InsightArise CarsU.S. Owner Complaint Index
English

Ford Explorer Body & structure problems

2.28 vs. all vehicles Falling

679 of the 3,270 complaints about the Ford Explorer (20.8%) 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.

679Complaints · Body & structure
20.8%Share of complaints
2.28×vs. all vehicles
155Last 12 months
0.6%Share involving a crash or fire
10Related recalls

Analysis

155 Body & structure complaints were filed in the last 12 months versus 252 in the 12 months before — down 38%.

4 of these reports (0.6%) describe a crash or fire, with 15 injuries and 0 deaths mentioned.

10 recall campaigns relate to this area, most recently campaign 26V448000 (2026-07-14, model years 2018 and 2019).

By model year

2018: 297 297 2018 2019: 153 153 2019 2020: 88 88 2020 2021: 59 59 2021 2022: 33 33 2022 2023: 20 20 2023 2024: 4 4 2024 2025: 16 16 2025 2026: 9 9 2026
YearComplaintsShare of complaints
201829740.4%
201915351.2%
2020887.1%
20215913.1%
20223312.2%
20232017.9%
2024419.0%
20251615.2%
2026921.4%

When complaints were filed

2018: 6 6 2018 2019: 7 7 2019 2020: 8 8 2020 2021: 32 32 2021 2022: 31 31 2022 2023: 81 81 2023 2024: 146 146 2024 2025: 251 251 2025 2026: 117 117 2026

Last 12 months: 155 · Previous 12 months: 252

What owners report

Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length. The ODI number is NHTSA's record identifier.

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:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR Campaign 26V202000 · 2026-03-31 · Model years: 2026

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S22. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning April 3, 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 26V024000 · 2026-01-21 · Model years: 2026

Summary: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C02. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 22, 2026.

VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD Campaign 25V730000 · 2025-10-24 · Model years: 2025, 2026

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.

Problem areas · Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer problems, complaints & recalls by model year ›