2018 Ford Explorer Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) Problems
- Complaints
- 27about this part
- Share
- 4%of 734 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 57,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the visibility of the 2018 Ford Explorer, 4% of the 734 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 57,000 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Purchased my Explorer on may 28, 2018, vehicle currently has less than 6,000 miles on it and this morning, my daughter used the remote to unlock the doors as it sat parked on our driveway, climbed in and closed the front passenger door and the back window shattered. Glass was inside, outside and then pieces continued to fall. The bottom of the window has small chunks out of it on the edges as well.”
NHTSA complaint #11113003, filed 2018-07, 6,000 miles“Front sound screen windshield seems very soft and weak. Slightest strike from road debris causes chip or crack. Debris strikes regardless of amount of impact has caused chipping, cracks, and visible scrapes of material. Windshield is sound screen and seems made of extremely soft materials making vulnerable to easy damage which is safety risk to driver and occupants while driving regardless of on highway or city street.”
NHTSA complaint #11120795, filed 2018-08, 15,000 miles“The integrated blind spot mirror on both the driver side and passenger side is mounted at the wrong angle. It does not show the blind spot of the car. You can not see any portion of low profile cars in the blind spot mirror and you can not see the headlights of most vehicles at night. It does show the very top of taller cars (suvs/trucks/vans). I have photos taken while driving of cars that are in the blind spot. As you can see in the photos, you can see only the very top of the van and almost none of the standard car. At night, the roof of the car is not as helpful to see as the headlights. …”
NHTSA complaint #11075122, filed 2018-02, 121 miles“During a storm, our SUV had water leaking in through the top, middle of the windshield. The water soaked the dashboard controls and our heating/air system was stuck on high heat and would not turn off. It was 70° and it was extremely hot in the SUV and the windows kept fogging up making it hard to see. Our temperature controls no longer work properly.”
NHTSA complaint #11707788, filed 2025-12“Our 2018 Ford Explorer windshield trim panel is partially detached. The detachment is on the passenger side lower corner of the windshield and continues up for 9 inches. No crash has occurred as of this time. I reported the detachment to our local Ford Dealer and they were unconcerned. We first noticed a litter detachment late Fall of 2022. The detachment had since extended up the windshield.”
NHTSA complaint #11507193, filed 2023-02Related service bulletins
- 10207049Jan 7, 2022Some 2011-2022 Explorer and 2020-2022 Aviator vehicles may experience an inoperative roof opening panel motor. If diagnostics lead to a motor replacement, visually inspect the…
- 10164508Aug 9, 2019Some 2010-2020 vehicles may exhibit distorted glass with a subtle orange peel pattern or streaking etched into the surface. This is caused by hydrofluoric acid which is used in…
Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors): other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 6 | 14% |
| 2025 | 13 | 12% |
| 2024 | 3 | 14% |
| 2023 | 11 | 10% |
| 2022 | 31 | 11% |
| 2021 | 48 | 11% |
| 2020 | 69 | 6% |
| 2019 | 8 | 3% |
| 2018 | 27 | 4% |
| 2017 | 77 | 5% |
| 2016 | 68 | 3% |
| 2015 | 45 | 2% |
| 2014 | 53 | 3% |
| 2013 | 63 | 3% |
| 2012 | 24 | 3% |
| 2011 | 23 | 2% |
| 2010 | 3 | 3% |
| 2009 | 3 | 9% |
| 2008 | 4 | 3% |
| 2007 | 9 | 4% |
| 2006 | 16 | 3% |
| 2005 | 26 | 5% |
| 2004 | 112 | 9% |
| 2003 | 62 | 5% |
| 2002 | 138 | 4% |
| 2001 | 17 | 5% |
| 2000 | 46 | 5% |
| 1999 | 217 | 16% |
| 1998 | 108 | 6% |
| 1997 | 90 | 5% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 19 | 2% |
| 1994 | 71 | 6% |
| 1993 | 56 | 6% |
| 1992 | 46 | 7% |
| 1991 | 32 | 5% |
| 1990 | 1 | 8% |
Other parts of the 2018 Ford Explorer
288 complaintsOther or unknown
168 complaintsEngine
96 complaintsElectrical system
58 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
50 complaintsEngine cooling
29 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