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Ford ExplorerYears to avoid, problems & recalls

Based on 34,665 NHTSA owner complaints across 37 model years, the Ford Explorer years to avoid are 2002, and the strongest years are 2007, 2008, 2009 and 2010. The Explorer has 143 safety recalls on record.

Ford Explorer
Years to avoid'02Use caution: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020Best years'07 '08 '09 '10Fewest complaints for their ageOwner complaints34,665Top: Power trainSafety recalls1431991–2027 model years

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports. Updated daily. How we score years. Photo: Hyins, CC0.

Best & worst years

Ford Explorer years to avoid

Complaints by model year, colored by the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. Tap a year for its full report.

'91'92'93'94'95'96'97'98'99'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'07'08'09'10'11'12'13'14'15'16'17'18'19'20'21'22'23'24'25'26'27
  • Avoid
  • Caution
  • Solid
  • Best
  • Not rated
2027Too new–/1000 complaints · 2 recalls2026Too new–/10044 complaints · 15 recalls2025Too new–/100111 complaints · 20 recalls2024Not rated–/10021 complaints · 10 recalls2023Best79/100113 complaints · 15 recalls2022Solid65/100276 complaints · 24 recalls2021Solid59/100456 complaints · 26 recalls2020Caution39/1001,253 complaints · 33 recalls2019Best77/100303 complaints · 6 recalls2018Solid59/100736 complaints · 7 recalls2017Caution41/1001,706 complaints · 13 recalls2016Caution33/1002,467 complaints · 14 recalls2015Caution39/1001,820 complaints · 8 recalls2014Caution42/1001,684 complaints · 6 recalls2013Caution35/1002,239 complaints · 11 recalls2012Solid59/100831 complaints · 5 recalls2011Solid50/1001,198 complaints · 6 recalls2010Best90/100115 complaints · 1 recall2009Best96/10033 complaints · 0 recalls2008Best88/100148 complaints · 1 recall2007Best84/100208 complaints · 1 recall2006Solid65/100630 complaints · 1 recall2005Best69/100497 complaints · 0 recalls2004Solid45/1001,304 complaints · 0 recalls2003Solid49/1001,131 complaints · 2 recalls2002Avoid24/1003,295 complaints · 4 recalls2001Best67/100375 complaints · 6 recalls2000Solid47/100952 complaints · 9 recalls1999Caution41/1001,348 complaints · 9 recalls1998Caution32/1001,959 complaints · 9 recalls1997Caution35/1001,731 complaints · 7 recalls1996Caution36/1001,450 complaints · 6 recalls1995Solid51/100843 complaints · 5 recalls1994Solid42/1001,207 complaints · 4 recalls1993Solid49/100939 complaints · 6 recalls1992Solid58/100633 complaints · 4 recalls1991Solid59/100609 complaints · 8 recalls
Complaints by system

Most common Ford Explorer problems

All model years combined: 34,665 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.

Box size = number of complaints naming that system. Darker = larger share. One complaint can name more than one system.
Complaints by system
SystemComplaintsCrash, fire or injury
Power train5417226
Structure5262257
Steering4148194
Tires3773625
Electrical system2267365
Engine2072124
Engine and engine cooling1999161
Suspension1913135
Vehicle speed control1806363
34 other systems101651336
143 recalls

Ford Explorer recalls

Newest first. The ring shows the share of affected vehicles repaired, from the manufacturer's latest report to NHTSA.

–Interior lighting26V-726 · 2026–2027 · Nov 2, 2026 · 33,578 vehicles29%Air bags: frontal26V-581 · 2026 · Sep 9, 2026 · 7 vehicles–Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-548 · 2026 · Aug 25, 2026 · 10,427 vehicles67%Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-532 · 2026 · Aug 13, 2026 · 6 vehicles43%Front assembly: power adjust26V-470 · 2025–2027 · Jul 21, 2026 · 76,748 vehicles–Structure: body26V-448 · 2016–2019 · Jul 14, 2026 · 288,314 vehicles3%Seats: mid/rear assembly26V-451 · 2020–2026 · Jul 14, 2026 · 387,917 vehicles–Power train: automatic transmission26V-402 · 2020–2021 · Jun 24, 2026 · 741,195 vehicles45%Power train: automatic transmission26V-371 · 2024 · Jun 9, 2026 · 58 vehicles–Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-343 · 2025–2026 · May 27, 2026 · 1,536 vehicles88%Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical26V-205 · 2026 · Mar 31, 2026 · 278 vehicles62%Defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor26V-202 · 2026 · Mar 31, 2026 · 55 vehicles

Showing the 12 newest of 143 recalls. Each model-year page lists all recalls for that year.

65 investigations

NHTSA investigations of the Explorer

  1. Burn Injuries From Side Airbag DeploymentPE26008 · 2021–2026 · still open
    Open
  2. Underbody shields detachmentDP25001 · 2020 · closed Apr 9, 2026
    No recall
  3. Loss of Motive PowerEA23002 · 2021–2022 · closed Oct 31, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-635
  4. Rear Axle Bolt FailureRQ23002 · 2020–2022 · closed Feb 15, 2024
    Led to recall 23V-675
  5. Windshield trim molding Item detachmentPE23001 · 2011–2019 · closed Feb 8, 2024
    Led to recall 24V-031
  6. Hertz/Vehicles Rented with Open RecallsAQ22003 · 2018 · still open
    Open
  7. Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 NoncomplianceRQ21002 · 2020 · still open
    Led to recall 26V-104
  8. Exhaust Odor in Passenger CabEA17002 · 2011–2017 · closed Jan 17, 2023
    No recall
  9. Ford Explorer Exhaust OdorPE16008 · 2011–2015 · closed Sep 12, 2017
    No recall
  10. Front Brake Hose FailureEA15005 · 2013–2015 · closed Nov 2, 2018
    No recall