2017 Ford Explorer Engine Problems
Owners have filed 241 complaints with NHTSA about engine problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer, 14% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 23,350 miles. The words owners use most often: “water pump” (21% of reports).
- 241engine complaints
- 23,350median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 8mention an injury
- 2related recalls
- $4,350typical repair cost reported by owners
- 58%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Water pump: mentioned in 50 of 241 complaints (21%)
- Carbon monoxide: mentioned in 16 of 241 complaints (7%)
- Exhaust fumes: mentioned in 13 of 241 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical engine repair on the 2017 Ford Explorer at $4,350, and half of them between $3,700 and $9,800.
Based on 17 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2019–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do engine problems happen?
Based on 113 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 241 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 3 a fire, 8 an injury.
Ford Explorer engine complaints by model year
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 6 | 14% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 8 | 8% | 9,000 |
| 2024 Explorer | 1 | 5% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 10 | 9% | 8,664 |
| 2022 Explorer | 30 | 11% | 61,500 |
| 2021 Explorer | 49 | 11% | 69,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 117 | 9% | 8,000 |
| 2019 Explorer | 19 | 6% | 22,500 |
| 2018 Explorer | 96 | 13% | 30,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 241 | 14% | 23,350 |
| 2016 Explorer | 382 | 16% | 16,650 |
| 2015 Explorer | 227 | 13% | 30,156 |
| 2014 Explorer | 196 | 12% | 38,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 225 | 10% | 56,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 79 | 10% | 53,000 |
| 2011 Explorer | 83 | 7% | 83,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 14 | 12% | 80,500 |
| 2009 Explorer | 4 | 12% | 73,842 |
| 2008 Explorer | 21 | 14% | 85,500 |
| 2007 Explorer | 28 | 13% | 82,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 58 | 9% | 81,850 |
| 2005 Explorer | 17 | 3% | 115,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 44 | 3% | 114,500 |
| 2003 Explorer | 22 | 2% | 145,500 |
| 2002 Explorer | 49 | 1% | 134,000 |
| 2001 Explorer | 6 | 2% | 98,250 |
| 2000 Explorer | 9 | 1% | 153,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 4 | 0% | 104,300 |
| 1998 Explorer | 6 | 0% | 171,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 4 | 0% | 147,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 77,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 130,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (2)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Problem: 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, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Engine and engine cooling:engine:gasoline:turbo/supercharger
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
This is a second complaint for the same vehicle. Complaint number 11770400, filed today, understated the failure history, and I am filing this one so the complete record is in the database. Vehicle: 2017 Ford Explorer Platinum, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, VIN [XXX]. The first turbocharger failure occurred in…
Both turbochargers on my 2017 Ford Explorer Platinum with the 3.5L EcoBoost V6 have failed. The first turbocharger failed and was replaced in 2025. On August 10, 2026, at about 138,000 miles, the second turbocharger failed: the vehicle lost power and poured thick white smoke from the exhaust as…
Sudden catastrophic engine failure due to coolant mixing. This resulted in a safety issue due to time and location of the event. From online consumer reports this event happens just after 100,000 miles to the 2017 Ford Explorer SUV's and is a KNOWN event that Ford has NOT disclosed. Regular…
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 Ford Explorers have engine problems?
No. NHTSA has 241 owner complaints about engine for the 2017 Ford Explorer (14% of the 1,701 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2017 Ford Explorer engine?
Yes: 2 safety recalls list engine. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do engine problems start?
The median reported mileage is 23,350 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix engine problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,350 (half paid between $3,700 and $9,800), from 17 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about engine problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “water pump”, in 50 of 241 complaints, followed by “carbon monoxide” (16).
Other 2017 Ford Explorer problems
See all 2017 Ford Explorer problems or engine problems across all Explorer years.