2010 Ford EXPLORER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2010 Ford EXPLORER has 155 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.9x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is transmission problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: on march 29 at 9pm while driving at 30 mph and passing a vehicle, my transmission stopped working. if felt like it dropped out of the bottom of my ford explorer 2004 with 63,445 miles. o/d light started blinking and check transmission was on the dash display. i immediately brought it to the nearest .

13 crash reports 14 injuries

155

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.9x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

TRANSMISSION

29 complaints

19%

• ON MARCH 29 AT 9PM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND PASSING A VEHICLE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. IF FELT LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 WITH 63,445 MILES. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WAS ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST
• I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER W/APPROX. 120M MILES. MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND I GOT A "CK TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE. AFTER EXPLORING THE INTERNET I FOUND OVER 200 OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I TERRIFIED 2 TAKE 2 MY FORD DEALER AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. THE LI
• 2010 FORD MOUNTAINEER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, PUTTING THE BRAKE ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“ON MARCH 29 AT 9PM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND PASSING A VEHICLE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. IF FELT LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 WITH 63,445 MILES. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WAS ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SEATS/RESTRAINTS

21 complaints

14%

• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADREST ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTENDS OUTWARD WHICH FORCES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REST HIS SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURC
• THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION.
• JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EXPLORER, TRADING IN OUR 2006. SINCE THIS IS OUR SEVENTH EXPLORER, WE DIDN'T BOTHER WITH A TEST DRIVE. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME, WE WERE BOTH VERY UNCOMFORTABLE - THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE ANGLED SO FAR FORWARD THAT WE COULD NOT GET COMFORTABLE. WE PRIMARI

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADREST ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTENDS OUTWARD WHICH FORCES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REST HIS SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURC”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

17 complaints

11%

• THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT ONLY 14,000 MILES.THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A SAFETY NOTICE SENT TO DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO TELL CONSUMERS. FORD KNOWS SPECIFIC ENGINES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED A
• PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. APPLIED MORE BRAKE PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RPM SHOT UP OVER 7000. TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND RE-STARTED ENGINE AND CALLED FORD. CAR WAS TOOLED TO FORD, CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WAS GIVEN FORD SERVICE BULLITEN ABOUT STICKING LINKAGE O
• I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND PRESSED THE BRAKE. THERE WAS A TRUCK INFRONT OF ME, THE HARDER I PUSHES THE BREAK THE MORE THE ENGINE TRIED TO ACCELERATE. THE TIRES WERE SCREECHING BUT THE ENGINE WAS STILL TRYING TO GO. ME AND MY KIDS COULD HAVE BEEN SERIOUSLY INJURED AND I WOULD HAVE BEEN HELD RE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT ONLY 14,000 MILES.THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A SAFETY NOTICE SENT TO DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO TELL CONSUMERS. FORD KNOWS SPECIFIC ENGINES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED A”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BRAKES

15 complaints

10%

• 2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE MY FOOT CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE FOOT IS NOT
• TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 30 MPH, APPROACHING A TRAFFIC STOP SIGN. THE BRAKES WERE ENGAGED AND THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT SLOW DOWN. THE CONTACT APPLIED HIS FULL BODY FORCE TO THE BRAKE PEDAL REPEATEDLY AND THE VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP. THE VEHICLE WAS
• WE HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS HAVING BRAKE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN NORMALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES SOFT AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. ONLY AFTER DEPRESSING THE PEDAL AT FULL FORCE WILL THE TRUCK FULLY STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. THERE IS NO TELLING ON WH

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 5 crashes

“2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE MY FOOT CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE FOOT IS NOT ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

SPEED CONTROL

14 complaints

• INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE AFTER DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DR
• MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER JUMP FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT HAD HAPPEN TWICE. MAY 15,2010 AND MAY 17,2010. *TR
• 2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE MY FOOT CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE FOOT IS NOT

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE AFTER DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

SEATS/RESTRAINTS(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

BRAKES(~50K mi)

$500

SPEED CONTROL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 155 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
TRANSMISSION: ON MARCH 29 AT 9PM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND PASSING A VEHICLE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. IF FELT LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 WITH 63,445 MILES. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WAS ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
SEATS/RESTRAINTS: TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADREST ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTENDS OUTWARD WHICH FORCES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REST HIS SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURC
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT ONLY 14,000 MILES.THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A SAFETY NOTICE SENT TO DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO TELL CONSUMERS. FORD KNOWS SPECIFIC ENGINES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED A
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BRAKES: 2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE MY FOOT CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE FOOT IS NOT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)