Ford Explorer Complaints

917 consumer complaints on file.

#11517340April 16, 2023
STEERING, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
I rented a 2023 Ford Explorer. I had many issues with the added safety features while renting it, ultimately resulting in an accident. Firstly, the lane keeping assist did not function properly. In construction zones, back roads, and during rainy weather, the vehicle would jerk very hard to one side of the other. Even after trying to shut off the lane keeping assist feature, it it would automatically turn back on. Luckily, most of those incidents would happen in low traffic areas. Until the final time it happened, resulting in a head on collision with another vehicle. Additionally, the screen that displayed the lane assist activity would go blank randomly while driving. Also. There was a constant issue with the a pop up screen saying to keep holding the steering wheel. Even when I would have both hands on the steering wheel, it would pop up, and sometimes, if it wouldn’t disappear in time, the vehicle would start to automatically brake and slow down the vehicles, even if I was going 70+ miles per hour. The last 12 hours of the vehicle rental drive time, the “keep hold of steering wheel” pop up would pop up more and more frequently. To the point where I would have to constantly let go of the steering wheel and re grab it over and over until it eventually disappear.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
3
Deaths:
0
#11517220April 15, 2023
POWER TRAIN, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Car rolled down driveway while in park three separate times. Could have killed someone.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11517162April 15, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, SERVICE BRAKES
After receiving a Ford issued recall for a potential rear axle bolt fracture, the dealer reprogrammed the PCM per Ford's reported repair solution. After this PCM update, the vehicle would randomly slam to a complete stop while driving. It happened several times with 3 different drivers (myself, my wife, and my son), each happening at 30-35 mph or less. It was usually preceeded by an audible clicking sound, but not always. We took the vehicle to the dealership several times, but they said they were not able to reproduce the issue, and continually returned the vehicle to us despite our grave concern for high risk of crash and injury. We even contacted Ford's customer service and legal departments several times, who ultimately refused to allow us to continue using a loaner vehicle and demanded that we return the loaner and retake possession of our Explorer because they said they had not received any other similar complaints, and their field engineer could not reproduce the issue and cleared the vehicle as safe, although Ford was never able to supply us with service records proving the repairs they purported despite our repeated inquiries. Ultimately, the issue happened again, and slammed while driving down a hill at about 40-50 mph, but this time the slamming was immediately followed by seemingly disengaging the drivetrain and causing the vehicle to roll downhill with no ability to accelerate, ultimately causing me to roll into a utility pole. Ford has since repurchased the vehicle, but given the severe safety risk associated with this issue and Ford's poor handling of our situation, I wanted others and the NHTSA to be aware in case other similar issues are reported in a effort to protect others from potential injury, especially in light of the increasing number if PCM-related issues and recalls reported against Ford...one of which was a PCM recall pertaining to our reported issue, but was not issued until after our repurchase was complete.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11516973April 13, 2023
ENGINE
Last month out of the blue, my 2021 Ford Explorer ST with 15,500 miles would not start. Attempts to jump it were futile. I then had it towed in to the local Ford dealer. At first, they were thinking the starter. A few days later, I got a call saying they could not hand crank the motor as it seized up. In addition to that, they found pieces of metal from the piston in the oil pan. The dealer took apart the intake manifold and found that the valve keeper failed thus dropping the intake valve into the #5 cylinder. This necessitated replacement of the engine, both turbos and even the flywheel and torque converter. This is a known issue with the 2021 Broncos and is even being investigated by the NHTSA. I just wanted to bring awareness that this can happen to the 2021 Explorer with the 3.0 Ecoboost as it was built in the same factory as the Bronco 2.7 and is a similar engine. I can provide the repair invoice upon request. I couldn't get it to upload.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11516265April 10, 2023
STRUCTURE:BODY
2021 ford explorer exterior windshield trim is loose and has been shown to come off while driving. it is also causing a wind noise inside of the vehicle while in operration. No warnings shown. Link below shows issue and repair guidelines. https://www.tsbsearch.com/Ford/22-2021
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11516106April 8, 2023
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
I was driving (at a fairly low speed) recently when my vehicle began driving erratically. I pulled over and noticed that there was smoke in the passenger compartment. I exited the vehicle and walked to the passenger side (out of traffic) and opened the passenger door to retrieve my cell phone. At that point there was a burst of flame upon opening the door, and the fire quickly spread to the passenger compartment.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11516004April 7, 2023
SUSPENSION
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear end of the vehicle became very unstable, and the vehicle fishtailed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a rear wheel alignment, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V870000 (Suspension). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 12,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11516000April 7, 2023
POWER TRAIN
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V255000 (Power Train) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11515870April 6, 2023
POWER TRAIN
When shifting from Drive to Reverse there is a delay ranging from 4-15 seconds before it engages. I have not been able to identify what it is that makes the delay more or less, but there is always a delay. I usually need to back into my driveway, so pulling past it and then selecting Reverse results in one bump (into Neutral) after several seconds. If the throttle is applied the engine rpm will increase with no movement of the vehicle until there is another bump when it finally engages Reverse. If I sit in place with foot on the brake and wait from the two "bumps" (Neutral and then Reverse) the Reverse bump will sometimes jolt the vehicle backwards. I purchased the vehicle with 1,900 miles on it and at present have 5000 miles on it. It has exhibited this behavior since I have had it. When going from Park into Reverse there does not seem to be a delay.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514511March 29, 2023
SERVICE BRAKES
There is a brake cover, the black plastic/rubber overlay piece that provides traction and grip for the brake pedal. During normal driving today it just slipped off and struck my foot. This is a police car, I understand that it just "slips back on" but it I was emergency Braking or Power Braking, it would be a hell of a time for the brake peddle cover to slip off.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514079March 27, 2023
UNKNOWN OR OTHER, VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY
The sun roof/ moon roof shattered while going down the road at 70 MPH. Glass showered down on my wife as she was traveling until she could stop and get the glass cleaned up.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11514005March 27, 2023
SEATS
Front passenger seat overheated and caused 2nd degree burns
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
1
Deaths:
0
#11513903March 27, 2023
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
When using my Cruise Control the speed jumps up to 75-85 mph without my input. For example, when I set the cruise control to 55 it suddenly jumps up to 75 or 85 mph on its own. This happens when the speed signs on the road change. This past week I used my cruise control for a long trip. I was on a highway that changed the posted speed from 55 to 65 mph. The cruise control suddenly went from the posted speed of 55 mph to 85 mph. This is very concerning! It has happened several times and I can no longer use the cruise controller. I have approximately 5,000 miles on my vehicle .
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11513768March 25, 2023
ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
The transmission was very difficult time trying to figure out how to start shifting gears, and when it did I felt very hard shifting. The engine revved up, struggled to rev up when accelerating, held gears, chugged, slipped, it felt extremely lazy, and hard shift. The RPMs were fluctuating like crazy. You slam on the accelerator the RPMs start going up then it starts fluctuating crazy.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11511904March 15, 2023
POWER TRAIN
When accelerating the transmission has a rough engagement from 1-2 and at times from 2-3 it also downshifts hard from 3-2. At times it takes 2 seconds to engage second gear and when you hit the breaks hard it jerks you really badly. This makes it extremely through pulling into traffic with cars coming and not know how long it will take for your car shift and get up to speed.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11511558March 13, 2023
POWER TRAIN, ENGINE
At 13,000 miles this New vehicle started smoking blue gray smoke on startup I have videos. Yes the Dealer reproduced the problem. The dealer stated that both turbos were defective and leaking oil into the hot exhaust on both sides of the engine which could have lead to a fire and endangered our lives. The dealer removed the engine and transmission from the vehicle in the process broke numerous bolts and repaired with inferior quality parts.after four attempts to pick up the car hoses were left loose and short on antifreeze and Turbo boost hose fell off,now there is a antifreeze burning smell and a rough idle. There were no warning lights or messages. This car was meticulously maintained since brand new I have all records to back up . Ford Corporate has just denied a buy back request and said I don’t qualify for state Lemon law after 2 months at dealer.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11511497March 13, 2023
POWER TRAIN
While trying to reverse from drive there seems to be a 3-5 second delay before transmission engages reverse.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11510740March 8, 2023
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM
Since "fixing" my vehicle with retrofitted 2nd row HVAC controls, the 2nd row heating is unable to be controlled from the front, which means if you have a child in a car seat who can't reach the 2nd row controls you must reach behind while driving to adjust the heat. If you try to adjust from the front controls, it shuts off the overhead vents and only blows from one 3rd row floor vent, which doesn't provide much heat for the 2nd row passengers. The AC controls work properly when controlled from the front. I've taken my vehicle to Ford several times and they tried reprogramming, etc. and compared to other vehicles of the same model year and said they are functioning the same as mine. I believe this poses a serious safety risk as who is not going to attempt to reach back to provide some heat to a cold child?
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11510693March 7, 2023
ENGINE
Defective Starter - car will not start, battery, alternator check off ok.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11510460March 6, 2023
BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING
The rear camera has not worked since the vehicle was purchased in spring of 2021. It has now been "repaired" 3 times based on open recalls. however the issue is a known issue and can not be fixed. We have now been told they will.nees to replace the camera which is on indefinite backorder. This is a huge vehicle safety issue Ford is aware of and yet not one of their alleged recalls actually resolves this serious issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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