2018 Ford Explorer engine problems

ENGINE

This vehicle was inspected by a certified Ford dealership (Premier Ford, Service Advisor: Harry). Ford Motor Company’s Consumer Affairs Department subsequently reviewed the case under Complaint ID: XXX. In their official written response, Ford explicitly admitted the root cause, stating: "the vehicle experienced a failure to the harness for the alternator which melted due to heat from the exhaust." INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11750708 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

While driving at highway speed on a 2-lane highway with three children under the age of [XXX] in the vehicle, my 2018 Ford Explorer experienced sudden complete engine failure with no prior warning. No warning lights, no temperature gauge change, no unusual sounds. The vehicle went from operating normally to catastrophic failure instantaneously, forcing me to sharply cross active traffic to exit the roadway. The vehicle came to rest near a train track. The root cause was internal water pump failure. Ford's design places the water pump inside the engine, causing coolant to leak internally with no external indicators and no dashboard warning until catastrophic damage has already occurred. Ford did not install a coolant level sensor in the reservoir, and the only coolant warning available is an overheating alert, which never triggered. I had taken every reasonable precaution. Two thousand miles prior, an oil change showed no coolant contamination. One week prior, I physically checked the coolant level and it was within safe range. Ford's design gave me zero opportunity to detect or prevent this failure. This is a known recurring issue. Over 86 engine complaints have been filed with NHTSA for this model year alone and Ford has been aware of this defect since at least 2007. Despite class action litigation in both Canada and the United States, Ford has not issued a U.S. recall. Repair costs exceed $9,000. I am requesting NHTSA open a formal investigation and compel Ford to issue a U.S. recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA complaint #11749510 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 30 MPH, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was driven to the residence and then to an independent mechanic shop, where a full diagnostic inspection was not performed; however, the mechanic suspected that coolant bubbled internally and the contact was informed that the head gasket might need to be replaced. The mechanic was unable to disassemble the engine for further inspection. The vehicle was then taken to a dealer, who diagnosed that the water pump needed to be replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 112,000.

NHTSA complaint #11749329 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

My vehicles transmission has been replaced 2 times already (3 years apart)- now it is overheating. Absolutely no warning lights have came on at any time in regards to any of my situations - My vehicle is available for inspection at any time. When the transmission went in my vehicle, I was traveling on an interstate with my child. The dealer has confirmed replaced the transmission as it was still under the 5 year warranty - my vehicle is set to go back into the shop today to be inspected as to why it is overheating.

NHTSA complaint #11744514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Total engine failure in the Ford Explorer XLT 2.3L ecoboost.

NHTSA complaint #11739514 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I PURCHASED A 2018 FORD EXPLORER WITH THE 2.3L 4 CYLINDER ENGINGE IN 2023. WITHIHN A YEAR OF MY ENGINE STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES HESITATING WHEN ACCELERATING. THEN IT OVERHEATED AND I REALIZED MY COOLANT WAS DISAPPEARING BUT WASNT POOLING ANYWHERE.. IT WAS EVAPORATING BECAUSE IT WAS LEAKING INTO MY SPARK PLUGS. WHEN I CHANGED PLUGS I NOTICED OIL OR COOLANT ON TWO OF THEM I CALLED FORD ABOUT IT BECAUSE MY ENGINE HAS A PENDING LAWSUIT FOR THIS PROBLEM IT KEPT GETTING WORSE . I DONT HAVE THE MONEY FOR THE REPAIRS AND I ASKED THEM IF THEY COULD DO A GOOD FAITH REPAIR AND I WAS DENIED. AS OF 4/16/2026 MY ENGINE FAILED AND MY COOLANT IS FILLED WITH OIL BECAUSE OF THE DEFECTIVE ENGINE THAT THEY KNEW ABOUT SINCE 2010

NHTSA complaint #11731799 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

At 89k miles, my engine has failed, due to coolant intrusion, according to Ken Garff Ford Dealership in St. George, UT. I started having issues with rough start and timing miss and engine light came on. I immediately took it to Dealership and they did two repairs (tune-up) and subsequent gasket change because they said oil was getting into my spark plugs. It did not resolve the issue, took it straight back and now they're telling me I need a new engine. This comes 2 years after I had to pay $7k for a new transmission at only 60k miles. This is wrong and not OK that I am having to deal with this. I don't have $12k laying around for a new engine on a vehicle that shouldn't be having all these issues!

NHTSA complaint #11731948 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Upon startup rough idle and check engine light came on. Mechanic confirmed cylinder head thinning causing fluid leak into first cylinder. A mechanical note verifies but Ford won't issue a recall. Apparently Ford has know this for years with Ecoboost engines. I don't want to become a victim of vehicle dying in the middle of traffic. Have seen several complaints from Ford owners with no fixes by Ford.

NHTSA complaint #11720454 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Prior to the failure, when the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. After several minutes, the sound ceased. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a misfire in cylinder #3. The contact was informed that the spark plug was stuck, and the independent mechanic was unable to remove the spark plug. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3, and the spark plug and ignition coil were replaced. The contact was unsure if the stuck spark plug was removed the second time the vehicle was repaired. Most recently, the contact noticed that while the vehicle was in park(P) and left running, the vehicle was idling roughly. The message "Engine Coolant Over Temperature" was intermittently displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, left the vehicle running, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and there was no smoke or steam present. The contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the temperature gauge was indicating that the engine was HOT. The contact drove back to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinders #1, #2, and #4. The contact was informed that the coolant reservoir was empty, that the spark plug in cylinder #3 was stuck, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a second opinion, who diagnosed coolant intrusion in cylinders #1, #2, and #4, and that the spark plug was stuck in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

NHTSA complaint #11718838 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after the vehicle was idling at a traffic stop, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended while depressing the accelerator pedal. The check engine warning light illuminated. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted; however, the vehicle stalled after driving several minutes. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with engine failure and determined that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The vehicle remained with the independent mechanic unrepaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 162,000.

NHTSA complaint #11713747 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

- I have experienced a sudden loss of engine power and speed on 5 occasions. Very scary and dangerous to completely lose power on the highway with cars behind you. Had to pull off onto the shoulder(s) in dangerous conditions, with two young kids in the backseat. Hazards, turn off the car, restart the car, etc. - When the power loss happens, the vehicle's dashboard lights turn on, including the engine and wrench icons along with the words "See Manual." - Based on my research, I believe it may be due to a defective throttle body and/or software, related to the "terrain management system." - Problem was not reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center - No inspections by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others - No warning message is provided prior to the failure, which is another issue

NHTSA complaint #11706887 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Leaking water pump that if isn’t repaired will cause catastrophic engine failure. Very expensive repair, $2800 because of internal placement of the pump. Since the water pump is in line with the crankshaft and located over the main body of the engine, it allows coolant to leak from the water pump into the oil pan. Mixed coolant and oil will lead to engine failure.

NHTSA complaint #11706512 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I was driving on a freeway when the engine stopped without warning. The timing chain apparently; slipped and the pistons collided with the alves leaving me stranded on the road. This si a dangerous situation that Ford knows of adn is ignoring. THe car had 101000 miles on it. The car was serviced at 98500 miles by Ford but the timing issue was ignored by the mechanics becasue the computer produced no error codes. The obvious ticking of the engine was the only indication that there was a problem that the mechanics ignored. This is a know premature failure and danger to drivers and the engine should be recalled for repair at Ford's expense. Please issue a safety recall on this engine. ( 3.5L V-Shaped 3.5L Ti-VCT) Consumers are at risk for unexpected breakdowns without warning, at speed, in traffic...

NHTSA complaint #11705214 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

In November 2023, our SUV started to over heat and engine shut off. We noticed the coolant reservoir was bone dry. We added coolant. It was bone dry again within a couple days. We had a mechanic friend diagnose and he told us it is the water pump. We took it to the Ford dealership and we were quoted $3000 to repair it. We could not afford this, so thankfully we met a mechanic that works at dealerships but also repairs on the side. He fixed it for $1000. Flash forward to November 2025 and we notice the heat in our car is not working. Couple weeks later, overheat warning and I'm forced to pull over with my 3 children in the car on a busy highway. Once car cooled down, we went straight home and forfeited our plans. Notice the reservoir is empty again. Refill it. It's empty within a few days. Come to find out, it's the water pump again and Ford dealership wants $4400 this time to fix it and our friend who fixed it last time wants $2000 to fix it. He had another Ford Explorer currently in his shop with the same problem. He said it will continue to fail. We are at a loss. Car overheats almost immediately and loses coolant almost immediately. Ford should HAVE A RECALL ON THE WATER PUMP. Why does the engine have to be pulled out to replace the water pump that is just going to fail every 2 years. I have bought Ford since 2008 and swore I always would buy Ford. I have had 3 Ford vehicles. This experience with this vehicle and the Ford dealerships has changed my opinion. I will never buy Ford again. We are only at 125,000 miles and bought vehicle BRAND NEW in 2018-- so 7 years... just 7 years!

NHTSA complaint #11701379 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Another timing chain failure on highway with engine stopping on road. This should be a recall!!!!! Only 101,300 miles on engine. No warnings no check engine lights until after failure.

NHTSA complaint #11694943 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The internal water pump system on the EcoBoost engine in the 2018 Ford Explorer failed after 7 years and only 63,880 miles. The vehicle was taken into the shop multiple times when the check engine light came on and the defect was not located until the vehicle failed. Due to the design, it is not easily fixed and cost an outrageous amount of money to fix for a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. This is a safety risk because if this is a common issue, which it is, and the engine fails while driving it, the driver is not able to get to a safe area to address damages and is left stranded. There are numerous complaints regarding the design flaw of having the water pump inside the engine. The manufacturer refuses to address the flaw. The check engine light came on and was taken in and wrongly diagnosed each time until the engine failed.

NHTSA complaint #11684073 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I believe I am getting the Cam Phaser Rattle sound in my 2018 Ford Explorer Platinum with the 3.5L EcoBoost Engine. Through research I have seen that this is a common problem among other 3.5L EcoBoost Engines like the F-150, Expedition, and Navigator. This happens at Cold Start ups I noticed. I have tried calling my dealership and Ford Corporate about this issue and they say that they can't cover this at all. My vehicle is at 65k miles (just outside the warranty).

NHTSA complaint #11678505 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

Engine light turning off and on. Engine overheating light on. Told by Ford dealership that I need engine replacement.

NHTSA complaint #11676828 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

I am writing to formally report a significant mechanical issue involving the water pump in my 2018 Ford Explorer with the 3.5L V6 engine. This vehicle recently experienced a sudden failure of the internal water pump, a problem I have since learned is common across this model and others using the same engine design. In my case, the water pump failure occurred just outside of the vehicle’s extended warranty coverage, leading to engine overheating and a substantial repair cost. What makes this issue particularly concerning is the design flaw in which the water pump is located internally, driven by the timing chain. When the pump fails, it can leak coolant internally, potentially leading to catastrophic engine failure without warning. This design not only makes the part extremely costly to repair (often $2,000–$4,000 or more), but it also introduces a serious safety risk—drivers may experience engine overheating or seizure while on the road, with minimal to no warning. This poses a clear hazard, especially at highway speeds or in high-traffic situations. I understand that many other Ford owners have reported similar failures, yet no recall or Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP) has been issued to address the problem. Given the frequency of these incidents and the potential danger involved, I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate whether this condition qualifies as a safety-related defect. I have included my vehicle details below for your reference: Make/Model/Year: 2018 Ford Explorer Engine: 3.5L V6 (non-EcoBoost) Mileage at Failure: 101345 Failure Description: Internal water pump failure leading to coolant leak and overheating Repair Estimate: $4511.19

NHTSA complaint #11670877 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the engine overheated, with the warning light illuminated. The contact parked the vehicle and refilled the coolant reservoir. In addition, the contact stated that the coolant reservoir was repeatedly refilled weekly. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a coolant pump failure and a slow coolant leak. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vehicle was then taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with coolant pump failure. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11669141 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

On Thursday, June 14, 2025, the check engine light illuminated on my 2018 Ford Explorer, which has fewer than 75,000 miles. I promptly contacted my trusted local mechanic, Bananno Automotive, to schedule an oil change and requested that they also inspect and diagnose the cause of the warning light. During their inspection, they performed a diagnostic scan and identified stored engine code P0430 – Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2), which corresponds to the catalytic converter on the left side of the radiator. Concerned that delaying the repair could lead to increased emissions and potential damage to the engine, I authorized the necessary repairs. All work was completed by June 23, 2025. It was only after the repairs were finalized that I reviewed the Ford Warranty Guide and discovered that this issue is, in fact, covered under warranty. Unfortunately, Ford has denied reimbursement solely because the repairs were not performed at a Ford dealership. This is deeply disappointing, especially considering the repair cost exceeded $1,800, and no alternative solution or support has been offered. My intention in sharing this is to ensure that other Ford owners are not similarly affected by this type of parts failure and warranty denial.

NHTSA complaint #11669228 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved DTC: P0303 (Misfire in cylinder #3). The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to the dealer, who confirmed the failure. The dealer replaced the spark plugs and ignition coils. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The contact stated that on a separate occasion, after the contact had the tires serviced, and the engine overheated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the cylinders, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the torque converter and engine needed to be replaced; however, the vehicle was not repaired for the most recent failure due to the cost. The contact stated that the failure persisted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 119,000.

NHTSA complaint #11667283 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The water pump failed. It is internal in the engine. Not sure yet if coolant got into the motor. It is not safe to drive the vehicle and have to get it towed for this expensive repair. Water pumps should not fail at the rate they do on the ford 3.5 motors. They need to have a recall on them.

NHTSA complaint #11660442 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 35 MPH, the vehicle started vibrating excessively and the vehicle hesitated with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that while driving uphill the message "Hill Start Assist Not Available" was displayed. The contact was able to drive uphill; however, the failure recurred after driving a short distance. The transmission unexpectedly downshifted and the vehicle was not able to pull into the driveway. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed that there were metal shards found in the engine and that the transmission had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 86,000.

NHTSA complaint #11656122 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, there was black smoke coming from under the hood. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, who diagnosed that the battery was faulty. The battery was replaced. The contact stated that while driving, there was black smoke coming from under the hood, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The transmission was replaced. Later, while driving again, the black smoke was again present coming from the hood of the vehicle, and the vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the engine and turbo were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 40,000.

NHTSA complaint #11654696 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds on several occasions, there was an abnormal odor outside of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed and determined that the water pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 131,504.

NHTSA complaint #11646994 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE

We took the car in for the recall 24V031 which is not able to be fixed at this time due to lack of parts. The Ford dealership explained to us that there were 2 other recalls on this vehicle that had not been addressed. They asked us if we wanted them fixed. We agreed to have them fixed. One being the luggage rack clips the other being high speed fan motor relay switch. The luggage rack was completed. The dealership replaced the fan not the relay switch as the recall indicated. When we brought the vehile home, the fan was super loud and would come on when ever it wanted too, whether the vehicle was running or shut off. It would also runn continuously even though it was not hot out nor had the car been running. We took the car back to the dealership. They looked into it. Ordered apart that never came. They had our car for 3 weeks and finally after arguing amongst themselves determined the relay switch should be replaced. Once we brought the car home, again the fan is super loud and runs randomly. The dealership has washed their hands of this situation. Telling us we are welcome to take it to another dealership as they believe the fan is running properly. We never had any indication that the fan was running improperly to begin with. My car was quiet and ran wonderfully. Now it is loud and actually embarrassing. Our friend was walking by and heard a loud noise like an airplane. He turned the corner and said wow that's your fan in the explorer, that isn't right. This sucks. I love my explorer but because of this I really don't. I believe it is not fixed and maybe never needed to be fixed. We followed all of the channels thru Ford to have this remedied. Now I am putting it in your hands.

NHTSA complaint #11639308 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon his mother attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the high-speed cooling fan motor relay. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program: 21N01. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 90,000.

NHTSA complaint #11638298 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.