Ford Explorer Problems by Year
NHTSA has 31,177 owner complaints and 131 safety recalls on file for the Ford Explorer, across 33 model years (1995–2027). The 2002 model year has the most complaints (3,295). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
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Ford Explorer years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
These model years drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Explorer year: 1997, 1998, 2002, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017. Look at what owners reported before buying one, and check the VIN for open recalls.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2002 Explorer: 3,295 complaints, 4 recalls
- 2016 Explorer: 2,461 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2013 Explorer: 2,236 complaints, 11 recalls
Model years with the fewest complaints
- 2024 Explorer: 21 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2009 Explorer: 33 complaints, 0 recalls
- 2026 Explorer: 42 complaints, 14 recalls
Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold or how long each year has been on the road, so newer and less popular years naturally have fewer complaints. Use them to spot problem patterns, not as a safety ranking.
Most common Ford Explorer problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train problems | 5,091 | 32 | 148 |
| Structure problems | 4,912 | 31 | 54 |
| Steering problems | 4,059 | 32 | 139 |
| Tires problems | 2,965 | 26 | 340 |
| Engine problems | 2,057 | 32 | 28 |
| Electrical System problems | 2,036 | 32 | 43 |
| Engine and Engine Cooling problems | 1,752 | 30 | 18 |
| Suspension problems | 1,690 | 31 | 113 |
| Vehicle Speed Control problems | 1,672 | 31 | 195 |
| Visibility problems | 1,121 | 31 | 7 |
| Air Bags problems | 1,016 | 32 | 382 |
| Service Brakes, Hydraulic problems | 749 | 26 | 132 |
| Fuel/propulsion System problems | 681 | 29 | 11 |
| Seats problems | 598 | 32 | 38 |
| Seat Belts problems | 570 | 32 | 60 |
| Wheels problems | 522 | 30 | 36 |
| Back Over Prevention problems | 440 | 18 | 17 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline problems | 422 | 29 | 7 |
| Service Brakes problems | 405 | 30 | 57 |
| Exterior Lighting problems | 400 | 28 | 8 |
| Visibility/wiper problems | 364 | 26 | 3 |
| Latches/locks/linkages problems | 355 | 27 | 4 |
| Equipment problems | 284 | 25 | 3 |
| Electronic Stability Control (esc) problems | 185 | 21 | 5 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance problems | 173 | 15 | 15 |
| Lane Departure | 73 | 13 | 6 |
| Parking Brake | 71 | 19 | 8 |
| Fuel System, Other | 57 | 13 | 0 |
| Interior Lighting | 38 | 13 | 0 |
| Traction Control System | 29 | 12 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 28 | 11 | 4 |
| Child Seat | 21 | 10 | 1 |
| Equipment Adaptive/mobility | 13 | 9 | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Electric | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Trailer Hitches | 5 | 4 | 1 |
| Other/i Am Not Sure | 4 | 3 | 0 |
| Carry Handle, Shell, Base | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness | 3 | 2 | 0 |
| Electronic Stability Control | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Firerelated | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| Tether, Lower Anchor (on Car Seat or Vehicle) | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Communication | 1 | 1 | 0 |
Ford Explorer problems by model year
Problem areas with enough reports for their own page.
- 2022: power train (61)
- 2021: power train (126)
- 2020: power train (495) · electrical system (186) · engine (116) · back over prevention (104) · service brakes (81) · forward collision avoidance (70) · visibility/wiper (57) · exterior lighting (55)
- 2019: structure (150)
- 2018: structure (288) · engine (96) · electrical system (58) · power train (50)
- 2017: structure (657) · engine (241) · power train (123) · electrical system (93) · engine and engine cooling (77) · steering (76) · wheels (60) · suspension (57)
- 2016: structure (591) · steering (532) · engine (382) · power train (215) · electrical system (128) · engine and engine cooling (114) · fuel/propulsion system (104) · air bags (99) · vehicle speed control (76) · suspension (73) · wheels (50)
- 2015: structure (410) · steering (347) · engine (226) · back over prevention (143) · electrical system (93) · fuel/propulsion system (86) · power train (86) · air bags (84) · suspension (83) · engine and engine cooling (66)
- 2014: steering (498) · structure (276) · engine (196) · suspension (103) · electrical system (100) · power train (79) · engine and engine cooling (67) · fuel/propulsion system (62)
- 2013: steering (835) · structure (439) · engine (225) · electrical system (163) · fuel/propulsion system (120) · power train (119) · suspension (79) · engine and engine cooling (67)
- 2012: steering (360) · structure (144) · engine (79) · electrical system (63) · power train (55)
- 2011: steering (742) · structure (110) · electrical system (95) · engine (83) · power train (64)
- 2007: power train (57)
- 2006: power train (296) · engine and engine cooling (164) · engine (58)
- 2005: structure (151) · power train (99)
- 2004: power train (460) · structure (426) · visibility (100) · vehicle speed control (76) · engine and engine cooling (71) · electrical system (55)
- 2003: structure (354) · power train (335) · engine and engine cooling (69) · suspension (63) · visibility (57) · wheels (56) · electrical system (54) · air bags (50)
- 2002: power train (1,502) · structure (486) · suspension (422) · engine and engine cooling (163) · air bags (162) · steering (155) · vehicle speed control (152) · electrical system (148) · visibility (129) · service brakes, hydraulic (89) · wheels (78) · equipment (58) · latches/locks/linkages (50)
- 2001: tires (62)
- 2000: tires (217) · power train (133) · vehicle speed control (113) · engine and engine cooling (90) · electrical system (78) · air bags (62) · suspension (62) · service brakes, hydraulic (56)
- 1999: tires (370) · visibility (216) · vehicle speed control (148) · power train (115) · engine and engine cooling (100) · air bags (97) · electrical system (92) · seats (68) · suspension (65) · service brakes, hydraulic (64)
- 1998: tires (696) · vehicle speed control (281) · engine and engine cooling (189) · electrical system (114) · suspension (111) · visibility (108) · power train (103) · service brakes, hydraulic (86) · seats (70) · steering (70) · latches/locks/linkages (65) · fuel system, gasoline (55)
- 1997: tires (669) · vehicle speed control (202) · engine and engine cooling (198) · suspension (105) · power train (104) · visibility (90) · service brakes, hydraulic (83) · electrical system (80) · seat belts (54) · fuel system, gasoline (53) · structure (50)
- 1996: tires (570) · vehicle speed control (148) · power train (120) · service brakes, hydraulic (120) · suspension (97) · engine and engine cooling (81) · seat belts (78) · structure (63)
- 1995: tires (205) · power train (119) · suspension (93) · vehicle speed control (81) · service brakes, hydraulic (75) · seat belts (59) · electrical system (55) · steering (52)
All Ford Explorer model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Explorer | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 Explorer | 42 | 14 | — | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2025 Explorer | 103 | 20 | 5★ | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2024 Explorer | 21 | 10 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2023 Explorer | 110 | 15 | 5★ | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2022 Explorer | 269 | 24 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2021 Explorer | 442 | 26 | 5★ | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2020 Explorer | 1,232 | 33 | 5★ | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2019 Explorer | 299 | 6 | 5★ | Structure | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2018 Explorer | 733 | 7 | 5★ | Structure | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2017 Explorer | 1,699 | 13 | 5★ | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2016 Explorer | 2,461 | 14 | 5★ | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2015 Explorer | 1,806 | 8 | 5★ | Structure | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2014 Explorer | 1,679 | 6 | 5★ | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2013 Explorer | 2,236 | 11 | 5★ | Steering | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2012 Explorer | 829 | 5 | 4★ | Steering | About as many complaints as other years |
| 2011 Explorer | 1,197 | 6 | — | Steering | More complaints than other years |
| 2010 Explorer | 115 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2009 Explorer | 33 | 0 | — | Unknown or Other | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2008 Explorer | 148 | 1 | — | Electrical System | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2007 Explorer | 208 | 1 | — | Power Train | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2006 Explorer | 630 | 1 | — | Power Train | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2005 Explorer | 497 | 0 | — | Structure | Fewer complaints than other years |
| 2004 Explorer | 1,304 | 0 | — | Power Train | More complaints than other years |
| 2003 Explorer | 1,131 | 2 | — | Structure | More complaints than other years |
| 2002 Explorer | 3,295 | 4 | — | Power Train | Far more complaints than other years |
| 2001 Explorer | 375 | 6 | — | Tires | Far fewer complaints than other years |
| 2000 Explorer | 952 | 9 | — | Tires | About as many complaints as other years |
| 1999 Explorer | 1,348 | 9 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 1998 Explorer | 1,959 | 9 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1997 Explorer | 1,731 | 7 | — | Tires | Far more complaints than other years |
| 1996 Explorer | 1,450 | 6 | — | Tires | More complaints than other years |
| 1995 Explorer | 843 | 5 | — | Tires | About as many complaints as other years |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer years should you stay away from?
By NHTSA complaints, 1997 (1,731), 1998 (1,959), 2002 (3,295), 2013 (2,236), 2014 (1,679), 2015 (1,806), 2016 (2,461), 2017 (1,699) drew at least twice as many complaints as a typical Explorer year. Counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer years have had less time to collect complaints.
What is the biggest problem with the Ford Explorer?
Power Train, with 5,091 complaints across 32 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer have?
131 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.