Ford Explorer

Where it stands out against its peers

• Structure: more complaints than 97% of 2016 cars — 24% of its 2,441 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 6%.
• Steering: more complaints than 93% of 2016 cars — 22% of its 2,441 complaints, where an ordinary 2016 car has 8%.

Same model year only, at least 30 peer cars, zeros included. Every car has a worst part; this shows which, and how far from ordinary it is. A high share means more to check, not a verdict.

Before you buy one

Built from what this car fails on, not from general knowledge of the model.

• STRUCTURE — 519 owners reported this, 3 involving a crash
• STEERING — 432 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash
• ENGINE — 208 owners reported this, 2 involving a fire
• POWER TRAIN — 130 owners reported this, 2 involving a crash, 3 involving a fire
• ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING — 87 owners reported this
• AIR BAGS — 60 owners reported this, 6 involving a crash
• FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM — 41 owners reported this
• ELECTRICAL SYSTEM — 38 owners reported this, 3 involving a fire
• WHEELS — 35 owners reported this
• SUSPENSION — 31 owners reported this, 4 involving a crash
• VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL — 28 owners reported this, 1 involving a crash

Crash test

Crash-tested by NHTSA, the American road safety agency.

Specification

Recalls

Filed by the manufacturer with a regulator. A recall is repaired free of charge, whoever owns the car now.

0% of 2022 cars have more recall campaigns than this one, and an ordinary one has 3. More of them means more to check the service record for, not a worse car.

• 13V109000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the fuel tanks and replace them as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 9, 2013. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S03. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332.

• 13V227000

  A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on July 20, 2013. Owners may contact Ford Motor Company Customer Relationship Center at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's recall campaign number is 13S04.

• 13V270000

  If the child lock is deactivated, the door could be unlocked and opened from the inside which could lead to personal injury to an unrestrained child.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the safety locks. If necessary, the locks will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2013. Ford's recall number is 13S07. Owners may contact the Ford customer relationship center at 1-866-436-7332.

• 14E001000

  The inability to steer the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

  Ford will notify owners and dealers will replace the suspect steering gears with new steering gears, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2014. Customers may contact Ford at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 13S14.

• 14V286000

  If the vehicle experiences a loss of power steering assist it will require extra steering effort at lower speeds, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will update the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM) software, free of charge. If a vehicle shows a history of a loss of motor position sensor signal when the vehicle is brought in for the recall remedy, its steering rack assembly will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2014. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-800-392-3673. Ford's number for this recall is 14S06.

• 15V171000

  If the interior door handle return spring is unseated, the door may unlatch in the event of a side impact crash, increasing the risk of personal injury.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect all four of the interior door handles and either repair or replace them, free of charge. The recall began on July 23, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S11.

• 15V464000

  If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.

• 15V605000

  If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.

  Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S26.

64 more campaigns have been filed against this model. A dealer can check by VIN which apply to one car.

Regulator investigations

Opened by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation is a question the regulator asked about a possible defect, not a fault it found — most end without a recall.

• Underbody shields detachment

  Defect petition, opened September 2025, closed April 2026.

• Loss of Motive Power

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2023, closed October 2024.

• Rear Axle Bolt Failure

  Recall query, opened June 2023, closed February 2024.

• Windshield trim molding Item detachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened January 2023, closed February 2024.

• Pedestrian alert sounds

  Defect petition, opened January 2023, closed August 2023.

• Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls

  Audit query, opened December 2022, still open.

• Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance

  Recall query, opened August 2021, still open.

• Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

  Engineering analysis, opened July 2017, closed January 2023.

• Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2016, closed September 2017.

• Front Brake Hose Failure

  Engineering analysis, opened September 2015, closed November 2018.

• Front brake hose failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2015, closed September 2015.

• Front brake hose failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened August 2014, closed February 2015.

• Electric power steering failure

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2012, closed June 2014.

  Became recall 14V286000.

• Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit

  Audit query, opened November 2010, closed December 2015.

• Vehicle Rollaway Allegations

  Engineering analysis, opened August 2009, closed February 2013.

• Vehicle rollaway allegations

  Preliminary evaluation, opened April 2009, closed August 2009.

• Tire valve cracking

  Preliminary evaluation, opened October 2008, closed April 2009.

• Rear liftgate glass hatch failure

  Recall query, opened June 2008, closed October 2008.

• Spark plug ejection from cylinder head

  Defect petition, opened September 2005, closed January 2006.

• Stuck engine throttle

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 2005, closed November 2005.

• Engine compartment fires

  Engineering analysis, opened March 2005, closed August 2006.

• Rear liftgate glass assembly

  Preliminary evaluation, opened June 2004, closed September 2004.

• Front seat back recliner attachment

  Preliminary evaluation, opened May 2003, closed September 2003.

• Mis-assembled airbag clockspring

  Engineering analysis, opened July 2002, closed February 2003.

• Inoperative air bag system

  Investigation SQ, opened December 2001, closed July 2002.

• Seat belt webbing

  Engineering analysis, opened February 2001, closed April 2002.

• Seat belt webbing

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 2000, closed February 2001.

• Front suspension stabilizer bar link

  Preliminary evaluation, opened September 2000, closed November 2000.

• Airbag system's light dysfunctional

  Investigation SQ, opened November 1999, closed May 2000.

• Accelerator pedal

  Preliminary evaluation, opened November 1999, closed March 2000.

• Windshield wiper malfunction

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 1999, closed April 2000.

• Steering knuckle separations

  Preliminary evaluation, opened July 1999, closed October 1999.

• Vehicle hesitation/stalling

  Investigation SQ, opened June 1999, closed February 2000.

• Throttle sticking

  Engineering analysis, opened January 1999, closed February 2001.

• Fuel line damage from jump starting

  Recall query, opened November 1998, closed November 2000.

• Throttle sticking

  Investigation SQ, opened July 1998, closed January 1999.

• Electrical fire in center console

  Preliminary evaluation, opened March 1997, closed September 1997.

What the maker told its dealers

Service bulletins are the manufacturer's own repair guidance to dealers, filed with NHTSA. A bulletin is not a defect finding; the count rises with how many things a maker writes down, not only with how many go wrong.

Ford filed 47 bulletins about the 2026 Explorer.

• Electrical system: 20
• Power train: 9
• Fuel/propulsion system: 6
• Engine: 2
• Visibility/wiper: 2
• Exterior lighting: 1
• Forward collision avoidance: 1
• Lane departure: 1
• Seat belts: 1
• Service brakes: 1
• Other: 3

• Some 2025-2026 Aviator/Explorer/Expedition/F-150/Mustang Mach-E/Navigator vehicles may exhibit the hands-free BlueCruise feature intermittently/consistently unavailable when BlueCruise is active and… · August 2026
• Some 2024-2026 Explorer vehicles built on or before 27-Feb-2026 and equipped with the panoramic glass roof may exhibit an uneven gap at the front edge of the roof opening panel shield when fully… · August 2026
• Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine, and 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L… · August 2026
• Some 2021-2026 Ford/Lincoln vehicles may exhibit various symptoms including but not limited to the auto start/stop system not operating as intended with a "Check Charging System" message in the… · July 2026
• Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0300 and/or P0316 stored in the powertrain… · July 2026
• This bulletin supersedes 26-2150. Reason for update: To remove the M6 nut from the part list and remove the Steps to install the M6 nut from the Service Procedure. Some of the vehicles listed in the… · July 2026
• Some 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator/Police Interceptor Utility non-hybrid vehicles built on 06-Feb-2025 and through 13-Dec-2025 may exhibit various drivability symptoms including a rough idle or… · June 2026
• Some 2025-2026 Police Interceptor Utility hybrid vehicles may have previously set a "Procedure Unsuccessful" message in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool during the passive… · June 2026

39 more.

Grouped by NHTSA's top-level system; a bulletin filed under a sub-heading counts toward its system.