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NHTSA vehicle safety data

2010 Ford Explorer Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2010 Ford Explorer has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 115 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Ford dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2010 Ford Explorer, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2010 Ford Explorer owner complaints

Owners have filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Explorer, describing incidents dated September 25, 2009 to February 21, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Power Train 28 complaints
  • Seats 20 complaints
  • Engine 17 complaints
  • Service Brakes 15 complaints
  • Vehicle Speed Control 14 complaints
  • Electrical System 12 complaints

Of the 115 complaints on file, 8 report a crash; across all 115 complaints, owners report 13 injuries and 50 deaths (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11719863 · Filed

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 135,902. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, it was later discovered that…

  • ODI #11713879 · Filed

    Thing accelerate by itself while on highway od light blinking at high speeds and then when you come to a complete stop and try to takeoff it goes really slow with the RPMs high then it will kick into gear, unsafe on the road. Truck willjump in gear then out on takeoff.

  • ODI #11712675 · Filed

    Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was approximately 150,000. Most recently, the contact downloaded the Ford App, and when the…

Read all 115 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2010 Ford Explorer in 1 investigation. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

AFTERMARKET SEAT COVER

NHTSA #10E043000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice

Reported September 3, 2010 · MARATHON SEAT COVERS, INC.

Potentially affected: 294 vehicles

Owners notified September 14, 2010

Defect description

MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Safety consequence

AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.

Notes

THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET MARATHON SEAT COVERS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON GENERAL MOTORS, FORD, CHRYSLER, TOYOTA, OR NISSAN VEHICLES.OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

FRONT DRIVER & PASSENGER SEATS MANUAL RECLINERS

NHTSA #10V161000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner · NHTSA notice

Reported April 20, 2010 · FORD MOTOR COMPANY

Potentially affected: 33,256 vehicles

Ford campaign 10C11 · Owners notified May 3, 2010 · Vehicles built December 11, 2009 – February 3, 2010 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Other Ford Explorer model years

Check your 2010 Ford Explorer VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Ford Explorer at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

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