Analysis
By model year, Body & structure complaints peak with the 2018 model (296, 41% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (4). 155 Body & structure complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 239 in the 12 months before — the pace is falling.
Owners most often describe: “structure”, “trim”, “a-pillar”, “detached” and “received notification”. 4 of these reports (0.6%) describe a crash or fire, with 15 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.
8 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V448000 (2026-07-14, model years 2018 and 2019).
Related recalls
STRUCTURE:BODY Campaign 26V448000 · 2026-07-14 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR Campaign 26V117000 · 2026-03-03 · Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD Campaign 25V730000 · 2025-10-24 · Model years: 2025
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Campaign 25V316000 · 2025-05-09 · Model years: 2025
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. A mounting bolt for the front subframe may have been tightened improperly.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Owner notification letters were mailed May 21, 2025. Ford's number for this recall is 25S43.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS Campaign 24V031000 · 2024-01-19 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS Campaign 22V454000 · 2022-06-24 · Model years: 2022
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Remedy: Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge. If the engine rails require replacement, owners will have the option for a vehicle replacement or buyback. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C13.
STRUCTURE:BODY Campaign 21V316000 · 2021-05-05 · Model years: 2018, 2019
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Remedy: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER Campaign 21V014000 · 2021-01-15 · Model years: 2020
Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility and 2020 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The affected vehicles contain windshield washer fluid that was contaminated with brake fluid. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will flush out the washer system, replacing the washer bottle neck, washer pump assembly, fluid level sensor and the front and rear wiper blades. Dealers will also inspect and repair the vehicle's paint and exterior components if affected, free of charge. The recall began March 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21C01.
Frequently asked questions
How common are Body & structure problems on the Ford Explorer?
656 of the 3,122 complaints about the Ford Explorer (21.0%) concern Body & structure, making it the model's second-largest problem area. That share is 2.3× the Body & structure share across all tracked vehicles.
Which Ford Explorer model years have the most Body & structure complaints?
By model year, Body & structure complaints peak with the 2018 model (296, 41% of that year's complaints) and are lowest for the 2024 model (4).
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer Body & structure problems?
8 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V448000 (2026-07-14, model years 2018 and 2019).