2018 Ford Explorer electrical problems
60 of the 734 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Ford Explorer name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). Filed under the same heading: 100 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 60 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 3 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2018: 2 · 2019: 2 · 2020: 6 · 2021: 1 · 2022: 3 · 2023: 13 · 2024: 11 · 2025: 17 · 2026: 5
Half of the 18 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 12,000 and 75,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
734 complaints in all about the 2018 Ford Explorer, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Electrical System” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Explorer electrical problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Horn failed to sound after pressing center of steering wheel. The horn started changing tones over a period of time then got quieter and then stopped working all together. Fuses and relays are in good condition. Will take it to a Ford dealer to have it looked at for further diagnosis
The battery continues to drain even when parked next to my house. After a few days some systems shut down beginning with the passenger door handle sensor not unlocking the doors when touched. A few days later the car would not start.
I have been experiencing acceleration/transmission concerns, where the vehicle essential stalls and will not accelerate. After approximately 5 seconds, the computer and transmission appear to 'sync' and the vehicle will accelerate, but the issue will continue to happen until the vehicle is turned off and back on again.
In march 2018 I bought a brand new 2018 Explorer. In november 2019 my security system started going off on it's own without any disturbance to the vehicle or me touching my keys. The next day the battery was dead and the Ford service center told me my battery was dead due to a cold snap (we are in sc...it does not get that cold).
Had car serviced on 06/13/20 battery 100% documented. On 07/09/20 while driving the vehicle a quarter of mile from my house when the battery exploded. There was a strong sulfur(rotten egg) smell that filled the whole car and was hard to breathe.
What is on file about the electrical system
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications100 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
- SSM 54601 Service bulletinFeb 24, 2026
- Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). Th
- TSB 25-2570 Service bulletinNov 26, 2025
- This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present
The 2 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Trouble codes named on this system
P025A C3239 U0109 P0011 P0012 P0014 P0015 P0016
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2018 Ford Explorer names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Ford Explorer
Source: the same files- body and structure problems 291 complaints
- engine problems 124 complaints
- transmission and drivetrain problems 50 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre electrical problems common on the 2018 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 60 owner complaints naming the electrical system on this model year (8% of everything owners filed about it), and 100 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the electrical system on the 2018 Ford Explorer?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 7 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do electrical problems show up on the 2018 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 40,000 miles; half of them between 12,000 and 75,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?
Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.