Home › Ford › Explorer

Ford Explorer Problems by Year

Owners have filed 23,866 complaints with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer since the 2000 model year. The years with the most are 2002, 2016, 2013. The most common problem overall: body and structure.

01,0002,0003,0004,0002000: 952 complaints'002001: 375 complaints2002: 3,295 complaints'023,2952003: 1,131 complaints2004: 1,304 complaints'042005: 497 complaints2006: 630 complaints'062007: 208 complaints2008: 148 complaints'082009: 33 complaints2010: 115 complaints'102011: 1,197 complaints2012: 829 complaints'122013: 2,237 complaints2014: 1,681 complaints'142015: 1,808 complaints2016: 2,462 complaints'162017: 1,702 complaints2018: 734 complaints'182019: 299 complaints2020: 1,236 complaints'202021: 446 complaints2022: 269 complaints'222023: 111 complaints2024: 21 complaints'242025: 104 complaints2026: 42 complaints'26
Ford Explorer owner complaints to NHTSA by model year. Faded bars: fewer than 25 complaints, no separate page.

Counts are not adjusted for sales: popular years collect more complaints, and recent years have had less time to.

Ford Explorer problems by model year

YearComplaintsTop problemRecallsCrashes
2026 Explorer42Other or unspecified143
2025 Explorer104Electrical208
2023 Explorer111Other or unspecified157
2022 Explorer269Transmission2417
2021 Explorer446Transmission2614
2020 Explorer1,236Transmission3337
2019 Explorer299Body and structure62
2018 Explorer734Body and structure716
2017 Explorer1,702Body and structure1334
2016 Explorer2,462Body and structure1439
2015 Explorer1,808Body and structure837
2014 Explorer1,681Steering632
2013 Explorer2,237Steering1144
2012 Explorer829Steering510
2011 Explorer1,197Steering630
2010 Explorer115Transmission18
2009 Explorer33Speed control05
2008 Explorer148Electrical16
2007 Explorer208Transmission111
2006 Explorer630Transmission113
2005 Explorer497Body and structure022
2004 Explorer1,304Transmission058
2003 Explorer1,131Body and structure260
2002 Explorer3,295Transmission4144
2001 Explorer375Wheels and tires664
2000 Explorer952Wheels and tires9101

233 recalls in total across these years. Years with fewer than 25 complaints have no separate page.

Questions about the Ford Explorer

What years of the Ford Explorer have the most problems?
By owner complaints to NHTSA: 2002 (3,295), 2016 (2,462), 2013 (2,237).
What is the most common problem with the Ford Explorer?
Across all model years, owners complain most about the body and structure (4,661), transmission (4,534), steering (3,763).
Which Ford Explorer years have the fewest complaints?
Among model years at least four years old: 2009 (33), 2010 (115), 2008 (148). Fewer complaints can also mean fewer cars sold, so compare with sales before you decide.

Other Ford models