Home · 2018 Ford Explorer Gas · Complaints

What 710 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Explorer Gas

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (710)Crash / fire / injury (29)Body & structure (284)Engine (93)Electrical system (56)Transmission & drivetrain (46)Engine & cooling (29)Visibility & wipers (27)Backup camera & sensors (26)Fuel system (23)Steering (20)Suspension (20)

29 of 710 complaints match · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters · page 2 of 2

Oct 25, 2018Engine1 injury

EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE VEHICLE. FORD ENGINEER INSPECTED AND FOUND 3PPM ENTERING CABIN IN LESS THAN AN HOUR. FORD STATES THIS IS NORMAL. OVER 3 HOURS IN THE CAR CAUSES PHYSICAL ILLNESS, FORD DENYING ANY RESPONSIBILITY. VEHICLE IN MOTION ON HIGHWAY OVER 40MPH. FORD ENGINEERING REPORT WILL BE AVAILABLE TO ME WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS. CAUSED PHYSICAL ILLNESS, DIZZINESS AND VOMITING.

NHTSA ODI 11142733

Oct 3, 2018Engine & coolingFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE TO PASS ANOTHER VEHICLE AND NOTICED AN ABNORMAL ODOR COMING FROM THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE ODOR SMELLED SIMILAR TO BURNING FUEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO COURTESY FORD (LOCATED AT 1107 BRASHEAR AVE, MORGAN CITY, LA 70380, (985) 492-7260) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ODOR EMITTED FROM THE COATING ON THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SMOKE TEST WAS ALSO PERFORMED ON THE VEHICLE. A REPAIR WAS MADE INSIDE THE DRIVER'S SIDE WHEEL WELL. THE CONTACT TEST DROVE TWO SEPARATE 2018 FORD EXPLORERS AND EXPERIENCED THE SAME ODOR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11133132

Aug 30, 2018BrakesFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE CONTACT WAS STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, SHE WAS INFORMED BY A PASSING MOTORIST THAT HER VEHICLE WAS ON FIRE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO EXIT THE VEHICLE SAFELY BEFORE IT BECAME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS NOTIFIED AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. A FIRE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. STATE FARM AUTO INSURANCE COMPLETED A FIRE ASSESSMENT AND STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAILURE WITH THE BRAKE LINES. HINES PARK FORD INC (LOCATED AT 56558 PONTIAC TRAIL, NEW HUDSON, MI 48165, (888) 482-7660) AND THE MANUFACTURER WERE NOTIFIED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 982.

NHTSA ODI 11123513

Jul 15, 2018Electrical systemEngine1 injury

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 ODI 11111383

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 710 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 20, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2018 Ford Explorer Gas verdict →