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
730 reports, newest first.
Structure, Mar 13, 2018
CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING
Other or unspecified, Feb 26, 2018
FULL ACCESSORY POWER ACTIVE, NEXT VEHICLE SHUT OFF TO SAVE ENERGY THIS HAPPEN FIRST TIME ON DECEMBER 23,2017 ON DECEMBER 24, 2017 HAD TO HAVE IT JUMP, ON DECEMBER 25, 2017 WOULD NOT START AT ALL, DECEMBER 26, 2017 TOWED TO CLASSIC FORD THE STATED BATTERY WAS BAD REPLACE IT UNTIL FEBRUARY 14, 2018 THE SAME STATED AGAIN ON FEBRUARY 15, 2018 THREE TIMES I GOT THE SAME MESSAGE ON THE THIRD ONE A WRENCH CAME ON THE SCREEN THE DEALER CLASSIC FORD HAS HAD WITH NO RESOLVE IN SITE I CONTACTED FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE A CASE NO CAS-14137401 HAVE A COMPLAINT MADE A REPRESENTATIVE NAME ANNETTE CALL ME TWICE LETTING ME KNOW THAT FORD HAS NO REPLACEMENT OR EXCHANGE POLICY BEING THAT THE DEALER DOES NOT KNOW WHAT'S WRONG THEY SHOULD CANCEL THE LEASE AND LEASE ME ANOTHER VEHICLE IN GOOD FAITH THE FIRST TIME I HAD IT JUMP START I WAS LEAVING CHURCH, THE 26TH WAS TOWED FROM MY HOME, IN FEBRUARY THE FIRST TIME LEAVING THE FITNESS CENTER, SAME DAY IN DRIVEWAY, LAST IN PARKING LOT FROM THERE TO DEALER.
Visibility/wiper, Feb 26, 2018
THE INTEGRATED BLIND SPOT MIRROR ON BOTH THE DRIVER SIDE AND PASSENGER SIDE IS MOUNTED AT THE WRONG ANGLE. IT DOES NOT SHOW THE BLIND SPOT OF THE CAR. YOU CAN NOT SEE ANY PORTION OF LOW PROFILE CARS IN THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR AND YOU CAN NOT SEE THE HEADLIGHTS OF MOST VEHICLES AT NIGHT. IT DOES SHOW THE VERY TOP OF TALLER CARS (SUVS/TRUCKS/VANS). I HAVE PHOTOS TAKEN WHILE DRIVING OF CARS THAT ARE IN THE BLIND SPOT. AS YOU CAN SEE IN THE PHOTOS, YOU CAN SEE ONLY THE VERY TOP OF THE VAN AND ALMOST NONE OF THE STANDARD CAR. AT NIGHT, THE ROOF OF THE CAR IS NOT AS HELPFUL TO SEE AS THE HEADLIGHTS. I CHECKED ANOTHER 2018 EXPLORER AT THE DEALERSHIP AND IT HAD THE SAME VIEW IN THE BLIND SPOT MIRROR. THE FORD SERVICE TECHNICIAN AGREED THAT THE VIEW ON THE 2018 EXPLORER WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE VIEW ON HIS PERSONAL 2016 FORD FUSION. HOWEVER, SINCE ALL OF THE 2018 EXPLORERS HAD THE SAME VIEW, IT COULD NOT BE FIXED. OLDER MODELS APPEAR TO HAVE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS THAT ARE CORRECTLY POSITIONED. 2014 FORD EXPLORER, 2015 FORD TRANSIT, AND 2016 FORD FUSION ALL HAD CORRECTLY POSITIONED BLIND SPOT MIRRORS. I CAME VERY CLOSE TO SIDE SWIPING A CAR AT NIGHT ON THE HIGHWAY ON THE DAY I PURCHASED THE EXPLORER. AS I WAS RELYING ON THE BLIND SPOT MIRRORS AND NO PORTION OF THE CAR COULD BE SEEN. THANKFULLY, A HORN SAVED US BOTH.
Other or unspecified, Feb 15, 2018
GO TO FORDEXPLORERNIGHTMARE.COM, READ THE 2 KEY DOCUMENTS, OTHER STORIES AND SHARE YOUR STORY. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM THESE VEHICLES.
Other or unspecified, Feb 12, 2018
THE CAR INTERMITTENTLY WREAKS OF GAS FUMES (NOT CARBON MONOXIDE) ON THE INSIDE OF THE CARE. THIS PRIMARILY HAPPENS BETWEEN 1/4 TO TO A FULL GAS TANK. THE SMELL ALWAYS OCCURS AFTER A GAS FILL UP. THE GAS TANK IS NEVER OVERFILLED. IT ALSO HAPPENS WHEN TAKING A SHARP TURN AFTER A STOP SIGN/LIGHT, AND WHEN BRAKING SWIFTLY. LIVING IN A NORTHERN CLIMATE, THE GAS SMELL GETS TO BE SO BAD, THAT WINDOWS NEED TO PERIODICALLY BE OPENED IN ORDER TO VENT THE VEHICLE OF GAS SMELL. THIS DOES NOT GO OVER WELL WHEN IT IS ZERO OUTSIDE. WITH OVER 3500 MILES ON THE VEHICLE, THE GAS SMELL SEEMS TO BE OCCURRING MORE FREQUENTLY. IT STARTED TO SMELL ON DAY 1 OF POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE WITH THE FIRST GAS FILL UP.NOW, THE WHOLE GARAGE SMELLS OF GAS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS PARKED FOR A SHORT AMOUNT OF TIME (2 HOURS). WHEN STARTING THE VEHICLE ON A COLD MORNING PARKED OUTSIDE, WITH ALL BLOWERS RUNNING FULL, THE INTERIOR OF THE CAR WILL WREAK OF GAS AFTER 5 MINUTES. I HAVE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A FORD DEALERSHIP THIS WEEK. THEY SUPPOSEDLY KNOW OF THE PROBLEM. IT DOES APPEAR TO BE DIFFERENT FROM THE CARBON MONOXIDE PROBLEM AS THIS IS GAS FUME SMELLS.