2015 Ford EXPLORER

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Avoid This Year

Quick Summary

The 2015 Ford EXPLORER has 2181 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 27.3x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is other problems (18% of all complaints), specifically: returning home from church when all of a sudden i could not steer the car. it was veering to the left and i could not straighten it up. there was a thud and dirt and dust and the car stopped. got out and the front left suspension was on the ground. no ticket, no nothing because i did not hit anythin. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 25 crash reports 97 injuries

2181

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

27.3x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

OTHER

403 complaints

18%

• RETURNING HOME FROM CHURCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. IT WAS VEERING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN IT UP. THERE WAS A THUD AND DIRT AND DUST AND THE CAR STOPPED. GOT OUT AND THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND. NO TICKET, NO NOTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT HIT ANYTHIN
• DURING AND AFTER ACCELERATION AT ANY SPEED THERE IS A VERY STRONG SULPHUR SMELL IN THE CABIN OF THE VEHICLE. IT APPEARS TO ENTER FROM THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE AND IT MUST BE EXHAUSTED BY OPENING THE WINDOWS EVERY SINGLE TIME. THE FUMES CONTAIN CO2 AND ARE VERY DANGEROUS TO ALL WITHIN THE VEHICLE. ALL
• THIS NEW 2015 FORD EXPLORER PRODUCES A VERY STRONG EXHAUST/SULFER SMELL INSIDE THE PASSENGER CABIN WITH ALL THE WINDOWS UP AND THE REAR A.C. ON. THE SMELL IS VERY STRONG WHEN THE VEHICLE IS RAPIDLY ACCELERATED. WITH THE REAR A.C. OFF, AND THE FRONT ON, THE SMELL IS GREATLY DIMINISHED, BUT STILL N

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 6 crashes

“RETURNING HOME FROM CHURCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. IT WAS VEERING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN IT UP. THERE WAS A THUD AND DIRT AND DUST AND THE CAR STOPPED. GOT OUT AND THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND. NO TICKET, NO NOTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT HIT ANYTHIN”

— NHTSA complaint filing

BODY/STRUCTURE

401 complaints

18%

• I AM GOING INTO THE 5TH MONTH OF LEASING MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE ODOMETER READS 2,100 MILES AND THEY WERE NOT ENJOYABLE MILES. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS 2015 EXPLORER HAS THE WORST DESIGN ON THE INSIDE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN. THE OUTWARD VISIBILITY FRO
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE PANORAMIC ROOF SHATTERED ONTO THE REAR SEAT OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE PANORAMIC GLASS WAS REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,354. MA 08/11/15 UPDA
• DRIVING HOME UP A HILL WITH A NEWLY PURCHASED 2015 FORD EXPLORER MY WIFE AND I NOTICED A BAD SMELL LIKE EXHAUST FUMES; WE PUT THIS DOWN TO THE NEW ENGINE/EXHAUST BURNING OFF ANY FACTORY GREASE ETC. SUBSEQUENT TRIPS WITH ALL OF MY FAMILY IN THE SUV WE ALL EXPERIENCED A FOUL EXHAUST AND SULFUR SMELL W

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“I AM GOING INTO THE 5TH MONTH OF LEASING MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE ODOMETER READS 2,100 MILES AND THEY WERE NOT ENJOYABLE MILES. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS 2015 EXPLORER HAS THE WORST DESIGN ON THE INSIDE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN. THE OUTWARD VISIBILITY FRO”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

342 complaints

16%

• FORD MOTOR CO. AND WORTHINGTON FORD OF LONG BEACH, CA ARE SELLING VEHICLES WITH DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE STEERING AND REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT(S). 1/25/2015 PURCHASED FORD EXPLORER (8 MILES ON VEHICLE); DAY AFTER PURCHASE, 1/26/2015, NOTICED PROBLEM WITH STEERING, PARKED VEHICLE, WOULD NOT DRIVE OR LET
• LOST ALL POWER STEERING AND VEHICLE WAS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO STEER. FORD DEALER REPLACED ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING RACK.
• I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE WHEN I EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER STEERING. THE POWER STEERING LOSS WAS PERMANENT AND DID NOT RECOVER. DROVE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP FOR REPAIR.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“FORD MOTOR CO. AND WORTHINGTON FORD OF LONG BEACH, CA ARE SELLING VEHICLES WITH DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE STEERING AND REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT(S). 1/25/2015 PURCHASED FORD EXPLORER (8 MILES ON VEHICLE); DAY AFTER PURCHASE, 1/26/2015, NOTICED PROBLEM WITH STEERING, PARKED VEHICLE, WOULD NOT DRIVE OR LET ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

292 complaints

13%

• PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 FORD EXPLORER. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES. CONCERNED THAT THIS WASN'T "NEW CAR BREAK-IN", I PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WITH MEMORY. OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF DRIVING THE DETECTOR REGISTERED 97 PPM AT PEAK. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNE
• UPON ACCELERATION MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER XLT HAS EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING INTO THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN I ACCELERATE WITH THE AC/HEATER IN THE OFF MODE. YOU CAN ALSO SMELL FUMES WITH THE AC/HEATER ON BOTH IN THE RECIRCULATE AND NON REC MODES. I HAVE ALREADY HAD THE VEHICLE IN THE FORD SHOP TWICE
• WHEN I PURCHASED THE 2015 EXPLORER I DROVE IT OFF THE LOT AND UP A HILL TO GO HOME. AS SOON AS WE STARTED UP THE HILL THE CAR FILLED WITH AN ACRID, SMOKY SMELL. THE KIDS AND I PULLED OVER BECAUSE WE THOUGHT THERE WAS SOMETHING WRONG. MY HUSBAND SAID IT WAS JUST "BREAKING THE CAR IN" SMELL. PLEAS

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports💥 2 crashes

“PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 FORD EXPLORER. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES. CONCERNED THAT THIS WASN'T "NEW CAR BREAK-IN", I PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WITH MEMORY. OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF DRIVING THE DETECTOR REGISTERED 97 PPM AT PEAK. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS

115 complaints

• MY BACK UP CAMERA AND SENSOR WILL NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE PICTURE WILL SHOW UP ON MY SCREEN, SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT WITH THE NOTIFICATION TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, AND OTHER TIMES NOTHING THE TOUCH SCREEN WITH NOT SHOW ANYTHING AND THE SENSOR WILL NOT BEEP. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE
• THE BACKUP CAMERA GOES BLACK THEN COMES BACK ON BACKWARDS. ITS VERY UNSAFE WHEN TRYING TO USE IT. THERE IS A RECALL FOR THE 2020 MODELS, NOT SURE IF MINE CAN BE REMEDIED, AS WELL.
• BACK UP CAMERA GOING OUT. WORKS FOR A FEW SECONDS AND J.G THE GOES BLACK.

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

“MY BACK UP CAMERA AND SENSOR WILL NOT WORK ALL THE TIME. SOMETIMES THE PICTURE WILL SHOW UP ON MY SCREEN, SOMETIMES IT WILL NOT WITH THE NOTIFICATION TO CONTACT THE DEALERSHIP, AND OTHER TIMES NOTHING THE TOUCH SCREEN WITH NOT SHOW ANYTHING AND THE SENSOR WILL NOT BEEP. THERE IS NO REASON FOR THESE ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

OTHER(~50K mi)

$500

BODY/STRUCTURE(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 2181 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
OTHER: RETURNING HOME FROM CHURCH WHEN ALL OF A SUDDEN I COULD NOT STEER THE CAR. IT WAS VEERING TO THE LEFT AND I COULD NOT STRAIGHTEN IT UP. THERE WAS A THUD AND DIRT AND DUST AND THE CAR STOPPED. GOT OUT AND THE FRONT LEFT SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND. NO TICKET, NO NOTHING BECAUSE I DID NOT HIT ANYTHIN
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
BODY/STRUCTURE: I AM GOING INTO THE 5TH MONTH OF LEASING MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER AND I AM NOT HAPPY WITH THIS VEHICLE. CURRENTLY THE ODOMETER READS 2,100 MILES AND THEY WERE NOT ENJOYABLE MILES. I HAVE TO SAY THAT THIS 2015 EXPLORER HAS THE WORST DESIGN ON THE INSIDE THAT I'VE EVER SEEN. THE OUTWARD VISIBILITY FRO
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: FORD MOTOR CO. AND WORTHINGTON FORD OF LONG BEACH, CA ARE SELLING VEHICLES WITH DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE STEERING AND REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT(S). 1/25/2015 PURCHASED FORD EXPLORER (8 MILES ON VEHICLE); DAY AFTER PURCHASE, 1/26/2015, NOTICED PROBLEM WITH STEERING, PARKED VEHICLE, WOULD NOT DRIVE OR LET
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: PURCHASED A BRAND NEW 2015 FORD EXPLORER. ALMOST IMMEDIATELY BEGAN SMELLING EXHAUST FUMES. CONCERNED THAT THIS WASN'T "NEW CAR BREAK-IN", I PURCHASED A CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTOR WITH MEMORY. OVER A COUPLE OF WEEKS OF DRIVING THE DETECTOR REGISTERED 97 PPM AT PEAK. AFTER CHECKING ON THE INTERNE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)