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Car · Ford problems

2018 Ford Explorer problems

734 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Explorer. The most reported area is body and structure (39% of them). NHTSA also lists 143 service bulletins and 7 recall campaigns.

734owner complaints
16say a crash was involved
7say a fire was involved
13injuries and deaths reported

Counts are what owners told NHTSA, as filed. NHTSA does not confirm each report, and a complaint is not proof of a cause. Injuries: 13. Deaths: 0.

Complaints by area

Each bar is the share of this model year's 734 complaints that name that area. A complaint can name more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

15 smaller areas not shown (127 complaints in total).

Do not compare models by these numbers. NHTSA has no sales count for each model, so a model with more complaints may just have sold more cars. Use them to see which areas owners write about, not to rank cars.

Service bulletins

NHTSA's database lists 143 repair bulletins from Ford for the 2018 Ford Explorer. A bulletin is a repair instruction sent to dealers. It is not a recall and does not mean your car is covered. The 8 newest:

  1. TSB 25-2570Received December 1, 2025

    Electrical system

    Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice...

  2. SSM 54366Received November 19, 2025

    Electrical system

    Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.

  3. TSB 25-2005Received January 27, 2025

    Some vehicles may exhibit at least one of the following conditions:.

  4. SSM 53040Received October 16, 2024

    While performing a transmission repair on some 2012-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, a transmission seal kit may be on backorder due to supply chain interruptions.

  5. TSB 24-2165Received June 6, 2024

    Some 2016 MKS, 2016-2017 Navigator, 2016-2018 F-150/Focus/C-MAX/Edge/Fiesta/MKX/Transit Connect/Mustang, 2017-2018 Continental/Fusion/MKZ, 2017-2019 Explorer, 2016-2019...

  6. SSM 52483Received May 3, 2024

    Some 2018-2019 Explorer and 2018-2024 Transit/F-150/Expedition/Navigator vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0627, P025A, P025B, P00C6, P008A and/or U0109...

  7. SSM 52314Received March 20, 2024

    Power train (transmission and drive)

    During service and repair requiring removal and replacement of a crankshaft bolt and/or crankshaft damper, achieving proper torque of the crankshaft pulley bolt is critical.

  8. SSM 52335Received March 20, 2024

    Engine and engine cooling

    For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and...

Recalls

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. The 3 to look at first:

  1. 26V448000July 14, 2026

    Structure

    The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

  2. 24V031000January 19, 2024

    Structure

    The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

  3. 21V316000May 5, 2021

    Structure

    The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.

See all 7 recalls for the 2018 Ford Explorer, or check your VIN below to see which are open on your car.

Common repairs in this area (not a diagnosis)

These are repair jobs that sit in the areas owners report most. A complaint may need a diagnosis first: the same symptom can come from many causes, and a serious one such as engine failure is not fixed by a cheap part. They are not a forecast of what your Explorer will need. Ranges are US estimates for all makes.

Start with a diagnosis

Body and structure 288 complaints · 39%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Engine and engine cooling 121 complaints · 16%

No repair price here: this area usually needs a diagnosis first. A diagnostic scan (check engine light) runs $55 to $250.

Electrical system 58 complaints · 8%

Power train (transmission and drive) 50 complaints · 7%

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Check your VIN

Complaints and bulletins cover a whole model year. Only the VIN shows what is open on your car.

0 of 17 characters

Recall and complaint data comes from NHTSA, the US government's vehicle safety agency, and is cached for up to a day. Recall repairs at a dealer are free. A recall that is not listed may not apply to your car or may not be filed yet. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls too.

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2018 Ford Explorer: questions

What are the most common problems on the 2018 Ford Explorer?

Of the 734 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Ford Explorer, 288 (39%) name body and structure, and 121 (16%) name engine and engine cooling. A complaint can list more than one area, so the shares add up to more than 100%. These are owner reports, not proven causes.

Is the 2018 Ford Explorer reliable?

These numbers cannot say. NHTSA complaints have no sales count to compare against, so a high number on one model does not mean it fails more than another. Use them to see which areas owners write about, then check your own VIN for open recalls.

Do these complaints include crashes or fires?

Owners marked 16 of the 734 complaints as involving a crash and 7 as involving a fire. They also reported 13 injuries and 0 deaths. NHTSA records these as the owner reports them and does not confirm each one.

How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at a Ford dealer. Enter your VIN to see which ones are open on your car.

What is a service bulletin?

A service bulletin is a repair instruction a maker sends to its dealers. It is not a recall, and it does not mean your car is covered. NHTSA lists 143 repair bulletins for the 2018 Ford Explorer.

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Sources

Complaint, bulletin and recall counts come from NHTSA as filed. Repair prices are estimates from our own ranges. Not a repair shop, estimates only.