Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2021 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 26 NHTSA recall campaigns and 452 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 4 NHTSA-tested trims.
Newest 20 recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V451000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V402000 Vehicle Rollaway Risk NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V159000 Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchors NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V123000 Incorrectly Displayed Rearview Camera Image/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V117000 Windshield Wipers May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V685000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V455000 Low Pressure Fuel Pump May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V442000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V393000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V166000 Vehicle Rollaway from Driveshaft Disconnect NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V159000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V093000 Improperly Secured Seat Belt Buckle Anchor Bolts NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V852000 Missing Dashboard Air Bag Warning Label/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V635000 Engine Intake Valves May Break NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V598000 Engine Failure May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V675000 Vehicle Rollaway from Driveshaft Disconnect NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V626000 High Voltage Battery May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V342000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V305000 Rearview Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V199000 Incomplete PCM Update May Result in Rollaway NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 127 complaints
- Unknown or Other 86 complaints
- Engine 51 complaints
- Electrical System 48 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 36 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 28 complaints
Of the 452 complaints on file, 14 report a crash and 6 a fire; across all 452 complaints, owners report 17 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $18,000–$28,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2021 Ford Explorer has a substantial number of recall campaigns (26) and 447 owner complaints, indicating significant reliability concerns. Frequent issues involve the power train and engine, along with numerous complaints related to electrical and visibility systems. Despite considerable recall efforts, these factors suggest a reliability rating below average. Due to limited complaint specificity, only prominent failure types are detailed.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| power train | Unknown | $1,500–$3,000 | very common |
| engine | Unknown | $1,500–$4,500 | common |
| electrical system | Unknown | $500–$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
- Brake inspections
- Tire rotations
- Air filter replacement
- Transmission fluid change
- Coolant flushes
- Battery checks and cleaning
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Unusual transmission noises
- Engine stalling or surging
- Malfunctioning infotainment system
- Frequent warning lights
- Windshield wiper failures
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2021 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.