2018 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 734 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Structure (288), Unknown Or Other (168), Engine (95).
Key takeaways
- 734 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 | 21 | 3% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 19 | 3% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 16 | 2% |
| Air Bags | 11 | 1% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
Parts for the 2018 Ford Explorer
GarageDex's verified specs for this car. Each Buy button searches Amazon for that exact part.
- Battery
- Engine oil
- Oil filter
- Engine air filter
- Cabin air filter
- Wiper blades
- Headlight bulb
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| 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 2026-11-04
I own a 2018 Ford Explorer XLT with a defective rear passenger seat belt that does not retract properly. The seat belt remains loose instead of retracting back into its housing, creating a serious safety concern. This seating position is used by my young child, and I am concerned that the seat belt cannot properly res...
Steering - filed 2026-10-18
My steering wheel is turning 360 degrees. My tires are not always turning with the steering wheel. This may become dangerous and would like to know if the 23S63/2023-678 recall is affected with my 2018 Ford Explorer? If it is not affected with the recall above could this be considered a recall? Thank you.
Unknown Or Other - filed 2026-10-12
The water pump has failed
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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.