2018 Ford Expedition: All four shock absorbers leaking oil
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2018 Expedition report: all four shock absorbers leaking oil. CarComplaints.com lists 2 owner complaints, average mileage 28,650 miles.
NHTSA has 26 owner complaints for the 2018 Expedition in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11771716 (filed 10/16/2026): “Macpherson strut assemblies leaking large amounts of hydraulic fluid which spills into/on the brakes. decreased fluid in the macpherson strut results in excessive rebound, decreased braking, at times no braking when fluid has spewed onto brakes, followed by …”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11766133 (filed 09/22/2026): “This is a widespread problem across the ford expedition. i've read forum after forum, facebook group after facebook group and have seen that many expeditions are affected by this. the front end of the expedition; primarily the steering and suspension component…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: replace struts (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Shocks/struts can be DIY with proper spring compressors; air suspension diagnosis needs a scan tool. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $2,000 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto
Sources
- CarComplaints.com: All four shock absorbers leaking oil (2018 Expedition)
- NHTSA complaints API, 2018 Expedition
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