KnownCarProblems2019 Ford Explorer Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 299 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer, most often about the body and structure (50% of complaints, typically around 63,000 miles). It is 18th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.
Most common 2019 Ford Explorer problems
Body and structure
150 complaints · 50%Half of these problems showed up before 63,000 miles. Parts named most often: body, interior panels.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the passenger's side a-pillar trim detached and made a loud popping sound. The contact stated that the driver's side a-pillar trim was extremely loose. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v031000…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the a-pillar trim on the driver side of the windshield started to detach. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v031000 (structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available.…
Other or unspecified
47 complaints · 16%Half of these problems showed up before 4,000 miles.
The 2019 Ford Explorer is delivered new with one inadequate horn. All other model years have two horns and are what you expect from a horn. This is a dangerous situation, the horn is so low I could not scare a squirrel. Ford motor company said they cannot upgrade. The Ford dealer said they cannot upgrade without…
Back up camera doesn't work especially not in cold. I can just start the vehicle and the camera won't work once but it has now become an all day thing
Transmission
35 complaints · 12%Half of these problems showed up before 82,500 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. The contact stated that while coming to a stop the vehicle shuddered and hesitated to resume driving. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after shifting to the drive position the vehicle would shake and vibrate. The failure continued while driving at various speeds. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the torque convert and reprogrammed the PCM but approximately one year…
Engine
25 complaints · 8%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles.
Very loud noise from the engine was told it was the supercharger but it sounds like a constant clicking. We took it back and dealership told US it was fixed. Still makes a loud clicking when driving , more so when accelerating. Called dealership, they said they fixed it. To US its still doesnt sound like a 2019…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 26v101000 (suspension). While retrieving the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact heard the mechanic revving the engine of the vehicle. The dealer determined that the fuel pump and…
Electrical
20 complaints · 7%Half of these problems showed up before 45,500 miles. Parts named most often: horn, ignition, 12v/24v/48v battery.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the horn failed to work when depressed. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to a local dealer or an independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs. The manufacturer had not been informed…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the lock button was depressed and the contact became aware that the horn was not operating as needed. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The…
Fuel system
17 complaints · 6%Half of these problems showed up before 10,000 miles. Parts named most often: fuel injection system, delivery.
Noticed severe exhaust smell when defrost is on while driving, and more moderately when the recirculated air is on. Looked up the issue online and found that our 2019 Ford Explorer is experiencing the same issues that caused a soft recall from Ford for their 2011-2017 models. Took it to local Ford service center, but…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. While driving the vehicle, the contact smelled exhaust fumes and fuel inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to advantage Ford (4000 se federal hwy, stuart, fl 34997, ([phone]) to be diagnosed, but the test was not yet completed. The manufacturer was not contacted. The…
Suspension
11 complaints · 4%Vehicle was being driven straight on residential 2 lane street. Heard a loud break/ loss of driving control of vehicle which pulled forcefully to the right. Vehicle scraped off curb then back into oncoming traffic and coming to stopped. Had lost all power to steering and operability of vehicle. Put hazards on to avoid…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated there was a loud rattle coming from the rear passenger side wheel of the vehicle. The noise progressed when on rough roads. The contact inspected the rear passenger side toe link which seemed as though it was loose and malfunctioning. The contact did not take…
Steering
9 complaints · 3%On march 2nd 2019 Ford Explorer sport with 1,800 miles was towed to thomassen Ford in charles town wv leaving owner stranded. Complained of strong fuel/gasoline odor inside the vehicle. Fuel/gasoline was leaking badly out of the vehicle onto the exhaust pipe. On march 4th notification was provided from service writer…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his daughter was driving at approximately 25 MPH, the steering wheel seized causing the vehicle to crash into a concrete brick mailbox. The air bags deployed. The contact stated that the driver sustained chemical burning from the air bags and the…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2019 Ford Explorer recalls
Body and structure: body
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed august 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in january 2027. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26s54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21v316. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on july 16, 2026.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Suspension: rear
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on march 16, 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26s08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21v537. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning february 25, 2026.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Equipment: engine block heater
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed february 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in october 2026. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25sa4. Vehicle identificatio
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 focus, 2019 explorer, and 2024 explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Body and structure: roof and pillars
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the a-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between july 18, 2024 and december 16, 2025. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24s02.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 explorer vehicles. The a-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Body and structure: body
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on june 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on october 1, 2021. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21s22.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and ford and lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began october 21, 2019. Owners may contact ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19c07.
Full defect summary
Ford motor company (ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 f-150 and 2019-2020 f-250, f-350, f-450, and f-550 super duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 ford explorer, 2019-2020 expedition, and 2020 escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 ford explorer and lincoln aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) numbers 202, "head restraints" and 207, "seating systems."
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
Windshield trim molding item detachment
Summary
On january 27, 2023, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened pe23-001 to investigate allegations of a-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (my) 2011-2019 ford explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 vehicle owner questionnaires (voqs) reporting this failure. Odi has received 671 voqs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injuries. Some consumers have reported that the failure occurred while they were driving at highway speeds, with the detached trim panel entering the path of travel of the vehicle behind them, requiring the driver of the following vehicle to take evasive action. It is noteworthy that motorists who experi
Questions about the 2019 Ford Explorer
- What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Explorer?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: body and structure (150 complaints, typically around 63,000 miles); other or unspecified (47 complaints, typically around 4,000 miles); transmission (35 complaints, typically around 82,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2019 Ford Explorer have?
- 6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from July 14, 2026 (body and structure). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2019 a bad year for the Ford Explorer?
- It is 18th of 27 Explorer model years by number of complaints, with 299 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.