no report yet
Interior lighting
NewRisk. Overhead map lights that illuminate unintentionally and cannot be turned off may distract the driver or cause interior glare, increasing the risk of a crash.
2026 Ford ExplorerProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 44 owner complaints about the 2026 Ford Explorer, most often about the electrical system. It is covered by 15 safety recalls, and for recall 25V-687 the manufacturer reports only 66% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 2, 2026. Updated daily.
Complaints by system
Where the 2026 Ford Explorer has problems
44 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
11Electrical system2 crash/fire/injury
7Seats
6Engine
5Visibility/wiper
4Forward collision avoidance
3Lane departure
3Fuel/propulsion system
3Power train
2Structure
118 other systems3 crash/fire/injury
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 11 | 2 |
| Seats | 7 | 0 |
| Engine | 6 | 0 |
| Visibility/wiper | 5 | 0 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 4 | 0 |
| Lane departure | 3 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 3 | 0 |
| Power train | 3 | 1 |
| Structure | 2 | 0 |
| 8 other systems | 11 | 3 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
15 recalls
2026 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
Air bags: frontal
NewRisk. An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
no report yet
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
NewRisk. An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
NewRisk. Engine failure can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Show 11 more recalls
repaired · 2026 Q3
Front assembly: power adjust
NewRisk. Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
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.
no report yet
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
NewRisk. A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Engine: hard parts internal/mechanical
NewRisk. An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Defroster/defogger/hvac system: fan/motor
NewRisk. An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, 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
Exterior lighting: headlights
NewRisk. A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Visibility: windshield
NewRisk. In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
no report yet
Engine
NewRisk. An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Visibility: windshield
Risk. Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
repaired · 2026 Q3
Trailer hitches
Risk. While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach.
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.
Best & worst years
2026 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
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2026 Ford Explorer, and the recalls they led to.
- Burn Injuries From Side Airbag DeploymentOpen
In owners' words
What Explorer owners report
Recent electrical system complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I purchased a brand-new 2026 Ford Explorer on XXX. Approximately five weeks later, I experienced a terrifying and potentially life-threatening malfunction while traveling approximately 70 mph in the left lane of [XXX] in [XXX]. An 18-wheel tractor-trailer was traveling beside me when, without…
I purchased a new 2026 Ford Explorer and had owned the vehicle for approximately three days when the driver-side front power window failed at approximately 315 miles. The failure occurred on the evening of October 23, 2026, while the vehicle was parked in my driveway. I operated the driver-side…
On XXX around 6:30pm: Car would not go into reverse. Upon pressing the gas a 2nd time, a loud pop was heard from the back of the car. The car was then able to drive forward, however, when pressing on the brakes, the rear end of the car would wobble, and the brakes were rubbing and making a loud…
Own a 2026 Explorer?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.