repaired · 2026 Q3
Seats: mid/rear assembly
NewRisk. A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2021 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 456 owner complaints about the 2021 Ford Explorer, most often about the power train. It is covered by 26 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-455 the manufacturer reports only 19% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 9, 2026. Updated daily. Photo: Ssu, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2021 Ford Explorer has problems
456 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
129Power train3 crash/fire/injury
51Engine5 crash/fire/injury
48Electrical system9 crash/fire/injury
36Back over prevention
30Visibility/wiper
25Structure
21Visibility
20Service brakes
19Forward collision avoidance
13722 other systems14 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Power train | 129 | 3 |
| Engine | 51 | 5 |
| Electrical system | 48 | 9 |
| Back over prevention | 36 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 30 | 1 |
| Structure | 25 | 1 |
| Visibility | 21 | 1 |
| Service brakes | 20 | 3 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 19 | 2 |
| 22 other systems | 137 | 14 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
26 recalls
2021 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.
no report yet
Power train: automatic transmission
NewRisk. Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Seat belts
NewRisk. A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Back over prevention: software
NewRisk. An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 22 more recalls
no report yet
Windshield wiper/washer: motor
NewRisk. Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, 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.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Delivery: fuel pump
Risk. An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Back over prevention: software
Risk. A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk. A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Back over prevention: software
Risk. Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Driveline: driveshaft
Risk. A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Seat belts
Risk. A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Other: labels
Risk. Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
Risk. A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine
Risk. An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Driveline: driveshaft
Risk. A disconnected driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power or a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Propulsion system: traction battery
Risk. Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2025 Q3
Sensing system: camera
Risk. Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q1
Back over prevention: display function
Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
repaired · 2025 Q1
Parking brake: electrical
Risk. Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects.
repaired · 2024 Q4
Automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Risk. A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Sensing system: camera
Risk. Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Suspension: rear
Risk. A rear suspension module with incorrect components may affect vehicle handling, ride height, and braking characteristics, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2023 Q3
Sensing system: camera
Risk. A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2024 Q1
Air bags: critical fasteners
Risk. Improper deployment of a side air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
repaired · 2022 Q4
Engine
Risk. With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 power train problems start?
46kmiles, median
Based on the odometer reading in 31 power train complaints. 90% were reported before 100,000 miles.
Only 24% of complaints for this model year include a mileage.
11under 30k miles28under 100k miles3100k miles or more
Best & worst years
2021 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
2021 Ford Explorer safety ratings
2021 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side barrier★★★★★
Side pole★★★★★
- Rollover: 4 stars (15.1% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: Optional
- Lane departure warning: Standard
3 investigations
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2021 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.
- Loss of Motive PowerLed to recall 24V-635
- Burn Injuries From Side Airbag DeploymentOpen
- Rear Axle Bolt FailureLed to recall 23V-675
In owners' words
What Explorer owners report
Recent power train complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
While driving, the transmission commanded the parking pawl to engage while the vehicle was in motion. This caused an immediate, violent loss of propulsion in traffic, posing a severe crash risk. Furthermore, because the parking pawl sheared off at speed, the vehicle now poses a critical rollaway…
Here's the updated submission, without the engine paragraph. **Form fields** - **VIN:** [VIN] - **Incident date:** today's date - **Crash / fire / injury:** No - **Components:** Visibility (Windshield Wiper/Washer), Power Train (Automatic Transmission), Seats **Narrative** ``` I am filing because…
My vehicle was just diagnosed with trouble code P2888 (Park Lock Actuator Circuit/Open). This prevents the vehicle from shifting safely into Park. SHIFT SYS FAILURE was the error displayed in the dash readout. This matches the exact model, year, and dangerous symptoms outlined in Ford Safety Recall…
Own a 2021 Explorer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.