2018 Audi Q7 vs 2018 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Audi Q7 | 2018 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 142 | 728 |
| Recall campaigns | 3 | 7 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 1,086 | 190 |
| Investigations | 0 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 3 | 16 |
| Fire reports | 0 | 7 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 21 | 18–22 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 17,000 mi | 55,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Audi Q7 | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 3 | 287 |
| Engine | 38 | 95 |
| Electrical System | 16 | 58 |
| Power Train | 7 | 49 |
| Suspension | 16 | 23 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 1 | 29 |
| Exterior Lighting | 23 | 4 |
| Steering | 7 | 20 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Oil consumption | 12 | 0 |
| Stalling | 7 | 26 |
| Loss of power | 6 | 8 |
| Overheating | 6 | 32 |
| Vibration / shaking | 0 | 24 |
| Check engine light | 0 | 23 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 0 | 11 |
| Clunking / rattling | 0 | 11 |
2018 Audi Q7
2018 Ford Explorer
Compare all Audi Q7 vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.