Ford has not released, but you can still price in the hassle and the dealer visits.
Which Expedition you are looking at
By the 2018 model year the Expedition used a 3.5-liter EcoBoost V-6 and a 10-speed automatic, and you can see both named in 2018 recalls like 18V-213 and 18V-392. Car and Driver's 2022 review lists 380 hp on most trims and 400 hp on the Limited, with a higher-output version on the Timberline and Stealth Performance package, and a tow rating up to 9300 pounds, or 9000 on the long Expedition Max. For 2025, Car and Driver describes a refresh with new lights, a split upper liftgate and lower tailgate, a bi-level screen layout, a Tremor trim in place of the Timberline, 400 hp standard or 440 hp high-output, and up to 9600 pounds of towing, with the Max still capped at 9000. The Max buys you cargo room behind the third row, and its tow rating is actually lower.
2018-2021: the park pawl recall with no fix yet
NHTSA recall 26V-402 covers about 741,195 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, including 2018-2021 Expeditions. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is moving and damage the park system. Dealers will update powertrain software and replace damaged parts, but Ford's interim letters went out July 10, 2026, and the remedy is anticipated in April 2027. That means a covered 2019 Expedition on a lot today should show this line as open with no fix available. You can still buy one. Just ask why the price does not reflect it.
The same years carry 26V-344, about 419,967 2018-2022 Expedition and Navigator vehicles whose front seat belt pretensioner can lock the belt. It replaces two earlier recalls, 24V-099 and 25V-197, and trucks repaired under those still need the new repair. A 2020 truck may also show 25V-628, and a 2021 truck 22V-346. Both involve the battery junction box and an engine compartment fire risk, and both tell owners to park outside until the work is done. And 26V-368 covers about 548,463 2018-2024 Expeditions whose center console chrome can peel into sharp edges, with a remedy expected in January 2027.
2022-2024 and 2025-plus campaigns
25V-314 covers about 273,789 2022-2024 Expedition and Navigator vehicles whose front brake lines can rub on the air cleaner outlet pipe and leak. 26V-204 covers 2021-2023 trucks whose wiper arms may break. If you tow, 26V-104 covers about 4,381,878 Ford-family vehicles, including 2022-2027 Expeditions, whose integrated trailer module can lose communication and drop trailer lights or brakes. It updates by dealer or over the air. On 2025 trucks, 25V-488 covers about 312,120 vehicles whose electronic brake booster can lose power assist, and 26V-606 covers 2025-2027 Expeditions whose LED headlight chips may fail, with letters expected around October 26, 2026.
Fleet, rental, and police history
Big SUVs end up in rental and corporate fleets, and Ford even built Expeditions with a police package, which shows up by name in recall 20V-197. That is not automatically bad, but you should know before you agree on a number. Our explainer on CARFAX rental history shows how fleet and rental use tends to appear, and our guide on how to read a CARFAX report covers title and accident lines. Decode the truck with our Ford VIN decoder and run the campaigns with our Ford recall check by VIN steps. If you are cross-shopping, our used Chevy Tahoe buying guide is the obvious comparison.
As of mid October 2026, a CARFAX report through us runs about $5.50 as a guest or $4.50 as a member, and the CARFAX plus AutoCheck bundle about $6.75, against roughly $39.99 to $44.99 retail. Confirm at checkout. We are a licensed CARFAX and AutoCheck reseller, not affiliated with CARFAX, AutoCheck, or Experian. A seller who says "Ford fixed all that" on a covered 2019 is wrong about at least one recall, because Ford has not released that fix yet.
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