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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | EXHAUST FUME INSIDE THE CABIN. BROUGHT IT TO 2 FORD DEALERSHIP AND THEY BOTH SAID THEY COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. FORD GAVE ME EXTENDED SERVICE WARRANTY MAYBE TO KEEP ME CALM. BUT I GOT THE SUV IN JAN 2, 2019 AND UP UNTIL NOW I STILL SMELL THE FUME INSIDE THE CABIN. I HAVE 2 KIDS AND THEY HAVE BEEN INHALING TOXIC FUMES EVERY TIME I TAKE THEM INSIDE THE EXPLORER. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU ACCELERATE HARD. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2020 | WHEELS | VEHICLE CAME WITH HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2, 255/50R20 TIRES. WE ONLY HAVE 15K MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THE TIRES ALREADY NEED TO BE REPLACED. WE HAD THEM ROTATED AT THE DEALERSHIP AT THE SCHEDULED OIL CHANGE INTERVAL. ONE OF THE TIRES DEVELOPED A SLOW LEAK AND REQUIRED RE INFLATION EACH WEEK. ONE REAR TIRES LOST ALL AIR PRESSURE WHILE WE WERE DRIVING ON THE STREET. THERE WAS NO NAIL OR HOLE FOUND IT IT. THE TIRES ARE SHREDDING TREAD AS WELL. ALL 4 NEED TO BE REPLACED BUT NEITHER FORD OR HANKOOK HAVE ANSWERED OUR COMPLAINT. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED BECAUSE THEY ARE DANGEROUS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,000 |
| Apr 2020 | STRUCTURE | 2018 FORD EXPLORER HAS A ROOF RAIL ISSUE WHERE THE TOP PART THE THE ROOF RAIL THAT COMES FACTORY ON THE VEHICLE WILL POP OUT OF PLACE AND NOT CLAMP DOWN PROPERLY THE FOR PART NUMBER IS FB5Z 78551A47 AA AND ALSO FB5Z 78551A46 AA ONE BELONGS TO THE LEFT AND THE OTHER THE RIGHT. I WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGH WAY WITH THEM NOT FULLY SEATED IN THE BACK END OF THE RAILING AND NOTICED WHEN I GOT HOME THAT THEY MUST HAVE FLOWN OFF WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS THE SECOND SIME I HAVE HAD THEM FIXED AND THEY ARE NOW NOT STAYING DOWN PROPERLY SEATED. LUCKLY MY VEHICLE HAS WARRANTY ON IT STILL TO GET IT FIXED BUT IF THIS IS GOING TO HAPPEN OUTSIDE OF WARRANTY ITS NOT A CHEAP FIX UNFORTUNATLY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,500 |
| Mar 2020 | WHEELS | WENT FOR A INSPECTION STICKER ON MY 2018 EXPLORER AND WAS TOLD I NEEDED TIRES. I SAID THAT WAS IMPOSSIBLE SINCE I ONLY HAD 25000 MILES ON THEM. THEY SHOWED ME THE WEAR AND I COULD NOT BELIEVE IT. THE TIRES ARE HANKOOK VENTUS S NOBLE 2. THESE TIRES ARE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE AND UPON RESEARCH HERE THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THEM. DO NOTBUY THESE TIRES | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Mar 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE TOP CAP ON THE DRIVERS SIDE (WHERE THE LUGGAGE RACK IS) CAME COMPLETELY OFF WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. THE PASSENGER SIDE ONE KEEP COMING LOOSE. THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD, AS THE PIECE THAT FLEW OFF COULD HAVE INJURED SOMEONE OR WORSE. THIS IS NOT A SAFE PIECE ON THE SUV AND NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED, AS MANY, MANY PEOPLE HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ELECTRIC SHORTAGES, SMELL BURNING WIRES, STALLS VEHICLE WAS REPURCHASED BY FORD AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE ITS REPORTED AS A LEMON AND NOT RESOLD FOR SAFETY OF OTHERS | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,200 |
| Feb 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE | FOR WEEKS NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN DECIDING WHAT TO DO. THE AIR CONDITIONER RANDOMLY TURNS OFF OR WON'T TURN ON. THE WINDOW WON'T ROLL UP OR DOWN. LIGHTS IN THE DASHBOARD RANDOMLY GO ON AND OFF ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES THERE IS JUST A LOUD NOISE BUT NO LIGHTS. THEN RECENTLY WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY GOING 55 MPH WITH MY 3 CHILDREN THE CAR SHUT ITS SELF OFF. THE LIGHTS WENT CRAZY THEN SHUT OFF. THERE WAS NO GAS OR BRAKES AS I WAS GOING 55 MPH. ONCE THE CAR CAME TO A ROLLING STOP. IT DID NOT TURN BACK ON. ONCE TOWED TO THE DEALERSHIP, THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Feb 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 40 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTED INTO GEAR IMPROPERLY. ON ONE OCCASION THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED FROM PARK TO REVERSE INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AIRPORT MARINA FORD LOCATED AT 5880 W CENTINELA AVE, LOS ANGELES, CA 90045 (310-574-2641) WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE CONTACT ALSO HEARD AN ABNORMAL NOISE WITH THE BRAKE PEDAL DEPRESSED AND HAD THE VEHICLE INSPECTED. AIRPORT MARINA FORD ALSO INSPECTED THE BRAKES AND INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT NO DEFECTS WERE FOUND WITH THE BRAKES OR BRAKING SYSTEM. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28 |
| Feb 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | WHEN CLIMBING HILLS AND ENGINE AT HIGH RPM I CAN SMELL EXHAUST IN THE CABIN PORTION OF MY VEHICLE. I INITIALLY THOUGHT IT WAS THE VEHICLE IN FRONT OF ME, BUT IT HAPPENED AGAIN A FEW DAYS LATER WHEN I WAS TRAVELING THROUGH THE HILLS AGAIN. SAME CIRCUMSTANCES, CLIMBING HILLS AT A HIGH RPM. SPEED WAS APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH. THE SMELL WAS EXACTLY THE SAME AS IF I WAS WALKING BEHIND THE CAR IN THE MORNING AFTER STARING THE ENGINE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 22,000 |
| Jan 2020 | SEATS | REACHING UNDER DRIVER SEAT AND CONTACTED SEAT FRAME SHARP AND CUT FINGER. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 10,000 |
| Jan 2020 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WE PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2018 FORD EXPLORER IN SEPTEMBER OF 2018. AROUND OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2018 I STARTED HAVING A LOT OF DIZZY SPELLS AND PANICKED ATTACKS WHILE I WAS DRIVING THE EXPLORER. I WAS IN AND OUT OF DRS WEEKLY SOMETIMES MORE THAN WEEKLY FOR THESE EPISODES. DRS THOUGHT IT WAS ANXIETY SO WOULD INCREASE MEDICATIONS, OR CHANGE MEDICATIONS AND I CONTINUED WITH SAME SYMPTOMS. I DROVE THE EXPLORER NUMEROUS TIMES A DAY AS I HAVE KIDS AND WOULD FEEL THIS WAY 90% OF MY DAY EVERY DAY. I WENT THRU PHYSICAL THERAPY, MENTAL THERAPY AND ALSO SENT TO A HEART DOCTOR UP UNTIL 2 MONTHS AGO WHEN WE PURCHASED ANOTHER VEHICLE AND I NEVER HAD A ISSUE WHILE DRIVING THAT. MY FIANC DROVE THE EXPLORER ONE DAY WHICH HE NEVER DID AS IT WAS MY VEHICLE AND HE HAD HIS VEHICLE AND HE SMELLED A GAS SMELL AND QUESTIONED ME ABOUT IT BUT I HAD BEEN SUFFERING RESPIRATORY ILLNESSES DURING THIS TIME AND COULD NEVER SMELL ANYTHING SO I NEVER NOTICED THE SMELL. MY SON WAS HAVING VOMITING SPELLS NUMEROUS TIMES A WEEK AND DRS SAID IT WAS A GENERALIZED VOMITING ISSUE. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP WE PURCHASED THE EXPLORER AT AND THEY CAME AND PICKED IT UP. ONCE THEY CHECKED IT OVER THEY CALLED ME AND SAID THEY HAD TO ORDER A WHOLE NEW MUFFLER SYSTEM AS IT WAS LEAKING CARBON MONOXIDE INTO THE CABIN OF MY EXPLORER. I CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD FIX IT IN WHICH THEY DID BUT THE DAMAGE WAS DONE I HAD BEEN SUFFERING PHYSICALLY AND MENTALLY FOR A YEAR AND DUE TO THE PAN NICK ATTACKS WHILE DRIVING I COULD BARELY DRIVE MOST DAYS AND STILL STRUGGLE DUE TO THE FEAR I'VE ENCOUNTER BEHIND THE WHEEL. FORD BASICALLY SAID I COULD TRADE IT OR KEEP IT THAT'S ALL THEY WOULD OFFER ME. I WANTED THEM TO BUY IT BACK AS I COULDN'T GET BACK IN IT. I'VE HAD NO ISSUES SINCE I STOPPED DRIVING IT NEITHER HAS MY SON. I DIDN'T GET ANY PAPERWORK WHEN IT WAS FIXED SO I CAN'T GIVE U THAT. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jan 2020 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | CONSTANT SMELLS OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN MY VEHICLE ALMOST EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE ABOVE 3500 RPM. I'VE TAKEN IT TO TWO DEALERSHIPS MORE THAN THREE TIMES FOR THE SAME PROBLEM WITH NO SOLUTION. EVERY TIME I GET IN MY VEHICLE I DREAD SMELLING THIS STUFF AND HOPE IT DOESN'T AFFECT ME OR A LOVED ONE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 38,000 |
| Jan 2020 | ENGINE | WARNING SIGN SAYS CHECK ENGINE OIL PRESSURE, THE WARNING SIGN ONLY APPEARS WHEN THE CAR IS STOPPED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,962 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | CARBON MONOXIDE IS GETING INTO THE CABIN. I TAKE IT TO THE DEALER BUT THE CAN FOX IT. ITS BEEN 5 TIMES. TODAS I TURNER BACK TO THE DEALER. HEY BEEN VERY IRRESPONSABLE. CARBON MONOXIDE IS A VERY DANGER GAS AND I DON'T GOOGLE TO EXPOSE MY FAMILY FUE YO TOUR INRRESPOSABILITY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Nov 2019 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN STARTING VEHICLE, THE INSIDE OF MY VEHICLE FILLS WITH A STRONG SMELL OF GAS. THIS IS AN ONGOING AND REOCCURRING ISSUE. I BELIEVE IT MAY BE THE CAUSE OF MY 6 YEAR OLDS CHILD'S FREQUENT HEADACHES AND BOUTS WITH NAUSEA THAT BEGAN AT THE SAME TIME I STARTED NOTICING THE GAS SMELL ISSUE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 25,000 |
| Nov 2019 | AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE | BOTH. VEHICLES WERE MOVING. THE EXPLORER FRONT HIT THE RIGHT REAR PANEL OF A 2011 FORD RANGER. BOTH VEHICLES WERE GOING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED BY EITHER DRIVER. MY FORD EXPLORER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. I WAS ON A CITY STREET THE OTHER VEHICLE WAS JUST BEGINNING TO TURN. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Nov 2019 | SUSPENSION | VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH ON A SMOOTH STRAIT STRETCH OF ROAD WHEN A LOUD BACK WAS HEARD AND A SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING RESULTING IN STRIKING THE CURB AS IT CAME TO A STOP. UPON INSPECTION IT APPEARS THE LOWER CONTROL ARM FAILED JUST BEFORE THE BALLJOINT AND HAD BROKEN IN HALF. THIS APPEARS IT'S AN ISSUE ACROSS A RANGE IF EXPLORERS THAT UTILIZE THE SAME CONTROL ARM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 31,000 |
| Nov 2019 | SEAT BELTS,SEATS | VEHICLE WAS STRUCK FROM BEHIND BY A PICK-UP TRUCK DRIVING AT A HIGH RATE OF SPEED. UPON IMPACT MY VEHICLE'S FRONT SEATS COLLAPSED INTO THE BACK SEATS CAUSING THE SEAT BELTS TO BE INEFFECTIVE. AS A RESULT THE PASSENGER IN MY VEHICLE SUSTAINED BACK AND NECK INJURIES. MY VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AS THE TRAFFIC WAS AT A STANDSTILL. THE VEHICLE THAT STRUCK MY VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING AT ABOUT 70 MILES PER HOUR. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Injuries: 1 Towed Medical attention | 28,000 |
| Oct 2019 | ENGINE | CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF A 2018 FORD INTERCEPTOR UTILITY (A HONEYWELL BWC2R-M CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM HAD BEEN INSTALLED IN THE VEHICLE DUE TO THE HISTORY OF CARBON MONOXIDE ISSUES WITH THESE VEHICLES). ON OCTOBER 21, 2019 TWO OFFICERS WERE PATROLLING IN THE 2018 FORD INTERCEPTOR UTILITY. THE OFFICER WERE ACCELERATING QUICKLY AS THEY ENTERED THE HIGHWAY WHEN THE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM ACTIVATED. THE OFFICER STOPPED ACCELERATING AND ROLLED DOWN THE WINDOWS. THE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM RESET AND NO FURTHER ACTIVATIONS HAVE BEEN REPORTED.(THIS REPORT CAME A MONTH AFTER ANOTHER OF THE CITY'S FORD INTERCEPTOR UTILITY VEHICLES WENT TO THE DEALERSHIP TWICE FOR CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN. THE FIRST INCIDENT WAS ACCOMPANIED BY A FOUL ODOR AND THE EGR PURGE VALVE WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS PLACED BACK IN SERVICE AND WITHIN A WEEK THE CARBON MONOXIDE ALARM ACTIVATED AGAIN. FORD WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE PASSENGER CABIN SO NO REPAIRS WERE DONE.) | Crash: No Fire: No | 22,000 |
| Oct 2019 | STEERING,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE | STARTING WHIT A NOISE PROBLEM ON ENGINE WE BRING THE VEHICLE TO SERVICE DEPARTMENT THEM SAID WAS NOT A PROBLEM 2 MONTHS LATER WE ARE HERE ON SERVICE DEPARTMENT FOR STEERING WHEEL PROBLEM, BRAKE NOISE, TO MUCH PROBLEMS. WE BUY A NEW CAR TO AVOID THIS PROBLEMS AND ISSUES WASTING OUR TIME. AND MONEY. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2019 | TIRES | 2018 FORD EXPLORER. HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 TIRES. SIZE 255/50 R20 105H NO CRASH. MILEAGE !2,066 MILES. TIRES ARE CRACKING AND SEPARATING WITH CHUNKS FLYING OFF AS I DRIVE. FORD OFFERED ME $500 TOWARDS REPLACING THE 4 TIRES FOR THE SAME BRAND. THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE IT WITH A DIFFERENT BRAND THAT I FEEL SAFE WITH. I WILL BE RUNNING INTO THE SAME ISSUES. THESE TIRES NEED TO BE RECALLED! | Crash: No Fire: No | 12,000 |
| Oct 2019 | WHEELS | HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 TIRES IN 255/50R20 ARE LOOSING CHUNKS OF RUBBER AND HAVE 20,000 MILES ON THEM. ORIGINAL TIRES ON 2018 FORD EXPLORER. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20,000 |
| Oct 2019 | TIRES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK VENTUS S1 NOBLE 2 TIRES, SIZE: 255/50R20. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE TIRE THREAD WERE PREMATURELY WORN. THE CONTACT HAD THE TIRES ROTATED AND ALSO NOTICED THAT THE REAR DRIVER AND PASSENGER TIRES ALSO HAD LOOSE THREAD AND CRACKS. THE TIRES WERE NOT REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE TIRE AND VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 16,000. *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 16,000 |
| Oct 2019 | STRUCTURE | I BOUGHT A BRAND NEW FORD EXPLORER, THE PASSENGER DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE I WAS DRIVING AT 40 MPH. RAY SKILLMAN DEALERSHIP HAVE TO "FIX" THE DOOR THAT WAS TWISTED AND WARPED. THEN IT LEAKED. THEY PUT ON A NEW GASKET. IT STILL LEAKS AND SOAKS ME WHEN I OPEN THE DOOR AFTER A RAIN. SO FORD TOLD ME THEY WOULD SEND A FIELD INSPECTOR TO CHECK MY VEHICLE MY EXPLORER SAT AT RAY SKILLMAN FORD A WEEK, NO ONE FROM FORD CAME. NOW THE PATRONIZE ME. I PAY ALMOST 900 A MONTH FOR THIS NEW EXPLORER, AND I NOTICE THINGS ARE SHIFTED TO THE RIGHT, LIKE THE PANELS DOORS, ECT. THE DOOR WAS POPPING OPEN WHILE LOCKED, WHICH SET THE ALARM OFF ALL HOURS OF THE NIGHT. THEY WILL DO NOTHING. SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH THIS NEW VEHICLE. FORD WILL NOT REPLACE IT. I HAVE MADE 12 COMPLAINTS TO THE FORD COMPANY COMPLAINT LINE. THEY DO NOT CARE. WHEN I TOOK THE VEHICLE IN WHEN THE DOOR FLEW OPEN WHILE DRIVING, THEY HAD IT FOR 3 DAYS, REFUSED TO GIVE ME A RECEIPT FOR WHAT THEY DID. [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TT | Crash: No Fire: No | 237 |
| Oct 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THERE IS A STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE UNDER MEDIUM/HEAVY ACCELERATION. IT COMES THROUGH THE A/C VENTS AND IS WAY STRONGER IN THE REAR BACK SEATS THAN THE FRONT SEATS. I HAVE TO ROLL DOWN THE WINDOWS FOR A FEW MILES TO LET IT AIR OUT. ONCE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS THE SMELL WILL DISAPPEAR UNTIL YOU START CLIMBING A HILL OR STEEP GRADE OR YOU WERE FORCED TO SLOW DOWN AND GET BACK UP TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THE DEALER HAS STATED THEY CAN NOT DUPLICATE MY CONCERNS. I HAVE THREE SMALL CHILDREN THAT ALL RIDE IN THE BACK PLEASE TELL ME WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS AT THIS POINT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 350 |