2018 Ford Explorer Body and structure Problems
- Complaints
- 288about this part
- Share
- 39%of 734 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 60,950miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 288 complaints about the body and structure of the 2018 Ford Explorer, 39% of the 734 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 60,950 miles. 4 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 3 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Both. Vehicles were moving. The Explorer front hit the right rear panel of a 2011 Ford ranger. Both vehicles were going approximately 30 MPH. No injuries sustained by either driver. My Ford Explorer air bags did not deploy. I was on a city street the other vehicle was just beginning to turn.”
NHTSA complaint #11282767, filed 2019-11, 12,000 miles“The rail cover on top of the car just came off with no one messing with or being damaged. I researched to see if other has a problem like this and I found numerous of people saying the rail cover just detached form the actual rail. While driving down the highway.”
NHTSA complaint #11366399, filed 2020-10, 53,000 miles“While driving the other night in rain, night and heavy traffic, I heard some flapping from the roof of the car, but could not stop because we were in a mountain pass and winding roads. I did see something like fly off of my car and cars behind me were swerving, I thought maybe a small branch. But no it was the top cap of my roof rail on the driver side. The part is $450, and when I googled it, it is definitely a known problem at Ford. Hundreds of hits with the same issue”
NHTSA complaint #11366735, filed 2020-10, 50,000 miles“We were traveling on I-10 in our rental car..going about 75 miles per hour in texas when the drivers side front windshield moulding flew off the windshield hitting the window and continuing to fly over the car. We swerved because we thought it was a bird strike or something came off a truck. We took the next exit and stopped to find the molding gone. At the next place we got gas we noticed that the passenger side was also ready to fly off so we took it off before it could come off.”
NHTSA complaint #11092064, filed 2018-05, 6,800 miles“My 2018 Ford Explorer roof racks flew off (broke off) while driving on the freeway causing cars behind me to swerve to avoid impact this occurred in january 2019.”
NHTSA complaint #11351285, filed 2020-08, 10,111 milesRelated recalls
- 26V448000Jul 14, 2026Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.Covers: Ford Explorer 2016–2019
- 24V031000Jan 19, 2024Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim…Covers: Ford Explorer 2011–2019
- 21V316000May 5, 2021Ford 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…Covers: Ford Explorer 2016–2019
Related service bulletins
- 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…
- 10235153Apr 4, 2023For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended. It is also not recommended to…
- 10187726Feb 1, 2021A new 3M adhesive is now available, allowing a longer working time, along with mixing nozzles and applicator. 3M Universal Adhesive Black Part Number 08223, 3M Static Mixing…
- 10184654Dec 8, 2020On some of the affected vehicles, the roof rail covers can become loose, which can lead to a visible gap between the cover and roof rail base assembly, rattling, and potential…
- 10177863Jul 13, 2020This article supersedes TSB 19-2026 to update the vehicle model years affected. Some 2000 and newer Ford/Lincoln/Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit…
- 10175895May 18, 2020Some 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Escape/Fusion/MKZ, 2015-2018 Focus,2015-2019 MKC, 2015-2020 Edge/F150/Mustang, 2016-2018 MKX, 2016-2019 Explorer, 2017-2020 F-Super Duty…
- 10175890May 7, 2020Some 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles may exhibit roof rail covers that become loose or partially detached. This may be caused by a lack of retention of the clips securing the roof…
- 10163552Jul 4, 2019Some 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with a factory keyless entry keypad may exhibit a loose driver side B-pillar front door upper moulding. This may be caused by a lack of…
- 10159505Apr 5, 2019SSM 47914 - 2016-2019 Explorer roof rack cap trim clips now available. 2016-2019 Explorer roof rack cap clips are now available as a separate part. It is no longer necessary to…
- 10156863Feb 7, 2019Some 2000 and newer Ford, Lincoln and Mercury vehicles equipped with aluminum body panels may exhibit corrosion concerns appearing as bubbled and/or peeling paint with or without…
Body and structure: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% |
| 2025 | 7 | 7% |
| 2023 | 10 | 9% |
| 2022 | 11 | 4% |
| 2021 | 25 | 6% |
| 2020 | 45 | 4% |
| 2019 | 150 | 50% |
| 2018 | 288 | 39% |
| 2017 | 659 | 39% |
| 2016 | 591 | 24% |
| 2015 | 411 | 23% |
| 2014 | 276 | 16% |
| 2013 | 439 | 20% |
| 2012 | 144 | 17% |
| 2011 | 110 | 9% |
| 2010 | 1 | 1% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 1 | 1% |
| 2007 | 11 | 5% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 151 | 30% |
| 2004 | 426 | 33% |
| 2003 | 354 | 31% |
| 2002 | 486 | 15% |
| 2001 | 29 | 8% |
| 2000 | 29 | 3% |
| 1999 | 47 | 3% |
| 1998 | 48 | 2% |
| 1997 | 50 | 3% |
| 1996 | 63 | 4% |
| 1995 | 39 | 5% |
| 1994 | 158 | 13% |
| 1993 | 86 | 9% |
| 1992 | 62 | 10% |
| 1991 | 31 | 5% |
Other parts of the 2018 Ford Explorer
168 complaintsEngine
96 complaintsElectrical system
58 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