Model year record

2018 Ford Explorer

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 1,213 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V448000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 288,314
Reported to NHTSA: 2026-07-14

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

Safety risk

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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 recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V101000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 412,774
Reported to NHTSA: 2026-02-20
Owners notified: 2026-03-16

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V685000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component: Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 59,006
Reported to NHTSA: 2025-10-10

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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 will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V031000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component: Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,889,110
Reported to NHTSA: 2024-01-19
Owners notified: 2024-07-18

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V316000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 616,967
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-05-05
Owners notified: 2021-10-01

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V633000

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Component: Seats: mid/rear assembly
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 639,137
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-08-28
Owners notified: 2019-10-21

Defect description

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 seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety risk

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.

Manufacturer 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 18V807000

Fuel system, gasoline

Component: Fuel system, gasoline
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 144
Reported to NHTSA: 2018-11-14
Owners notified: 2018-12-07

Defect description

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.

Safety risk

A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer 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.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Structure	293	70,000 mi
Unknown or other	214	3,200 mi
Structure: body	124	20,000 mi
Engine	121	30,000 mi
Electrical system	74	25,000 mi
Power train	68	92,000 mi
Suspension	34	96,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	24	6,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling	23	95,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	22	11,000 mi
Steering	22	25,000 mi
Back over prevention	17	78,896 mi
Air bags	15	1,200 mi
Service brakes	13	749 mi
Vehicle speed control	12	22,000 mi
Seat belts	9	28,000 mi
Wheels	9	20,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera	7	20,000 mi
Seats	7	1,200 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars	7	50,000 mi
Tires	7	16,000 mi
Back over prevention: rearview system braking	6	—
Exterior lighting	6	113,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	5	60,000 mi
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery	4	40,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	4	1,100 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	4	40,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: dashboard	4	45,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	4	102,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: fan	3	90,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	3	—
Visibility	3	50,000 mi
Visibility: windshield	3	70,000 mi
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners	3	80,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	2	—
Electrical system: instrument panel: fuel gauge	2	89,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	2	3,500 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	1,143 mi
Equipment: electrical: radio/tape deck/CD etc.	2	—
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	2	—
Lane departure: blind spot detection	2	—
Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch	2	—
Latches/locks/linkages: tailgate: latch	2	70,000 mi
Steering: column	2	50,000 mi
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator	1	75,000 mi
Electrical system: horn	1	—
Electronic stability control (ESC)	1	12,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: crank/camshaft position sensor	1	55,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger	1	68,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication	1	74,000 mi
Equipment	1	38,000 mi
Equipment: electrical: infotainment	1	—
Equipment: electrical: infotainment: video (TOUCH)screen/monitor/unit	1	33,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	1	22,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: throttlebody/manifold	1	100,200 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic	1	—
Service brakes, hydraulic: power assist: hydraulic: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings	1	982 mi
Structure: body: door	1	27,632 mi
Structure: body: tailgate	1	24,000 mi
Tires: markings	1	—
Vehicle speed control: cruise control	1	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	1	57,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	1	99,000 mi

The 2017 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2019 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Open investigations

An investigation is not a recall. It indicates that NHTSA is currently evaluating an alleged defect but has not reached a final determination.

AQ22003Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls

Latches/locks/linkages: hood: latch

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.