10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
4 / 0
Average Mileage:
15,833 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #30

Mar 012021

Explorer

  • miles
In mid-July 2022, I attempted to fix the exhaust issue when accelerating in my 2018 Explorer. Ford dealership found there was a crack in the exhaust. Ford Corporate paid for the repairs. The problems persisted but were not as quick to notice, but still faintly smell it. Since July, I feel the dealership never fix the issue, and since the heat has worsened, the exhaust also has. Ford Corp, in a statement, has stated that it's "normal" to smell exhausted when accelerating. The Ford Dealership has also echoed this statement. Our Ford Fusion 2015 has never smelled like exhaust. My Mercedes never, either. From my understanding, 2017 Explorer had this recall, l and it seems they never fixed the issue. I feel it's not safe, as my family, my 1 yr old granddaughter, and myself are being poisoned. Today, I ordered carbon monoxide to record this data and will find out what is legally allowed.

- Yorba Linda, CA, USA

problem #29

Aug 132022

Explorer

  • 85,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving 55 MPH, he heard an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. Her husband pulled over and upon inspection, her husband saw fluid leaking from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the residence where the dealer was notified and instructed him to tow the vehicle to the dealer for an inspection. The dealer diagnosed the vehicle with a defective water pump. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.

- Stratford, CT, USA

problem #28

Aug 222022

Explorer

  • 74,000 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the low fuel warning light illuminated on the instrument panel and the vehicle was overheating. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who added oil in the vehicle and stated that the water pump needed to be replaced. The mechanic also mentioned an issue with the coolant however, the contact could not recall what was stated. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and stated that the VIN was not under recall and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 74,000.

- Quincy, MA, USA

problem #27

May 252022

Explorer

  • miles
on May 25th I started my car and the dashboard indicated my engine is at critical stating its overheating. I immediately turned the car off and waited 10 minutes to restart the vechle assuming it was a malfunction because the vechle hasn't been driven since the day before. As I restarted the car no warning indicators lit and the vechle was normal as usual. I drove around the corner and noticed the vechle stalling with a slight jurk. I immediately drove into an auto shop to check what's going on. I told the rep what's happening with the car. they checked the oil and stated the coolant is mixing with the oil and that I need service right away. I asked if I get an oil change will it get me home around the corner. the rep stated it shouldn't be a problem. As I left it was fine, until I reached my driveway and the vechle just shut off. I then asked for help to push the vechle into the driveway by my neighbor and was able to put the car in neutral and moved into my driveway. I searched around to see recalls on fordpass app, it only stated that it was a new CSP on my vin to upgrade the high speed cooling fan relay and it's components stating it is known to either cause overheating or fire and that the relay will be replaced for vechles with millage at or below 150000 miles. I was in the clear and covered because I was at 126,600 miles. I remembered as I turned my vechle on it stated a critical indication of my engine overheating following me turning off the vechle and waiting 10 minutes and restarting with no warning indicators on. I contacted ford for service by requesting a tow to Brandon ford. The vechle was towed and the following day a service rep named Scott called stating he received the vechle and that it's gonna take a couple of days to get to, I said no problem. the next day I was contacted by Scott and was told my engine is seized and that no service is gonna be performed and to come pick my vechle up. I found recalls for 2019 and 2020 ford vechles but not 2018

- Seffner, FL, USA

problem #26

Jun 262022

Explorer

  • 50,000 miles
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.

- Royal Oak, MI, USA

problem #25

Jul 112022

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle had a major mechanical issue that ignited a fire in the engine compartment. The fire quickly spread to the passenger compartment of the vehicle and totally engulfed the unit causing major damage to the entire vehicle. The vehicle is an obvious total loss.

- Washington, DC, USA

problem #24

Jan 312022

Explorer

  • miles
I purchased this SUV October 30, 2021. When I utilize remote start, I notice a smell of exhaust fumes when I get in the car to begin my commute. The smell dissipates when I let the window down before starting the drive. During my two hour commute to and from work, I have feelings of nausea and headaches. Since the time that I purchased this SUV, I've continued to be plagued with head aches, nausea, vomiting, and extreme fatigue. During the commute on Monday, January 31, I became ill again on the commute and was unable to go to work. I decided to take the car to the Green Ford dealership in Greensboro, NC to be inspected. On Wednesday, February 2, I received the following text notification from Green Ford....I just got with the technician and it is definitely leaking exhaust fumes into the vehicle. We are currently working up a quote for the repairs and will then give a call to warranty company. SUV is still at the dealership so I do not have the repair invoice to attach.

- Spring Lake, NC, USA

problem #23

Oct 012021

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
Ford has issued a recall for the cooling mechanism when the car is in idle. Unfortunately I have been told they will not correct it unless there is a problem? Like they know it is faulty and are waiting on a fire. This is a safety issue and I believe they have made the courtesy recall in hopes that it won't be a mandated one, which is pretty scary. We do what we can to prevent these issues and they know there is a problem. This is a safety issue. Please force them to correct this defect. I have attempted to schedule this repair, but while the notice says they will correct it. They have refused. I have spoken with Daniel at Ford and they have closed my case. The letter acknowledges safety feature issues are possible. I will try to attach screenshots of my case no. And the letter. Thank you so much. [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- St. Johns, AZ, USA

problem #22

Jun 182021

Explorer

  • miles
On June 18, 2021 while driving we noticed a particular smell inside the vehicle while driving and stationary. When we exited the vehicle the smell was exact same smell as the exhaust coming from the car. All doors were closed to include rear hatch as it was 110 plus outside. We had the A/C on recirculating mode and wife complained of a headache and mentioned she had been getting headaches several times while in the vehicle and I too had a headache. I searched the web and came across the same in issue with this generation Explorer and people had stated the 2018 models had the same complaint but were not recalled. For the remainder of the trip we rolled windows down and used fresh air to clear to vehicle of the exhaust smell. The vehicle has not been inspected by the dealer as we have been driving another vehicle due to the safety risk of CO2 poisoning.

- Vail, AZ, USA

problem #21

Feb 012020

Explorer

  • 30,000 miles
Under acceleration with the air conditioning set to recirculate the cabin fills with exhaust fumes.

- Whitehouse, TX, USA

problem #20

Dec 222020

Explorer 4-cyl

  • 25,000 miles
We took our 2018 Ford Explorer into the shop last winter complaining of a bad smell. The shop kept our car for about 5 days and said there was nothing wrong. 2 weeks ago my wife went to the er and was diagnosed with carbon monoxide poisoning. We began working with for to help get this fixed, 5 days later she passed out at the wheel and wrecked into a telephone poll. While at the er there was carbon monoxide in her blood again. Thank goodness she didn't hit a family or something worse. Since then Ford has refused to work with us since the car is wrecked. This is a problem and needs to be looked into!

- Parowan, UT, USA

problem #19

Apr 242019

Explorer 8-cyl

  • 4,665 miles
When accelerating we can smell exhaust in the cabin of our vehicle. This has been an ongoing issue for more than a year. We have to roll the windows down to get air. On trips from phoenix to san diego thru the mountain passes we have gotton dizzy from exhaust smell. I have taken it to the dealer 4+ times to complain about this issue, dealer has said its a known issue with no fix. You can smell the humidity of the exhaust as well as the burnt oil. Every time I get in my vehicle with friends, I'm embarrassed of smelling exhaust and hope it doesn't affect health of anyone. We can see the exhaust soot building up along the engine block and exhaust manifold but the dealer told us thats normal road grime.

- Surprise, AZ, USA

problem #18

May 012020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 14,500 miles
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while merging into traffic on the freeway at various speeds, the vehicle independently shifted into limp mode without warning. The contact took the vehicle to autonation Ford East (28825 euclid ave, wickliffe, oh 44092) where the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The mechanic attributed the failure to a potential turbo lag. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. Consumer stated indicator fault lights on the dash failed three times.

- Painesville, OH, USA

problem #17

Feb 182020

Explorer

  • 12,000 miles
For weeks now the car has been deciding what to do. The air conditioner randomly turns off or won't turn on. The window won't roll up or down. Lights in the dashboard randomly go on and off all the time. Sometimes there is just a loud noise but no lights. Then recently when I was driving on the highway going 55 mph with my 3 children the car shut its self off. The lights went crazy then shut off. There was no gas or brakes as I was going 55 mph. Once the car came to a rolling stop. It did not turn back on. Once towed to the dealership, they cannot find anything wrong.

- Fort Mohave, AZ, USA

problem #16

Jan 092020

Explorer

  • 38,000 miles
Constant smells of carbon monoxide in my vehicle almost every time I accelerate above 3500 RPM. I've taken it to two dealerships more than three times for the same problem with no solution. Every time I get in my vehicle I dread smelling this stuff and hope it doesn't affect me or a loved one.

- Oakland, FL, USA

problem #15

Dec 232019

Explorer

  • 34,962 miles
Warning sign says check engine oil pressure, the warning sign only appears when the car is stopped.

- Acworth, GA, USA

problem #14

Oct 212019

Explorer

  • 22,000 miles
Carbon monoxide in the passenger compartment of a 2018 Ford interceptor utility (a honeywell bwc2R-M carbon monoxide alarm had been installed in the vehicle due to the history of carbon monoxide issues with these vehicles). On October 21, 2019 two officers were patrolling in the 2018 Ford interceptor utility. The officer were accelerating quickly as they entered the highway when the carbon monoxide alarm activated. The officer stopped accelerating and rolled down the windows. The carbon monoxide alarm reset and no further activations have been reported.(this report came a month after another of the city's Ford interceptor utility vehicles went to the dealership twice for carbon monoxide in the passenger cabin. The first incident was accompanied by a foul odor and the egr purge valve was replaced. The vehicle was placed back in service and within a week the carbon monoxide alarm activated again. Ford was unable to duplicate the carbon monoxide in the passenger cabin so no repairs were done.)

- Hercules, CA, USA

problem #13

Oct 242019

Explorer

  • miles
Starting whit a noise problem on engine we bring the vehicle to service department them said was not a problem 2 months later we are here on service department for steering wheel problem, brake noise, to much problems. We buy a new car to avoid this problems and issues wasting our time. And money.

- North Hills, CA, USA

problem #12

Mar 152019

Explorer

  • 8,500 miles
My 2018 Ford Explorer has under 9,000 miles on it and I've been experiencing exhaust smells in the cabin while merging on the interstate. This happens during acceleration. I have brought my vehicle to Ford several times now with no real answer. They said that they have not been able to "recreate" the smell so their hands are tied. They told me to turn off the recirculate ac function to get rid of the smell. Clearly, if that was their directive, they know that Explorer are having an issue. I was told today that I should contact Ford directly because the issue does not include 2018S. I have 2 young children that in my vehicle with me and something needs to be done about this problem. I owe money on this vehicle that is putting my family in danger and have no answers on how to get the problem fixed.

- Largo, FL, USA

problem #11

Jun 012019

Explorer

  • 25,000 miles
Exhaust is leaking into the cabin while driving. Usually while accelerating

- Whitehouse, TX, USA

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