2018 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 732 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Structure (288), Unknown Or Other (168), Engine (95).
Key takeaways
- 732 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 15 involve a crash, 7 a fire, 12 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 288 | 39% |
| Unknown Or Other | 168 | 23% |
| Engine | 95 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 57 | 8% |
| Power Train | 50 | 7% |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 29 | 4% |
| Back Over Prevention | 26 | 4% |
| Suspension | 23 | 3% |
| Steering | 20 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 3% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 16 | 2% |
| Air Bags | 11 | 2% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-12
The water pump has failed
Engine - filed 2026-10-05
MY VEHHICLE HAS BEEN TESTED BY FORD SERVICE CENTER AND FOUND TO BE AFFECTED BY THE FACTORY DEFECT THAT ALLOWS COOLANT TO LEAK CAUSING A CATASTROPHIC ENGINE FAILURE WHERE THE ONLY REMEDY IS A NEW ENGINE BLOCK. MY VEHICLE HAS 69919 MILES. THE PROBLEM WAS RECOGNIZED WHEN THE VEHICLE BAGAN TO MISFIRE CAUSING THE CHECK ENGI...
Structure - filed 2026-09-22
Exterior B-Pillar Applique / Door Trim Panel with keypad: The exterior B-pillar trim piece on the driver side front door frame has experienced catastrophic adhesive failure and clip breakage, detaching at the top portion while driving. This plastic trim is flapping at highway speeds and is at imminent risk of complete...
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More for the 2018 Ford Explorer
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.