2018 Ford Explorer vs 2018 Volvo XC90
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Aug 8, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2018 Ford Explorer | 2018 Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 716 | 47 |
| Recall campaigns | 7 | 3 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 190 | 549 |
| Investigations | 2 | 1 |
| Crash reports | 15 | 2 |
| Fire reports | 7 | 1 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | — |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 18–22 | 23–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 55,000 mi | — |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Volvo XC90 |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 286 | 4 |
| Engine | 94 | 5 |
| Electrical System | 57 | 12 |
| Power Train | 46 | 3 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling | 29 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 26 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 19 | 6 |
| 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 Volvo XC90
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Volvo XC90 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.