Ford Explorer recalls and safety
142 recalls · crash ratings 2012-2025 · 34,697 owner complaints
142
recalls
142
recalls
The Ford Explorer has 142 recalls covering 37.5 million vehicles as reported; model year 2020 is covered by the most (34). The 2025 Ford Explorer earned 5 of 5 stars overall in crash tests (best version). Owners filed 1,678 safety complaints in the 12 months to Sep 2026; power train is named most over all years.
Updated Oct 11, 2026 · recalls to Oct 6, 2026
Recalls
142
Most for 2020: 34
Units affected
37.5M
As reported
Overall stars
5 of 5
Model year 2025
Complaints, 12 mo
1,678
-29.4% vs 12 months before
Do-not-drive
0
None
By model year
Which model years are covered by the most recalls, and which get the most complaints
Recalls by model year
How many recalls cover each model year. Hover a year for the count.
Crash test star ratings
38 rated versions, model years 2001 to 2025
Overall stars by model year
The best and lowest overall rating of the versions tested each year (5 is best).
| Year | Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | SUV · 4WD | 15.1% risk | |||
| 2025 | SUV · RWD | 14.7% risk | |||
| 2024 | SUV · 4WD | 15.1% risk | |||
| 2024 | SUV · RWD | 14.7% risk | |||
| 2023 | SUV · 4WD | 15.1% risk | |||
| 2023 | SUV · RWD | 14.7% risk | |||
| 2022 | SUV · 4WD | Not rated | Not rated | 15.1% risk | |
| 2022 | SUV · RWD | Not rated | Not rated | 14.7% risk | |
| 2021 | SUV · 4WD | 15.1% risk | |||
| 2021 | SUV · RWD | 14.7% risk | |||
| 2020 | SUV · 4WD | 15.1% risk | |||
| 2020 | SUV · RWD | 14.7% risk | |||
| 2019 | SUV · AWD | 17.4% risk | |||
| 2019 | SUV · FWD | 16.4% risk | |||
| 2018 | SUV · AWD | 17.4% risk | |||
| 2018 | SUV · FWD | 16.4% risk |
The 16 newest of 38 rated versions. Download the CSV for all of them, with the safety features.
5 stars is the best. Ratings before model year 2011 used older tests.
Owner complaints
Safety complaints about the Ford Explorer, by the month they were received
Complaints per month
1,678 in the 12 months to Sep 2026.
Components named most
- Power train5,397
- Structure5,259
- Steering4,141
- Tires3,873
- Unknown or other3,136
- Electrical system2,255
- Engine2,057
- Complaints
- 34,697
- Crashes reported
- 1,859
- Fires reported
- 792
- People injured
- 2,429
Counts only, as reported by owners and not verified.
Parts recalled
Recalls of the Ford Explorer by component
- Fuel system, gasoline14 · 1.63M units
- Structure14 · 5.68M units
- Power train13 · 1.93M units
- Back over prevention12 · 4.27M units
- Seats11 · 3.49M units
- Engine and engine cooling10 · 153K units
- Suspension10 · 3.73M units
- Vehicle speed control7 · 10.9M units
Ford Explorer recalls
The 25 newest of 142
Related pages
Questions and answers
Is the 2027 Ford Explorer recalled?
Yes: 2 recalls cover the 2027 Ford Explorer. Check the recall pages below for what is wrong and the free fix; a dealer can tell if a single vehicle still needs the repair.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer have?
142 recalls cover the Ford Explorer, for 37.5 million vehicles as reported. The most common problem is fuel system, gasoline (14 recalls).
What is the safety rating of the 2025 Ford Explorer?
5 of 5 stars overall (SUV): frontal crash 5, side crash 5 and rollover 4 stars, with a 15.1% chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
What do owners complain about most on the Ford Explorer?
Power train: named in 5,397 of the 34,697 safety complaints about the Ford Explorer, then structure (5,259). One complaint can name several components.
A recall means the maker found a safety problem and offers a free fix; it does not mean every unit has the problem. Units affected are as reported by the company. Popular models sell more and so have more recalls and complaints. Official public data, updated daily. Models are written as published, so a few versions of one model can be listed under slightly different names.