2018 Ford Expedition: start-stop system problems

Filed Mar 3, 2025 · Transmission · ME

I bought the vehicle used with 108,xxx miles on it in May of 2024. In July I had in the repair shop for one issue and noticed there was an issue with the Auto Start/Stop. When the Auto Start/Stop is engaged and the brake is depressed it jams into first gear like a standard vehicle when the clutch is released to early. Transmission fluid was checked to be low so it was refilled. I was told to change my driving habits, which is what I did. I no longer use it because it still has the issue. Move forward to December 2024. I was driving and realized it was skipping 2nd, 4th, and sometimes 6th gears. Upon further research I found that it was normal to happen. When I was driving it home on February 20 I lost 1st, 2nd, and 3rd gear. I was close enough home where I was able to get home. When I got home I restarted and still had no lower gears. I let it sit for a couple of hours and drove it again and I had the normal gear shift. I called the dealership and had an appointment scheduled. I was told from that appointment a brand new transmission was needed or a transmission overhaul was needed to fix the issue. I was told to contact Ford Customer Support to find out if there were any options about the warranties that may be out there or recalls about the 10-speed transmission. When I called Ford about the possibility of my 10-speed transmission being under the recall for the transmission I was told that because the VIN did not need to recalled. Upon further research I have found multiple people with this issue in this vehicle. Ford would not cover anything as the vehicle is out of warranty and over 100,000 miles. I was told to file a claim with the federal safety agency because of the risk it may cause others, but at this time there was nothing more that could be done.

Filed Oct 2, 2023 · Electrical, Engine · MA

When car is stopped, the engine dies and it reads on screen “ place car in park to restart engine”. This is not the automatic stop/start. Car has died a handful of times when in stopped traffic or at red lights. Sometimes taking several seconds to get engine running again. Brand new battery. Herb Chambers Ford dealership used diagnostics on 9/29/23 and “did not find anything broken”.

Filed Sep 28, 2023 · Engine, Transmission · MN

The auto stop/start feature fails to work properly and causes the vehicle engine to stop running while on the road. The warning message "AUTO START/STOP, SHIFT TO P THEN RESTART ENGINE" comes up and you have to put the vehicle in park then restart the engine. This has been confirmed by the dealer (wife was driving it with the tech) and we have to pay $550 plus a diagnosis fee of $150 to get them to resolve this safety issue. Our extended vehicle warranty coverage won't cover it because it's a valve and reprogramming issue, not a part replacement. There are several mentions of this on a google search for the problem, yet Ford isn't covering any of the repair for a known issue. The rep at the Ford dealer said there is even a techincal service bulletin about the issue. Complete failure of the company to resolve this safety issue and charge the consumer for this.

Filed Sep 18, 2022 · Engine · NC

While coming to a stop, or already stopped with the Auto Start/Stop system engaged, the vehicle will completely shut down and the message "Auto StartStop Shift to P, then Restart Engine" pops up. After doing that the engine restarts normally. AGM battery was recently replaced and engine starting is strong. This has happened around 3-4 times in the last few weeks, and normally occurs when the engine is still cold in the first couple miles of driving (although temps have been very mild, in the 60's or 70's). I have tried contacting two Ford dealers in my area but both have been unresponsive. One said they can't even take appointments related to powertrain in the next several months and the other will not call me back after leaving repeated messages. Thankfully this has only occurred while stopped or coming to a stop in traffic, but could also happen while making a turn into oncoming traffic.

Filed Mar 13, 2022 · PA

The auto start stop function failed to restart the engine in an intersection on three occasions. We entered the intersections waiting to make a left turn and the auto stop start turned the car off. When we picked up our foot off the break to complete the left turn and clear the intersection the auto stop start failed to restart the car. An error code came up that said "Auto Start/Stop Shift to P, then restart engine". We shifted to park and restarted the car to clear the intersection to blaring horns. Thankfully there wasn't an immediate need to clear the intersection due to oncoming traffic or we would have been clobbered.