Ford Explorer Complaints

917 consumer complaints on file.

#11743487June 11, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The chrome/ brushed finish peeling along the top of the center console, resulting in sharp edges. The vehicle is just outside of bumper to bumper warranty and the fix is out of pocket. Vehicle current has 55k miles on it, and bubbling down both sides of the laminated trim.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11743432June 11, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part required for the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the recall remedy was not available. The contact inquired about a loaner while waiting for the remedy but did not receive assistance. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue, and it was confirmed that the remedy was not available, and a loaner would not be provided. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11742611June 7, 2026
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle displays a "Drive Train Malfunction" warning message and the traction control warning light illuminates. Shortly after the warning appears, the vehicle loses power and may enter a reduced-power mode or stall, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This has occurred while traveling on the highway, forcing sudden deceleration and creating the risk of being struck by other vehicles. The check engine light is illuminated, and diagnostic code P0A1E is present. The problem is intermittent and unpredictable, making it difficult to determine when the next failure will occur. The vehicle has been taken to Ford for diagnosis multiple times, and significant money has been spent attempting to repair the issue. Despite these efforts, the root cause has not been identified and the problem continues to occur. This defect affects the drivetrain system and impacts the safe operation of the vehicle. The sudden loss of power on the highway places the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk. Based on discussions with other owners, this appears to be a common issue affecting Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles and warrants investigation by NHTSA.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741974June 4, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
pre-collision warning light comes up, saying sensor blocked and sensor is not blocked. Brought it to the local dealership found that the cruise control module bracket is damaged no visible damage or strikes to the bumper dealership says not under warranty, and Ford is aware of a widespread issue with the bracket snapping on the sensor behind the front bumper
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741746June 3, 2026
STRUCTURE:BODY
The tailgate on the vehicle has experienced repeated misalignment issues. The first occurrence happened at 811 miles. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the body shop performed adjustments to correct the alignment. Approximately nine months later, at around 7,500 miles, the tailgate became misaligned again. The vehicle is currently undergoing another adjustment under warranty to address the same issue. This repeated condition raises concern about the integrity and durability of the tailgate alignment and related components. Improper alignment could potentially affect the secure closure of the tailgate and may pose a safety risk if it were to open unexpectedly or fail to latch properly while driving.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11741254June 1, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Precollision assist warnings on in the car saying system unavailable. Took to the dealer and showed me the sensor for this was broken and my cost would be $1800 to repair. My vehicle only has 16000 miles on it and is covered by an extended warranty and 3 year BTB warranty. Dealer claims the sensor was hit by an external force so it wasn't covered. I said we have hit nothing and my vehicle shows no damage. Internet says these can fail by bumper collision or hitting a pot hole. I think it is a vehicle safety issue that you don't design something that can withstand hitting a bump or pot hole or why wouldn't you give clearance for the bumper to flex. Ford can't tell me what happened to the sensor and to me that is a safety issue. I spoke with the service advisor and went up to service manager and called Ford customer care and they refuse to do anything about it.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740470May 27, 2026
STEERING, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
Purchased new 26 Ford Explorer on [XXX] from Franklin Ford in TN. During test drive noted the BlueCruise hands free was canceling but was advised by dealer that it might need to download an update or sync my profile. Next day I confirmed the BlueCruise and adaptive cruise was not working. The hands free BlueCruise and adaptive system will cancel randomly with no warning even while in turn. This almost caused me to slam into the vehicle next to me several times but was able to catch the wheel just in time. This is an extreme danger and hazard. The issue seems to revolve around the lane centering feature but Ford has not confirmed this for me. I dropped the vehicle off with Ford of Franklin on 3/24 who kept the vehicle for 4 days. At the end I was advised Ford engendering was working to push out an update to correct this issue. As of today (5/27), I have confirmed with Ford of Franklin that there is currently no fix for this. I have had to disable Ford BlueCruise and have as of today requested a buyback from Ford. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740416May 27, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, ENGINE
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle was driving unusually rough and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to stall as intended. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed low pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the low pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact referenced a recall, NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System,Gasoline) however the contact's VIN was not associated. The failure mileage was approximately 64,598.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740112May 26, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Vehicle: 2023 Ford Explorer Recall Number 25S49 (NHTSA:25V315) I am filing this complaint regarding a failed recall remedy & my Ford dealership's refusal to re-repair my vehicle. The recall remedy was previously performed at an authorized Ford dealership. The defect has since recurred, my infotainment screen is completely black & non-functional at all times, leaving me with no rear-view camera visibility when reversing, which is an ongoing safety hazard. When I returned to the dealership they refused to perform a second repair under the recall. Dealer records confirm the original repair was completed. I am requesting the NHTSA document this complaint, investigate the failed remedy & require Ford to provide a durable fix for vehicles where the recall repair did not hold.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11740100May 26, 2026
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2022 FORD EXPLORER. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact state that while his daughter was at a stop sign and depressing the accelerator pedal to drive, the vehicle stalled. The contact was concerned that control of the vehicle was lost and could result in a accident. In addition, the contact stated that when depressing the brake pedal there was an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle. The failure would occur on numerous occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed but the failure was not determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure milage was 30,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739835May 24, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Moon roof sunshade is defective, when button is pressed to open the shade, it drops down blocking view out the rear window. This seems to be a know problem on ford explorers which is a major safety concern.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739777May 24, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Unknown! sometimes the rear back up camera goes into a black screen and then once in drive the info screens stays black for about 30 seconds. the cars shifting is hard at times especially when going from slow to fast like for instance on a highway on ramp the shifting is very sluggish. the cupholder are a real hazard my cupholder bottomed out and my drink fell thru luckily there was no liquid in the cup otherwise it could have spilled into the electrical since it is right where the gear shift is. the the car not accelarating is dangerous when you trying to get on the highway. rear camera going blank sometimes and not being able to see whats behind you even when looking around you just can not see the blindspot which the camera could if it would not go black sometimes. if the car does not shift right when it is supposed to makes it really hard to go with flow of traffic on the highway. there never have been any warning lamps, message or anything else during these incidents and it does not happen all the time but when it does it is not safe
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739352May 21, 2026
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Rear wiper works intermittently
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11739351May 21, 2026
AIR BAGS
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her boyfriend was driving at 40 MPH, another vehicle did not stop at a stop sign and crashed into the front passenger side of the vehicle. All of the air bags deployed. The contact's boyfriend suffered bruising to the wrist and left upper arm and redness on the right hand. The front passenger-side curtain air bag caused the contact second-degree chemical burn on the right side of the stomach when it burned through two layers of clothing. The contact also suffered from a sprained left foot and left hand and lacerations from the shoulders and elbows from the air bag deployment. The contact and her boyfriend were transported to the hospital via ambulance and received medical attention. A police report was filed. The vehicle was towed to the tow yard but was not yet deemed totaled by the insurance company. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 43,000.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
2
Deaths:
0
#11738825May 19, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
While driving on a clear road, the vehicle suddenly applied automatic emergency braking with no obstacle present. The braking was extremely aggressive and unexpected, creating a significant rear-end collision risk and causing physical discomfort (neck strain). Immediately following the event, the vehicle displayed a “Lane Keep Assist Off” message. There were no other vehicles around me at the time, so there was not a risk of a collision this time. However, it could have caused an accident if someone was behind me. Also, the sudden braking could have easily caused me to loose control of the vehicle. I am also concerned because my vehicle has already had Recall 26S21 performed (related to the camera/ADAS system). I took the vehicle to the dealer and said Ford is working on a fix for the 4th quarter this year, but not sure what to do in the meantime.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738720May 19, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The reverse camera started pointing straight down one day so I took it in for a recall dealing with the screen and camera. Ther replaced the camera, and did some updating and when I got it back the camera is still pointing straight down. I called them immediately and told them my camera was still pointing straight down they asked me to bring it back. I was there 5 minutes and the service manager came to me and said the camera was pointing down when I brought it in and that the reason was probably because it was an aftermarket part, which it’s not it’s all factory, and that wasn’t in the recall. "Under FMVSS 111, S5.5, my vehicle is required to display a rearview image that covers a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the rear bumper. Because the camera is pointing at the ground, it fails to provide the 'clear and reasonably unobstructed view' mandated by federal law. This is a safety non-compliance issue that Ford is obligated to rectify to bring the vehicle back into a street-legal state." • "Federal safety standards for rear visibility do not have an expiration date for manufacturing defects. A mounting system that allows a safety-critical camera to fail and point at the ground is a defect in material and workmanship that creates a safety hazard."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11738409May 17, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Hello, I am contacting Ford regarding a serious concern with my newly purchased 2026 Ford Explorer ST. Within days of purchase, we discovered water leaking from the moonroof area into the interior of the vehicle, including water coming through the seatbelt pillar area , wetting the roof as well, during rain and vehicle washes. In addition to the leak, there is noticeable wind and air noise coming from the moonroof area even when the roof is fully closed, (we notified them the day we got the vehicle about this) which raises concerns that the seal is not properly seating or sealing against the vehicle. After noticing these issues, we inspected several similar vehicles on the dealership lot and observed that multiple vehicles appeared to have uneven or improperly fitted moonroof seals as well. This has increased our concern that this may be a manufacturing or assembly defect rather than normal wear or an isolated issue. Because this vehicle is brand new and the issue was reported almost immediately after purchase, we are requesting that Ford review this matter seriously and assist in ensuring the vehicle is properly repaired or otherwise resolved. We are concerned about long-term damage to the interior, electronics, airbags, mold or mildew risks, and the overall value and reliability of the vehicle. We have documented the leak and seal concerns with photos/videos and are currently working with the dealership for inspection. Thank you for your time and assistance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737723May 13, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS
During driving all safety systems shutdown and give warning of fault Has happened multiple times at different speeds.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737580May 13, 2026
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
At approximately 1,700 miles, my brand-new 2026 Ford Explorer ST (3.0L EcoBoost) suffered a sudden, catastrophic engine failure while driving, causing an immediate and dangerous loss of motive power. Prior to the failure, the engine experienced severe misfires. Following manufacturer Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) guidance regarding EcoBoost engine misfires, a step-colder spark plug heat range (NGK LTR7IX-11) was utilized to remedy pre-ignition. Ford Motor Company has denied warranty coverage for this catastrophic powertrain failure, falsely claiming the TSB-compliant heat-range plugs caused the destruction. The sudden loss of engine power poses an immediate safety hazard on public roads. I request an investigation into 2025-2026 Ford 3.0L EcoBoost spark plug issues, pre-ignition failures, and unfair warranty denials leaving dangerous vehicles unresolved."
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11737513May 13, 2026
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Sun roof liner malfunction - started sagging and goes down into head space of car when attempting to open sunroof. I called Ford and was informed it was not covered in my extended warranty. I have hardly used the sunroof. It should not be happening. It should be covered under a safety recall. It is dangerous while driving. It is a very expensive fix.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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