The 2018 Ford Explorer has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,617,138 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 859 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
SUSPENSION26V1010002026-02-20412,774 affected
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)…
EQUIPMENT25V6850002025-10-1059,006 affected
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…
Consequence
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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,…
STRUCTURE24V0310002024-01-191,889,110 affected
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. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed Feburary 16, 2024. Owner notification letters…
STRUCTURE21V3160002021-05-05616,967 affected
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…
SEATS19V6330002019-08-28639,137 affected
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…
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.
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.
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.
Complaints by component
STRUCTURE
173
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
159
1crashes1fires3injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
99
4crashes
ENGINE
92
3crashes2fires5injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
53
3crashes2fires3injuries
POWER TRAIN
43
1crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
19
1crashes2fires2injuries
SUSPENSION
19
2crashes
STEERING
18
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
15
Total complaints859
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Less that 100k miles and my transmission already needs replaced. Last year my engine was sputtering making my car jerk while driving went to shop they did a total transmission fluid changed but said my transmission is likely going bad it helped mostly and I had high hopes the problem was solved it…”
“My vehicles transmission has been replaced 2 times already (3 years apart)- now it is overheating. Absolutely no warning lights have came on at any time in regards to any of my situations - my vehicle is available for inspection at any time. When the transmission went in my vehicle, I was…”
“Attempted to make an appointment on xxx with [xxx], 2121 w bell rd, phoenix, az 85023 phone [REDACTED] to have the two open safety recalls completed( 26v101 & 24v031). Could not make a service appointment because the service writer said that parts were not available and had no idea of when they…”
“Attempted to make an appointment on xxx with [xxx], 2121 w bell rd, phoenix, az 85023 phone [REDACTED] to have the two open safety recalls completed( 26v101 & 24v031). Could not make a service appointment because the service writer said that parts were not available and had no idea of when they…”
“The driver side keyless door entry pillar has come off on the highway and hit something. The keyless door entry panel came off in 2023 and koons ford of annapolis charged me $ 523.00 to fix the panel. The panel has a small clip and double stick tape. Sorry, double stick tape is not going to hold…”
“The driver side keyless door entry pillar has come off on the highway and hit something. The keyless door entry panel came off in 2023 and koons ford of annapolis charged me $ 523.00 to fix the panel. The panel has a small clip and double stick tape. Sorry, double stick tape is not going to hold…”
“The driver side keyless door entry pillar has come off on the highway and hit something. The keyless door entry panel came off in 2023 and koons ford of annapolis charged me $ 523.00 to fix the panel. The panel has a small clip and double stick tape. Sorry, double stick tape is not going to hold…”
“The exterior a-pillar applique trim piece began detaching from the vehicle while driving. The part became loose and was hanging from the vehicle whilst in motion, at which point I safely pulled over and removed it to prevent it becoming a road hazard. The trim is now fully detached and available…”
Defect investigations
InvestigationAQ22003 Opened 2022-12-16 · open
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…
InvestigationPE23001 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…
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL,
FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2018 Ford Explorer as of
July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.