Years affected, the mileage it usually shows up at, and what fixes it
About this problem
Cam phasers are oil-pressure-driven gears on the ends of the camshafts that shift valve timing to improve power and fuel economy. When they wear, or when oil pressure is low right after a cold start, they rattle loudly for a few seconds. Left alone, the wear can spread to the timing chain and its guides and cause rough running and check engine lights, and the repair involves taking the front of the engine apart.
Across all owner complaints filed about the Ford Expedition since 2012, 204 (7.1%) describe cam phaser rattle, the second most reported problem we track on the Expedition. The reports cluster on the 2018, 2019 and 2020 model years, and the 2019 drew the most, with 102. It tends to show up at higher mileage: half of the owners who gave a mileage were between 65,000 and 108,000 miles. No recall covers it, but Ford has sent dealers service bulletins about it, listed below.
What owners report
Owners of the 3.5-liter EcoBoost Expedition report a loud rattle for a few seconds after a cold start, sometimes with a check engine light. Worn cam phasers or a stretched timing chain are the usual causes. The 2018 to 2020 trucks drew the most reports.
How it gets fixed
The repair replaces the cam phasers, timing chain and related parts. Ford extended coverage on some vehicles.
Typical cost: A cam phaser job costs about $2,000 to $3,500.
Complaints by model year
In owners' words
"My Expedition was reprogrammed when I bought it due to the Cam phaser rattle. This did not help. I was told this was normal and would not effect the engine. I had taken it in a second time to be reprogrammed an given the same information."
2019 Ford Expedition, 107,884 miles
"I am writing to express my dissatisfaction with the response I have received regarding the cam phaser replacement for my 2018 Ford Expedition."
2018 Ford Expedition
"I am reporting a severe, systemic manufacturing defect in the 3.5L EcoBoost engine timing system (cam phasers and timing chain) of my 2017 Ford Expedition that poses an immediate highway safety hazard."
2017 Ford Expedition
Excerpts from public owner complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, lightly trimmed.
Service bulletins and warranty extensions
Ford has sent dealers 8 bulletins that mention this problem on the Expedition. A bulletin tells technicians how to fix a known fault. It is not a recall, so the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty or covered by an extension.
In some of the affected vehicles, an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine.
Certain 2017-2020 Model Year F-150, 2018-2020 Expedition, and 2018-2020 Navigator Vehicles Equipped with a 3.5L GTDI Engine Cam Phaser Replacement; Owner letters are scheduled to mail during the week of September 27, 2021 Submi...
It may be possible that an undesirable noise may develop from the cam phasers in the 3.5L GTDI engine.
Some 2017-2018 F-150 vehicles built on or before 10-Jul-2018 and 2018-2019 Expedition/Navigator vehicles built on or before 8-Apr-2019 equipped with a 3.5L EcoBoost engine may exhibit a ticking, tapping, or rattle type noise fr...
Before you buy a Expedition
- Start the engine cold and listen for rattle.
- Watch for a check engine light.
- Ask for cam phaser repair records.
Questions
Which Ford Expedition years have cam phaser rattle?
Complaints are highest for the 2018, 2019, 2020 model years. The 2019 drew the most, with 102 reports.
At what mileage does it usually start?
Among owners who gave a mileage, the middle figure was about 81,000 miles, and half reported it between 65,000 and 108,000 miles.
How much does it cost to fix?
A cam phaser job costs about $2,000 to $3,500.