2018 Ford Explorer reliability record
NHTSA consumer complaints and recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Explorer from the dataset labeled 2026. The source file does not provide an exact snapshot date. Use the reported issues to guide further checks; these counts do not establish failure rates or repair costs.
- NHTSA complaints
- 855
- Dataset year: 2026; snapshot day not provided
- Top problem area
- STRUCTURE
- 172 complaints
- Recalls on record
- 6
- see below
- Reported harm
- 26 reported crashes · 24 injuries · 9 fires
How this record compares
raw NHTSA counts, not defect ratesCounts are not adjusted for vehicles sold, time in service or reporting frequency. A larger count does not establish a higher chance of failure, and these comparisons do not set the maintenance budget in our calculator.
Complaint rank
#520
of 4,194 vehicle records
Vs Ford median
+518
median 338 across 514 Ford records
Vs 2016-2020
+568
median 288 complaints in 538 records
Top component share
32%
Structure: 271 complaints
What owners report fails — 2018 Ford Explorer
- STRUCTURE 172
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 159
- STRUCTURE:BODY 99
- ENGINE 92
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 53
6 recalls on record for the 2018 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 26V101000 · 2026 · SUSPENSION:REAR A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 25V685000 · 2025 · EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- NHTSA 24V031000 · 2024 · STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 21V316000 · 2021 · STRUCTURE:BODY A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
- NHTSA 19V633000 · 2019 · SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an
Estimate the 5-year cost to own a 2018 Ford Explorer
Build a separate budget with your purchase price, insurance quote, mileage and maintenance estimate. Complaint counts do not enter that calculation. Unknown local taxes and fees stay listed as costs to confirm.
Open TCO calculatorThese are unverified consumer reports and manufacturer recalls filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration — not validated defect rates, and not adjusted for how many 2018 Ford Explorer units were produced or sold. High-volume and older vehicles naturally accumulate more complaints. Use this as one research signal, not a verdict on any individual vehicle. Dataset year: 2026; exact snapshot day not supplied. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain).
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2018 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA has 855 consumer complaints on record for the 2018 Ford Explorer and 6 recalls. The most-reported problem area is structure (172 reports). These are unverified consumer reports filed with the government, not validated failure rates, and are not adjusted for how many 2018 Ford Explorer units were produced — popular vehicles naturally accumulate more reports.
What are the most common problems with the 2018 Ford Explorer?
Owners most often report problems with: structure (172), unknown or other (159), structure:body (99), engine (92). Each figure is the number of complaints filed with NHTSA for this exact model year.
How much does it cost to own a 2018 Ford Explorer?
This complaint dataset does not measure repair prices or predict a maintenance budget for the 2018 Ford Explorer. Use your purchase price, insurance quotes, fuel use and a maintenance estimate in the separate five-year cost calculator. It does not convert complaint counts into repair costs, and any unknown taxes remain excluded and clearly listed.