KnownCarProblems2010 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 115 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Explorer, most often about the transmission (24% of complaints, typically around 80,500 miles). It is 22nd of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints and has 1 recall.
Most common 2010 Ford Explorer problems
Transmission
28 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 80,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission, driveline.
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll when the gear was shifted into park. The continued jumped in the vehicle, but the brakes failed to respond. The vehicle crashed into the wall of the house and an iron gate. The vehicle came to a complete stop. The local…
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. While driving 30 MPH entering the highway, the crankshaft pulley fractured and caused three other vehicles to be struck by the pulley. There were no warning indicators illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The…
Seats
20 complaints · 17%Half of these problems showed up before 2,500 miles. Parts named most often: front assembly.
The headrest in my 2010 Ford Explorer forces your head and neck forward in a very uncomfortable postion. There is no adjustment for the position.
The 2010 Ford Explorer headrest pitches your head uncomfortably forward. Forget about wearing a pony tail, your chin will touch your chest! Please get Ford to replace the headrest! This is not a comfort complaint, this is a safety issue!
Engine
17 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 57,500 miles. Parts named most often: engine.
I was approaching a red light and pressed the brake. There was a truck infront of me, the harder I pushes the break the more the engine tried to accelerate. The tires were screeching but the engine was still trying to go. Me and my kids could have been seriously injured and I would have been held responsible for…
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 50 MPH and disengaging the accelerator pedal, there was an abnormal noise and the vehicle stalled. The vehicle was able to restart and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer…
Brakes
15 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 38,500 miles.
I have been noticing that when I am on the higjway driving it feels like there is a increase of acceleration when I am going speeds of 55 MPH - 60mph. Even when I have tapped the brake, there is still a little increase of speed. On august 12, 2015 at approxiamtely 5:30pm, was driving at speeds of 10mph while turning a…
I was approaching a red light and pressed the brake. There was a truck infront of me, the harder I pushes the break the more the engine tried to accelerate. The tires were screeching but the engine was still trying to go. Me and my kids could have been seriously injured and I would have been held responsible for…
Speed control
14 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles.
Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6) stuck accelerator pedal. While driving at approx. 35 MPH attempted to stop at red light. Brakes were not holding much like you would experience after driving in wet weather. Weather conditions were dry. Pressing harder activated…
Tl contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. While driving at less than 5 MPH the contact applied the brakes. Yet, the vehicle surged forward. The vehicle crashed into a building causing front end damage. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed because it was still able to be driven. The dealer had not been…
Electrical
12 complaints · 10%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles. Parts named most often: instrument panel.
While driving on interstate 295 just south of brunswick, maine my 2010 Ford Explorer lost all power and rapidly decelerated and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. I did manage to pull over to the side of the highway just before losing all power, but I could not restart my vehicle. I then had my vehicle…
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the anti-theft, roll stability, and fuel filler messages were displayed with an audible alarm before the vehicle suddenly shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. However, the…
Fuel system
9 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 60,000 miles.
While driving on interstate 295 just south of brunswick, maine my 2010 Ford Explorer lost all power and rapidly decelerated and the steering wheel became very difficult to turn. I did manage to pull over to the side of the highway just before losing all power, but I could not restart my vehicle. I then had my vehicle…
Fuel gauge is sweeping back and forth before resting on empty when the car was started. Was an intermittent problem but now the gauge remains on empty with the low fuel light on and the miles to empty reading as "---" and the check engine light came on. Dealer told me almost one year ago that the fuel pump was the…
Other or unspecified
8 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 88,000 miles.
A failure of the electric interlock between the ignition and the "park" position occurred which makes it possible to move the shift from "park" to some other position without pressing on the brake pedal. This can result in someone sitting in the passenger seat moving the shift from "park" while the vehicle is on an…
I am unable to remove keys from the steering column. I looked up the issue on youtube and found that the problem is very common. Several videos gave a quick fix. I did the fix and it worked for a day and a half. The issue is a pin that slips out of place on the shift select. It slips out and doesn't make contact to…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2010 Ford Explorer recalls
Seats: recliner
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seatback and head restraint may move rearward, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the manual recliners for both power and manual seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before april 30, 2010. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.
Full defect summary
Ford is recalling certain model year 2010 fusion, explorer, explorer sport trac, and mercury milan and mountaineer vehicles manufactured between december 15, 2009 through february 3, 2010 equipped with front seat manual recliners. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head restraint." the recliner gear plate teeth may be out of dimension specification which could result in limited pawl to gear plate tooth engagement.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit
Summary
On november 18, 2010, NHTSA's recall management division (rmd) opened an audit query (aq10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.it was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.rmd queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (ford, chrysler, and general motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.the rental
Questions about the 2010 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: transmission (28 complaints, typically around 80,500 miles); seats (20 complaints, typically around 2,500 miles); engine (17 complaints, typically around 57,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2010 Ford Explorer have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from April 20, 2010 (seats). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2010 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 22nd of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 115 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.