Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2015 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2015 Ford Explorer has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,814 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 2 NHTSA-tested trims.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #25V695000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V031000 Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V537000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V675000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V692000 Link Shaft Brackets May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V435000 Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17E048000 Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V245000 Rear Suspension Toe Link may be Improperly Welded NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #15V464000 Parking Brake may not Fully Engage/FMVSS 135 NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 411 complaints
- Unknown or Other 405 complaints
- Steering 348 complaints
- Engine 227 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 147 complaints
- Electrical System 93 complaints
Of the 1,814 complaints on file, 37 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 1,814 complaints, owners report 98 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,000–$14,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2015 Ford Explorer suffers from multiple recalls, particularly suspension defects, which have caused numerous complaints. This has led to a below-average reliability rating, as these issues significantly impact ownership costs.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| rear suspension | 50,000-80,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | very common |
| A-pillar trim | 40,000-70,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| camera system | 50,000-90,000 miles | $150–$400 | common |
| steering system | 60,000-100,000 miles | $500–$1,500 | occasional |
| engine cooling | 70,000-110,000 miles | $1,000–$2,000 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil and filter changes
- Tire rotations
- Brake inspection and service
- Cooling system flush
- Transmission fluid change
- Spark plug replacement
- Suspension system inspection
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual suspension noises
- Steering wheel vibrations
- Rear camera malfunctions
- Excessive engine heat
- Detaching body trim
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2015 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.