Complaints by model year
Federal complaints filed against each model year of the Ford Explorer. Hover a bar for the count.
1985
1990
1995
2000
2005
2010
2015
2020
2025
Three most-complained-about yearsAll other years
Which years to avoid
Ranked from the same federal record. Click any year for its full file.
Years to look at twice
- 2002 Ford Explorer - 4,097 complaints
- 2016 Ford Explorer - 3,026 complaints
- 2013 Ford Explorer - 2,792 complaints
Highest raw complaint counts. Counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
Quieter years
- 2023 Ford Explorer - 150 complaints
- 2010 Ford Explorer - 155 complaints
- 2008 Ford Explorer - 217 complaints
Fewest complaints among years with a meaningful record; the two newest model years are excluded because they have had little time to accumulate filings.
What fails, all years combined
Every model year
Recall campaigns, all years
Every campaign filed against this model, with the model years it covers. Recall repairs are free at the dealer.
| Campaign | Years | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V532000 | 2026 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine. The engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure. |
| 26V470000 | 2025-2027 | Seats | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, su |
| 26V451000 | 2020-2026 | Seats | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting |
| 26V448000 | 2016-2019 | Structure | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. |
| 26V402000 | 2020-2021 | Power Train | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage |
| 26V371000 | 2024 | Power Train | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) |
| 26V343000 | 2025-2026 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power. |
| 26V205000 | 2026 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can re |
| 26V202000 | 2026 | Visibility | 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 |
| 26V165000 | 2025 | Electrical System | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (I |
| 26V159000 | 2020-2026 | Seat Belts | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improper |
| 26V123000 | 2020-2024 | Back Over Prevention | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or inve |
| 26V122000 | 2025 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust g |
| 26V121000 | 2025-2026 | Exterior Lighting | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wr |
| 26V117000 | 2020-2022 | Visibility | 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 windsh |
| 26V101000 | 2017-2019 | Suspension | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture. |
| 26V024000 | 2026 | Visibility | 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 |
| 26V012000 | 2019-2024 | Equipment | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it |
| 25V828000 | 2026 | Engine | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which c |
| 25V730000 | 2025-2026 | Visibility | 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 obscu |
| 25V695000 | 2015 | Back Over Prevention | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln |
| 25V687000 | 2024-2026 | Trailer Hitches | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose. |
| 25V685000 | 2016-2023 | Equipment | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, B |
| 25V543000 | 2025 | Exterior Lighting | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly |
| 25V455000 | 2021-2023 | Fuel System, Gasoline | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and |
| 25V442000 | 2020-2024 | Back Over Prevention | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSp |
| 25V393000 | 2020-2025 | Seats | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the se |
| 25V344000 | 2025 | Engine And Engine Cooling | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Transit, F-150, and Explorer vehicles. The connecting rod and rod bearing components may have manufacturing defects that can lea |
| 25V371000 | 2025 | Service Brakes, Hydraulic | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer vehicles. The bolts securing the front brake caliper may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of front |
| 25V347000 | 2016-2017 | Structure | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving. |