2018 Ford Explorer Problems

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles. Parts named most: Body (100).

What to check before you buy

• Look underneath with a flashlight. Utah road salt is hard on frames, brake lines and the bottoms of doors.
• Open and close every door, the hood and the liftgate, and lock and unlock each one.
• Use a paint thickness gauge and compare panels. A panel that reads very differently from the rest has likely been repaired.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the parts to perform the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that in April, the vehicle was taken to a dealer for the recall repair. Although the recall database stated that the parts…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 140,852 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 50,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Ask the seller not to warm the car up, and start it cold. Listen for ticking, knocking or a rough idle in the first minute.
• Pull the oil dipstick and the oil cap. Low oil, a gasoline smell or a milky film on the cap are reasons to walk away or get an inspection.
• Plug in an OBD2 scanner. Stored or pending codes matter, and so do readiness monitors that show "not ready", which usually means the codes were cleared right before the sale.
• Ask for oil change records. A gap in the records on a model known for engine complaints is a negotiating point at minimum.

Tools that help

What owners said

My vehhicle has been tested by ford service center and found to be affected by the factory defect that allows coolant to leak causing a catastrophic engine failure where the only remedy is a new engine block. My vehicle has 69919 miles. The problem was recognized when the vehicle bagan to misfire causing the check engine light to come on…Owner complaint, filed 2026

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 35,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Test every switch: windows, locks, mirrors, seat heaters, the screen, the backup camera, Bluetooth and every USB port.
• Watch the dash at startup. Every warning light should come on briefly and then go out.
• Have the battery and charging system tested. A weak alternator or battery drain shows up here.

Tools that help

What owners said

Entertainment system control. Power draws down and kills battery. Display locks into reverse camera, and I can't access any controls for extended periods of time. Display just locks, and I can't adjust anything in it. This seems to be a known issue for all Sync 3 based backends.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Both driver and passenger low beam headlights started strobe, than completely stopped working while driving at night. This was extremely stressful and dangerous as I was no longer able to see the roads very well, my options were get a tow truck to pick up and bring my vehicle from Michigan back to Minnesota or sit on the side of the road…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 86,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive it from cold if you can. Shifts should be smooth in every gear, including reverse.
• Feel for slipping (revs rise without the car speeding up), shudder at low speed and a delay when you put it in gear.
• Listen for whining, which is a common CVT complaint, and clunks when you go from drive to reverse.
• If it has 4WD or AWD, engage it on the test drive and ask when the transmission and differential fluids were last changed.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 107,300 miles

my transmission, like several others' I have spoken to, is about to lose reverse. The incident happened when i encountered a problem on the road and was UNABLE to put my car in reverse. I have taken it to several dealerships and nothing is ever done, it's been going on for years. Well now it's become more of a safety hazard since I do…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 48,000 miles. Parts named most: Sensing system: camera (7).

What to check before you buy

• Where it is safe, try the adaptive cruise and lane keeping on the test drive and watch for sudden braking or warnings with nothing there.
• Check the windshield in front of the camera and the bumper sensors for cracks, chips or poor repairs.
• Ask whether the windshield has been replaced. The camera has to be recalibrated afterward, and many shops skip it.

Tools that help

What owners said

The reverse camera does not work, when the car is in reverse.there is no visual on the monitor, which makes it unsafe when the car is in reverse, took the car to the dealer, was told that this car is not in recallOwner complaint, filed 2025

My rear view camera goes to a dark blue or gray s screen with the words “check surroundings for safety” & “Camera is unavailable” and it does not work. This is the same recall issue that is on 1,900+ plus vehicles from a recall. I have called and filled a complain with Ford and have visited 3 dealers in our area and that is what they…Owner complaint, filed 2025

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 64,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Check every light: headlights on low and high, fog lights, brake lights, turn signals and reverse lights.
• Run the wipers on every speed with washer fluid, and run the defroster front and back.

Tools that help

What owners said

The windshield wiper motor failed, causing the windshield wipers to stop operating properly. At the same time, the windshield washer system is unable to spray washer fluid onto the windshield. This significantly reduces visibility during rain and when the windshield becomes dirty, creating a safety hazard. No warning lights were displayedOwner complaint, filed 2026

The windshield wipers do not work, the rear wiper do not work and the wiper fluid does not squirt out. It can be inspected. The safety of everyone is at risk because I can't clean my windshield to make the road visible. I have recently seen a recall involving Ford vehicles regarding the windshield wipers not working. And I think it needs…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Smell around the engine bay and under the rear of the car for raw fuel.
• On the test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop and up a grade. Stumbling, surging or a flashing check engine light are red flags.
• Fuel pump recalls are common. Check this exact VIN for open recalls before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

I own a Ford Explorer 2018 bought as second hand in July 2020. For the last three years, the investment in it has been exponential. Finally working with a proper car mechanic, I understood that all the fixes I have made, have been known for a while. I have received several recalls and searching for more, I found one that **I did not…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. While the contact's son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the roadway. The contact stated another driver with a tow truck…Owner complaint, filed 2025, at 60,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 62,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Drive over a few bumps and potholes slowly with the radio off and listen for clunks or rattles.
• Check the tires for uneven wear on the inside or outside edges, a sign of alignment or suspension trouble.
• Look behind the wheels for oily, wet shocks or struts.

Tools that help

What owners said

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle veered off the road toward the passenger’s side. The contact turned the steering wheel; however, the vehicle became uncontrollable, crossed into the opposite lane, and drove into a ditch. The vehicle was driven on a back road to the residence…Owner complaint, filed 2026

On March 25, 2026, an authorized Ford dealership in Florida performed a safety recall involving the rear suspension toe links. The recall addressed a condition that Ford states can result in loss of steering control and increased crash risk. After the recall was completed, I drove approximately 1,200 miles home believing the safety…Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 30,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Turn the wheel lock to lock while parked and listen for groaning, clicking or binding.
• On a straight road the car should track straight with the wheel centered and no loose feeling.
• A power steering warning on the dash, even briefly, deserves a mechanic’s look before you buy.

Tools that help

What owners said

My steering wheel is turning 360 degrees. My tires are not always turning with the steering wheel. This may become dangerous and would like to know if the 23S63/2023-678 recall is affected with my 2018 Ford Explorer? If it is not affected with the recall above could this be considered a recall? Thank you.Owner complaint, filed 2026

While driving out of a turn or curve, the steering does not return to center. Which may cause veering into other lanes or off the road.Owner complaint, filed 2026

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 22,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Read the four-digit DOT date on each tire. Tires older than about six years should be replaced, whatever the tread looks like.
• Check tread depth on all four. On AWD vehicles all four tires should match.
• The tire pressure light should go out after startup.

Tools that help

What owners said

All 4 Tires Size 255/50R20 Have Cracked, Split and separated around tread. Extremely unsafe. Vehicle has near 40,000 miles. Vehicle was purchased in May 2018 with these tires already installed. There needs to be a recall, as now we will need to purchase 4 new tires at one time when this should not have happened. We can not use our…Owner complaint, filed 2023

i notice that my car is sliding in somewhat wet terrain situations. I did notice it last year but didn't think at 24k miles my tire treads were bad. I had my car serviced and they are telling me at 32K miles I need new tires and they are bad. These tires are warranted for 50K miles. There are rubber tears at the tread and well as…Owner complaint, filed 2022

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 1,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The pedal should feel firm and the car should stop straight without pulling, grinding or a pulsing pedal.
• The ABS and stability control lights should go out after startup and stay out.
• Look through the wheels at the rotors. A deep lip on the edge means brakes are due soon, which is a fair thing to negotiate on.

Tools that help

What owners said

Right front caliber went out at 47,186 miles in 11/14/2025. No abs sensor went on alerting me to the problem. Had it fixed. Two months later, 1/05/2026, at 47,620 miles later, the control HCU and module ABS went out. Again, no sensor alerting me to a problem. I could hardly drive it. Had Ford look at it, assess the problem, and had to…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owns a 2018 ford explorer. The contact stated while driving at approximately 40 MPH, the transmission shifted into gear improperly. On one occasion the vehicle independently shifted from park to reverse independently. The vehicle was taken to airport marina ford located at 5880 w centinela ave, los angeles, ca 90045…Owner complaint, filed 2020, at 28 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 18,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• Pull out and latch every seat belt, and let each one retract on its own.
• Try every seat adjuster, and watch for a passenger air bag "off" light when an adult is in the seat.

Tools that help

What owners said

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…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 50,000 miles

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the driver's side front seat belt failed to click securely into the buckle. The seat belt warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V093000 (Seat Belts); however, the VIN was not included. The local dealer…Owner complaint, filed 2026, at 97,000 miles

Half of the owners who gave a mileage had the problem by about 1,000 miles.

What to check before you buy

• The air bag (SRS) light should come on at startup and go out within a few seconds. If it stays on, the system may not work in a crash.
• Air bag recalls are some of the most serious. Check this exact VIN for open recalls and get proof any recall work was done.

Tools that help

What owners said

The airbag light shown in the attached photo came on at an unknown period of time. We did not know when this came on that it was not a normal light. This is a safety issue as there are many causes for this light to come on, and with this light being on the airbag may not deploy properly or at all during a collision. We did take the…Owner complaint, filed 2026

The contact owned a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a message displayed on several occasions instructing the driver to pull over and shut off the vehicle because the battery would shut off. Upon pulling over and turning off the vehicle, the vehicle failed to restart and required towing on…Owner complaint, filed 2026

What to check before you buy

• On the test drive, press the gas gently and firmly. The response should be smooth with no lag or surge.
• Set the cruise control, then use resume and cancel to make sure each one works.

Tools that help

What owners said

Since the car was new I experienced occasional situations where the car would not accelerate. I thought it might be the transmission slipping as it seemed to "bottom out" when hitting the gas. The car would not respond and I would coast onto the side of road for fear of getting hit. After a minute or so, the gas pedal would work and I…Owner complaint, filed 2022

My wife and I leased a 2018 ford explorer platinum last saturday. We wanted to upgrade to the latest technology. I failed to ask specifically if the adaptive cruise went to zero MPH for stop and go traffic. The window sticker said it had "adaptive cruise control". I have had two cars with adaptive cruise and they have both worked down to…Owner complaint, filed 2018, at 125 miles