2018 Ford Explorer Safety Rating — 5 Stars Overall
NHTSA rates the 2018 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. Check a specific Explorer’s crash and title history below.
Has this Explorer been in a crash since it was tested?
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2018 Ford Explorer— By the Numbers
- Overall rating
- 5★
- Frontal crash
- 5★
- Side crash
- 5★
- Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
- 16.4%
- Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
- 7
Overall rating
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover risk, single-vehicle crash
Recall campaigns on NHTSA's file
Quick Answer
- What is the 2018 Ford Explorer safety rating?
- NHTSA rates the 2018 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
- Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Ford Explorer?
- Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD.
- Does the 2018 Ford Explorer have recalls or complaints on file?
- NHTSA's record for this version lists 7 recall campaigns, 727 owner complaints and 2 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
2018 Ford Explorer crash-test ratings
Front- or all-wheel drive changes no star rating here; the AWD version carries a slightly higher calculated rollover risk, and the driver trails the passenger in the frontal crash.
NHTSA rates the 2018 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover.
Forward collision and lane departure warnings were optional rather than standard, so any given example may not have them. If they matter to you, confirm them from the VIN build data or the window sticker instead of trusting the listing.
What NHTSA did — and did not — test
A star rating is only as complete as the tests behind it. This is which of NHTSA's four crash tests the 2018 Ford Explorer actually went through.
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD.
Recalls, complaints and investigations
NHTSA keeps these alongside the crash-test results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD. They answer a different question: not how the vehicle was built to perform in a crash, but what owners and the agency have reported since.
A recall campaign covers a range of vehicles; whether the repair was done on a particular car is a per-VIN question. Check open recalls by VIN.
The rating is for the ExplorerNHTSA crashed. Check the one you’re buying.
Salvage and rebuilt brands, reported accidents and odometer records follow the VIN.
Every rated version of the 2018 Ford Explorer
NHTSA rates body styles and drivetrains separately, and the results are not always the same. Match the version to the car you are looking at.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 16.4% |
| 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 17.4% |
Inspecting a used 2018 Explorer
The ratings describe the Explorer as it left the factory. A car that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt, or had its airbags replaced is no longer the car NHTSA tested.
The driver's lower result came from the frontal crash, so look over the front structure for past repair: a bumper cover or hood that differs in shade in daylight, a headlamp clearer than its partner, and wrench marks on the fender bolts.
The rollover rating sits below the top of the scale, and the AWD version's calculated risk runs a little higher. Check that the tyres match in brand, size and tread depth at every corner and that the body sits level with no sagging corner.
If the example has the optional warnings, test them: the forward collision alert should show as active in the settings, and lane departure should respond on a road with clear markings.
How NHTSA's current ratings work
NHTSA announced new NCAP crash tests and rating criteria in July 2008, including a new overall rating that combines the frontal, side and rollover results. It then postponed the change by a year: the new criteria apply to vehicles tested beginning with model year 2011, not 2010 as first announced.
In NHTSA's own words, its rollover resistance ratings “estimate the risk of rollover if a vehicle is involved in a single-vehicle crash.”
One limit applies to every vehicle here. NHTSA notes that the frontal crash rating “depends on vehicle mass, and cannot be compared across vehicle weight classes” — a full-size truck's frontal stars and a compact car's are not the same measure.
- Federal Register, 73 FR 79206 (Dec. 24, 2008) — new NCAP criteria begin with model year 2011
- Federal Register, 73 FR 40016 (July 11, 2008) — NCAP testing and rating changes, including the overall rating
- Federal Register, 68 FR 59250 (Oct. 14, 2003) — NCAP rollover resistance ratings
- NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings
Compare and keep going
Nearby model years and the same make, rated by NHTSA.
4 stars overall
5 stars overall
5 stars overall
5 stars overall
Whether a recall was repaired on one specific car.
Reported crashes and damage after the car left the factory.
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2018 Ford Explorer Safety FAQ
What NHTSA’s record shows for this model year, and what it cannot tell you about one car.
What is the 2018 Ford Explorer safety rating?+
NHTSA rates the 2018 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall — 5 for frontal crash, 5 for side crash, 4 for rollover. These are results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD, from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program.
Did NHTSA test every part of the 2018 Ford Explorer?+
Yes — NHTSA published frontal, side barrier, side pole and rollover results for the 2018 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD.
Does the 2018 Ford Explorer have recalls or complaints on file?+
NHTSA's record for this version lists 7 recall campaigns, 727 owner complaints and 2 investigations. Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is answered by its VIN, not the model year.
Can I compare the 2018 Ford Explorer's stars with a newer model?+
Yes, with other vehicles rated under NHTSA's current program (model year 2011 onward). Stars from before then came from different tests.
Does a good safety rating mean a used Explorer is safe to buy?+
A rating describes the vehicle as it left the factory. A used Explorer that has been in a serious crash, rebuilt from salvage, or had an airbag replaced is no longer the vehicle NHTSA tested. A VIN check reads its title brands, salvage and accident records from NMVTIS.
Five stars at the factory. What about since?
A crash rating can’t see a salvage title, a rebuilt frame or a replaced airbag. The VIN record can.
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