2017 Ford Explorer Structure Problems
Owners have filed 657 complaints with NHTSA about structure problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer, 39% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 76,000 miles. The words owners use most often: “pillar trim” (34% of reports).
- 657structure complaints
- 76,000median miles at failure
- 7mention a crash
- 5mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $600typical repair cost reported by owners
- 87%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.
- Pillar trim: mentioned in 222 of 657 complaints (34%)
- Flew off: mentioned in 109 of 657 complaints (17%)
- Side windshield: mentioned in 105 of 657 complaints (16%)
- Structure contacted: mentioned in 96 of 657 complaints (15%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical structure repair on the 2017 Ford Explorer at $600, and half of them between $360 and $760.
Based on 11 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2026), 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 structure problems happen?
Based on 312 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 657 complaints, 7 mention a crash, 2 a fire, 5 an injury.
Ford Explorer structure complaints by model year
| Model year | Structure complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 7 | 7% | 1,600 |
| 2023 Explorer | 10 | 9% | 10,000 |
| 2022 Explorer | 11 | 4% | 39,000 |
| 2021 Explorer | 24 | 5% | 61,500 |
| 2020 Explorer | 45 | 4% | 40,302 |
| 2019 Explorer | 150 | 50% | 63,125 |
| 2018 Explorer | 288 | 39% | 60,950 |
| 2017 Explorer | 657 | 39% | 76,000 |
| 2016 Explorer | 591 | 24% | 82,750 |
| 2015 Explorer | 410 | 23% | 90,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 276 | 16% | 92,500 |
| 2013 Explorer | 439 | 20% | 70,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 144 | 17% | 96,500 |
| 2011 Explorer | 110 | 9% | 101,000 |
| 2010 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 6,900 |
| 2009 Explorer | 2 | 6% | 105,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 1 | 1% | 7,000 |
| 2007 Explorer | 11 | 5% | 80,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 11 | 2% | 19,695 |
| 2005 Explorer | 151 | 30% | 77,300 |
| 2004 Explorer | 426 | 33% | 72,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 354 | 31% | 70,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 486 | 15% | 66,400 |
| 2001 Explorer | 29 | 8% | 100,000 |
| 2000 Explorer | 29 | 3% | 93,310 |
| 1999 Explorer | 47 | 3% | 100,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 48 | 2% | 112,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 50 | 3% | 84,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 63 | 4% | 123,743 |
| 1995 Explorer | 39 | 5% | 112,762 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Structure:body
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Structure:body
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.
Structure:body:roof and pillars
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
Structure:body
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
B-pillar is coming off, not allowing keypad to lock/unlock. Remedy has not come available in over a year.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the part to perform the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The…
See attached document for complaint.
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2017 Ford Explorers have structure problems?
No. NHTSA has 657 owner complaints about structure for the 2017 Ford Explorer (39% of the 1,699 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 structure?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list structure. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do structure problems start?
The median reported mileage is 76,000 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix structure problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $600 (half paid between $360 and $760), from 11 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about structure problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “pillar trim”, in 222 of 657 complaints, followed by “flew off” (109).
Other 2017 Ford Explorer problems
- Engine problems (241)
- Power Train problems (123)
- Electrical System problems (93)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (77)
- Steering problems (76)
- Wheels problems (60)
- Suspension problems (57)
See all 2017 Ford Explorer problems or structure problems across all Explorer years.