NHTSA vehicle safety data

2019 Ford Explorer Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2019 Ford Explorer has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns and 302 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 2019 Ford Explorer, plus NCAP crash-test ratings. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2019 Ford Explorer owner complaints

Owners have filed 302 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer, describing incidents dated March 2, 2019 to October 15, 2026.

Most-cited components

  • Structure 151 complaints
  • Unknown or Other 49 complaints
  • Power Train 35 complaints
  • Engine 25 complaints
  • Electrical System 20 complaints
  • Fuel/Propulsion System 17 complaints

Of the 302 complaints on file, 2 report a crash; across all 302 complaints, owners report 6 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

  • ODI #11774871 · Filed

    My car was brought into Pocaro Ford in Racine, WI for recall 26S08 Suspension Toe Link Replacement on 7/24/26. Following this, my vehicle developed severe rear sway and abnormal rear tire wear. The rear tires wore bald very quickly, creating a safety concern. I returned to the dealership, but the…

  • ODI #11774447 · Filed

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 55 MPH, the passenger-side A-pillar trim detached and flew onto another vehicle. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under NHTSA Campaign…

  • ODI #11773541 · Filed

    Please see attached letters and photos

Read all 302 complaints

Owner-reported

2019 Ford Explorer mileage at failure

117 of the 302 complaints on file for the 2019 Ford Explorer give the vehicle's mileage when the problem happened.

Mileage at failure by component, from owners' complaints to NHTSA
StructureMedian 65,000 milesMiddle half 40,000–90,000 milesBased on 66 complaints

A component's median is its 50th percentile, and its middle half runs from its 25th to its 75th percentile.

Owners give the mileage themselves, often as a round number, and NHTSA doesn't check it. A complaint that names several components counts under each one, and mileages that can't be right, such as 999,999, or 50 miles on a five-year-old car, are left out.

These figures describe the complaints owners filed. They don't predict when a particular vehicle will have a problem, and vehicles that never had one aren't counted.

Most complaints NHTSA received since May 17, 2021 give no mileage. So that they aren't undercounted, each one received since then that gives a mileage also stands in for those that gave none, which can put a component's median above most of the mileages it is based on.

Mileage from NHTSA's complaints file of October 31, 2026. How these figures are worked out

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2019 Ford Explorer in 1 investigation. 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

Roof Rail Covers May Detach

NHTSA #26V448000 · Structure — Body · NHTSA notice

Reported July 14, 2026 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 288,314 vehicles

Completion not yet reported (dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 26S54 · Vehicles built through March 3, 2019 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

Safety consequence

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture

NHTSA #26V101000 · Suspension — Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported February 20, 2026 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 412,774 vehicles

Repair completion: 37.88% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 26S08 · Owners notified March 16, 2026 · Vehicles built through March 3, 2019 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.

Safety consequence

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire

NHTSA #26V012000 · Equipment — Electrical — Engine Block Heater · NHTSA notice

Reported January 15, 2026 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 2,403 vehicles

Completion not yet reported (dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 25SA4 · Vehicles built September 16, 2018 – February 28, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety consequence

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.

Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach

NHTSA #24V031000 · Structure — Body — Roof and Pillars · NHTSA notice

Reported January 19, 2024 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 1,889,110 vehicles

Repair completion: 20.84% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 24S02 · Owners notified July 18, 2024 · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

Safety consequence

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Roof Rail Covers May Detach

NHTSA #21V316000 · Structure — Body · NHTSA notice

Reported May 5, 2021 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 616,967 vehicles

Repair completion: 74.82% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 21S22 · Owners notified October 1, 2021

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.

Safety consequence

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Reduced Seat Back Strength/FMVSS 202 & 207

NHTSA #19V633000 · Seats — Front Assembly — Recliner · NHTSA notice

Reported August 28, 2019 · Ford Motor Company

Potentially affected: 639,137 vehicles

Repair completion: 77.79% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Ford campaign 19C07 · Owners notified October 21, 2019 · Vehicles built September 9, 2018 – March 3, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety consequence

A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Ford Explorer model years

Check your 2019 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.

Check a Ford VIN