The 2018 Ford Explorer has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 3,905,452 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 868 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the structure. Last updated July 20, 2026.
Recall campaigns
STRUCTURE26V4480002026-07-14288,314 affected
Defect
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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, are expected to be mailed August 24, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in…
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. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
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
174
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
161
1crashes1fires3injuries
STRUCTURE:BODY
99
4crashes
ENGINE
94
4crashes2fires5injuries
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
53
3crashes2fires3injuries
POWER TRAIN
44
1crashes
SUSPENSION
20
2crashes
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
19
1crashes2fires2injuries
STEERING
18
1crashes
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
16
Total complaints868
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal
information removed.
“Dealership is not honoring active recalls due to body damage causing car to be deemed total loss by dealership and is in process of being rebuilt”
“This vehicle was inspected by a certified ford dealership (premier ford, service advisor: harry). Ford motor company’s consumer affairs department subsequently reviewed the case under complaint id: xxx. In their official written response, ford explicitly admitted the root cause, stating: "the…”
“This vehicle was inspected by a certified ford dealership (premier ford, service advisor: harry). Ford motor company’s consumer affairs department subsequently reviewed the case under complaint id: xxx. In their official written response, ford explicitly admitted the root cause, stating: "the…”
“This vehicle was inspected by a certified ford dealership (premier ford, service advisor: harry). Ford motor company’s consumer affairs department subsequently reviewed the case under complaint id: xxx. In their official written response, ford explicitly admitted the root cause, stating: "the…”
“The contact owns a 2018 ford explorer. The contact received notification of nthsa campaign number: 24v031000 (structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the dealer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for…”
“The windshield wiper motor failed, causing the windshield wipers to stop operating properly. At the same time, the windshield washer system is unable to spray washer fluid onto the windshield. This significantly reduces visibility during rain and when the windshield becomes dirty, creating a…”
“While driving at highway speed on a 2-lane highway with three children under the age of [xxx] in the vehicle, my 2018 ford explorer experienced sudden complete engine failure with no prior warning. No warning lights, no temperature gauge change, no unusual sounds. The vehicle went from operating…”
“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…”
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 20, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page
contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.