Ford Explorer Equipment Problems
Owners have filed 284 complaints with NHTSA about equipment problems on the Ford Explorer across 25 model years. The 2002 model year has the most (58). The words owners use most often: “air conditioner” (10% of reports).
- 284equipment complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 3mention a crash
- 9mention an injury
- 5related recalls
- $1,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 52%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.
- Air conditioner: mentioned in 29 of 284 complaints (10%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical equipment repair on the Ford Explorer at $1,150, and half of them between $910 and $1,950.
Based on 8 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2001–2010), 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 equipment problems happen?
Based on 120 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 284 complaints, 3 mention a crash, 7 a fire, 9 an injury.
Ford Explorer equipment complaints by model year
| Model year | Equipment complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 42,000 |
| 2020 Explorer | 3 | 0% | 31,000 |
| 2018 Explorer | 4 | 1% | 35,500 |
| 2017 Explorer | 3 | 0% | — |
| 2016 Explorer | 1 | 0% | — |
| 2015 Explorer | 1 | 0% | 10,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 1 | 0% | 44,300 |
| 2013 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 17,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 5 | 1% | 1,450 |
| 2011 Explorer | 6 | 1% | 75 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | 42,000 |
| 2008 Explorer | 1 | 1% | — |
| 2007 Explorer | 3 | 1% | 12,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 11 | 2% | 50,000 |
| 2005 Explorer | 5 | 1% | 68,500 |
| 2004 Explorer | 14 | 1% | 56,000 |
| 2003 Explorer | 14 | 1% | 51,590 |
| 2002 Explorer | 58 | 2% | 64,460 |
| 2001 Explorer | 10 | 3% | 14,491 |
| 2000 Explorer | 14 | 1% | 78,136 |
| 1999 Explorer | 27 | 2% | 65,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 37 | 2% | 82,000 |
| 1997 Explorer | 38 | 2% | 86,000 |
| 1996 Explorer | 16 | 1% | 158,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 7 | 1% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (5)
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Model years: 2019, 2024
Problem: 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 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 February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 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 January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater
Model years: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
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.
Equipment:other:labels
Model years: 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Problem: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Equipment:other:labels
Model years: 2001
Problem: Vehicle description: certain sport utility vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of part 567.4, "certification." these vehicles were shipped from the assembly plant without safety certification labels.
Risk: Incorrect tire inflation pressure could result in tire tread separation, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the certification labels.
Equipment:other:labels
Model years: 1996
Problem: The certification labels on the involved vehicles has incorrect rear tire inflation pressure designations. This does not comply with fmvss no. 120, "tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars."
Risk: Incorrect inflation pressures could cause premature wear of the rear tires. .
Fix: Owners will be provided with correct certification labels and instructions for installing these labels. Dealers can install this label if the owner so desires.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V685000 (Equipment), 26V117000 (Visibility), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact was concerned that the incomplete recalls…
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the screen display was blue and black and became inoperable. While reversing, the screen was blue. The contact was unable to use the GPS feature. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact called the local dealer, and the…
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the transmission was shifting gear, there was an abnormally loud grinding sound coming from the front-end of the vehicle. There was transmission fluid leaking underneath the vehicle while the vehicle was idling. There were no…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Explorers have equipment problems?
No. NHTSA has 284 owner complaints about equipment for the Ford Explorer. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Ford Explorer equipment?
Yes: 5 safety recalls list equipment. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix equipment problems on the Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,150 (half paid between $910 and $1,950), from 8 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about equipment problems on the Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “air conditioner”, in 29 of 284 complaints.
Other Ford Explorer problems
- Power Train problems (5,091)
- Structure problems (4,912)
- Steering problems (4,059)
- Tires problems (2,965)
- Engine problems (2,057)
- Electrical System problems (2,036)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (1,752)
- Suspension problems (1,690)
See all Ford Explorer problems.