2018 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Structure is the leading concern among 730 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 13th highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2018 reports, 15 involved a crash and 7 involved a fire. 12 people were injured.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
Structure, bodyJul 14, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. 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.
Campaign 26V448000 on NHTSA.gov
Suspension, rearFeb 20, 2026
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 26V101000 on NHTSA.gov
Equipment, electrical, engine block heaterOct 10, 2025
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.
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 25V685000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, body, roof and pillarsJan 19, 2024
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.
A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 24V031000 on NHTSA.gov
Structure, bodyMay 5, 2021
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.
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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.
Campaign 21V316000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, reclinerAug 28, 2019
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."
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.
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.
Campaign 19V633000 on NHTSA.gov
Fuel system, gasolineNov 14, 2018
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.
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
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.
Campaign 18V807000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints: structure
288 reports, newest first. Show all
Structure, Oct 27, 2020
WHILE DRIVING THE OTHER NIGHT IN RAIN, NIGHT AND HEAVY TRAFFIC, I HEARD SOME FLAPPING FROM THE ROOF OF THE CAR, BUT COULD NOT STOP BECAUSE WE WERE IN A MOUNTAIN PASS AND WINDING ROADS. I DID SEE SOMETHING LIKE FLY OFF OF MY CAR AND CARS BEHIND ME WERE SWERVING, I THOUGHT MAYBE A SMALL BRANCH. BUT NO IT WAS THE TOP CAP OF MY ROOF RAIL ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THE PART IS $450, AND WHEN I GOOGLED IT, IT IS DEFINITELY A KNOWN PROBLEM AT FORD. HUNDREDS OF HITS WITH THE SAME ISSUE
Structure, Oct 26, 2020
THE RAIL COVER ON TOP OF THE CAR JUST CAME OFF WITH NO ONE MESSING WITH OR BEING DAMAGED. I RESEARCHED TO SEE IF OTHER HAS A PROBLEM LIKE THIS AND I FOUND NUMEROUS OF PEOPLE SAYING THE RAIL COVER JUST DETACHED FORM THE ACTUAL RAIL. WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY.
Structure, Aug 26, 2020
MY 2018 FORD EXPLORER ROOF RACKS FLEW OFF (BROKE OFF) WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING CARS BEHIND ME TO SWERVE TO AVOID IMPACT THIS OCCURRED IN JANUARY 2019.
Structure, Jul 4, 2020
THE GAS DOOR DOES NOT SEAL AND PROPS OPEN ALL TIME, THE VEHICLE COMES WITH NO FUEL CAP AND DOOR DOES NOT LOCK ALLOWING ANYONE TO PUT CONTAINMENTS IN THE FUEL
Structure, Apr 1, 2020
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.
Air bags, Structure, Nov 28, 2019, crash
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.
Structure, Oct 5, 2019
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
Structure, Aug 7, 2019
THE 2018 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH BLACK PLASTIC ROOF RACKS. I HAVE HAD A RACK BLOW OFF TWICE IN HIGHER SPEED SITUATIONS! THREE TIMES TO DEALERSHIP, REPLACED NOW, TRIED NEW CLIPS, TRIED GLUEING, THEY STILL CANNOT CORRECT, AND ARE UNWILLING TO FULLY REPLACE BOTH RACKS ENTIRELY UNLESS IT FLIES OFF AGAIN. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS! I WAS TRAVELING 50MPH WHEN I WATCHED IT LAND IN THE ROAD. HAD A CAR BEEN BEHIND ME AND SWERVED TO MISS IT, ACCIDENT FOR SURE! A MOTORCYCLIST OR HORSE DRAW BUGGY COULD HAVE RESULTED IN A FATALITY. THIS IS NOT A SMALL PART, IT'S A LONG LUGGAGE RACK RAIL. ACCORDING TO CUSTOMERS ONLINE, FORD HAS DONE MANY OF THESE REPAIRS ON MANY EXPLORERS AND NOT ISSUED A RECALL OR AT LEAST CHANGED THE PART ? DOES A HUMAN HAVE TO GET INJURED OR KILLED BEFORE SOMETHING GETS ACCOMPLISHED?
Structure, Jul 26, 2019, crash
WHILE PARKING VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED WHEN MOVING FORWARD SO MUCH THAT HAD TO TURN WHEEL TO RIGHT SIDE TO TRY TO AVOID CAR PARKED IN FRONT TO NO AVAIL HIT CAR PARKED IN FRONT WITH DRIVER SIDE BUMPER AND FENDER.THANK GOD THERE WAS LIGHT POLE IN SIDEWALK WHICH SLOWED DOWN CAR ENOUGH TO BE SHUT OFF.
Structure, Jul 23, 2019
THE ROOF RAILS ON WILL NOT STAY ATTACHED. HAVE HAD THIS VEHICLE SINCE JAN 2019. BOUGHT NEW. THE DEALERSHIP HAS TRIED 3 NOW 4 TIME'S TO MAKE REPAIRS. THE DRIVERSIDE WILL NOT STAY SEATED TO BOTTOM MOUNT. HAS COME LOOS ON TURNPIKE AND BEGAN BEATING THE ROOF OF OUR VEHICLE. MOST OFTENHIGH WINDS WILL UNSET AND DETACH THE PLASTIC COVER FROM THE BASE MOUNT. IT HAS COME LOOSE MANY TIMES LEAVING THE CAR WASH JUST AS THE BLOWERS WOULD DRY THE CAR.
Structure, Jul 11, 2018
PURCHASED 2018 FORD EXPLORER XLT W/ AUTO NATION FORD CORPUS CHRISTI, TEXAS MAY 29, 2018. JUNE 20, 2018 I NOTICED THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD WAS COMPLETELY DRENCHED W/ H2O. THIS WAS DURING THE TIME WE HAD HEAVY RAINFALL. MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED AT WORK, NO FLOODING IN THE AREA, NO WINDOWS LEFT DOWN.THE H2O WAS ONLY ON THE PASSENGER SIDE FLOOR BOARD & UNDER THE PASSENGER SEAT. JUNE 21, 2018-DROPPED VEHICLE OFF AT SERVICE DEPARTMENT. SERVICE DEPARTMENT CLAIMS THEY CHECKED EVERYWHERE. CAN'T IDENTIFY WATER LEAK. IN 2015 THE FORD MOTOR CO. ORDERS: STOP SELLING SOME 2015 FORD EDGE CROSSOVERS FOR THIS EXACT REASON. TECHNICIAN ARE NOT ABLE TO IDENTIFY THE LEAK EVEN AFTER A "WATER TEST". 2015 FORD EDGE: PROBLEM INVOLVED WATER SEEPING THROUGH A JOINT IN THE FRONT PILLAR, BEHIND THE HOOD HINGES. SERVICE DIRECTOR IS INVOLVED. INFORMS ME THEY CANT FIND THE LEAK. I ADVISED HIM TO RUN THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE CAR WASH. ACCORDING TO CONSUMER REPORTS, ENGINEERS DISCOVERED THAT RUNNING THE FORD EDGE THROUGH A CAR WASH LED TO SOPPING WET FLOORS ON THE DRIVERS SIDE. SERVICE DIRECTOR INFORMS ME HE DID SEE WATER LEAKING IN WHEN THEY RAN IN THROUGH THE CAR WASH. THEY THINK THEY FOUND THE DEFECT. VEHICLE: IN BODY SHOP & COLLABORATE WITH FORD TO PLACE A SEALANT. THEY THINK THE PROBLEM IS RESOLVED. SERVICE DIRECTOR CALLS, 7/9/2018:STILL LEAKING! 2018 FORD EXPLORER HAS BEEN IN SERVICE DEPART FOR 21 DAYS. 2015 FORD EDGE TECHNICIANS WHO DIDN'T FIND EVIDENCE OF A LEAK WERE INSTRUCTED TO INSTALL A URETHANE SEALER IN A-PILLAR SEAMS. 2015 VEHICLES THAT DIDN'T HAVE SIGNS OF WATER INSIDE WERE HELD FOR A 3 DAY ASSESSMENT TO ALLOW TIME FOR FURTHER INSPECTION, LETTING THE SEALANT DRY & CONFIRM PROBLEM HAD BEEN FIXED. IF THE VEHICLE IS STILL LEAKING AFTER A 3-DAY ASSESSMENT, FORD MAY HAVE TO BUY IT BACK. 21 DAYS IN SERVICE & STILL CAN'T FIND DEFECT! HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/QWC1I_UFGR8
Structure, May 5, 2018
WE WERE TRAVELING ON I-10 IN OUR RENTAL CAR..GOING ABOUT 75 MILES PER HOUR IN TEXAS WHEN THE DRIVERS SIDE FRONT WINDSHIELD MOULDING FLEW OFF THE WINDSHIELD HITTING THE WINDOW AND CONTINUING TO FLY OVER THE CAR. WE SWERVED BECAUSE WE THOUGHT IT WAS A BIRD STRIKE OR SOMETHING CAME OFF A TRUCK. WE TOOK THE NEXT EXIT AND STOPPED TO FIND THE MOLDING GONE. AT THE NEXT PLACE WE GOT GAS WE NOTICED THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS ALSO READY TO FLY OFF SO WE TOOK IT OFF BEFORE IT COULD COME OFF.
Structure, Mar 13, 2018
CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING