Reliability & cost of ownership
Ford Explorer Hybrid Reliability & Common Problems
How reliable is the Ford Explorer Hybrid? Compare every model year side by side — NHTSA recalls, owner complaints, and crash-test stars — then open the year you're shopping for its AI reliability outlook where NHTSA has enough data.
Ford Explorer Hybrid problems by model year
7 recall entries across 6 model years and 14 owner complaints across 7 model years on file, sourced from the federal NHTSA database. We couldn't confirm the NHTSA recall list for the remaining model year — check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | NCAP stars | Full report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 0 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2026 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 0 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2025 Explorer Hybrid | 2 | 2 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2023 Explorer Hybrid | Not confirmed | 2 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2022 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 1 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2021 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 7 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
| 2020 Explorer Hybrid | 1 | 2 | No NCAP test | Recalls & complaints → |
Most-complained-about components
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA against the Ford Explorer Hybrid, grouped by the component each complaint names — the fastest read on where this model gives trouble.
- unknown or other4 complaints
- power train3 complaints
- steering2 complaints
- structure2 complaints
- electrical system1 complaint
- wheels1 complaint
- air bags1 complaint
- seat belts1 complaint