Complaint volume
694 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
694 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2018 Ford Explorer, grouped by component category.
694 Total complaints
12 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 12 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 281 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 53,203 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?
12 Crash
7 Fire
12 Injury
0 Fatality
29 Towed
5 Medical attention
What are the most common 2018 Ford Explorer complaint categories?
STRUCTURE 248
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 113
ENGINE 55
POWER TRAIN 25
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 20
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 18
SUSPENSION 14
BACK OVER PREVENTION 12
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE 11
STEERING 10
694 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving with Adaptive Cruise Control mode engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission fluid was flushed. The contact stated that the failure recurred increasingly after 4,000 miles. The contact stated while at a complete stop and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shuddered significantly as if the vehicle was attempting to drive forward. The contact stated that he applied more pressure on the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 115,631. | Crash: No Fire: No | 115,631 |
| Dec 2023 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Driver door keypad detacted from pillar. Rear lift gate will not open with button on lift gate, key fob or switch in dash board. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Dec 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | Torque converter issues as outlined here: [XXX] Almost was in accident due to loss of power and slow take off from issue with transmission torque converter. Engine shaking bad when in drive or reverse while stopped. Caused two motor mounts to be damaged. One split open and leaked fluid. Those have already been replaced. Less than 60k miles this should not be an issue. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | ENGINE | I purchased this used vehicle from Carmax 1/2022. Prior to my purchase it was a fleet vehicle. On 09/18/2023 I experienced EcoBoost engine failure.Mileage is currently roughly 49k. Incident occured 2 months outside of Powertrain warranty. The engine light would come on intermittently when driving. Took the car for a diagnostic to diagnose issue and had #3 ignition coil replaced due to misfire message. Few days later, light would come back on. After 3rd time of me going back and forth to the repair shop because of the light coming back on and vehicle drive not being as smooth as it usually is, I took the car to Ford dealer service center, where I was advised that this is a known issue, but no recall has been issued at this time. In addition, I was told that this engine is on back order and will not ship out until March 2024. A loaner car has not been provided and my extended warranty covers 5 days at $35/day, that is it. I will be without a vehicle for 6 months. Prior to this incident in 2022 I had a transmission issue. Powertrain warranty was still in effect so Ford covered it. I was without a vehicle for about 3 weeks for that repair. This has been a very dissapointing experience for a vehicle that is 5 years old and under 50k miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | POWER TRAIN | Torque converter and transmission problems cause the vehicle to stutter upon acceleration or not accelerate at all. Gear shifts can be erratic. No CEL or DTCs appear in the OBD system. I was barely able to proceed through an intersection until the transmission finally engaged fully and I was able to accelerate correctly. Ford is aware of the problem as proven by TSBs 20B27 and 20N07 but refuse to fix my vehicle as I am just outside of the expiration window and apparently my VNI does not fall within the TSB program, even though my car's problems are identical to the TSB description. This transmission problem is a huge safety concern for anyone driving Ford's using the 6F35 transmissions. The contact stated it was confirmed the torque converter failed and shed debris throughout the entire transmission. This cause multiple non-accelerations at stop signs and red lights, gear slipping when trying to accelerate, failure to engage first gear, and random RPM drops while lightly accelerating. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Windshield molding is defective due to cracking and splitting. Whistling sounds while driving. Danger of molding coming off and causing an accident. I took it to the dealer and having it replaced. Very costly. I understand this is under investigation but not recalled yet. Please advise. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Windsheild trim is breaking into pieces on the sides and coming off.The bottom trim going across the hood is getting wavy and cracking and not laying flat on the surface anymore. It is also starting to break away. Dealer said no repairs for this are covered under warranty and if I want it fixed its very expensive. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front windshield was disintegrating. There were no warning lights illuminated. While driving, the contact detected that there was an abnormal chirping noise and wind entering the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure had gradually progressed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the cowl screen panel needed to be replaced. The sealant around the windshield had disintegrated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed the contact that the repair was not covered under the warranty. The failure mileage was approximately 105,000. The VIN was not available. | Crash: No Fire: No | 105,000 |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Cowl trim on front windshield is detaching from the windshield and flapping while vehicle in operation. Concerned this will fly off the vehicle snd possibly land on another traveling vehicle and possibly cause an accident. This just started making a buzzing noise approximately two weeks ago and after further investigation the trim is literally coming off the windshield in pieces. No warning lights just a noise from the dash. Pictures can be provided. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2023 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was reversing from the garage, the liftgate malfunctioned and opened. The driver opened the driver's side door and struck the door frame. The door frame was damaged. There were no warning lights illuminated. Additionally, the contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the liftgate failed to open. The contact had to place the vehicle in the park position for the tailgate to open. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 24,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |
| Oct 2023 | STRUCTURE | The NHTSA has opened an investigation into 2011-2019 models experiencing an issue with the windshield trim panel. The trim panels are cracked and disintegrating and pieces are missing posing a hazard while the vehicle is being operated at highway speeds. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 80 MPH, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that she was able to coast the vehicle off the roadway safely. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic where the failure could not be duplicated; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact stated that a message then flashed on the instrument panel “Full Accessory Active”. The contact stated that the following day, she attempted to start the vehicle, but the engine failed turnover. The contact stated that she waited approximately 30 minutes to an hour and was able to restart the vehicle. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic, but the failure could not be duplicated. The failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was provided a case number and advised to contact the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 79,008. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 79,008 |
| Oct 2023 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,AIR BAGS | I have owned this vehicle for a year and have gone through three batteries. It shows multiple coded for circuit shorts - Passenger mirror motor, tailgate/liftgate/trunk motor as well as the cinch striker motor, instrument panel which has lost communication with cruise control module, power steering module, battery voltage circuit below threshold, driver side curtain deployment control 1 circuit short to ground, switch illumination. When the vehicle is stopped or parked it constanly idles up to 1000 to 1500 rpms. These are all the codes that are showing on my vehicle. There has to be some sort of issue causing these problems. What happens if my airbag deploys without warning causing me to cause a major accident which can harm myself, my spouse, children and the people around me. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Right side windshield trim panel detached from the car while moving. Had to purchase two different pieces at a cost of approximately $139.00 each. Plus the cost of installation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE | As I was driving on to the grocery store on a stop light I heard a rattle sound deflecting to another vehicle, the other vehicles driver heard the noise and noticed a puddle of water,and notified me. Emediatly i pulled over. Indeed, there was leak, unfortunately couldn't tell where it was coming from .I Called my mechanic, and a tow truck.My mechanic called me today October 11,2023 to notify me that the water pump had failed.He asked me if there had been any warning sings or temperature change,I responded no.He told me that if the incident had happened on the highway, I might have caused damage to the engine and potentially the vehicle might have shut off do to over heating.Keep in mind that my 2018 ford explorer only has 70,000 miles.Now I'm stuck with a bill of 1,400 dollars.Im gonna get an update tomorrow October 12,2023 on my vehicle status, if there was anything else damaged do to the water pump failure.No lights or warning sings were lid on my dashboard. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The windshield trim has come loose & come off on the left side while going down the road. The right side is beginning to do the same thing. I noticed pieces missing on 10/10/23 & on 10/11/23 a big piece flew off the car as I was driving down the highway. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | STRUCTURE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while self-inspecting the vehicle, he noticed the paint on the front of the hood was corroded and peeling. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the dealer informed the contact that his VIN was not included in an unknown recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to file the complaint with the NHTSA hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE | The car had catastrophic engine failure. It had zero mechanical issues and all routine maintenance. It started rough a few times. Which I now know was a misfire. It then overheated while driving. Brought to a mechanic who said it was a blown head gasket. The coolant leaked into the oil. Engine had to be replaced at 102,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2023 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that on several occasions while in reverse, the back-over prevention screen displayed a black screen preventing the image from being seen. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the APIM needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 90,000 |
| Oct 2023 | ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the crank and camshaft valve position sensor failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 55,000 |
| Oct 2023 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling at a stop, the vehicle hesitated while responding. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle was diagnosed, and it was determined that the torque converter had overheated. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then towed to an independent mechanic for a second opinion where it was determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the vehicle was then towed to the residence where it remained. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in a recall. The contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 103,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 103,000 |
| Oct 2023 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, and at various speeds, the vehicle would vibrate and then would start to sway, and the contact could not maintain lane control. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the wishbone and motor mounts needed to be replaced; however, the wishbone mount was on a national backorder. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 96,000 |
| Sep 2023 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who performed a software update; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Windshield trim detached during highway travel. It flapped hitting the windshield and flew off almost causing collision. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2023 | ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM,ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | EXHAUST SAFTEY ISSUE / MY CEL CAME ON LEAVING WORK ON 9/25 , SCANED CODE AND GOT A CODE OF P0430 (CATALYTIC CONVERTER BANK 2) I FOUND A CUSTOMER SATISFACTION PROGRAM ISSUED ON 06/13/19 -(PROGRAM #19M01) ON THIS TO REPLACE UNDER AN EXTENDED WARRANTY. THE ISSUE IS WARRANTY COVERAGE IS 11 YEARS OR 120,000 MILES. THE CODE CAME UP AT 120,325 JUST OUTSIDE THE WARRANTY EXTENSION , FORD IS UNWILLING TO EXTEND THIS COVERAGE PAST THE 120 MILE MARK , tHIS CAR ALSO FALLS UNDER ANOTHER PROGRAM THAT WAS ISSUED 01/26/23 (PROGRAM# 22M06) STILL FORD REFUSES TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY FOR THIS SAFTY ISSUE | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |