Worst years for a Ford Explorer
Owners have filed 43,182 complaints about the Ford Explorer with NHTSA across model years 1977 to 2026. More of them are about the transmission & drivetrain than anything else.
Every Ford Explorer year, graded
The grade compares each year against the rest of this model's own run — never against another car. Click any bar or row to open that year's report.
| Year | Grade | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Median miles | Most reported |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | B | 38 | 1 | 0 | 4,600 | Other & Unspecified |
| 2025 | C | 147 | 13 | 0 | 3,500 | Electrical System |
| 2024 | B | 26 | 1 | 1 | 5,080 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2023 | C | 149 | 12 | 4 | 10,000 | Driver Assist & Collision Avoidance |
| 2022 | C | 360 | 25 | 3 | 36,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2021 | B | 554 | 21 | 7 | 42,254 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2020 | D | 1,687 | 54 | 16 | 15,900 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2019 | A | 340 | 2 | 0 | 51,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2018 | C | 878 | 28 | 9 | 44,500 | Body & Structure |
| 2017 | D | 2,043 | 54 | 16 | 46,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2016 | D | 3,025 | 57 | 21 | 47,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2015 | D | 2,218 | 55 | 1 | 55,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2014 | C | 2,043 | 49 | 10 | 64,415 | Steering |
| 2013 | D | 2,792 | 61 | 16 | 74,050 | Steering |
| 2012 | B | 1,029 | 15 | 12 | 65,000 | Steering |
| 2011 | C | 1,499 | 48 | 4 | 65,000 | Steering |
| 2010 | B | 155 | 13 | 0 | 48,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2009 | B | 49 | 8 | 0 | 67,000 | Engine & Cooling |
| 2008 | A | 217 | 8 | 4 | 78,000 | Electrical System |
| 2007 | B | 271 | 14 | 6 | 69,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2006 | B | 788 | 18 | 8 | 60,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2005 | B | 604 | 30 | 8 | 70,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2004 | C | 1,647 | 69 | 21 | 65,500 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2003 | C | 1,369 | 70 | 10 | 74,000 | Body & Structure |
| 2002 | D | 4,097 | 178 | 71 | 79,000 | Transmission & Drivetrain |
| 2001 | C | 503 | 82 | 30 | 90,500 | Tires |
| 2000 | C | 1,203 | 115 | 84 | 78,000 | Tires |
| 1999 | D | 1,737 | 143 | 54 | 80,000 | Tires |
| 1998 | D | 2,374 | 219 | 124 | 100,000 | Tires |
| 1997 | D | 2,150 | 180 | 58 | 100,000 | Tires |
| 1996 | D | 1,818 | 248 | 46 | 127,242 | Tires |
| 1995 | C | 1,048 | 107 | 39 | 125,000 | Tires |
| 1994 | D | 1,531 | 124 | 93 | 97,541 | Tires |
| 1993 | C | 1,151 | 98 | 53 | 107,248 | Brakes |
| 1992 | — | 848 | 54 | 84 | 125,254 | Brakes |
| 1991 | — | 764 | 70 | 73 | 113,804 | Brakes |
| 1990 | — | 12 | 2 | 1 | — | Engine & Cooling |
| 1989 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Fuel & Propulsion |
| 1988 | — | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | Electrical System |
| 1987 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Tires |
| 1986 | — | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | Steering |
| 1985 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Seat Belts |
| 1984 | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | Body & Structure |
| 1977 | — | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | Tires |
What breaks on a Ford Explorer
Across every model year on file. Follow a row for that part's complaints and the year it was worst.
Exactly what failed on a Ford Explorer
The named sub-assemblies behind those complaints, across every model year.
Complaints filed over time
Every complaint about every Ford Explorer, by the month it reached NHTSA.
Ford Explorer problems by state
Where owners filed from. Heavier states are usually just bigger markets, but a part that fails in heat or salt shows up here first.
Compare the Ford Explorer
Side by side on complaint history. Remember that raw totals track how many were sold as much as how good they were.