NHTSA lists 734 complaints for the 2018 Ford Explorer, 16 of them mention a crash and 7 mention a fire. 13 complaints mention an injury, with 13 injuries and 0 deaths reported.
Data build 2026-10-07.
NHTSA lists this vehicle as FORD EXPLORER.
Recalls
7 recalls.
Date: 2026-07-14. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. (excerpt)
Consequence: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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 r (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2026-02-20. Systems: SUSPENSION.
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2025-10-10. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Defect: 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. (excerpt)
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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 (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2024-01-19. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2021-05-05. Systems: STRUCTURE.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2019-08-28. Systems: SEATS.
Defect: 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 sea (excerpt)
Consequence: 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. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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. (excerpt)
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Date: 2018-11-14. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE.
Defect: 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.
Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
2 investigations; 1 open.
PE23001
Opened: 2023-01-27. Closed: 2024-02-08.
Windshield trim molding Item detachment
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injur
Systems: STRUCTURE.
Linked campaign numbers: 24V031.
AQ22003
Opened: 2022-12-16. Closed: Not listed.
Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. A? 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of in
Systems: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
198 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system| System | Count |
|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 78 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT | 56 |
|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 31 |
|---|
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 19 |
|---|
| SEATS | 14 |
|---|
| EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY | 11 |
|---|
| STRUCTURE | 11 |
|---|
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 9 |
|---|
11037788
Date: 2026-09-30. Type: Other. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
25E10-S1 Owner letter
11035464
Date: 2026-07-02. Type: Emissions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and Flex Vehicles With 3.5L Engines Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Reprogramming
11033577
Date: 2026-05-09. Type: Other. Systems: ENGINE.
Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion, 2016-2018 Model Year Focus RS, 2022-2024 Model Year Maverick, 2016-2019 Model Year MKC and 2019-2024 Model Year Ranger Vehicles
11030282
Date: 2026-03-25. Type: Other. Systems: BACK OVER PREVENTION, LANE DEPARTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Advance Notice a Customer Satisfaction Program 25N17 Certain 2015-2025 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Rear View Camera Replacement If Required After Dealer Evaluation
11029052
Date: 2026-02-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, STRUCTURE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the
11025837
Date: 2025-11-26. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. 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 recognition concerns Phone co
11025611
Date: 2025-11-12. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, POWER TRAIN.
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. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of th
11013144
Date: 2025-01-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
"Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: a ? Customer concern of a vibration or rough idle in D or R a ? Shudder while driving a ? Lack of engine RPM a ? Low performance, lack of acceleration on take off"
11008948
Date: 2024-10-10. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
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.
11001174
Date: 2024-05-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: UNKNOWN OR OTHER.
This article supersedes TSB 21-2175 to update the TSB Service Procedure. 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 Escape/MKC/Flex/MKT/Taurus/Transit/Expedition/F-Super Duty