5,304 of the
43,182 complaints filed about the Ford Explorer
are about the body and structure —
12% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2017.
I know there is a current recall, but I have NO idea why FORD is taking almost 2 years now for a remedy. Now the trim piece under this recall is starting to separate from the driver side. This also has electrical functions (keyless entry), and is making driving the vehicle a challenge as who knows when the piece will fully separate from the vehicle. HELP PLEASE, there has to be a faster way to get this recall work done.
NHTSA complaint #11758208 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The paint is starting to bubble and flake off from inside the vehichle doors by the seam where corrosion under the paint has started. I have looked at multiple complaints from other explorer owners and this is a common issue that ford does not want to fix. There sheet metal is contaminated with “white oxidized rust underneath the paint causing the bubbling and paint letting go resulting in further rust.
NHTSA complaint #11758266 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the exterior A-pillar trim panel separated from the vehicle, exposing the weathering strip. The failure allowed air and liquid to seep through the structure and enter the cabin of the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available even though the recall information stated that parts were available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 137,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757977 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH, the driver’s side B-pillar trim detached from the vehicle and was dangling by two wires. The contact later used black duct tape to seal the trim in place. The dealer was notified of the failure and later informed the contact that parts for NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure) were not available for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact stated that the front driver’s side A-pillar trim was rattling while driving at various speeds. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 106,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757701 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger’s side A-pillar trim detached from the vehicle. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The dealer was contacted, and the driver’s side A-pillar trim was taped down to avoid becoming detached. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 81,000.
NHTSA complaint #11757397 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
On August 14, 2026, the power liftgate on my 2020 Forde Explorer unexpectedly began closing while I was loading my dog into a kennel in the rear cargo area. I did not press the liftgate close button and no one else activated a liftgate control. My key fob was inside my purse on the front seat of the vehicle. The liftgate came down while I was underneath it and struck me directly on the head. The impact knocked me to the ground. I saw stars and was confused immediately afterward and sustained a scalp laceration with significant bleeding. I did not lose consciousness and did not require stitches. One person directly witnessed the incident and was also struck by the closing liftgate. Because the liftgate struck my head first, its force was reduced before it contacted the other person, who was not injured. Other people arrived immediately afterward and can confirm my condition following the impact and that the key was in my purse on the front seat. This was not the first time this has happened. It has occurred on multiple occasions while loading without intentionally activating. I have been hit in the head before but not enough to cause bleeding. The incident occurred Friday evening on 8/14/2026. Vehicle has not yet been inspected because the service department is closed for the weekend. I plan to contact Ford once open on Monday. I am reporting this because I am concerned there may be a defect involving unintended activation of the power/hands-free liftgate and/or its safety obstacle-detection system. The unexpected closure has now caused an injury and also struck a second person.
NHTSA complaint #11757115 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the passenger's side B-pillar trim detached and flew off the vehicle. The contact stated that the B-pillar trim struck another vehicle. In addition, the driver's side B-pillar trim was fractured. The contact stated that the driver's side B-pillar trim was reattached but was still loosened. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable to repair the vehicle. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, parts were unavailable for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that parts would be unavailable until 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756707 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2014 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH, the front driver’s side A-pillar trim had detached. The local dealer was contacted on several occasions. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 127,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756443 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure). The contact stated that while driving 70 MPH on two occasions, the driver's side A-pillar trim flew off the vehicle into traffic. The vehicle was taken to the same dealer twice, where it was diagnosed, and it was determined that the A-pillar trim needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756446 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact stated that the driver’s side A-pillar trim had detached from the vehicle and the passenger’s side A-pillar trim was loosened. The failure mileage was 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11756325 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the recall repair was not performed because the A-pillar trim had not completely detached. While driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim detached. The dealer was contacted after the trim had fully detached, but recall repair was not performed. The contact stated that the dealer cleared the recall from the VIN and refused to perform any repairs associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
NHTSA complaint #11756251 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side windshield exterior A-pillar trim detached. Two dealers, including Bozard Ford (540 Outlet Mall Blvd, St. Augustine, FL 32084), were contacted and confirmed that parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that parts were unavailable with no anticipated availability date. The failure mileage was approximately 150,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755870 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
This vehicle was a rental car. The rear door opens and closes at random times. On multiple occasions even after locking the car, we would come out to the door being open. The door came down on its own and smacked my wife as well as hitting my [XXX] daughter in the head. While driving down the highway that rear door decided to open on its own putting my family in immediate grave danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaint #11755681 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the windshield exterior A-pillar trims had detached while driving. The contact stated that one of the trims struck and cracked the windshield. The windshield was replaced. The vehicle was taken to a dealer for inspection, and the contact was informed that the A-pillar trims needed to be replaced; however, one of the four required parts was unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 89,000.
NHTSA complaint #11755220 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, there was a whistling sound of air coming through the A-pillar trim. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and tape was used to seal around the A-pillar trim. The dealer informed the contact that parts for the recall repair was not available. The contact stated that the whistling sound became louder after the dealer placed the tape on the vehicle. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 77,303.
NHTSA complaint #11753023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that upon further inspection, the contact became aware that the front A-pillar trim sealants were deteriorating. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 130,000.
NHTSA complaint #11752338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 26V448000 (Structure); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, one of the windshield exterior A-Pillar trims detached and struck the windshield. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the remaining A-Pillar trim was removed. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 18,600.
NHTSA complaint #11752460 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and stated that parts would be over a year to for the availability. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
NHTSA complaint #11752056 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.