Home/Car Problems/Ford Explorer
Known Problems

Ford Explorer Problems by Year

Which Ford Explorer years have the most owner complaints, what goes wrong, and how many recalls each year has.

Ford Explorer, 2020 to 2024 model years
Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0

Owners have filed 13,886 complaints with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer from 2012 to 2024. Across every year, the most reported problem areas are the body, doors and structure, the steering and the engine and cooling. The years with the most complaints are 2016, 2013 and 2015.

Years to avoid

2016

The most complaints compared with other Explorer years.

Safer bets

201820192021

Clearly fewer complaints than a typical Explorer year. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate.

Own one?

Get recall alerts for your Explorer

Add it to My Garage, free. We email you when a new recall is issued for it, plus service reminders and what it is worth each month.

Add it to My Garage
Shopping for one?

Start a free car search

Tell us which years you are looking at and your budget. We review every request and help you find a good one and skip the bad years.

Start my car search

Complaints by year

Tap a year to see its most reported problems, its recalls and what to check before you buy. Newer years have had less time on the road, so they always look better here. Red marks the worst years, orange years worse than most, and green the better ones.

201283020132,23720141,68420151,81620162,46520171,7042018734201930320201,252202145520222722023113202421

Every year at a glance

YearVs. other yearsComplaintsRecallsMost reported
2012 ExplorerOne of the better years8307Steering
2013 ExplorerWorse than most years2,23712Steering
2014 ExplorerAbout average1,6847Steering
2015 ExplorerAbout average1,8169Body, doors and structure
2016 ExplorerAmong the worst years2,46515Body, doors and structure
2017 ExplorerAbout average1,70414Body, doors and structure
2018 ExplorerOne of the better years7347Body, doors and structure
2019 ExplorerOne of the better years3036Body, doors and structure
2020 ExplorerAbout average1,25233Transmission and drivetrain
2021 ExplorerOne of the better years45526Transmission and drivetrain
2022 ExplorerToo new to judge27224Transmission and drivetrain
2023 ExplorerToo new to judge11315Driver assist systems
2024 ExplorerToo new to judge2110Driver assist systems

Similar midsize SUVs

Toyota HighlanderHonda PilotKia TellurideSubaru AscentChevrolet TraverseGMC Acadia
Compare the Explorer with these side by side

Other Ford models

Ford F-150Ford EscapeFord EdgeFord FusionFord ExpeditionFord RangerFord Bronco Sport

Ford Explorer questions

What are the worst Ford Explorer years?

Compared with its other years, the Explorer years with the most owner complaints to NHTSA are 2016. The most reported problem area across all years is the body, doors and structure.

What are the best Ford Explorer years?

The Explorer years with clearly fewer complaints than a typical year are 2018, 2019 and 2021. Years from 2022 on are too new to rate fairly, since complaints keep coming in as cars age.

What are the most common Ford Explorer problems?

Across 2012 to 2024, owners report problems with the body, doors and structure, the steering and the engine and cooling most often. Each model year has its own pattern, so check the year you are looking at.

How many recalls does the Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 185 recalls across the 2012 to 2024 Explorer, counted per model year. A recall can cover several years.

Check the exact car

These problems are for the model year as a whole. Here is how to find out about the one you are looking at.

Decode its VINConfirm the year, trim and engine, and see recalls and safety ratings.Walk around and test drive itA step-by-step checklist you can use on your phone at the car.Read the history reportThe red flags in a Carfax or AutoCheck report, in plain English.

Looking at a Ford Explorer?

We inspect the car with a scan tool and paint gauge, read the history report and tell you whether it is worth the asking price, before you hand over any money.

See Our Services
Where these numbers come from. Complaints are reports that owners filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), counted from NHTSA’s complaint database as of November 5, 2026. Owners do not have to prove a problem to file one, so a complaint is a report, not a confirmed defect. Models that sell in big numbers get more complaints, and newer model years have had less time on the road, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Recalls come from NHTSA’s recall database and cover every vehicle of that model year, not one particular car. Quotes are trimmed, and anything that looks like a VIN is hidden.