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Ford · NHTSA safety record

2018 Ford Explorer

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

Owners have filed 731 safety complaints about the 2018 Ford Explorer with the US government. Of those, 16 describe a crash, 7 mention a fire, 13 people were injured and no death is recorded. 7 recall campaigns are open against it.

The most complained-about system is the body structure, named in 288 complaints, 39% of the total. The typical failure was reported at 50,000 miles, the median across the 290 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

Compiled from NHTSA's complaint, recall and investigation files · Covers February 2018 to September 2026 · How this is counted

What is on file

731 complaints on file

731

Complaints

16

Describe a crash

7

Mention fire

13

People injured

0

Deaths

A complaint is an unverified account by the person who filed it, not a finding of fault. One complaint is one ODI number, which is how NHTSA counts them.

A recall is the manufacturer conceding a defect, and the repair is free. Whether one covers your particular car is a question only its VIN can answer, because a campaign covers a production range rather than a model year. A further 1 defect investigation is open and unresolved.

Which system owners named

Complaints naming each system
STRUCTURE 288 · 39%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 167 · 23%
ENGINE 95 · 13%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 58 · 8%
POWER TRAIN 50 · 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%
0 115 231

Red marks a system with a recall campaign against it. One complaint can name several systems, so these add up to more than 731.

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2025 at 190.

200 150 100 50
18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26

This is the year the complaint was filed, not the year the failure happened. The range runs from 2018 to 2026, the last of them a part year, which is why its column is drawn faint.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA New Car Assessment Program

NHTSA crashes a car into a barrier and a pole and measures what happens to the dummies inside. This is what it awarded the 2018 Ford EXPLORER, and it is a separate question from what owners report going wrong later.

Test 4 DR SUV AWD 4 DR SUV FWD
Overall
Frontal crash
Frontal, driver
Frontal, passenger
Side crash
Side barrier
Side pole
Rollover
Chance of rollover 17.4% 16.4%
Stability control standard Forward collision warning standard Lane departure warning standard

A rating belongs to a tested body style and drivetrain, not to the model as a whole, which is why more than one is listed. A dash means NHTSA did not rate that test for this vehicle.

Recall campaigns

7 on file

STRUCTURE:BODY

26V448000 · July 14, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
The risk
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed August 24, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 288,314 vehicles across all model years covered

SUSPENSION:REAR

26V101000 · February 20, 2026

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
The risk
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

Ford Motor Company · up to 412,774 vehicles across all model years covered

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

25V685000 · October 10, 2025

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The risk
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Ford Motor Company · up to 59,006 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

24V031000 · January 19, 2024

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
The risk
A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Ford Motor Company · up to 1,889,110 vehicles across all model years covered

STRUCTURE:BODY

21V316000 · May 5, 2021

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
The risk
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.

Ford Motor Company · up to 616,967 vehicles across all model years covered

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

19V633000 · August 28, 2019

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
The risk
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

Ford Motor Company · up to 639,137 vehicles across all model years covered

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

18V807000 · November 14, 2018

The defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L or 3.5L GTDI engine. Due to an assembly error, the fuel pressure sensor may leak fuel.
The risk
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
The remedy
Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 7, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S35.

Ford Motor Company · up to 144 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations

2 on file

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

PE23001

Closed preliminary evaluation · opened January 27, 2023 · closed February 8, 2024 · led to recall 24V031

the body structure

On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experience this type of road hazard are less likely to accurately identify the subject vehicle the item detached from and report the event to the NHTSA. In its April 17, 2023 response to ODI’s information request, Ford provided 175 consumer complaints (including field reports) and 14,162 warranty claims related to A-pillar trim panel detachment. Ford relayed that the subject vehicles utilize a plastic A-pillar bracket, which is bolted to the vehicle structure during assembly. The A-pillar trim panel is attached to the bracket utilizing 7 plastic clips. Contributory factors which have been identified by Ford as leading to the subject defect include incomplete installation at the assembly plant, inadequate part stack up, damage to fasteners during installation, and failure to follow proper repair procedure during windshield replacements or other services. On January 19, 2024, Ford filed safety recall 24V-031 for MY 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles to address the subject defect. In the Part 573 Safety Recall Report, Ford identified that a detached A-pillar trim panel can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. The recall remedy includes an inspection of the existing A-pillar trim panel and, if necessary, the replacement of the component. The remedy A-pillar trim panels will be installed with an additional adhesive for robustness and utilize an inspection procedure to ensure full engagement of all the retention clips during installation. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this Preliminary Evaluation. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls

AQ22003

Still open audit query · opened December 16, 2022

the latches, locks and linkages

NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of information that indicates Hertz rented vehicles to customers without having performed required recall repairs. Accordingly, we are opening this audit query to seek additional information concerning this issue.

In owners’ own words

Quoted from the complaint file

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

SEAT BELTS

1 injured · crash · towed · 28,000 miles

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.

NHTSA complaint 11278137. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

1 injured · crash · towed · 25,000 miles

WE TOOK OUR 2018 FORD EXPLORER INTO THE SHOP LAST WINTER COMPLAINING OF A BAD SMELL. THE SHOP KEPT OUR CAR FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. 2 WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WENT TO THE ER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. WE BEGAN WORKING WITH FOR TO HELP GET THIS FIXED, 5 DAYS LATER SHE PASSED OUT AT THE WHEEL AND WRECKED INTO A TELEPHONE POLL. WHILE AT THE ER THERE WAS CARBON MONOXIDE IN HER BLOOD AGAIN. THANK GOODNESS SHE DIDN'T HIT A FAMILY OR SOMETHING WORSE. SINCE THEN FORD HAS REFUSED TO WORK WITH US SINCE THE CAR IS WRECKED. THIS IS A PROBLEM AND NEEDS TO BE LOOKED INTO!*DT*JB*DT *TR

NHTSA complaint 11385749. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed

When driving the car I corrected to move further to the left on the road. In doing so it felt like I ran over something and all of a sudden the car accelerated (initially I was driving around 20-25 mph) and I struck a tree. I sustained a T Spine fracture and was hospitalized for 5 days. I just have a case number with Ford but they seem disinterested. When the car accelerated I felt it was going a 2x the speed.

NHTSA complaint 11468893. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

1 injured · crash · towed

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact started while driving at approximately 20 MPH, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The electrical system shut down and the engine stalled. The instrument panel became inoperable. Additionally, the power steering became inoperable and the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle drove off the road and violently crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a significant whiplash and a stiff neck. The contact had not yet received medical assistance. The contact was able to exit the vehicle

NHTSA complaint 11607088, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
Exterior B-Pillar Applique / Door Trim Panel with keypad: The exterior B-pillar trim piece on the driver side front door frame has experienced catastrophic adhesive failure and clip breakage, detaching at the top portion while driving. This plastic trim is flapping at highway speeds and is at imminent risk of completely flying off the vehicle. I'm sure this will be issue with other 3 doors at some point soon. This creates an immediate road hazard for trailing vehicles, motorcyclists, and pedestrians who could be struck by flying debris. It also distracts the driver due to severe wind noise and vibration. This identical structural failure is currently under active safety recall for 2016–2017

NHTSA complaint 11766068, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN

107,300 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed and the vehicle jerked. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a failed torque converter. The contact was informed that the torque converter needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under Customer Satisfaction Program: 20N07. The failure mileage was approximately 107,300.

NHTSA complaint 11766098. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

SEAT BELTS

50,000 miles

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 was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

NHTSA complaint 11765220. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
A pillar has not been fixed by local Ford dealership. A pillars are cracked and loose

NHTSA complaint 11762772. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE
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 failure happened while taking daughter to college on 8/21/26 We had to get towed to independent service center 175 miles away & repaired at the cost of $2900.00.

NHTSA complaint 11762305. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
At 30 to 40 mph, there is a shuttering or stutter in the transmission during acceleration. This is a problem when trying to enter traffic on the expressway (Interstate or other lanes of traffic). I have taken this to the dealer and they indicate that the transmission needs to be replaced. They indicate that there is metal shavings in the trans fluid. This is in line with similar Ford SUV and transmission problems. At this point in time there is no recall, but this matter should be address as it is in line with similar Ford transmission failures.

NHTSA complaint 11762086. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Ford Explorer

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2026 38 14 —
2025 101 19 —
2024 21 10 —
2023 110 15 —
2022 267 24 —
2021 430 26 —
2020 1,223 33 —
2019 298 6 —
2017 1,694 13 —
2016 2,455 14 —
2015 1,795 8 —
2014 1,678 6 2
2013 2,235 11 1
2012 828 5 —
2011 1,197 6 —
2010 115 1 50

Other 2018 Ford models

F-150 2,311 Escape 1,804 Focus 835 Edge 833 Ecosport 726 Fusion 441 F-250 SD 397 Expedition 375

Complaints on file, same model year.

Every Ford on this site — 359 vehicles.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. How many repair attempts it takes, and how long you have to file, is set by the state you bought in and by nothing on this page.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst