no report yet
Structure: body
NewRisk. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
2017 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 1,706 owner complaints about the 2017 Ford Explorer, most often about the structure. It is covered by 13 safety recalls, and for recall 24V-031 the manufacturer reports only 21% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 4, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Cutlass, CC0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2017 Ford Explorer has problems
1,706 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
661Structure10 crash/fire/injury
241Engine16 crash/fire/injury
125Power train4 crash/fire/injury
94Electrical system
77Engine and engine cooling
76Steering
60Wheels
58Suspension
45Visibility/wiper
26418 other systems31 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Structure | 661 | 10 |
| Engine | 241 | 16 |
| Power train | 125 | 4 |
| Electrical system | 94 | 9 |
| Engine and engine cooling | 77 | 2 |
| Steering | 76 | 1 |
| Wheels | 60 | 1 |
| Suspension | 58 | 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 45 | 1 |
| 18 other systems | 264 | 31 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
13 recalls
2017 Ford Explorer recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Suspension: rear
NewRisk. A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
no report yet
Electrical: engine block heater
Risk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
no report yet
Structure: body
Risk. Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 9 more recalls
repaired · 2026 Q2
Body: roof and pillars
Risk. A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q4
Suspension: rear
Risk. A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Structure: body
Risk. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2021 Q1
Seats
Risk. Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2020 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2018 Q4
Steering
Risk. If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing…
repaired · 2018 Q3
Seats
Risk. If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Risk. An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Ford.
Mileage at failure
When do structure problems start?
76kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 313 structure complaints. 71% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 50% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
32under 30k miles222under 100k miles91100k miles or more
Owner-reported costs
What owners say repairs cost
Dollar amounts owners wrote in their complaints when describing a repair or a quote. These are not price estimates; a system is shown only when at least 8 owners mentioned a cost.
Engine
20 owners mentioned a cost$3,750median
Middle half: $3,000 – $4,625
Structure
14 owners mentioned a cost$574median
Middle half: $363 – $650
If a problem is covered by a recall, the dealer fixes it for free. Some manufacturers also reimburse owners who paid for a repair before a recall was announced.
Best & worst years
2017 vs. every other Explorer year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Explorer median. How we score
6096339391,2078431,4501,7311,9591,3489523753,2951,1311,304497630208148331151,1988312,2391,6841,8202,4671,7067363031,25345627611321111440
'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
NHTSA crash tests
2017 Ford Explorer safety ratings
2017 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (17.4% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Optional
2 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2017 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.
- Exhaust Odor in Passenger CabNo recall
- Windshield trim molding Item detachmentLed to recall 24V-031
In owners' words
What Explorer owners report
Recent structure complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
Received recall notice 6/2025 regarding the A pillar covers and scheduled for repair. Ford representative came out and placed black adhesive tape on the A pillars and windows but did not replace the covers. It is now 11/2026 and no word on when pillar covers will be replaced.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while entering the vehicle, the contact became aware that the driver’s side B-pillar door trim was detaching. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure); however, the VIN was not included in the…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V347000 (Structure) however, the parts to complete the recall repairs were not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had…
Own a 2017 Explorer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.