Ford Explorer complaints by model year
34,550 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Red numbers above the columns are recall campaigns for that model year.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Recall campaigns |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 39 | 3 | 0 | 14 |
| 2025 | 101 | 8 | 0 | 20 |
| 2024 | 21 | 2 | 1 | 10 |
| 2023 | 110 | 7 | 2 | 15 |
| 2022 | 267 | 17 | 1 | 24 |
| 2021 | 434 | 14 | 5 | 26 |
| 2020 | 1,226 | 36 | 10 | 33 |
| 2019 | 298 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
| 2018 | 731 | 16 | 7 | 7 |
| 2017 | 1,696 | 34 | 11 | 13 |
| 2016 | 2,458 | 39 | 14 | 14 |
| 2015 | 1,797 | 37 | 1 | 8 |
| 2014 | 1,679 | 32 | 6 | 6 |
| 2013 | 2,235 | 44 | 11 | 11 |
| 2012 | 829 | 10 | 6 | 5 |
| 2011 | 1,197 | 30 | 4 | 6 |
| 2010 | 115 | 8 | 0 | 1 |
| 2009 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 | 148 | 6 | 3 | 1 |
| 2007 | 208 | 11 | 5 | 1 |
| 2006 | 630 | 13 | 7 | 1 |
| 2005 | 497 | 22 | 6 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1,304 | 58 | 15 | 0 |
| 2003 | 1,131 | 60 | 10 | 2 |
| 2002 | 3,295 | 144 | 57 | 4 |
| 2001 | 375 | 64 | 21 | 6 |
| 2000 | 952 | 101 | 64 | 9 |
| 1999 | 1,348 | 115 | 44 | 9 |
| 1998 | 1,959 | 181 | 102 | 9 |
| 1997 | 1,731 | 156 | 53 | 7 |
| 1996 | 1,450 | 198 | 37 | 6 |
| 1995 | 843 | 86 | 32 | 5 |
| 1994 | 1,207 | 109 | 83 | 4 |
| 1993 | 939 | 86 | 48 | 6 |
| 1992 | 633 | 47 | 63 | 4 |
| 1991 | 609 | 57 | 64 | 8 |
| 1990 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 |
| 1989 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1988 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1987 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1986 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 1984 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Counts are owner reports, not failure rates. Higher sales years tend to draw more reports. Source: NHTSA ODI, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Among the last 15 model years at least five years old; newer years are left out because owners are still filing reports. Every year compared →
Problem areas by model year
Complaints that name each component, 2017–2026. Darker cells mean more reports. One complaint can name several components.
| Component | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Structure | 657 | 288 | 150 | 45 | 23 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 2 |
| Unknown or other | 372 | 167 | 47 | 207 | 86 | 55 | 25 | 4 | 17 | 10 |
| Power train | 123 | 50 | 35 | 491 | 123 | 61 | 12 | 1 | 15 | 3 |
| Engine | 238 | 95 | 19 | 115 | 48 | 30 | 10 | 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Electrical system | 93 | 58 | 19 | 186 | 44 | 39 | 13 | 2 | 23 | 9 |
| Back over prevention | 7 | 26 | 2 | 104 | 36 | 23 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 45 | 16 | 4 | 56 | 26 | 20 | 5 | 3 | 10 | 4 |
| Service brakes | 22 | 11 | 4 | 82 | 23 | 11 | 5 | 0 | 17 | 2 |
Source: NHTSA ODI owner complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Ford Explorer recalls (142)
Recall campaigns NHTSA lists for at least one Explorer model year, newest first.
| Campaign | Filed | What | Model years | Repaired |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26V581000 | Sep 9, 2026 | Passenger Air Bag May Deploy Improperly | 2026 | — |
| 26V548000 | Aug 25, 2026 | Improperly Manufactured Pistons May Fail | 2026 | — |
| 26V532000 | Aug 13, 2026 | Engine Rod Bearing Failure | 2026 | — |
| 26V470000 | Jul 21, 2026 | Driver's Seat May Recline Unexpectedly | 2025, 2026, 2027 | — |
| 26V448000 | Jul 14, 2026 | Roof Rail Covers May Detach | 2016–2019 | — |
| 26V451000 | Jul 14, 2026 | Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly | 2020–2026 | — |
| 26V402000 | Jun 24, 2026 | Vehicle Rollaway Risk | 2020, 2021 | — |
| 26V371000 | Jun 9, 2026 | Vehicle Rollaway Risk | 2024 | 13.8% |
| 26V343000 | May 27, 2026 | Loss of Drive Power from Engine Failure | 2025, 2026 | — |
| 26V202000 | Mar 31, 2026 | Inoperative Defrosting and Defogging System | 2026 | 49.1% |
| 26V205000 | Mar 31, 2026 | Incorrectly Installed Piston Circlips | 2026 | 76.6% |
| 26V165000 | Mar 18, 2026 | Loss of Rearview Camera Image and ADAS Features | 2025 | 36.7% |
| 26V159000 | Mar 17, 2026 | Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchors | 2020–2026 | 31.6% |
| 26V117000 | Mar 3, 2026 | Windshield Wipers May Fail | 2020, 2021, 2022 | — |
| 26V123000 | Mar 3, 2026 | Incorrectly Displayed Rearview Camera Image/FMVSS 111 | 2020–2024 | 12.4% |
Only NHTSA and your automaker know whether your specific car was repaired. Open a model-year page for each campaign's official text, or check your VIN on NHTSA.
Check on NHTSA ↗Crash-test stars by model year
| Model year | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover | Tested as |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv 4wd |
| 2024 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv 4wd |
| 2023 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv 4wd |
| 2021 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv 4wd |
| 2020 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv 4wd |
| 2019 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2018 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2017 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2016 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2015 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2014 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
| 2013 | ★★★★★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ | suv fwd |
Compare stars only between vehicles of similar size and weight. Source: NHTSA NCAP, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Fuel economy by model year
EPA combined mpg range across engine and transmission configurations. Your mileage will vary. Source: EPA, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Where to next
Ford Explorer FAQ
How many recalls has the Ford Explorer had?
NHTSA lists 142 recall campaigns that cover at least one Ford Explorer model year from 1984 to 2026. Each campaign card on the model-year pages has NHTSA's official text and the repair completion rate. Only NHTSA's VIN lookup can tell you whether a specific car was repaired.
Which Ford Explorer year has the most complaints?
Among the last 15 model years with settled counts, the 2016 drew the most owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2,458) and the 2009 the fewest (33). Counts are owner reports, not failure rates, and sales volume affects them.
What are the most common Ford Explorer problems?
Across the 2017–2026 model years, owners most often name the structure, unknown or other, power train in complaints filed with NHTSA.
What mpg does the Ford Explorer get?
EPA rates the 2027 Ford Explorer at 19 to 23 mpg combined, depending on engine and transmission.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.