FaultScore

Ford Explorer equipment problems

427 of the 43,182 complaints filed about the Ford Explorer are about the equipment — 1% of everything owners reported. The worst model year for it is 2002.

427

Complaints

1%

Share of all complaints

9

Crashes

14

Fires

Equipment & Accessories complaints by model year

1991 Explorer 29 6.8%
1992 Explorer 23 5.4%
1993 Explorer 29 6.8%
1994 Explorer 33 7.7%

Median failure at 114,000 miles

1995 Explorer 8 1.9%
1996 Explorer 16 3.7%

Median failure at 158,000 miles

1997 Explorer 42 9.8%

Median failure at 87,107 miles

1998 Explorer 38 8.9%

Median failure at 82,000 miles

1999 Explorer 30 7.0%

Median failure at 65,000 miles

2000 Explorer 16 3.7%

Median failure at 78,136 miles

2001 Explorer 11 2.6%

Median failure at 60,745 miles

2002 Explorer 62 14.5%

Median failure at 64,460 miles

2003 Explorer 16 3.7%

Median failure at 52,179 miles

2004 Explorer 15 3.5%

Median failure at 56,000 miles

2005 Explorer 6 1.4%

Median failure at 67,000 miles

2006 Explorer 11 2.6%

Median failure at 50,000 miles

2007 Explorer 3 0.7%

Median failure at 12,000 miles

2008 Explorer 2 0.5%

Median failure at 46,745 miles

2009 Explorer 1 0.2%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

2011 Explorer 8 1.9%

Median failure at 75 miles

2012 Explorer 7 1.6%

Median failure at 3,725 miles

2013 Explorer 4 0.9%

Median failure at 15,500 miles

2014 Explorer 1 0.2%

Median failure at 44,300 miles

2015 Explorer 2 0.5%

Median failure at 7,257 miles

2016 Explorer 2 0.5%

Median failure at 358 miles

2017 Explorer 3 0.7%
2018 Explorer 4 0.9%

Median failure at 35,500 miles

2020 Explorer 3 0.7%

Median failure at 31,000 miles

2021 Explorer 2 0.5%

Median failure at 42,000 miles

What owners said

2020 Ford Explorer Big Lake, AK

EQUIPMENT

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 presented significant safety risks, specifically because the contact resided in Alaska, where it rained constantly with low temperatures. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA complaint #11752205 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford Explorer Miramar Beach, FL

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.

See attached document for complaint.

NHTSA complaint #11650693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford Explorer Smithtown, NY

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

See attached document for complaint

NHTSA complaint #11576623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2021 Ford Explorer at 42,000 miles Livonia, MI

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

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 contact was informed that the vehicle could be repaired under warranty. The system showed that the screen had connected and disconnected. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000 (Back Over Prevention). The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 42,000.

NHTSA complaint #11560168 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 Ford Explorer at 31,000 miles Stapleton, GA

EQUIPMENT

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 warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who diagnosed that the transmission cooler had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact related the failure to Customer Satisfaction Program NHTSA ID Number: 10185994 (Power Train, Equipment) however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the Customer Satisfaction Program. The repair was not covered under warranty. The approximate failure mileage was 31,000.

NHTSA complaint #11555199 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2020 Ford Explorer El Paso, TX

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the AWD became inoperable. The park assist, traction control, ABS, Lane Keep System, front radar, and the parking sensor also became inoperable. The map displayed on half the screen. The screen was black with a blue rectangle. The cabin temperature indicator was flickering. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and the contact was informed that an update and reprogram of the system was needed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and offered financial assistance, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA complaint #11543194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2021 Ford Explorer Norristown, PA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:NAVIGATIONAL SYSTEM(GLOBAL POSITIONING SYSTEM)

Issue with navigation system. Many times is shows no GPS. Navigation does not always recognize current vehicle position and many times navigation does not even work. On many occasions, upon starting the vehicle, the clock does not even work when the navigation system isn't being used. This is a safety issue when we are traveling out of town. We are not fans of using our phones for navigation as an alternative to the faulty vehicle onboard navigation. This first started happening December 2022.

NHTSA complaint #11507850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford Explorer Milton, FL

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT

The touch screen on the vehicle lags. It takes forever to go to stations. Changes to stations you haven’t pressed. Navigation doesn’t work properly. Phone Bluetooth doesn’t work properly. Informed the APIM NEEDS REPLACED. After researching, it appears a long list of ppl have the same complaints or very similar in nature. I think this should be investigated.

NHTSA complaint #11465812 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford Explorer at 33,000 miles Newbury, OH

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:INFOTAINMENT:VIDEO (TOUCH)SCREEN/MONITOR/UNIT

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that initially, the infotainment screen would intermittently fail to operate upon the start of the vehicle without warning. Recently, the contact stated that the infotainment screen had completely failed and that the screen had remained blank while the vehicle was in operation. Due to the failure, the back over prevention camera was inoperable. The contact called the manufacturer who then referred him to the NHTSA for assistance. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 33,000.

NHTSA complaint #11452194 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2018 Ford Explorer at 38,000 miles Grand Rapids, MN

EQUIPMENT

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 mph on the highway, y a piece of Sop A-pillar trim came off on the passenger side. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the pillar trim to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 38,000.

NHTSA complaint #11451873 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford Explorer West Covina, CA

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

NY CAR OVERHEATED AND SPILLED ALL THE COOLANT DUE TO THE ENGINE BLOCK HEATERS IT HAS. I TOOK IT FOR AN INSPECTION AND THEY TOLD ME THESE ARE VERY DANGEROUS AND NEED TO BE CHANGED ASAP, I CALLED THE DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME MY CAR DOES NOT HAVE THIS RECALL AND THEY WANT TO CHARGE ME WHEN CLEARLY IT IS THE EXACT PROBLEM WITH RECALL # 16S14 FROM FORD. I NEED THIS FIXED ASAP AT NO CHARGE TO ME AS IT IS FORDS PROBLEM. I NEED MY CAR BACK TO GET TO WORK PLEASE

NHTSA complaint #11427602 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford Explorer Salem, IL

EQUIPMENT

I HAVE A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE PASSENGER SIDE WINDSHIELD TRIM RIPPED OFF AS I WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH AND FLEW UP IN THE AIR AND LANDED BEHIND ME. FORTUNATELY, THERE WAS NOT A VEHICLE BEHIND ME. THE DRIVER'S SIDE WAS LOOSE, AND I GLUED IT DOWN WITH GORILLA GLUE AS A TEMPORARY HOLD. SINCE THAT TIME, I HAVE NOTICED MANY EXPLORERS WITH THE SAME MISSING WINDSHIELD TRIM. I FEEL THIS POSES A DANGER NOT NECESSARILY TO THE DRIVER, BUT OTHER DRIVERS ON THE ROAD.

NHTSA complaint #11416312 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2017 Ford Explorer Glendale, AZ

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

2017 FORD EXPLORER BASE MODEL WE HAD OUR VEHICLE "FIXED" FOR THE CARBON MONOXIDE DEFECT ON JUNE 24, 2020. IT IS NOW 7/9/2020 AND OUR CO ALARM IN THE VEHICLE IS STILL PICKING UP AT LEAST 11PPM OF CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE AFTER TRAVELING AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THESE OCCURRENCES ARE SPORADIC, NOT CONSISTENT WITH EACH USE OF THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA complaint #11338623 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2002 Ford Explorer Highland Park, IL Fire

EQUIPMENT

THE CONSUMER STATED THE HOME FIRE HAZARD CREATED BY FAULTY DESIGN OF NON UL APPROVED PERSONAL SNOW PLOW USE FOR SUV MANUFACTURED BY WESTERN PRODUCTS. SNOW PLOW ELECTRIC MOTOR WAS UNFUSED AND OVERHEATED NOT RESPONDING TO THE COMMAN CONTROLLER SHORTING OUT AND CAUSING A SERIOUS EXPENSIVE FIRE.

NHTSA complaint #11253850 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2015 Ford Explorer at 10,000 miles Astoria, NY

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL ODOR IN THE VEHICLE WHILE THE AIR CONDITION WAS IN OPERATION. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE CATALYTIC CONVERTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED HOWEVER, AFTER SEVERAL MONTHS THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WOULD BE OFFERED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 10,000.

NHTSA complaint #10968285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2014 Ford Explorer at 44,300 miles Landover, MD

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH WITH THE AIR CONDITIONER ACTIVATED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL EGG ODOR COMING FROM THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HVAC UNIT WAS FAILING AND NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 44,300.

NHTSA complaint #10894376 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2012 Ford Explorer at 36,000 miles Wahiawa, HI Fire

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT SMELLED A STRONG FUEL AND BURNING ODOR IN THE VEHICLE. THE FAILURE WAS PERSISTENT. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE HEAT AND AIR CONDITIONER CALIBRATIONS NEEDED TO BE UPDATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE FUMES IN THE VEHICLE AFFECTING HER CHILDREN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 36,000.

NHTSA complaint #10820259 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Explorer at 15,000 miles Gilbert, AZ

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT EXHAUST FUMES ENTERED THE VEHICLE THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEM WHEN THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE AIR VENTS WERE SUCKING THE EXCESS EXHAUST FUMES THROUGH THE AIR CONDITIONING VENTS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 15,000.

NHTSA complaint #10782897 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2016 Ford Explorer at 358 miles Berlin, MD

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

SEPT 31ST - WITH 358 MILES AND LESS THAN OWNED FOR 24 HOURS ALL ADAPTIVE EQUIPMENT FAILED, FLASHING ABS FAILURE LOSS OF SPEED CONTROL. OCT 1ST CAR TAKEN TO JCLEWIS FORD IN SAVANAH,GA, WAS CALLED BY THE DEALER APPROXIMATELY 3 HOURS LATER AND WAS TOLD TO PICK THE CAR AND THE ONLY PROBLEM WAS TO REALIGN AND RESET COMPUTER SOFTWARE. I TOOK THE CAR AND DROVE 39 MILES AND WE SUSTAINED A TOTAL REPEAT OF THE PROBLEMS. AT THIS POINT THE DEALERSHIP SAID THEY HAD NO IDEA AT POINT WHAT WAS WRONG OR THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM, APPROXIMATELY FIVE DAYS LATER I WAS TOLD THE CAUSE WAS THE FAILURE OF THE REAR ABS WHEEL SENSOR WHICH THEY TOLD ME WAS REPLACED AND ALSO THAT THEY HAD DRIVEN THE CAR FOR FEW DAYS AND IT WAS NOW OPERATIONAL. I DID PICK UP THE CAR AND AGAIN WITHIN A FEW MILES WE SUSTAINED THE SAME FAILURE WITH AN ADDED FEATURE I BACKED OUT OF MY PARKING SPACE AND FOUND THAT I HAD LOST ANY ABILITY TO MOVE FORWARD AND THERE WAS A SEVERE GRINDING NOISE EMANATING FROM TRANSMISSION, DROVE THE BACK TO DEALER SHIP FOR THE FOURTH TIME AND WAS TOLD THAT EVEN THOUGH I WAS TOLD THAT THE FORD DEALER MECHANIC DID NOT REPLACE ANY PARTS AS I WAS TOLD. AS OF TODAY SEPT 18TH THE CAR IS STILL WITH THE DEALER AND WAS TOLD THAT IN FACT REPLACED THE LEFT ABS WHEEL SENSOR BUT THEY SAID THAT IN FACT WAS NOT THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT STILL EXISTED. I WAS TOLD THAT THEY WERE THINK IT IS BEING CAUSED BY SOME TYPE OF SHORT IN A WIRE HARNESS BUT THEY STILL ARE AWAITING PARTS. I HAVE REQUESTED A MEETING WITH A FORD REPRESENTATIVE BUT I WAS TOLD BY THE SERVICE MANAGER THAT HE COULD NOT ARRANGE A MEETING. I WAS TOLD BY A FORD REPRESENTATIVE I BELIEVE DETROIT THAT I SHOULD LOOK AT THE BACK OF THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR ADVICE ON THE LEMON LAW.

NHTSA complaint #10765252 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

2013 Ford Explorer at 16,000 miles Kansas City, MO

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

EXHAUST IS ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT THROUGH THE FRONT AND REAR AIR CONDITIONING VENTS WHEN THE ENGINE IS ACCELERATED TO 3500 RPM OR ABOVE. I NOTICED THIS CONDITION WHILE DRIVING AROUND TOWN,WHEN PASSING ANOTHER CAR OR ACCELERATING TO ENTER THE FREEWAY, BUT THE PROBLEM WAS REALLY EVIDENT ON A RECENT DRIVING VACATION FROM KANSAS CITY TO SEATTLE WA. WE WENT THROUGH SEVERAL MOUNTAINOUS STATES AND IT WAS TERRIBLE, THE CAR WAS CONSTANTLY ACCELERATING ABOVE 3500 RPM TO MAINTAIN SPEED ON UP HILL GRADES,THE CAR CONSTANTLY REEKED OF EXHAUST. WE HAD TO ROLL THE WINDOWS DOWN TO KEEP IT AIRED OUT. I TOOK THE CAR TO MY FORD DEALER WHEN I RETURNED FROM THE TRIP,THEY SAID THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I AM NOT GOING TO ARGUE WITH FORD OVER THIS,I HAVE PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE METER WHICH I KEEP IN THE CAR AND HAVE RECORDED CARBON MONOXIDE IN THE CABIN AS HIGH AS 15 PPM DURING ACCELERATION. THIS CAR NEEDS TO BE RECALLED,I HAVE READ THAT I AM NOT ALONE,THIS PROBLEM EXISTS ON FORD EXPLORERS MANUFACTURED FROM 2011 - 2015. WHY ?

NHTSA complaint #10760932 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.

Other Ford Explorer problems