Check a VIN

2018 Ford Explorer: adaptive cruise control problems

6 of the 736 complaints about the 2018 Ford Explorer describe adaptive cruise control problems.

owner complaints
6
of this car's complaints
1%
recalls
0
Is there a fix? 3 service bulletins cover this area of the car. See below

Adaptive cruise control problems by model year

What owners say

Filed May 2, 2024 · Acceleration, Body · FL

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the cruise control failed to operate as needed. No warning lights were illuminated. The dealer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unavailable. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

Filed Dec 19, 2023 · Transmission · 115,631 miles · IA

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to respond. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure also occurred while driving with Adaptive Cruise Control mode engaged. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission fluid was flushed. The contact stated that the failure recurred increasingly after 4,000 miles. The contact stated while at a complete stop and depressing the brake pedal, the vehicle shuddered significantly as if the vehicle was attempting to drive forward. The contact stated that he applied more pressure on the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 115,631.

Filed Oct 19, 2023 · Airbags, Electrical · IN

I have owned this vehicle for a year and have gone through three batteries. It shows multiple coded for circuit shorts - Passenger mirror motor, tailgate/liftgate/trunk motor as well as the cinch striker motor, instrument panel which has lost communication with cruise control module, power steering module, battery voltage circuit below threshold, driver side curtain deployment control 1 circuit short to ground, switch illumination. When the vehicle is stopped or parked it constanly idles up to 1000 to 1500 rpms. These are all the codes that are showing on my vehicle. There has to be some sort of issue causing these problems. What happens if my airbag deploys without warning causing me to cause a major accident which can harm myself, my spouse, children and the people around me.

Filed Mar 14, 2023 · Electrical, Fuel system · NE · crash

Around 4:45 , was unable to access cruise control the message rapidly flashed., loss of headlights and all lighting for a few seconds. Was going 70 mph. I exited the interstate to turn around and go to my work on southbound the wrench light came on and I lost power steering, power, acceleration in my turn on the on ramp and proceeded off the road onto the incline somehow avoiding a rollover and teetering sideways. Meanwhile no power to open my window etc. at an angle where I couldn’t open the door, took a minute to get out of the seatbelt. Suddenly got my window able to open and crawled out. The cops, and tow truck couldn’t believe I didn’t roll. The car was at a dealership the previous week for loss of power and terai. System problems/ no power steering and they replaced the throttle body 3 days before this happened. I’ve had multiple electrical/exhaust/power failures. I am terrified to drive this vehicle. It’s been to different dealerships and the ford ones and ford don’t care (only the dealership I purchased it at tries) it is at a fifth one now. We have forscan reports of the failures also. Multiple images at scene also. Car wouldn’t drive correctly and terrain management fault, unloaded itself from trailer too.

Filed Dec 29, 2020 · Acceleration, Driver assistance · 22,000 miles · WI

While traveling with adaptive cruise engaged we were in left lane following a semi approximately 1000' ahead of us and when he moved over to make an exit our vehicle passed by and auto braked hard causing vehicles behind us to take evasive action from hitting us along with vehicles in the right lane of traffic. This also happened again the following week except passing by a dump truck. I was aware that time an mashed accelerator in time as instructed as per operating manual. I don't feel safe using my cruise with or without adaptive on and now several weeks later I'm getting an 'adaptive cruise not available' message displayed on instrument panel.

Filed Mar 29, 2018 · Acceleration · 125 miles · UT

My wife and I leased a 2018 ford explorer platinum last saturday. We wanted to upgrade to the latest technology. I failed to ask specifically if the adaptive cruise went to zero MPH for stop and go traffic. The window sticker said it had "adaptive cruise control". I have had two cars with adaptive cruise and they have both worked down to zero MPH. During our first drive using the so-called "adaptive cruise", we were following a car on the freeway going 70mph. Rather suddenly, that car slowed. Our ford was slowing down beautifully; you could feel and see the effects of the automatic braking. Then, suddenly and without noticable warning to us, the braking quit and our car was coasting towards the car in front. We narrowly missed a low speed rear-end collision. I would call this cruise control a "partial" adaptive cruise control. I really feel this aspect of the adaptive cruise should be more prominent in all of the literature as well as on the window sticker.. I cannot imagine what would have happened had the deceleration been extremely fast from 70mph and our cruise control disengaged and the braking suddenly quit! This is very dangerous when you are used to a car that will continue braking all the way to a stop. I do considerable rush hour driving and am in stop and go traffic constantly. Other car manufacturers are able to build cars with a cruise that goes down to zero. Why not ford? I would even hope that a software/firmware update could make my car cruise go down to zero. That would be such a great safety update to offer customers. I believe standards should require zero MPH capability from adaptive cruise controls and would hope ford could be made to fix this rather dangerous device. Any manufacturer using such a partial adaptive cruise system should be made to note that prominently on the window sticker and in the literature.

Questions about the 2018 Ford Explorer adaptive cruise

Is adaptive cruise control problems a common problem on the 2018 Ford Explorer?

6 of 736 owner complaints about the 2018 Ford Explorer (1%) mention adaptive cruise control problems. The model year with the most reports is 1998.

Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2018 Ford Explorer?

There are 0 recalls and 3 service bulletins for the same area of the car. Check them below with your VIN.

Other symptoms on the 2018 Ford Explorer

Engine failure 38Fuel smell 38Check engine light 34Overheating 32Backup camera 28Stalling 15Misfire 12Power steering loss 11Transmission failure 11Screen failure 10Jerking 10Loss of power 10Fire or smoke 9Headlights 8Water leak 7Hesitation 6Seat belt 6Shudder 6Wipers 6Airbag light 5Windshield crack 5Won't start 5

All model years of the Ford Explorer

VIN decoder

See the problems and recalls for an exact car

Buying a used 2018 Ford Explorer?

Check the exact car before you pay: accidents, salvage or flood titles, odometer readings and previous owners.

Check its history