Complaint volume
710 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2018 Ford Explorer Complaints
710 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Ford Explorer, grouped by component category.
710 Total complaints
14 Crash reports
7 Fire reports
12 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are structure, unknown or other, engine. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 14 crash reports, 7 fire reports, 12 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 284 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 53,609 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to structure, unknown or other, engine?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2018 Ford Explorer?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2018 Ford Explorer
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2018 Ford Explorer complaints?
14 Crash
7 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
30 Towed
5 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Ford Explorer complaint categories?
STRUCTURE 250
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 114
ENGINE 57
POWER TRAIN 27
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 21
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18
SUSPENSION 15
BACK OVER PREVENTION 12
STEERING 11
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 11
710 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE FRONT SEAL OF WINDSHIELD SEEMS TO BE LETTING QUITE A BIT OF AIR FLOW THROUGH WINDOW INTO VEHILE WHEN DRIVING 35+ MILES/HR. THERE IS A RECALL ON THE PARTICUALAR PART THAT NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. THE VIHICLE HAS YET TO BE INSPECTED BY PROFESSIONAL. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The clips on my windshield are not holding windshield in properly and the black rubber on outside of windshield is deteriorating and my windshield vibrates while driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side roof rank top cover detached and flew off into traffic. The dealer provided a mobile service and the vehicle was diagnosed with failed roof rank push pins. The contact was informed that the rooftop push pins needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed of an unknown recall that had a similar failure description, however, the contact's VIN was not associated with the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline and report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 105,000 |
| Nov 2024 | ENGINE | Took the vehicle to a Ford Dealership to fix the roof railings (recalled). While doing their inspection they said the vehicle was out of coolant and that the water pump needed to be replaced and it would cost $4400.82. There were no warning lights or anything indicating that anything was wrong with the vehicle. This is a safety issue because the vehicle could overheat and shut down in the middle of the interstate without any warnings. This is a problem with the Explorer and should be remedied. Ford said there is a possibility that the coolant leaked into the engine and if so, a new engine would be required. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | The APIM (sync module) went blank. It controls backup camera, radio, heat and air, sensors on the bumper etc... Ford said the APIM failed testing and recommended to replace the APIM to gain access to the screen. It would only cost about $1100. This is a safety issue because the sensors will not work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Faulty throttle body after purge valve replacement. Car would not accelerate and had to be towed to the dealer. Throttle body is stuck in the closed position according to the dealer. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2024 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, the contact stated that the vehicle jerked forward and backward. The contact stated that the vehicle was driven back onto the driveway. The contact turned off the vehicle and the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with throttle body failure that was seized closed. The contact was informed that the throttle body needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated that the purge valve had been replaced 26 days prior to the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,200. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 100,200 |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim on both sides of the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made not aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 83,276. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 83,276 |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH, the contact became aware that the driver’s side keypad had detached from the door, causing the trunk to not release or open. The door ajar warning light illuminated; however, all the doors were properly closed. The contact stated that the failure was temporarily repaired with tape. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 102,000 |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | Doesn’t want to run right | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SUSPENSION | As I made a turn, the toe link broke and caused my car to be thrown to side of road. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | ENGINE | Driving home from work when all of a sudden my car started jerking, not shifting correctly and could hear a noticeable noise coming from the engine. Low oil pressure light came on and pulled over. Car would not restart. Had it towed to mechanic and was determined that the engine was hydrolocked due to coolant getting into the pistons and oil. New engine needed on a 6 year old car with 91,000 miles. Upon researching it seems this is a common problem with eco boost engines and I don’t believe I should be responsible for this apparent COMMON issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his daughter was driving approximately 35 MPH over a bump in the roadway, the steering wheel turned to the left while driving straight on the roadway. The contact stated that his daughter had not seen warning light illuminated. The contact drove to his daughter location and drove the vehicle to an independent mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver’s side rear wheel rear suspension toe link had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the mechanic researched online and related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V537000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 137,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 137,000 |
| Oct 2024 | SEAT BELTS | For the 2nd row passenger seat the clip has broken. You can not safely have a passenger in the seat. I have been trying for over a year to get the part. I was told by the last person who looked at it that it is specific to the air bag seat belts in the second row. I also had a coworker who had the exact same part break. For the first 6 months I tried to get this resolved they were so far backordered that the dealership would not even take my name to get on the list for the back order. They finally took my name last month, but its still on back order. It has now been over a year with a seat unalbe to be used for a passenger. I am trying to figure out how if so many people are in line for this part that it is not a safety recall issue...Also why are they not just replacing the entire set up as they seem to have a very common issue going on here. What if that were to have broken during an accident. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine and coolant warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the water pump had leaked into the engine and advised the contact to maintain the anti-freeze level at full. The vehicle was taken to another local independent mechanic for a second opinion where it was diagnosed with the same failures and advised the contact to reach out to the local dealer for assistance. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 160,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 160,000 |
| Oct 2024 | SUSPENSION | On the highway doing 70 mph when the 2018 explorer started to sway back n forth and skipping across the road, got it stopped on the side of road and found out that my rear drivers toe link has broke. I see FORD has a RECALL on the 2016 - 2017 explorers for this problem... I'm lucky that I didn't kill someone or crash the vehicle. It was not a fun ride with my wife and kids in the SUV. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact's wife stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled with the low oil warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the engine failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHSTA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 125,787. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 125,787 |
| Oct 2024 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized and failed to function as intended. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had been reoccurring for over a year. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Oct 2024 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Got a letter in February from Ford about recall 24S02/NHTSA recall 24V031and have not seen any updates in the last t months ???? | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2024 | VISIBILITY,STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); the roof racks started to detach from the vehicle, almost causing the sunroof to fracture. The contact stated that the side view mirrors seized without warning. The contact had to shift to park and turn off and restart the vehicle for the side view mirrors to operate as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 77,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 77,000 |
| Oct 2024 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the bottom section of the front windshield rubber trim seal had deteriorated and became unsecured. While driving at various speeds, the unsecured trim was blown into the field of view of the driver, creating a visibility hazard. The cause of the failure was not determined. The manufacturer and local dealer were notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 40,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 40,000 |
| Sep 2024 | ENGINE | My check engine light came on took the SUV to Ford Dealership for service. They informed me that my engine had coolant intrusion and that I would need a new engine. In reviewing this information online I noticed that there have been multiple recalls on the EcoBoost engine with the same problem. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2024 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 30-35 MPH, there was an abnormal squeaking sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed that the bushing joint had fractured and needed to be repaired or replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The mechanic referred the contact to the dealer. The vehicle had been taken to the dealer who had confirmed the diagnostic result. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and opened a case regarding the failure. The manufacturer had confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN. The manufacturer referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 62,500. | Crash: No Fire: No | 62,500 |