Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2017 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2017 Ford Explorer has 14 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,704 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 #26V448000 Roof Rail Covers May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V101000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V685000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V347000 Driver and Passenger Door Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V031000 Exterior A-Pillar Trim May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V537000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #21V316000 Roof Rail Covers May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #20V675000 Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V651000 Front Seat Frames May Have Exposed Sharp Edges NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #19V435000 Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17E048000 Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V530000 Loss of Power Assisted Steering NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #17V332000 Driver Seat Back Frame May Fail/FMVSS 202, 207 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #16V925000 Oil Leak from Turbocharger NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Structure 659 complaints
- Unknown or Other 373 complaints
- Engine 241 complaints
- Power Train 125 complaints
- Electrical System 94 complaints
- Engine and Engine Cooling 77 complaints
Of the 1,704 complaints on file, 34 report a crash and 11 a fire; across all 1,704 complaints, owners report 51 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $7,500–$12,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2017 Ford Explorer faces structural and rear suspension issues, recalled multiple times. Numerous owner complaints about structure and engine increase concerns. However, persistent reliability in other systems balances this, granting it an average rating.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| rear suspension | 50,000–80,000 miles | $500–$1,000 | common |
| engine cooling | 60,000–100,000 miles | $300–$700 | common |
| body trim | 30,000–60,000 miles | $100–$300 | common |
| turbocharger tubes | 70,000–100,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | occasional |
| heat shield | 40,000–70,000 miles | $150–$350 | 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 change every 5,000 miles
- Brake inspection every 10,000 miles
- Coolant flush every 50,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 60,000 miles
- Air filter replacement yearly
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Vibrations in rear suspension
- Heat shield rattling
- Coolant leaks near turbo
- Loose body trim
- Excessive engine noise
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2017 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.