September 2023: We bought a 2018 Ford Expedition with 56,000 miles from Carvana. It seemed perfect at the time (fit all our needs), but looking back, maybe it was a mistake. Issues started just after Carvana’s 100-day warranty ended.
The Problems Begin:
December 2023:
After only three months, the car started having trouble. It threw codes P0018 and P0021, with symptoms like rough idling at stops—felt like it would stall out (but hasn’t yet).
Local mechanics couldn’t figure it out, so we took it to a Ford dealer.
Repair Timeline:
(CEL = Check Engine Light. After every visit, the CEL came back within a week.)
2/24/2024–3/13/2024:
Ford Dealer 1: Replaced cam phasers ($3,500 out of pocket). Came with a 2-year warranty on parts and labor.
4/5/2024–4/9/2024:
Ford Dealer 1: Relearn procedure/programming.
5/2/2024–5/3/2024:
Independent shop: Recommended a timing chain replacement but suggested I go back to Ford for the repair.
5/10/2024–5/17/2024:
Ford Dealer 1: Replaced oil control solenoid, removed the upper intake and bank 2 valve cover, and replaced the bank 2 sensor.
6/26/2024–7/5/2024:
Independent shop: Replaced front struts and suspension ($1,500—unrelated issue but still frustrating).
8/16/2024–9/10/2024:
Ford Dealer 1: Retimed the timing chain.
10/7/2024–11/26/2024:
Ford Dealer 2: Replaced cam phasers (again) and consulted Ford engineers. CEL returned even after test driving. Replaced cam phasers a second time. After test drives, the CEL stayed off.
11/30/2024:
Picked it up, and the CEL came back during the drive home.
Current Status:
The vehicle has been undriveable for most of 2024. We’ve spent thousands, and no one has been able to permanently fix the issue.
Questions:
Are we just out of luck?
Is there any legal recourse (lemon laws, warranty claims, etc.)?
Has anyone dealt with something like this? What should we do?
Any advice would mean a lot. I’m completely frustrated and out of ideas!
“Replaced bank 2 sensor”—do you know which sensor specifically? If it wasn’t the VCT solenoid, I’d replace all four VCT solenoids with new Ford ones. Check for metal debris or contamination in the old ones. If the updated phasers were installed and it’s properly timed, the next likely issue is with the VCT solenoids.
@Adler
Just got off the phone with the dealer. They said the phasers and all four VCT solenoids were replaced. It’s heading back to them on January 6th… fingers crossed.
If there’s no manufacturer warranty, you’re probably out of luck. Carvana’s warranty isn’t much help—it’s a third-party deal. I’m guessing this is the 3.5L Ecoboost? Honestly, you might just have to take the loss and get rid of it.
VCT solenoids (sometimes called oil control solenoids) are not sensors—they’re electronically controlled valves that regulate oil flow to the camshaft phasers. If oil isn’t changed regularly, debris can clog the solenoids and cause these kinds of problems. The 3.5L Ecoboost uses four VCT solenoids—two for each cylinder bank. If the cam phasers were replaced, it’s usually a good idea to replace the solenoids at the same time since it’s not much extra work. Hope this helps.
@Rory
Thanks for the detailed explanation! I’ll double-check with the dealer about whether they replaced the solenoids. If the previous owner didn’t maintain the oil well, would that be obvious to the mechanics? Is there anything I can do now to clean things up?
@Tal
Poor maintenance often shows up as varnish (a brown, stained appearance on metal parts) or even sludge in extreme cases. Regular oil changes help prevent this. Unfortunately, once varnish builds up, it’s tough to clean completely. Frequent oil changes or engine flushes might help, but they won’t reverse the damage entirely.
In my experience, Ford dealers often just throw parts at a problem and hope it goes away. I had a nightmare with a 2020 Explorer ST—chased a powertrain vibration for six months. They replaced parts that weren’t even related, ignored my requests, and eventually stopped returning my calls. I dumped it for a Mazda. If you’re at this point, it might be worth moving on and trying a different brand.
