Representative model. Photo: Bull-Doser, Wikimedia Commons, Public domain

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2018 Ford Explorer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2018 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 7
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 735
Latest campaign: Jul 14, 2026

Recall summary by component7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Structure	3	Jul 14, 2026	26V448000 24V031000 21V316000
Suspension	1	Feb 20, 2026	26V101000
Equipment	1	Oct 10, 2025	25V685000
Seats	1	Aug 28, 2019	19V633000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Nov 14, 2018	18V807000

Safety recalls7

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jul 14, 2026Latest campaign


Jul 14, 202626V448000	Structure: body A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V448000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. Risk 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, 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. Campaign NHTSA 26V448000 · Jul 14, 2026
Feb 20, 202626V101000	Suspension: rear A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V101000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture. Risk 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) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026. Campaign NHTSA 26V101000 · Feb 20, 2026
Oct 10, 202525V685000	Equipment: electrical engine block heater An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 25V685000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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, 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. Campaign NHTSA 25V685000 · Oct 10, 2025
Jan 19, 202424V031000	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. DetailsHide details for campaign 24V031000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02. Campaign NHTSA 24V031000 · Jan 19, 2024
May 5, 202121V316000	Structure: body A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 21V316000 What's wrong 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. Risk 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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22. Campaign NHTSA 21V316000 · May 5, 2021
Aug 28, 201919V633000	Seats: front assembly recliner 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… DetailsHide details for campaign 19V633000 What's wrong 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." 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. 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. Campaign NHTSA 19V633000 · Aug 28, 2019

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2018 Ford Explorer? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component735

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

735Complaints filed

15Involving a crash

7Involving a fire

12Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Structure	290	39	4	0	0
Unknown or other	169	23	2	1	3
Engine	95	13	2	2	4
Electrical system	57	8	3	2	2
Power train	50	7	1	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	29	4	0	1	1
Back over prevention	26	4	0	0	0
Suspension	23	3	2	0	0
Steering	20	3	1	0	0
Fuel/propulsion system	19	3	1	2	2
Visibility/wiper	16	2	0	0	0
Air bags	11	1	3	0	1
Visibility	11	1	0	0	0
Vehicle speed control	10	1	2	0	1
Tires	10	1	0	0	0

13 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Explorer, Explorer Police Intercept.

Latest reports

Unknown or other
“The water pump has failed”
Filed 10/12/2026 · ODI 11770605
Engine
“My vehhicle has been tested by ford service center and found to be affected by the factory defect that allows coolant to leak causing a catastrophic engine failure where the only remedy is a new engine block.”
Filed 10/05/2026 · ODI 11768940
Structure
“Exterior B-Pillar Applique / Door Trim Panel with keypad: The exterior B-pillar trim piece on the driver side front door frame has experienced catastrophic adhesive failure and clip breakage, detaching at the top…”
Filed 09/22/2026 · ODI 11766068

Other Ford Explorer model years

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Other Ford models

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2018 Ford Explorer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2018 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 7 safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Ford Explorer. The most recent, 26V448000 (reported July 14, 2026), concerns structure. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2018 Ford Explorer recalls for?

The largest group is structure, with 3 campaigns. Others: suspension (1), equipment (1), seats (1). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2018 Ford Explorer?

Structure is the most-reported component, named in 290 complaints out of 735 filed with NHTSA (39%). Across all complaints, owners reported 15 crashs and 7 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2018 Ford Explorer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

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