2018 Ford EXPLORER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2018 Ford EXPLORER has 858 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 10.7x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is body/structure problems (33% of all complaints), specifically: crack on windshield by body at top, no scratch above on paint, stratch started small and is growing. ⚠️ 8 fire reports filed.

8 fire reports 15 crash reports 16 injuries

858

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

10.7x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

BODY/STRUCTURE

284 complaints

33%

• CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING
• 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 TO
• 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

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING”

— NHTSA complaint filing

OTHER

163 complaints

19%

• 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
• GO TO FORDEXPLORERNIGHTMARE.COM, READ THE 2 KEY DOCUMENTS, OTHER STORIES AND SHARE YOUR STORY. CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING FROM THESE VEHICLES.
• 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 TH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

120 complaints

14%

• WHEN ACCELERATING, THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FILLS THE CAR. WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS ALL YOU CAN SMELL IS EXHAUST. IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FROM DAY ONE. FORD TRIED TO FIX IT UNDER RECALL BUT IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT JUST THE SAME. NO DIFFERENCE AFTER THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIX IT.
• WHILE DRIVING NORMALLY ACCELERATION WILL BEGIN TO REDUCE CONTINUELY UNTIL THE VEHICLE STOPS ALTOGETHER. NO WARNING LIGHTS OR ANYTHING. THIS HAPPENED ON THE EXPRESSWAY EACH TIME. THE VEHICLE IS ONE MONTH OLD. DEALERSHIP CAN'T FIND A PROBLEM.
• EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN DURING ACCELERATION AND WHEN THE AC IS ON. SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES AND BURNING EYES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IT SMELLS LIKE BURNT HAIR. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPOR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 3 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“WHEN ACCELERATING, THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FILLS THE CAR. WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS ALL YOU CAN SMELL IS EXHAUST. IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FROM DAY ONE. FORD TRIED TO FIX IT UNDER RECALL BUT IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT JUST THE SAME. NO DIFFERENCE AFTER THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIX IT.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

59 complaints

• DURING STARTUP ON COLD MORNINGS (NOT ALWAYS) I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE FAILURE WARNINGS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING, TURN SIGNALS, OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE WARNINGS ARE: 4WD OFF, CHECK PARKING AID, SEE MANUAL, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, STEERING ASSIST FAULT, ABS LIGHT, AIRBAG L
• EXHAUST FUMES ARE ENTERING THE CABIN DURING ACCELERATION AND WHEN THE AC IS ON. SEVERAL FAMILY MEMBERS HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THE SMELL WITHIN THE CABIN. I PERSONALLY HAVE EXPERIENCED HEADACHES AND BURNING EYES BECAUSE OF THE ISSUE. IT SMELLS LIKE BURNT HAIR. THIS IS A FAMILY VEHICLE USED TO TRANSPOR
• THE EXPLORER WILL RANDOMLY NOT START LIKE A DEAD BATTERY, BUT THEN STARTS OTHER TIMES. BATTERY HAD BEEN REPLACED BY THE DEALER. SIDE MIRRORS WILL FOLD IN WHILE DRIVING AND WILL NOT FOLD BACK OUT UNTIL THE CAR IS STOPPED, TURNED OFF AND THEN RESTARTED. WHEN THESE ISSUES ARE PRESENT THE SYNC 3 SYSTEM

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports💥 3 crashes

“DURING STARTUP ON COLD MORNINGS (NOT ALWAYS) I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE FAILURE WARNINGS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING, TURN SIGNALS, OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE WARNINGS ARE: 4WD OFF, CHECK PARKING AID, SEE MANUAL, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, STEERING ASSIST FAULT, ABS LIGHT, AIRBAG L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

45 complaints

• MY 2016 EXPLORER HAS 74,000 MILES AND THE RPM NEEDLE IS STICKING. HAD IT EVALUATED AND FOUND TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL OUT ON A 2/3 SHIFT AND A 4/5 SHIFT. FLUID LEVEL IS CORRECT, THIS IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE IN THE DIRECT CLUTCH. THE FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMEN
• TOTAL TRANSMISSION FAILURE FOR NO KNOWN REASON WITH LESS THAN 3000 MILES AND 4 MONTHS OLD. CANNOT BE FIXED, MUST BE REPLACED.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED INTO LIMP MODE WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO AUTONATION FORD EAST (28825 EUCLID AVE, WICKLIFFE, OH 44092) WHERE THE MEC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“MY 2016 EXPLORER HAS 74,000 MILES AND THE RPM NEEDLE IS STICKING. HAD IT EVALUATED AND FOUND TRANSMISSION NEUTRAL OUT ON A 2/3 SHIFT AND A 4/5 SHIFT. FLUID LEVEL IS CORRECT, THIS IS DUE TO EXCESSIVE CLEARANCE IN THE DIRECT CLUTCH. THE FORD DEALERSHIP RECOMMEND OVERHAUL OR REPLACEMENT. REPLACEMEN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 858 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
OTHER: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: WHEN ACCELERATING, THE SMELL OF EXHAUST FILLS THE CAR. WHEN YOU PRESS THE GAS ALL YOU CAN SMELL IS EXHAUST. IT'S BEEN THIS WAY FROM DAY ONE. FORD TRIED TO FIX IT UNDER RECALL BUT IT DID ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. YOU CAN STILL SMELL IT JUST THE SAME. NO DIFFERENCE AFTER THEIR ATTEMPT TO FIX IT.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: DURING STARTUP ON COLD MORNINGS (NOT ALWAYS) I HAVE RECEIVED MULTIPLE FAILURE WARNINGS. WHEN THIS HAPPENS THE VEHICLE HAS NO POWER STEERING, TURN SIGNALS, OR WINDSHIELD WIPERS. THE WARNINGS ARE: 4WD OFF, CHECK PARKING AID, SEE MANUAL, SERVICE ADVANCETRAC, STEERING ASSIST FAULT, ABS LIGHT, AIRBAG L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)