Thinking about buying a 2018 Ford Explorer… worth it?

Thanks for all the responses! Unfortunately, the one I was planning to test drive got sold before I made it, but I’m still on the hunt for another one. Appreciate all the input!

Hey everyone! I’m going to test drive a 2018 Ford Explorer Sport today and wanted to know if anyone has experience with this model. I saw some stuff online about reliability concerns and a couple of recalls, but this one isn’t affected. If you own or have owned this body style, what should I be on the lookout for? Any common issues?

The 2018 is a solid pick overall since that generation had been around since 2011, so most of the kinks were worked out. I haven’t dealt much with the EcoBoost in the Sport, but I’ll say this: once you hit higher mileage (150,000+), keep an eye on the water pump. It’s internal, so replacing it can be pricey ($1,500-$2,000). Regular coolant changes will help prolong its life. Also, because it’s AWD, it has a Power Transfer Unit (PTU). Changing the fluid regularly with high-quality stuff (Amsoil, Royal Purple) will help it last.

Let us know how the test drive goes! I’ve been thinking about upgrading from my 2012 to a newer Sport myself.

I stopped driving my 2017 Explorer because I was getting exhaust fumes in the cabin every time I drove it. Ford tried to fix it multiple times but couldn’t. I wouldn’t recommend this generation of Explorers. My beat-up 2006 Explorer is still my daily driver while the 2017 just sits in the driveway.

@Pax
I’ve got a 2017, and I’ve never had that issue.

@Pax
That’s rough, sorry to hear that. I’ve got a 2016, and it’s been fine for me.

I’ve had my 2018 Platinum for about 15 months now, and it’s been great—no problems at all. A couple of notes, though: the ventilated seats are inconsistent with airflow, and my service department hasn’t been able to fix it. Also, the listed MPG (16/22/19) is pretty optimistic. I’m getting closer to 14/20/17. Other than that, just regular oil changes and topping off fluids so far.

@Reese
I’ve got an ‘18 Platinum too, and I love driving it. But I really wish it had:

  1. A bigger gas tank.
  2. Rear wipers that automatically sync with the front wipers (they’re manual only).
  3. Rear HVAC controls that sync with the front (also manual only).

Once, the car wouldn’t move at a stop sign because of a MAP sensor issue. The ECM thought I was on a hill and locked the brakes. Tons of error codes popped up. Thankfully, Ford covered the tow, repair, and gave us a loaner—all under warranty. No complaints about their service.

@Bryn
Yeah, syncing the rear controls would make life so much easier.

Reese said:
@Bryn
Yeah, syncing the rear controls would make life so much easier.

Our old Acadia had synced rear HVAC settings—just set it and forget it. I was surprised the Platinum trim didn’t include something like that!

@Reese
Totally agree. I’ve got an ‘18 Platinum too with the EcoBoost. The MPG display says I’m getting 18, but based on actual fuel-ups, it’s more like 17 on average. Long highway trips (200+ miles) are the only time it gets close to 20.

No mechanical issues so far. I did have to replace the windshield (my fault) for $720. The multi-contour seats had issues, but there’s a TSB for that. Other than that, the last 46k miles have been smooth.

I got an ‘18 Sport as a dealer demo last year. Here’s my take:

Pros:

  • It’s got a ton of power—I really have to watch my speed.
  • Towing 3,800 lbs is no problem, but the gas mileage tanks when towing.

Cons:

  • The gas tank is way too small for how thirsty it is.
  • Not great on gas. If I drive gently, I get about 12L/100km. My wife gets 14L/100km, and towing is around 16L/100km.

We did get a recall notice about exhaust fumes in the cabin, but we haven’t experienced it ourselves.

I’ve got an ‘18 Limited with the non-turbo V6 and about 17,000 miles on it. No mechanical problems at all. Only minor things like the center caps on the rims getting discolored from road salt. The dealer replaced them under warranty. I also had some Bluetooth issues, but that might’ve been my phone since it stopped after I upgraded. Hope you find the right Explorer!

We bought an ‘11, and on the first road trip, the A-pillar trim flew off. Turns out, it’s not reusable once removed, so replacing both sides costs about $250 just for the parts. If you ever replace the windshield, keep that in mind.

Otherwise, no major complaints—just typical wear and tear for an older car. The backup camera is spotty and would cost $300 to replace. Coming from a 4Runner, the visibility in the Explorer feels pretty limited, but that’s probably just me being used to my old car.

Two things I’ve seen on forums and experienced myself:

  1. Exhaust fumes can leak into the cabin, especially during hard acceleration. Ford has some fixes for it, but they don’t always work.
  2. The paint on the aluminum hood tends to bubble and chip due to corrosion. The only permanent fix is a full repaint.

We had a 2014 with no major mechanical problems, but we ended up trading it in for something else because we didn’t want to deal with these same issues again.

Watch out for the exhaust smell in the cabin after hard acceleration. Ford claims it’s normal, but it’s definitely something to be aware of.