Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2024 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2024 Ford Explorer has 10 NHTSA recall campaigns and 21 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.
Recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V451000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V371000 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 #26V012000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V687000 Trailer Hitch Assembly May Detach NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V442000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V393000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V852000 Missing Dashboard Air Bag Warning Label/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V685000 Battery Cable May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Unknown or Other 4 complaints
- Forward Collision Avoidance 3 complaints
- Suspension 3 complaints
- Visibility/Wiper 3 complaints
- Air Bags 2 complaints
- Electrical System 2 complaints
Of the 21 complaints on file, 2 report a crash and 1 a fire; across all 21 complaints, owners report 4 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $4,500–$7,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2024 Ford Explorer has an average reliability rating, with multiple recalls affecting major systems such as seats, powertrain, and software. The complaints are not overwhelmingly frequent, but the issues can lead to safety concerns.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| automatic transmission | 20,000–40,000 miles | $1,500–$3,000 | common |
| rear seats latch | 10,000–30,000 miles | $200–$500 | common |
| engine block heater | 30,000–60,000 miles | $600–$1,200 | 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
- rotate tires every 7,500 miles
- replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- brake fluid change every 30,000 miles
- coolant flush every 60,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- slipping transmission
- seat movement while driving
- engine coolant leakage
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2024 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.