Ford Explorer Fuel/propulsion System Problems
Owners have filed 681 complaints with NHTSA about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Explorer across 29 model years. The 2013 model year has the most (120). The words owners use most often: “exhaust fumes” (9% of reports).
- 681fuel/propulsion system complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 11mention a crash
- 23mention an injury
- 0related recalls
- $1,200typical repair cost reported by owners
- 56%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.
- Exhaust fumes: mentioned in 60 of 681 complaints (9%)
- Carbon monoxide: mentioned in 57 of 681 complaints (8%)
- Throttle body: mentioned in 38 of 681 complaints (6%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical fuel/propulsion system repair on the Ford Explorer at $1,200, and half of them between $1,000 and $2,500.
Based on 12 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2015–2024), 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 fuel/propulsion system problems happen?
Based on 423 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 681 complaints, 11 mention a crash, 8 a fire, 23 an injury.
Ford Explorer fuel/propulsion system complaints by model year
| Model year | Fuel/propulsion System complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Explorer | 3 | 7% | — |
| 2025 Explorer | 3 | 3% | — |
| 2023 Explorer | 2 | 2% | — |
| 2022 Explorer | 22 | 8% | — |
| 2021 Explorer | 19 | 4% | — |
| 2020 Explorer | 40 | 3% | 3,844 |
| 2019 Explorer | 14 | 5% | 3,150 |
| 2018 Explorer | 19 | 3% | 11,000 |
| 2017 Explorer | 44 | 3% | 19,063 |
| 2016 Explorer | 104 | 4% | 10,000 |
| 2015 Explorer | 86 | 5% | 30,000 |
| 2014 Explorer | 62 | 4% | 27,700 |
| 2013 Explorer | 120 | 5% | 50,000 |
| 2012 Explorer | 27 | 3% | 55,128 |
| 2011 Explorer | 35 | 3% | 53,067 |
| 2010 Explorer | 8 | 7% | 61,355 |
| 2009 Explorer | 1 | 3% | — |
| 2007 Explorer | 3 | 1% | 45,000 |
| 2006 Explorer | 8 | 1% | 94,500 |
| 2005 Explorer | 17 | 3% | 86,000 |
| 2004 Explorer | 8 | 1% | 89,500 |
| 2003 Explorer | 3 | 0% | 85,000 |
| 2002 Explorer | 18 | 1% | 107,204 |
| 2001 Explorer | 1 | 0% | 87,372 |
| 2000 Explorer | 6 | 1% | 85,000 |
| 1999 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 220,000 |
| 1998 Explorer | 3 | 0% | 85,001 |
| 1996 Explorer | 1 | 0% | 5,000 |
| 1995 Explorer | 2 | 0% | 56,000 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (0)
No safety recall lists fuel/propulsion system for the Ford Explorer. A pattern of complaints does not always lead to a recall.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
My mom was helping me strap my 3 year old and baby in the car seats of my 2022 ford explorer and said my car smelled like raw gas. I didnât realize it because I was so used to it. As soon as she said something I did smell it. I had been getting headaches while driving but didnât think much…
I was driving down the road and the vehicle started to cut out like it was running out of fuel. Maybe 1 minute later it died in the middle of heavy traffic and would not re-start. I had to have it towed and I called Ford and they told me to wait until the repair remedy was available to have it…
While driving with the cruise on at 74 mph the vehicle jerked as if the brakes had been tapped. I shut off the cruise and tried to accelerate but nothing happened. At this point I signaled to change lanes and pulled to the right shoulder. There were no dash lights or warning alarms prior to the…
On several occasions when trying to drive from a stopped position I press the gas and the car will move slowly but not shift into gear and then after turning off it struggles to restart. The check engine light is solid but goes away by the next day. This has happened after sitting idling in a…
I have a loss of fuel pressure and flow from the fuel tank due to fuel pump failure. Sometimes my engine stalls while driving, and when I go to fill my tank with gas, the engine will not start. I have to engage it for about 15 minutes before it will start. My check engine light comes on, and I will…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Ford Explorers have fuel/propulsion system problems?
No. NHTSA has 681 owner complaints about fuel/propulsion system 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 fuel/propulsion system?
No recall currently lists fuel/propulsion system for this vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Explorer?
Owners report a typical cost of $1,200 (half paid between $1,000 and $2,500), from 12 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about fuel/propulsion system problems on the Ford Explorer?
The most frequent phrase is “exhaust fumes”, in 60 of 681 complaints, followed by “carbon monoxide” (57).
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.