2018 Ford Explorer vs 2018 Ford Flex
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 | 2018 Ford Flex |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 716 | 61 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 190 | 63 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 7 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 0 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 17–19 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,000 mi | 57,000 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Flex |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 286 | 17 |
| Engine | 94 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 57 | 11 |
| Power Train | 46 | 2 |
| Back Over Prevention | 26 | 12 |
| Suspension | 21 | 9 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 0 |
| Steering | 20 | 2 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Overheating | 32 | 0 |
| Stalling | 26 | 0 |
| Vibration / shaking | 24 | 0 |
| Check engine light | 23 | 0 |
| Misfire / rough idle | 11 | 0 |
| Clunking / rattling | 11 | 0 |
| Water leaks | 9 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 8 | 0 |
2018 Ford Explorer
2018 Ford Flex
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Flex 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.