2018 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
NHTSA lists 62 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Ford Explorer, 8% of that year's 731 total complaints. Owners reported sudden power loss with loss of steering and lighting, fires, and battery failures, with a median failure mileage of 40,000 miles. No related recall is listed for this problem area.
- Electrical System complaints
- 62
- 8% of 731
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 2
- Injuries reported
- 3
- Median mileage
- 40,000 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners describe sudden loss of headlights, power steering, and acceleration while driving at highway speed, sometimes with a wrench warning light and multiple dashboard alerts firing together.
- Some vehicles lost all electrical power and stalled unexpectedly at lower speeds, with the instrument panel going dark and the brake pedal failing to respond normally.
- Several owners report a loud pop followed by the vehicle dying, with at least one case catching fire and door locks briefly sticking shut.
- Multiple reports describe a rotten-egg or sulfur smell and burning wire odors linked to battery problems, including one case where a battery exploded and sprayed acid in the engine bay.
- Cold-morning startups triggered clusters of warning lights (4wd off, ABS, airbag, steering assist fault) along with loss of power steering, turn signals, and wipers.
- A few owners noted the vehicle failed to start after sitting several days, suspecting electronics were draining the battery.
When 2018 Ford Explorer electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Apr 10, 2018, latest Aug 26, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2018 Ford Explorer
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by Explorer model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many electrical complaints does NHTSA have for the 2018 Ford Explorer?
- NHTSA lists 62 Electrical System complaints for the 2018 Ford Explorer, which is 8% of the 731 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2018 Ford Explorer electrical system?
- No related recall is listed in NHTSA data for this Electrical System problem area on the 2018 Explorer.
- At what mileage do electrical problems usually show up on the 2018 Explorer?
- The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this problem area is 40,000 miles.
- Did the electrical issues cause any crashes or fires?
- NHTSA data tied to this problem area for the 2018 Explorer includes 4 crashes, 2 fires, and 3 injuries.
- How does 2018 compare to other Explorer years for electrical complaints?
- The 2018 Explorer's electrical complaints made up 8% of its total complaints, similar to several nearby years, but lower than 2020 (19%) and 2025 (23%).