Ford Explorer — reported problems

CarFaultIQ holds 70,271 evidence records for the Ford Explorer (1995–2026), drawn from official sources and owner complaints.

What owners report: issue areas

Owner complaints are classified by the system they concern: 76,868 classifications in all. One complaint can concern several systems, so these add up to more than the number of complaints.

Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain)10,452 (13.6%)Official recall records for this system: 33, covering model years 1999–2025.
Body & structure9,882 (12.9%)Official recall records for this system: 27, covering model years 1995–2026.
Steering8,178 (10.6%)Official recall records for this system: 12, covering model years 1995–2023.
Tires & wheels7,010 (9.1%)Official recall records for this system: 4, covering model years 1995–2017.
Engine6,668 (8.7%)Official recall records for this system: 29, covering model years 1996–2026.
Electrical system4,078 (5.3%)Official recall records for this system: 18, covering model years 1998–2024.

Other / uncategorized: 6,106 classifications (7.9%) were not assigned to a specific system by the source. They are counted but not treated as an issue area.

These are counts of records held by CarFaultIQ, not a failure rate. More records can simply mean more vehicles were sold or more owners reported. No vehicles-in-service figure exists in this data, so no reliability or risk score can be derived from it.

What the records are about, by source

Each source is kept separate: owner complaints, recalls, manufacturer communications and investigations are different kinds of record and are never added together. All model years.

Owner complaints (61,970 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: powertrain (transmission & drivetrain), body & structure and steering.
Safety recalls (498 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: powertrain (transmission & drivetrain), body & structure and fuel system.
Transport Canada recalls (372 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: seat belts, powertrain (transmission & drivetrain) and visibility (glass, wipers, mirrors).
Manufacturer communications (7,301 records, model years 1995–2026) are most frequently classified under: powertrain (transmission & drivetrain), electrical system and engine.
Investigations (130 records, model years 1995–2022) are most frequently classified under: speed control & accelerator, body & structure and electrical system.

"Most frequently classified under" reports how the records are filed by the source. It is not a finding about causes, and a record can be filed under more than one system. Read the individual records

Mileage reported when the issue occurred

32,342reports included a mileage
75,925average of those mileages

This is the mileage owners recorded at the time they reported, not an expected failure mileage and not a prediction for any individual vehicle. The lowest and highest figures on record are not shown: they are unverified odometer entries that include zeros and implausibly high readings, so they would not describe a real range. A median is not shown either, because the stored figures are group totals and a median cannot be recovered from them.

Evidence by model year

Records held per model year. Select a year to narrow this page to it.

Counts are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold in each year, so a taller year is not necessarily a worse year.

Reports mentioning outcomes

3,094mention a crash
1,070mention a fire
4,012mention an injury
372mention a fatality

These are counts of records whose report mentioned the outcome. They are not a severity rating and not a safety assessment of this vehicle.

Official records held

Safety recalls NHTSA 498
Manufacturer communications NHTSA 7,301
Investigations NHTSA 130
Transport Canada recalls Transport Canada 372
Owner complaints NHTSA 61,970

Explore the underlying evidence records

Diagnostic codes found in evidence for this vehicle

These codes appear by explicit identifier in official records matched to this exact model and year.

P0455 in 28 records · 1996–2003
P0442 in 19 records · 1996–2003
P0732 in 17 records · 1995–2022
P0300 in 16 records · 1997–2005
U0198 in 13 records · 2018–2019
P0171 in 12 records · 1997–2002
P0340 in 12 records · 1996–2006
P0757 in 12 records · 2020–2026
P2701 in 12 records · 2020–2026
P0733 in 11 records · 1995–2022
P0463 in 10 records · 2002–2007
P1309 in 10 records · 1996–2003

A code appearing in a record means the code was named in that document. It is not a diagnosis of this vehicle, not a fault this vehicle has, and not an indication of urgency. Diagnosis requires reading live data from the vehicle.

Before you buy a used Ford Explorer: what to check

Give these systems extra attention Model-specific · evidence-led

These systems are listed first because owner complaints for the Ford Explorer most often concern them. That is where records concentrate — it is not a finding that any individual car has a fault.

Powertrain (transmission & drivetrain) 10,452 complaints classified here (13.6% of classifications)
- Check for delayed or harsh shifts, slipping or shudder, both cold and when warm.
- Ask when the transmission fluid was last serviced, and for any transmission repair records.
Body & structure 9,882 complaints classified here (12.9% of classifications)
- Look for corrosion, uneven gaps and signs of structural repair; have it checked on a lift.
Steering 8,178 complaints classified here (10.6% of classifications)
- Check the steering feels consistent, with no knocks, stiffness or wandering on a straight road.
- Turn lock to lock while stationary and listen for groaning or clunks.
Tires & wheels 7,010 complaints classified here (9.1% of classifications)
- Check tread depth and even wear on all four tires, and the tire date codes.
- Check the tire-pressure warning lamp goes out after starting.

Good practice for any used car Generic

Documents & seller questions

Run the VIN through the official recall lookup (NHTSA in the US, Transport Canada in Canada) and ask for proof that open recalls were completed.
Ask for service records, and when the transmission fluid, coolant and brake fluid were last changed.
Ask whether the car has been in a collision or a flood, and whether any warning light has been on recently.

Before starting

Arrange to see it with the engine cold — ask the seller not to warm it up first.
Look for uneven panel gaps, mismatched paint and fresh underseal, which can indicate repair work.

Cold start

Watch every warning lamp light up with the ignition on, then go out once the engine runs.
Listen for rattles, knocks or a rough idle in the first minute, and look for smoke from the exhaust.

Engine bay

Check the oil and coolant levels and condition; note any milky oil or oily coolant.
Look for fresh leaks, wet hoses and signs of recent cleaning that could hide leaks.

Test drive

Drive at town and highway speeds; note hesitation, vibration, pulling or unusual noise.
Check that every gear engages smoothly, including reverse, from cold and when warm.

Underbody & leaks

After the drive, look under the car for fresh drips.
Have a mechanic check the underside for corrosion, damaged components and leaks on a lift.

An inspection checklist, not a diagnosis. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is the reliable way to assess a specific car.

Where to go next

Ford Explorer coverage hub Published problems, year windows and buyer guidance for this model.
Evidence Explorer — the underlying records Read the individual recalls, investigations, manufacturer communications and complaints these counts come from.
Browse all vehicle coverage Every make and model CarFaultIQ has published coverage for.