general problems of the 2018 Ford Explorer - part 1

Entertainment system control. Power draws down and kills battery. Display locks into reverse camera, and I can't access any controls for extended periods of time. Display just locks, and I can't adjust anything in it. This seems to be a known issue for all sync 3 based backends.

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.

Traveling 50mph, noticed smoke rolling from under the dash. Got to the side of the road. The entire dash was engulfed in fire. I had to fight my way out of the car after the doors locked. After I got out of the vehicle I called 911. Fire department came. It has been ruled as electrical. I am not sure whom I need to reach out to yet in regards to this matter and a total loss.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine overheated, and the vehicle stalled. The contact inspected the vehicle and discovered that the serpentine belt had failed. The contact replaced the serpentine belt, and the vehicle was repaired. Later, while operating the vehicle, several electrical warning lights were displayed. The battery was replaced, but the failure persisted. The contact replaced the alternator; however, after replacing the alternator, the transmission remained stuck in park(p), rendering the vehicle undrivable. The cause of the failures was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The local dealer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 155,000.

I previously reported a battery 'explosion' in this 2018 Ford Explorer with odi 11678705 due to my concern for a potentially highly dangerous situation for my grandchildren who were riding with me. And myself. An unpleasant smell intermittently followed this car that morning July 10 upon opening the hood it was evident that battery acid had leaked out of the battery and 'exploded' covering most visible engine parts. Entire time of drive there was no 'alert' showing up on my dashboard July 11 car would not start to take to Ford dealership. Aaa towed car with aaa driver remarking 'looks like your battery exploded!' engine compartment cleaned by service, battery replaced July 12 July 18 engine light came on. Ford dealership contacted, no service appointment available until Aug 20. Advised by Ford service to take short trips only, and stop driving if engine light started flashing. I restricted my driving. July 27 started car for trip to church. Loud banging coming from under hood. Stopped driving. Car towed July 28 to Ford dealership repair. Car was not into service dept until Aug. 5. Aug 6, Ford service decided to get input from a more experienced technician to diagnose the problem with 2018 Ford Explorer Aug 7, Ford service escalated case to Ford corporate for engineering help with identifying 'electrical' problem with my car. Ford service rep stated 'you car is throwing a code not typically seen with Explorers) how can be safe if these my car had a battery issues mechanics freely admit they have not seen before. And now trained Ford mechanics cannot even find or fix the broken link that truly may be responsible for back to back engine failures? dealer has finally been able to provide a rental. This car has been maintained according to factory recommendations at sunset Ford and bommarito Ford st. Loui.

Screen blacks out and unable to connect handsfree, control rear ac or anything else that requires use of screen.

The radio flickers on & off when started for about 10 minutes. It’s very distracting. The windshield makes a whistling noise when going above 50mph.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the vehicle and the vehicle failed to start. The contact stated that the clicking sound was the doors locking and unlocking continuously. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the keyless entry keypad on the driver's side door, resulting in battery drainage. The contact was informed that the keypad needed to be reprogrammed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

Fault code b14e7:08-0a right front enhanced exterior lighting system, passenger headlamp will not turn off until bcm disconnects after 20 minutes. Dealer diagnosis determined a possible headlamp control module fb5z13c788d fault (replaced left module with right module and same headlamp stayed on so both headlamp control modules are correctly functioning) this indicates a broken wire in right front enhanced exterior lighting system wiring harness. Problem remains unresolved.

I was pulling into my apartment division I heard a loud pop and the vehicle then died. I tried starting it back up and it then caught on fire. My door locks were stuck in the locked position and I could not get them to unlock. Within a few seconds (which felt like several minutes) the doors did unlock and I was able to get out. There were no warning lights or messages prior to this. Fire department did arrive and put out the fire. The car was a total loss. Report has been filed with insurance company. I purchased this car from bx fort myers llc. I just purchased this vehicle from them and had for a total of 32 days. I did purchase the 12 month/12,000 mile extended warranty. I also purchased gap insurance and informed them of what had happened. The one gm gave me a loaner for a week, got in trouble for giving me one and got demoted. The new gm said "definitely not" will not give me a loaner. I drive over an hour daily for my job and do need a vehicle.

Purchased 5 years ago aprox 100k miles. Kept oil changed regularly. Of course parts kept coming off, monk safety clips etc. It's a dime store matcbox wannabe. Then the abs and engine light came on. The computer was acting up and it would do crazy things. Lock and unlock, go into that slow drive as I was pulling into a road. Etc. These would self correct, all but the abs in a matter of minutes. Oh I did have it checked. All that came up was right wheel speed sensor. I paid to have it fixed. Ford dealer told me his news, new sensor bad news still says it's bad. I was moving to another state. Stranger things kept happening. None could find out what was wrong. It started back firing so new plugs and coils. The shop told me after that it still had issues and while no code it was the transmission. It started to violently shake going 70mph. Scared me to death. I sold it and now car shopping. Never Ford again! I have always trusted them but they have compromised on quality, safety and customer loyalty.

Both driver and passenger low beam headlights started strobe, than completely stopped working while driving at night. This was extremely stressful and dangerous as I was no longer able to see the roads very well, my options were get a tow truck to pick up and bring my vehicle from michigan back to minnesota or sit on the side of the road until the morning also a safety risk. Upon inspection the following day, it was only the low beam that was not working and all other led's were working. This is when I tried to replace both headlight modules, that did not fix the issue. I then bought new headlights thinking the low beam led stopped working after going through 3 sets of headlights the issue was never resolved.

This will be another submission as I am getting frustrated. My Explorer has had constant issues like clock work every 6/7 months. I have gone through 6 batteries in a two year time span. I have had the battery control module replaced because I thought that would be the fix. However it is not. While operating my vehicle yesterday on [xxx] after barely even starting the battery died and my car said multiple systems were failing almost causing someone to rear ended me. This is a safety issue like no other. When will I receive feedback for these matters I keep submitting? information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that water was leaking in on both sides of the windshield. The contact stated that due to the failure, rainwater was leaking onto instrument panel, causing the instrument panel to become inoperable. The contact stated that the air bag warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the dealer confirmed the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 24v031000 (structure). The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the nhsta hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 138,000.

The apim (sync module) went blank. It controls backup camera, radio, heat and air, sensors on the bumper etc. . . Ford said the apim failed testing and recommended to replace the apim to gain access to the screen. It would only cost about $1100. This is a safety issue because the sensors will not work.

I am filing a safety complaint regarding unresolved recalls on my 2018 Ford Explorer (VIN: [xxx] ). First recall: over two years ago, I was notified to repair the exterior a-pillar trim/window shields. The dealer in yakima, wa, placed me on a waiting list and said the part was unavailable. I have been waiting over two years with no resolution. Recently, while driving on the highway, this part fell off and struck the windshield of another vehicle behind me, creating a dangerous situation and potential for serious injury. The dealer refused to repair it for free, stating I must either wait longer or purchase the part myself, despite this being a manufacturer safety recall. This long delay and refusal put my safety and the safety of others at risk. It also caused stress, confrontation, and concern for my financial obligations, as I continue paying for a vehicle with unresolved safety defects. Second recall: the high-speed cooling fan motor relay recall was not properly addressed. The dealer only started the vehicle, stated the fan worked, and performed no inspection or repair, leaving a potential hazard unresolved. Ford response: I reported these incidents to Ford customer service, but they said the situation did not qualify for opening a case. I strongly disagree, as these are confirmed safety recalls and one part already failed during driving. Additional concerns: I am still making monthly payments for this vehicle while unresolved recalls continue to appear. The ongoing failure to repair these defects, despite multiple reports, creates financial and safety burdens. I request NHTSA to investigate these matters, require Ford to complete all recall repairs properly, and hold the dealer accountable for their refusal to provide free safety repairs in a timely manner. Thank you. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact started while driving at approximately 20 mph, the check engine warning light and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The electrical system shut down and the engine stalled. The instrument panel became inoperable. Additionally, the power steering became inoperable and the brake pedal was depressed, but failed to respond, causing the contact to lose control of the vehicle. The vehicle drove off the road and violently crashed into a ditch. The air bags failed to deploy. The contact sustained a significant whiplash and a stiff neck. The contact had not yet received medical assistance. The contact was able to exit the vehicle through the front driver's side door. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. There was no police report filed. The contact stated that the front passenger's side and the front undercarriage of the vehicle were significantly damaged. Additionally, the contact stated that while attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle emitted smoke. The contact immediately turned off the vehicle. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and advised the contact to take the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and to call back to file a report once the VIN was available. The manufacturer also referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was unknown.

The horn went out for a second time since I’ve owned this vehicle. The horns are in a bad location and in rainy weather they get wet and short out. The dealer will replace the horn again.

The apim module that controls the display and functioning has stopped working. The following are a couple of safety concerns with this: 1. The backup camera does not work. I almost hit a pedestrian while backing up because of this. 2. Hands free features with communication and gps is not available. Not having this feature takes away a hand from the steering wheel and focus on the road. 3. Some of the climate controls are not accessible. I took the car to a Ford dealer who confirmed that the apim module is not working. No one else has checked the car. There was a gradual decline in functionality before it completely stopped working. Some trips it would work and others it did not. The frequency of it not working increased until it completely stopped working.

I own a 2018 Ford Explorer there has been an issue when it’s cold out the apim is not responding and turning on the reverse camera when vehicle is put into reverse. When it is above 70 degrees fahrenheit the apim works intermittently. The problem with this is out of the blue when it decides to work at times it turns the radio on with volume at max level this has startled me not knowing it’s going to come on and it won’t let you turn the radio down or power it off. Ford says there is no recall on the issue.

The high-speed cooling fan motor relay (recall 21n01) and the exterior a-pillar apical molding (recall 24v031) failed on my vehicle. The cooling fan caused the engine to overheat repeatedly, and the vehicle became undrivable. Unfortunately, I no longer have the vehicle, as it was surrendered to my bank and later sold at auction. However, service records, diagnostic reports, and recall information are available upon request. The overheating engine presented a significant safety risk while driving, as it could have caused the vehicle to stall or catch fire. A aaa roadside technician confirmed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive due to the overheating issue. This defect left me stranded, requiring alternative transportation and creating a hazard for others on the road had I continued driving the vehicle. Yes, the problem was confirmed by a aaa roadside technician, who performed a diagnostic scan and identified that the engine overheating was due to a defective cooling fan relay. The issue aligns with recall 21n01. The molding defect (recall 24v031) was not specifically inspected, but it was noted as part of the recall documentation. No, the vehicle was not inspected by Ford or any other representatives after the issues arose. I checked Ford’s website in February 2024 and learned about the recalls, but I was never notified by Ford about these safety defects while I owned the vehicle. Aaa provided the only diagnostic assessment before I surrendered the vehicle to my bank. Yes, there were symptoms prior to the failure. The vehicle’s engine temperature warning light came on repeatedly, and the battery required constant recharging. The overheating symptoms first appeared in February 2024, and the vehicle became completely undrivable the next day.

The vehicle experienced multiple defects, including: overheating due to a malfunctioning cooling fan motor relay. Exterior a-pillar trim detachment. Persistent starting issues, even after replacing the battery. The vehicle is no longer in my possession due to repossession, so inspection may not be possible. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? the overheating issue posed a risk of engine failure while driving. The detached a-pillar trim could have caused a road hazard for other drivers if it fell off while in motion. The starting issues left me stranded on multiple occasions, which could have been dangerous in certain environments. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes, the dealership confirmed the issues but stated the vehicle needed to meet specific conditions (e. G. , 100 miles for certain repairs) and required costly repairs that I couldn’t afford. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives, or others? the vehicle was inspected by the dealership, but Ford motor company has not performed any direct inspections to my knowledge. Were there any warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? for the overheating issue, the engine temperature warning light appeared intermittently. For the starting issue, there were no warning lights; the vehicle simply failed to start on multiple occasions. The a-pillar trim issue was visibly apparent, but no specific warning messages were displayed.

Radio and back up screen stop working 1 month after purchase.

My screen went black for my Ford Explorer. I have no access to climate controls, backup camera, radio, gps, etc. My local Ford dealership said there was a recall pending but that’s been a few months now. It’s very dangerous driving like that with my 4 and 2 year old in the car.

Driver door keypad detacted from pillar. Rear lift gate will not open with button on lift gate, key fob or switch in dash board.

Our radio and back up assistance screen just stop working.

I have owned this vehicle for a year and have gone through three batteries. It shows multiple coded for circuit shorts - passenger mirror motor, tailgate/liftgate/trunk motor as well as the cinch striker motor, instrument panel which has lost communication with cruise control module, power steering module, battery voltage circuit below threshold, driver side curtain deployment control 1 circuit short to ground, switch illumination. When the vehicle is stopped or parked it constanly idles up to 1000 to 1500 rpms. These are all the codes that are showing on my vehicle. There has to be some sort of issue causing these problems. What happens if my airbag deploys without warning causing me to cause a major accident which can harm myself, my spouse, children and the people around me.

When the radio is on, a loud buzzing sound from the radio, do not believe it’s in the speakers.

Dealer refuses to repair vehicle without issues being present. States they will only fix it once the problem has arisen.

The sync infotainment screen is inoperable and black. My backup camera is no longer operational. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the application programming interface module (apim) needed to be replaced; however, the part for the repair was on backorder. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 98,000.

Around 4:45 , was unable to access cruise control the message rapidly flashed. , loss of headlights and all lighting for a few seconds. Was going 70 mph. I exited the interstate to turn around and go to my work on southbound the wrench light came on and I lost power steering, power, acceleration in my turn on the on ramp and proceeded off the road onto the incline somehow avoiding a rollover and teetering sideways. Meanwhile no power to open my window etc. At an angle where I couldn’t open the door, took a minute to get out of the seatbelt. Suddenly got my window able to open and crawled out. The cops, and tow truck couldn’t believe I didn’t roll. The car was at a dealership the previous week for loss of power and terai. System problems/ no power steering and they replaced the throttle body 3 days before this happened. I’ve had multiple electrical/exhaust/power failures. I am terrified to drive this vehicle. It’s been to different dealerships and the Ford ones and Ford don’t care (only the dealership I purchased it at tries) it is at a fifth one now. We have forscan reports of the failures also. Multiple images at scene also. Car wouldn’t drive correctly and terrain management fault, unloaded itself from trailer too.

I’ve recently heard from a-couple Ford owners and Ford technicians them selves that our vehicles come with faulty apim modules and I just recently found out there was a recall on the 2017 model . I do not understand why there is not a recall on the 2018 model also as mine and several other peoples screen went completely black out of nowhere which is a part called the apim module has failed which is a safety hazard that I cannot call 911 in an event or even use the back up camera for the safety of my vehicle . Apim modules are not cheap and they are not covered by a lot of warranty companies but it includes so many vital parts or pieces that’s supposed to be included . Please seek to look into this apim module recall for 2018 models also as it’s been a headache for many people .

I bought a new fire Explorer in 2018 from napleton Ford in libertyville, IL. It has almost 22k miles in 2011. Early July, 2022, while driving, the sync system of my car started failing. While reversing the car a few times, the screen went black, leaving me with a few seconds very distracted that could have led to a bad accident. It was an intermittent issue for a few days until the system completely stopped working when I was driving on a highway and suddenly lost all connectivity to my car bluetooth and left with no usb power in the car or a way to start the back ac because it was sync locked, eventually leading to a very unsafe drive on the highway. I took it to the dealership and they investigated to find the apim module of the car had failed and it is a very common issue with Ford. It fails almost as soon as the warranty on the car expires. I feel cheated by Ford.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the liftgate failed to open. A message indicating a liftgate failure was displayed. The vehicle was taken to a used car dealer, where the liftgate fuse was replaced twice in one year; however, the failure persisted. The Ford dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 25,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was parked on an incline, the vehicle failed to restart without warning. Once the contact arrived at the scene, the vehicle restarted and resumed normal operation. The failure recurred four additional times after the initial failure. After the most recent failure, the contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer where the mechanic failed to duplicate the failure. The dealer replaced the battery; however, the failure returned soon after the replacement. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was referred to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.