Ford Explorer Hybrid Problems by Year
NHTSA has 14 owner complaints and 3 safety recalls on file for the Ford Explorer Hybrid, across 7 model years (2020–2027). The 2021 model year has the most complaints (7). The most reported problem area overall is power train.
Ford Explorer Hybrid years to avoid? What the complaint data shows
No Explorer Hybrid model year stands out with more than twice the complaints of a typical year.
Model years with the most complaints
- 2021 Explorer Hybrid: 7 complaints, 1 recall
- 2025 Explorer Hybrid: 2 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2023 Explorer Hybrid: 2 complaints, 0 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 Hybrid problems (all years)
| Problem area | Complaints | Model years | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| Steering | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| Structure | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Air Bags | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Seat Belts | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Wheels | 1 | 1 | 1 |
All Ford Explorer Hybrid model years
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Crash rating | Top problem | Compared with other years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Explorer Hybrid | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2026 Explorer Hybrid | 0 | 1 | — | — | |
| 2025 Explorer Hybrid | 2 | 2 | — | Service Brakes | |
| 2023 Explorer Hybrid | 2 | 0 | — | Back Over Prevention | |
| 2022 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 1 | — | Structure | |
| 2021 Explorer Hybrid | 7 | 1 | — | Power Train | |
| 2020 Explorer Hybrid | 2 | 1 | — | Power Train |
More from Ford: all Ford models · Ford VIN decoder
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer Hybrid years should you stay away from?
No year stands out at twice the typical count; the most complaints are for 2021 (7), 2025 (2), 2023 (2). 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 Hybrid?
Power Train, with 3 complaints across 2 model years.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer Hybrid have?
3 safety recalls across all model years. Each model year page lists its recalls and fixes.