Ford EXPLORER — Years to Avoid
Which model years have the most problems and which are safe to buy.
Avoid These Years
2016 Ford EXPLORER
3000 complaints (3750% of segment average)
Main issue: TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE LIFTGATE AUTOMATICALLY CLOSED INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE.
2013 Ford EXPLORER
2773 complaints (3466% of segment average)
Main issue: POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE BACKING UP AND DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK. VERY HARD TO STEER, NOT SAFE TO DRIVE... DEALER IS PUTTING A HOLE NEW POWER STEERING UNIT IN... *TR
2015 Ford EXPLORER
2181 complaints (2726% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2014 Ford EXPLORER
2036 complaints (2545% of segment average)
Main issue: TO AVOID HITTING ANOTHER VEHICLE THAT ILLEGALLY CAME INTO THE LANE I WAS ENTERING (THEY WERE DRIVING ON THE SHOULDER), I HAD TO TAKE EVASIVE ACTION, WHICH CAUSED ME TO TURN MY VEHICLE INTO A CURB. AT THE TIME, I WAS TRAVELING 15 TO MAYBE 20 MPH. AFTER HITTING THE CURB, MY VEHICLE CAME TO A STOP AN
2017 Ford EXPLORER
2007 complaints (2509% of segment average)
Main issue: VERY STRONG EXHAUST SMELL IN CABIN AFTER HARD ACCELERATION. THE AC WAS ON AND IN THE RECIRCULATION POSITION. THE SMELL IS STRONG AND THE CABIN MUST BE VENTED BY ROLLING THE WINDOWS DOWN TO EVACUATE THE SMELL.
2020 Ford EXPLORER
1611 complaints (2014% of segment average)
Main issue: I PURCHASED A 2020 FORD EXPLORER AT SAMES FORD IN LAREDO, TX. THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED 11 SEPT 2019. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON 18 SEPT 2019 IN INDIANA (MILEAGE 1896) WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO PARK FORD IN STERGIS, MICHIGAN. THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION OIL COO
2011 Ford EXPLORER
1494 complaints (1868% of segment average)
Main issue: POWER STEERING FAILURE WHILE DRIVING. TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND ON THEN CAUSES POWER STEERING TO WORK AGAIN. HAS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES. DEALER DID NOT FIND AN ISSUE AT FIRST VISIT. SCHEDULED FOR SECOND DEALER VISIT. WE FEAR SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF CONTROL WHILE DRIVING. *TR
2012 Ford EXPLORER
1024 complaints (1280% of segment average)
Main issue: I STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN AND TOOK A LEFT HAND TURN AS I PROCEEDED DOWN A HILL. MY STEERING WHEEL WOULDN'T TURN,LIKE THE WHEEL LOCKED UP, AND THE BRAKES WERE HARD TO PUSH, NOT SLOWING ME DOWN. THE EXPLORER WENT OFF OF THE ROAD STRIKING A CONCRETE POLE. IT DESTROYED THE ENTIRE RIGHT FRONT END, AND DES
2018 Ford EXPLORER
858 complaints (1073% of segment average)
Main issue: CRACK ON WINDSHIELD BY BODY AT TOP, NO SCRATCH ABOVE ON PAINT, STRATCH STARTED SMALL AND IS GROWING
2021 Ford EXPLORER
523 complaints (654% of segment average)
Main issue: I PURCHASED A FORD EXPLORER ST 2021 IN NEW YORK FROM CITY WORLD FORD ON BOSTON RD IN THE BRONX ON APRIL 22, 2021 AT APPROXIMATELY 9:37PM. I TOOK MY CAR HOME THE SAME SAME DAY. THE FOLLOWING DAY (SECOND DAY) I STARTED EXPERIENCING A PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE AND POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION/REDUCE
2022 Ford EXPLORER
333 complaints (416% of segment average)
Main issue: Ford released a bulletin - 22S27- to all dealers to immediately stop demo/delivery for all new Explorers in stock as of 4/19/22. At issue is a possibility of a fractured bolt that causes the differential to separate and cause "severe vibration" rendering the vehicle disabled. No fix was mentioned ot
2019 Ford EXPLORER
327 complaints (409% of segment average)
Main issue: REAR HATCH ELECTRIC OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED - HATCH CAME DOWN A STRUCK THE HEAD OF A PERSON CAUSING AN INJURY. ALSO BECAUSE THE HATCH WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY EXHAUST ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING DRIVEN.
2010 Ford EXPLORER
155 complaints (194% of segment average)
Main issue: 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
2023 Ford EXPLORER
139 complaints (174% of segment average)
Main issue: I purchased a new 2023 Ford Explorer and during the finance process I found out it had a rear back up camera recall . I wasn’t able to take possession of my vehicle . It’s been sitting on the car dealership lot where I bought it . I bought it May 26th and the repair still hasn’t been resolved !! I w
2025 Ford EXPLORER
123 complaints (154% of segment average)
Main issue: Hands free connection from cell phone to vehicle speakers and mic won't work properly. I consider this a safety issue as it requires me to pickup phone and turn off Bluetooth and work phone manually, looking at it, rather than hands-free. Dealer says corporate has no resolution. Ford consumer line s