Ford Explorer problems, complaints & recalls by model year
Across 8 model years (2018–2025), NHTSA has logged 3,122 owner complaints and 70 safety recalls for the Ford Explorer. That averages 65.6 complaints per year on the road — more complaints than typical (index 1.56 against all tracked vehicles). Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #9 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1.
Counts are normalized by time on the road, not by sales volume: a popular model generates more reports than a rare one, and complaints are not verified individually. How we count
Analysis
Across eight model years from 2018 to 2025, the Ford Explorer has logged 3,122 owner complaints and 70 safety recalls, averaging 65.6 complaints per year which is higher than typical vehicles but ranks #9 of 14 in its Midsize SUVs segment for fewest complaints. While the 2020 model year shows the highest rate at 180.2 complaints per year and should be researched carefully, the 2023 and 2024 models run 40% below older years with only 7.1 complaints in 2024. The most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain accounting for 21.9% of complaints, followed by Body & structure at 21.0%, with recurring terms including "structure", "trim", "a-pillar", "detached" and "received notification". Owners report 114 injuries and 0 deaths across all model years, while the latest recall campaign involves underbody shields detachment opened on 2025-09-05.
Summary drafted by an AI model running on our own server from the figures on this page, and checked number by number against the data before publishing. The statistics and the analysis above come from our fixed methodology, not from the model.The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 40% below the 2018 and 2019 models (30 early complaints per model year versus 55).
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (180.2 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (7.1). The 2020 model year runs at least 50% above the model's own average — the one to research most carefully. Model years 2019, 2023 and 2024 sit well below the model's average.
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (21.9% of complaints), followed by Body & structure (21.0%) and Electrical (13.6%). Transmission / powertrain complaints are 1.9 times as common here as across all tracked vehicles. Recurring terms in owner reports: “structure”, “trim”, “a-pillar”, “detached” and “received notification”. 129 complaints (4.1%) describe a crash or fire; across all model years owners report 114 injuries and 0 deaths.
In the last 12 months owners filed 736 complaints versus 807 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace. The 2020 model year generated the most recent reports (234). Across model years, half of all reported incidents occur within 49 months of the model year's start.
Recalls: 70 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (16), 1 fixable over the air. 7 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Underbody shields detachment” (opened 2025-09-05, closed 2026-04-09).
Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport, Nissan Pathfinder and Kia Sorento; Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Subaru Outback and Jeep Grand Cherokee have more.
Model years at a glance
| Year | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Complaints in first 2 years on the road | vs. same-year average | Last 12 months | Recalls | Most common issue | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 726 | 83.7 | 1.99 | 83 | 0.93 | 142 | 7 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2019 | 291 | 37.9 | 0.9 | 27 | 0.33 | 59 | 6 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2020 Years to research carefully | 1,203 | 180.2 | 4.28 | 254 | 4.46 | 234 | 35 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2021 | 420 | 74.0 | 1.76 | 67 | 1.1 | 110 | 27 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2022 | 260 | 55.6 | 1.32 | 100 | 1.35 | 85 | 24 | Transmission / powertrain | View › |
| 2023 | 107 | 29.1 | 0.69 | 48 | 0.58 | 36 | 15 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2024 Fewest complaints | 19 | 7.1 | 0.17 | 13 | 0.18 | 9 | 10 | Body & structure | View › |
| 2025 | 96 | 57.4 | 1.36 | — | — | 61 | 20 | Electrical | View › |
1.00 means the same rate as the comparison group. 2.00 means twice as many complaints per year on the road. Complaints in first 2 years on the road: vs. same-year average. How we count
Trend · vs. same-year average
Complaints in first 2 years on the road ÷ All-vehicle average (1.00)
When complaints were filed
Last 12 months: 736 · Previous 12 months: 807 Steady
Problem areas
Transmission / powertrain ›
684 · 21.9% · 1.88 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- transmission352
- power train119
- shifting109
- gear130
Body & structure ›
656 · 21.0% · 2.29 vs. all vehicles · Falling
- structure245
- trim191
- a-pillar125
- detached135
Wheels, tires & suspension ›
96 · 3.1% · 1.23 vs. all vehicles · Rising
- hankook18
- tires36
- ventus15
- noble14
Other
68 · 2.2% · 1.2 vs. all vehicles · Steady
- seat39
- headrest9
- row12
- position15
Driver-assist systems ›
43 · 1.4% · 0.24 vs. all vehicles · Too few recent reports to judge
- collision18
- cruise15
- assist11
- control16
Only problem areas with at least 40 complaints get their own page.
Common terms in reports
- structure259
- trim243
- a-pillar144
- detached159
- received notification340
- available540
- aware544
- blue138
Vehicle age at incident
Median age at incident: 49 months
What owners report
While taking groceries out of the back of the SUV, the hatchback closed without a sound warning and hit the top of my head causing a concussion and neck injury.
The contact owned a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, a message displayed on several occasions instructing the driver to pull over and shut off the vehicle because the battery would shut off.
The rearview backup camera on my vehicle has malfunctioned and does not reliably display an image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 55 MPH, the vehicle veered off the road toward the passenger’s side.
I am reporting ongoing safety-related powertrain and drivability concerns involving my 2021 Ford Explorer ST in Fresno, California.
Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.
Segment peers · Midsize SUVs
| # | Models | Complaints | Complaints per year on the road | Complaint index | Trend | Recent activity | Recalls | Most common issue |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Dodge Durango | 752 | 15.2 | 0.36 | Improving | Steady | 18 | Lighting |
| 2 | Honda Passport | 652 | 17.6 | 0.42 | Improving | Rising | 16 | Engine |
| 3 | Nissan Pathfinder | 566 | 20.1 | 0.48 | Worsening | Rising | 12 | Engine |
| 4 | Kia Sorento | 1,382 | 36.2 | 0.86 | Stable | Rising | 17 | Engine |
| 5 | Ford Edge | 2,164 | 43.6 | 1.04 | Improving | Steady | 20 | Engine |
| 6 | Chevrolet Traverse | 1,657 | 43.8 | 1.04 | Stable | Steady | 13 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 7 | Toyota Highlander | 2,062 | 44.5 | 1.06 | Improving | Rising | 21 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 8 | Hyundai Santa Fe | 1,968 | 58.3 | 1.38 | Worsening | Rising | 26 | Engine |
| 9 | Ford Explorer | 3,122 | 65.6 | 1.56 | Improving | Steady | 70 | Transmission / powertrain |
| 10 | Honda Pilot | 2,824 | 67.4 | 1.6 | Stable | Steady | 26 | Engine |
| 11 | Kia Telluride | 1,945 | 73.6 | 1.75 | Improving | Rising | 17 | Body & structure |
| 12 | Subaru Outback | 3,749 | 77.0 | 1.83 | Improving | Steady | 15 | Body & structure |
| 13 | Jeep Grand Cherokee | 3,335 | 85.9 | 2.04 | Worsening | Rising | 49 | Electrical |
| 14 | Hyundai Palisade | 2,277 | 102.2 | 2.43 | Worsening | Steady | 13 | Airbags & seat belts |
Recalls by year received
- Campaigns: 70
- Do-not-drive / park-outside: 0
- Over-the-air fix: 1
Safety recalls: 2018 (7) · 2019 (6) · 2020 (35) · 2021 (27) · 2022 (24) · 2023 (15) · 2024 (10) · 2025 (20)
Investigations
- Underbody shields detachment Closed
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on August 22, 2025, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the âunderbody shieldsâ on model year (MY) 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles. The petition alleges premature degradation and detachment of the plastic underbody shields, potentially leading to road debris. The petition itself can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under…
- Loss of Motive Power Closed
On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the abilit…
- Rear Axle Bolt Failure Closed
On July 17, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 2 consumer complaints alleging loss of vehicle forward power and/or loss of transmission torque of the rear wheels in model year (MY) 2020-2022 Ford Explorer vehicles (subject vehicles). The RQ was opened to focus on the effectiveness of the remedies of Recalls 22V-255 and 23V-199 related to th…
- Pedestrian alert sounds Closed
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and ele…
- Windshield trim molding Item detachment Closed
On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injur…
- Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open Recalls Open
NHTSA is opening this audit query to investigate whether The Hertz Corporation (Hertz) has complied with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act (Safety Act). The Safety Act requires, among other things, that a rental company shall not rent a vehicle subject to a safety recall unless the recall remedy has been performed. 49 U.S.C. § 30120(i).NHTSA is in receipt of in…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer model year has the most complaints?
The 2020 model year has the highest rate (180.2 complaints per year) and the 2024 model year the lowest (7.1).
Is the Ford Explorer getting better or worse?
The trend is improving. Measured on complaints filed in the first two years on the road and compared with other vehicles of the same model year, the 2023 and 2024 models run 40% below the 2018 and 2019 models (30 early complaints per model year versus 55). In the last 12 months owners filed 736 complaints versus 807 in the previous 12 months — a steady pace.
What are the most common Ford Explorer problems?
Across all tracked model years the most common problem area is Transmission / powertrain (21.9% of complaints), followed by Body & structure (21.0%) and Electrical (13.6%). Recurring terms in owner reports: “structure”, “trim”, “a-pillar”, “detached” and “received notification”.
How does the Ford Explorer compare with other Midsize SUVs?
Within the Midsize SUVs segment it ranks #9 of 14 for fewest complaints per year; the segment average is 53.1. Segment peers with fewer complaints per year include Dodge Durango, Honda Passport, Nissan Pathfinder and Kia Sorento; Honda Pilot, Kia Telluride, Subaru Outback and Jeep Grand Cherokee have more.
Does the Ford Explorer have recalls or open investigations?
Recalls: 70 recall campaigns across the tracked model years, most of them received in 2025 (16), 1 fixable over the air. 7 NHTSA defect investigations have covered this model, 2 still open; the latest is “Underbody shields detachment” (opened 2025-09-05, closed 2026-04-09).