2018 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 728 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Structure (287), Unknown Or Other (167), Engine (94).
Key takeaways
- 728 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 | 287 | 39% |
| Unknown Or Other | 167 | 23% |
| Engine | 94 | 13% |
| Electrical System | 57 | 8% |
| Power Train | 49 | 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.
Seat Belts - filed 2026-09-18
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at higher speeds, the front driver’s side seat belt might not prevent him from hitting the steering wheel in the event of a crash or while depressing the brake pedal to come to a sudden stop. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer wa...
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-08
A pillar has not been fixed by local Ford dealership. A pillars are cracked and loose
Engine - filed 2026-09-05
My 2018 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5L that we bought brand new from Bob Bell Ford/Glen Burnie Maryland had a water pump failure at only 72,344 miles, this was a safety concern when driving down the road that put us & others at risk. The only indication was dashboard warning that said (Engine coolant over temperature)This fail...
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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.