2018 Ford Explorer vs 2020 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 7, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Explorer | 2020 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 716 | 1,185 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 33 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 190 | 357 |
| Investigations | 2 | 3 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 35 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 10 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 19–28 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,000 mi | 25,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 46 | 465 |
| Structure | 286 | 43 |
| Electrical System | 57 | 182 |
| Engine | 94 | 112 |
| Back Over Prevention | 26 | 104 |
| Service Brakes | 9 | 80 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 5 | 68 |
| Visibility/wiper | 16 | 55 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 32 | 0 |
| Stalling | 26 | 58 |
| Vibration / shaking | 24 | 32 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 28 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 32 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 43 |
2018 Ford Explorer
2020 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Explorer 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.