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Your rig: · this is your owner hub.
The Expedition was redesigned for 2018 and again, in Ford's words, fully redesigned for 2025, when the off-road Tremor joined the line. Rear-wheel drive is the standard layout and four-wheel drive is optional, except on the Tremor, which is always 4x4 and adds a locking rear differential, 33-inch tires and 10.6 inches of clearance. A 4x4 Expedition tows up to 9,600 lb with a weight-distributing hitch. The May 2026 seat-belt recall, NHTSA 26V344, covers 419,967 Expeditions and Navigators from 2018–2022.
At a Glance
| If your Expedition is a… | What drives the wheels | Good fit for |
|---|---|---|
| 2025-on rear-drive (4x2) model | Rear wheels only | Paved roads and towing in dry climates |
| 2025-on Active, Platinum or King Ranch with 4x4 | Four-wheel drive with a two-speed case | Snow, boat ramps and gravel roads |
| 2025-on Tremor | 4x4, locking rear differential, 33-inch tires | Trails and rough roads with a full family |
| 2018–2024 4x4 | Four-wheel drive; limited-slip rear axle available | Snow and gravel; check the build sheet for options |
Generations and Model Years
IIHS notes that the Expedition was redesigned for the 2018 model year. For 2025, Ford introduced what it calls the all-new Expedition and Expedition MAX, fully redesigned, with the Tremor off-road model new to the line. The 2025–2026 trucks are built at Kentucky Truck Plant in Louisville on a fully boxed high-strength steel frame with a military-grade aluminum-alloy body, and use independent suspension at both ends: short- and long-arm coil-overs in front and a multi-link rear. Trims for 2026 are Active, Tremor, Platinum and King Ranch, each in standard or long-wheelbase MAX form except Tremor.
Ford's how-to video library lists a Timberline off-road trim for the 2022 Expedition. Ford's 2023 towing guide lists the 2018–2024 truck with a 3.5L EcoBoost V6 and an available Electronic Limited Slip rear axle.
4WD System by Trim (2026)
| Trim | Drivetrain | Rear differential | Factory tire |
|---|---|---|---|
| Active | 4x2 standard; 4x4 available | — | 265/70R18 all-terrain (275/60R20 A/T optional) |
| Platinum | 4x4 available | — | 275/60R20 all-season |
| King Ranch | 4x4 available | — | 275/50R22 all-season |
| Tremor | 4x4 only | 3.73 electronic-locking | 275/70R18 all-terrain (33-inch General Grabber) |
With the Heavy-Duty Trailer Tow Package, 4x4 models get a two-speed automatic transfer case that can be put in neutral for flat towing; Ford's 2025 sheet names the system ControlTrac. Ford uses a 3.73 final drive on every 4x4 and 3.31 on 4x2 models. The Tremor adds a front skid plate plus underbody protection for the front axle, transfer case and fuel tank, a Rock Crawl drive mode, Trail Turn Assist and Trail 1-Pedal Drive, according to Ford's launch material. A locking rear differential forces both rear wheels to turn together, which helps when one rear tire is on loose ground or in the air.
Engines, Clearance and Towing (2026)
| Engine | Output | Where you find it |
|---|---|---|
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 | 400 hp, 480 lb-ft | Active, Platinum, King Ranch |
| 3.5L EcoBoost V6 High-Output | 440 hp, 510 lb-ft | Standard on Tremor; available on Platinum |
Both engines use a 10-speed automatic, and Ford rates their output on premium fuel. The maximum towing ratings are 6,000 lb for a 4x2 Expedition, 6,300 lb for a 4x2 MAX, 9,600 lb for a 4x4 Expedition without 24-inch wheels (9,200 lb with them), 9,300 lb for the Tremor and 9,000 lb for a 4x4 MAX. Any trailer over 7,000 lb requires a weight-distributing hitch; the 2025 launch material rates the Expedition at up to 7,000 lb without one. Ford's spec sheet doesn't list payload; the door-jamb label gives it for each truck.
Minimum running ground clearance is 8.7 inches for 4x4 Expeditions and MAX models and 10.6 inches for the Tremor, which Ford says is the highest in its class. The Tremor also sits on a 122.4-inch wheelbase, a tenth of an inch shorter than other standard-length models.
Expedition vs Expedition MAX: What Changes for Fitment
| Spec (2025) | Expedition | Expedition MAX |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelbase | 122.5 in | 131.5 in |
| Length | 209.9 in | 221.7 in |
| Fuel tank | 23.2 gal | 27.8 gal |
| Cargo behind 3rd row | 21.6 cu ft | 36.1 cu ft |
| Departure angle | 23.5° | 22.3° |
Cargo liners, cargo organizers and running boards are sized for either the standard or the MAX body. The 2025 redesign added Ford's Split Gate, a rear gate whose upper three-quarters lifts like a liftgate while the lower quarter folds down like a tailgate, so rear hitch-mounted accessories and cargo products for 2018–2024 trucks should be checked against the new gate. Wheel sizes run from 18 to 24 inches across trims, which decides tire sizes when replacing.
Recall History (NHTSA)
NHTSA lists 45 vehicle recall campaigns that include a 2018–2026 Expedition as of September 2026, most of them shared with the Lincoln Navigator or other Fords. The largest:
| NHTSA campaign | Filed | Model years | Problem | Units |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V368 | Jun 2026 | 2018–2024 Expedition | Chrome plating on the center console can bubble and peel, leaving sharp edges | 548,463 |
| 26V344 | May 2026 | 2018–2022 Expedition and Navigator | Front seat-belt pretensioner can lock the belt so it won't retract or extend | 419,967 |
| 25V314 | May 2025 | 2022–2024 Expedition and Navigator | Front brake lines can rub on the air cleaner outlet pipe and leak | 273,789 |
| 25V197 | May 2025 | 2018–2020 Expedition and Navigator | Earlier campaign for the same pretensioner lock-up | 112,951 |
| 22V346 | May 2022 | 2021 Expedition and Navigator | Engine-compartment fire possible even when parked; owners told to park outside until repaired | 66,221 |
For 26V344, Ford mailed interim letters in June 2026 and expected the remedy, replacement of the seat-belt retractors, in August 2026. A third pretensioner campaign, 24V099 (77,574 trucks from 2018–2020), preceded both. Also check 26V402 (741,195 vehicles, including 2018–2021 Expeditions), in which the transmission park pawl can engage while moving. A VIN search at NHTSA shows which of these a given Expedition still needs.
Expedition Owner Pages
- Is ford expedition 4wd
- Problems & Maintenance
- Mod Priorities
- How Many Miles Will It Last?
- Ford accessory fitment hub
Check for Open Recalls
Look up open NHTSA recall campaigns for this model by year. This calls NHTSA's free, public recall API directly from your browser — nothing is sent to us.
Choose a year and select “Check Recalls”.
Data from NHTSA's public recall API — this lookup is not the official record and 4x4 & Overlanding is not affiliated with NHTSA. Always confirm current recall status at nhtsa.gov/recalls using your vehicle's VIN before assuming a vehicle has no open recalls.
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Sources
- Ford — 2026 Expedition Technical Specifications — 2026 trims, 4x2/4x4 layouts, Tremor electronic-locking rear, transfer case, engines and outputs, final drive ratios, tires, ground clearance, Tremor wheelbase, towing ratings and weight-distributing hitch requirement.
- Ford — 2025 Expedition Technical Specifications — Kentucky Truck Plant, steel frame and aluminum body, ControlTrac naming, independent front and rear suspension, wheel sizes, Expedition vs MAX dimensions, fuel tanks and cargo volume.
- Ford — All-New Ford Expedition Fully Redesigned for Families with Big Lives — 2025 redesign, Tremor ground clearance claim, 33-inch General Grabber tires, skid plates, Rock Crawl and trail features, Split Gate, 7,000 lb towing without a weight-distributing hitch.
- Ford — What's New: 2025 Ford Expedition — Tremor series added for 2025; high-output V6 standard on Tremor.
- IIHS — 2024 Ford Expedition 4-door SUV ratings — The Expedition was redesigned for the 2018 model year.
- Ford — 2023 RV & Trailer Towing Guide — 2023 Expedition 3.5L EcoBoost and the Electronic Limited Slip rear axle.
- Ford — Expedition Timberline: Off-Road Features (2022 how-to video) — Timberline off-road trim on the 2022 Expedition.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V368 — 2018–2024 Expedition center console chrome peeling, 548,463 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V344 — 2018–2022 Expedition and Navigator front seat-belt pretensioner lock-up, 419,967 units; interim letters June 2026, retractor replacement expected August 2026.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V314 — 2022–2024 Expedition and Navigator front brake line damage, 273,789 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 25V197 — 2018–2020 Expedition and Navigator pretensioner lock-up, 112,951 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 24V099 — 2018–2020 Expedition and Navigator pretensioner, 77,574 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 22V346 — 2021 Expedition and Navigator engine-compartment fire, park-outside advisory, 66,221 units.
- NHTSA — Recall 26V402 — Transmission park pawl engaging in motion; includes 2018–2021 Expedition; 741,195 units.
- NHTSA — Datasets and APIs (Recalls API) — Recall campaign counts by model year and each campaign's reported number of potentially affected units, retrieved September 28, 2026.
- NHTSA — Recalls lookup by VIN — VIN lookup for open recall campaigns on a specific vehicle.