2018 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/14/2026

93Engine complaints

13.1%Of all 710 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

STRUCTURE174 · 24.5%

Unspecified / other160 · 22.5%

STRUCTURE:BODY99 · 13.9%

ENGINE93 · 13.1%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM53 · 7.5%

Share of the 710 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“UNDER ACCELERATION WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING SET TO RECIRCULATE THE CABIN FILLS WITH EXHAUST FUMES.”NHTSA complaint 11404263 — filed 03/22/2021

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MERGING INTO TRAFFIC ON THE FREEWAY AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE INDEPENDENTLY SHIFTED…”NHTSA complaint 11339021 — filed 07/13/2020

“FOR WEEKS NOW THE CAR HAS BEEN DECIDING WHAT TO DO. THE AIR CONDITIONER RANDOMLY TURNS OFF OR WON'T TURN ON. THE WINDOW WON'T ROLL…”NHTSA complaint 11310401 — filed 02/20/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Ford Explorer have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2018 Ford Explorer: 93 of 710 complaints on file (13.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Ford Explorer have in total?

710 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 15 involved a crash, 7 involved a fire, 13 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.