AutoStatsIQ
Data through Oct 2026
Model line

Ford Explorer

Every Ford Explorer model year on file, 2015 to 2027. Pick a year for its recalls, investigations, service bulletins and the full text of owner complaints.

Owner complaints, all model years9,168394 involved a crash, fire, injury or death
Model years132015 to 2027
Recall campaigns92Distinct campaigns listing it
Service bulletins2,235Summed across model years
By model year

The 2016 model year drew the most complaints, 2,458, 27% of the model's total

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, all years filed, by model year.

01,0002,0003,00020152,458201720192021202320252027
Source: NHTSA ODI. Complaints are not verified by NHTSA, and NHTSA publishes no sales volumes, so counts are not rates.
Components

Structure leads the Ford Explorer complaint record

Owner complaints across all model years, by component.

Structure
2,191
Engine and cooling
1,502
Powertrain
1,213
Steering
1,049
Electrical system
704
Fuel system
408
Visibility and wipers
398
Back-over prevention
350
Suspension
330
Airbags
260
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Model years

The record for each Ford Explorer model year

Peer index compares complaints with the median vehicle of the same model year and body class (100 is the median). It corrects for age, not for how many were sold.

Ford Explorer by model year
YearBodyComplaintsSeverity indexPeer indexRecallsInvestigationsBulletins
2027Not decoded0NoneNone100
2026SUV3810.563314052
2025SUV1018.9777200185
2024SUV2114.3105100104
2023SUV1109.1550150161
2022SUV2678.61,161242230
2021SUV4306.01,433262293
2020SUV1,2235.54,368333361
2019SUV2981.771061135
2018SUV7314.21,76172191
2017SUV1,6943.73,322142201
2016SUV2,4583.25,995152198
2015SUV1,7974.23,95095124
Source: NHTSA ODI. Body class from NHTSA's VIN decoder where decoded.
Latest recalls

Recent campaigns covering the Ford Explorer

  • 26V-581 Sep 9, 2026
    Active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly
    Airbags · 7 vehicles
  • 26V-548 Aug 25, 2026
    Engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power
    Engine and cooling · 10k vehicles
  • 26V-532 Aug 13, 2026
    Engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure
    Engine and cooling · 6 vehicles
  • 26V-470 Jul 21, 2026
    Unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start
    Seats · 77k vehicles
  • 26V-451 Jul 14, 2026
    Switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly
    Seats · 388k vehicles
  • 26V-448 Jul 14, 2026
    Roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle
    Structure · 288k vehicles
  • 26V-402 Jun 24, 2026
    Transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage
    Powertrain · 741k vehicles
  • 26V-371 Jun 9, 2026
    Unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage
    Powertrain · 58 vehicles
  • 26V-343 May 27, 2026
    Engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power
    Engine and cooling · 1,536 vehicles
  • 26V-205 Mar 31, 2026
    Engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to…
    Engine and cooling · 278 vehicles
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.