2018 Ford Explorer: engine and transmission complaints
NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
24%
170 of 730 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system
No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford Explorer. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 24% of relevant complaints.
Better than 80% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
What owners reported
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSI07/12/20231 INJURED
I Drove Explorer directly to Mayo Clinic in MN shorty after the purchase. It would smell like sulpher at times, gasoline, exhaust and I was getting very poor fuel economy. Averaging 17-2. I got extremely sick and confused and had severe headaches and nausea, vertigo, congnitive impairments, burning eyes and all I want…
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING02/07/20221 INJURED
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was an abnormally strong odor of fumes throughout the vehicle. The contact stated that there was no warning light illuminated. The contact had to roll down the wind to remove the odor from inside the vehicle. The conta…
UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE12/31/2020CRASH1 INJURED
WE TOOK OUR 2018 FORD EXPLORER INTO THE SHOP LAST WINTER COMPLAINING OF A BAD SMELL. THE SHOP KEPT OUR CAR FOR ABOUT 5 DAYS AND SAID THERE WAS NOTHING WRONG. 2 WEEKS AGO MY WIFE WENT TO THE ER AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH CARBON MONOXIDE POISONING. WE BEGAN WORKING WITH FOR TO HELP GET THIS FIXED, 5 DAYS LATER SHE PASSED …
Three of 170 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Recall campaigns on this model year (7)
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER
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, 2019-20…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
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…
STRUCTURE:BODY
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.
This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.
Before you buy a 2018 Ford Explorer
No elevated drivetrain pattern for this model year. That describes the model, not the car in front of you.
Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
7 recall campaigns on this model year. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on the VIN; the report checks that.
Ask for service records. A engine already replaced under warranty is a different car from one that was not.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history
report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition
of any individual vehicle. Combined across 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.
