Reliability & cost of ownership
Ford Explorer Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ford Explorer? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars where on file — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ford Explorer problems by model year
356 recall entries and 23,906 owner complaints on file across 33 model years, sourced from the federal NHTSA database.
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ford Explorer, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- structure4,668 complaints
- power train4,542 complaints
- steering3,822 complaints
- unknown or other2,963 complaints
- engine2,044 complaints
- electrical system1,651 complaints
- suspension1,216 complaints
- engine and engine cooling1,136 complaints