2018 Ford Explorer Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 58about this part
- Share
- 8%of 734 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 58 complaints about the electrical system of the 2018 Ford Explorer, 8% of the 734 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved and 2 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The car sat for 7 days (we are retired) and the starter button did not respond on the first two tries to start engine. It happened on two occasions. If left at an airport, we might have been stranded. I believe the cause is the high current drain for the wifi and other electronics going on. The dealer said to check battery. The problem does not occur unless the car is unused for a number of days.”
NHTSA complaint #11240574, filed 2019-07, 8,300 miles“Exhaust fumes are entering the cabin during acceleration and when the AC is on. Several family members have complained about the smell within the cabin. I personally have experienced headaches and burning eyes because of the issue. It smells like burnt hair. This is a family vehicle used to transport my entire family including my 5 month old baby. This smell is making everyone nauseous.”
NHTSA complaint #11111383, filed 2018-07, 45 miles“In march 2018 I bought a brand new 2018 Explorer. In november 2019 my security system started going off on it's own without any disturbance to the vehicle or me touching my keys. The next day the battery was dead and the Ford service center told me my battery was dead due to a cold snap (we are in sc...it does not get that cold). I had to get a brand new battery. Now less than a year later, it's august 2020 and the key pad on the driver's side exterior door is malfunctioning and blinking uncontrollably until it finally died and does not work. …”
NHTSA complaint #11351222, filed 2020-08, 43,586 miles“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 up or down. Lights in the dashboard randomly go on and off all the time. Sometimes there is just a loud noise but no lights. Then recently when I was driving on the highway going 55 MPH with my 3 children the car shut its self off. The lights went crazy then shut off. There was no gas or brakes as I was going 55 MPH. Once the car came to a rolling stop. It did not turn back on. Once towed to the dealership, they cannot find anything wrong.”
NHTSA complaint #11310401, filed 2020-02, 12,000 miles“I have been experiencing acceleration/transmission concerns, where the vehicle essential stalls and will not accelerate. After approximately 5 seconds, the computer and transmission appear to 'sync' and the vehicle will accelerate, but the issue will continue to happen until the vehicle is turned off and back on again. The first time this happen, I was in a costco parking lot, so I did not think much of it. The second time this happen, july 12th, 2020, I was crossing a busy road of traffic near my home and was almost involved in a serious accident as a result of this failure. …”
NHTSA complaint #11355386, filed 2020-09, 30,000 milesRelated recalls
- 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair…Covers: Ford Explorer 2016–2018, 2020–2023, Ranger 2019–2024, Lincoln MKC 2016–2019 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 11037788Sep 30, 202625E10-S1 Owner letter
- 11035464Jul 2, 2026NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and…
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing…
- 11025837Nov 26, 2025This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns…
- 11025611Nov 12, 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 10241627Aug 2, 2023In various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable. Since this is a fleet vehicle, it…
- 10230835Jan 19, 2023Some 2018-2023 F-150, Expedition, Navigator, Transit, Aviator and Explorer vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0627, P025A, P025B…
- 10219060Aug 31, 2022Certain 2016-2018 Model Year Explorer Vehicles High-Speed Cooling Fan Motor Relay; Reason for supplement: Vehicles Covered by this Program: all open / unrepaired vehicles from…
- 10217028Jul 29, 2022Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPassÃÂÃÂÃÂî/LincolnWayÃÂÃÂÃÂî app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode…
- 10216541Jul 21, 2022Some 2018 Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with Police, Base 100A, or XLT 200A package trim levels (Type 1 analog cluster in the Owner's Manual) built on…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 21% |
| 2025 | 23 | 22% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 14 | 13% |
| 2022 | 39 | 14% |
| 2021 | 48 | 11% |
| 2020 | 188 | 15% |
| 2019 | 20 | 7% |
| 2018 | 58 | 8% |
| 2017 | 94 | 6% |
| 2016 | 129 | 5% |
| 2015 | 93 | 5% |
| 2014 | 100 | 6% |
| 2013 | 163 | 7% |
| 2012 | 64 | 8% |
| 2011 | 95 | 8% |
| 2010 | 12 | 10% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 38 | 26% |
| 2007 | 25 | 12% |
| 2006 | 39 | 6% |
| 2005 | 36 | 7% |
| 2004 | 55 | 4% |
| 2003 | 54 | 5% |
| 2002 | 148 | 4% |
| 2001 | 29 | 8% |
| 2000 | 78 | 8% |
| 1999 | 92 | 7% |
| 1998 | 114 | 6% |
| 1997 | 80 | 5% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 55 | 7% |
| 1994 | 75 | 6% |
| 1993 | 45 | 5% |
| 1992 | 45 | 7% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2018 Ford Explorer
288 complaintsOther or unknown
168 complaintsEngine
96 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 complaintsEngine cooling
29 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
27 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
26 complaintsFuel system
23 complaintsSuspension
23 complaintsSteering
21 complaintsAir bags
11 complaintsBrakes
11 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology