2023 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data
Source: NHTSA — 126 complaints
126
Total Complaints
8,500mi
Median Mileage
Unknown Or Other
Top Issue
11
Crash Reports
When Do Complaints Happen?
Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.
3,000
25th Percentile
8,500
Median Mileage
20,000
75th Percentile
What Fails?
Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.
Unknown Or Other
18
Steering
11
Electrical System
11
Power Train
10
Suspension
9
Engine
8
Service Brakes
5
Body
5
Back Over Prevention
5
Seat Belts
5
Severity Assessment
11
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
Sample Complaint Reports
"The transmission was very difficult time trying to figure out how to start shifting gears, and when it did I felt very hard shifting. The engine revved up, struggled to rev up when accelerating, held gears, chugged, slipped, it felt extremely lazy, and hard shift. The RPMs were fluctuating like craz..."
"The transmission was very difficult time trying to figure out how to start shifting gears, and when it did I felt very hard shifting. The engine revved up, struggled to rev up when accelerating, held gears, chugged, slipped, it felt extremely lazy, and hard shift. The RPMs were fluctuating like craz..."
"I rented a 2023 Ford Explorer. I had many issues with the added safety features while renting it, ultimately resulting in an accident. Firstly, the lane keeping assist did not function properly. In construction zones, back roads, and during rainy weather, the vehicle would jerk very hard to one side..."
Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.
When Were Complaints Filed?
Number of complaints by the year the issue occurred.
When Does Each Component Fail?
Median mileage at complaint for top components.
Steering
11 complaints
Median: 3,000 mi
Electrical System
11 complaints
25th: 8,250 mi
Median: 21,500 mi
75th: 35,875 mi
Suspension
9 complaints
Median: 3,000 mi
Where Are Complaints Coming From?
Top states by complaint count.
MI: 15
CA: 14
TX: 12
SC: 8
OH: 6
NJ: 5
WI: 5
IL: 5
KY: 5
TN: 5
Ford Explorer — Other Years
See how this model compares across different model years.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 764 | 70 |
| 1992 | 848 | 54 |
| 1993 | 1151 | 98 |
| 1994 | 1531 | 124 |
| 1995 | 1048 | 107 |
| 1996 | 1818 | 248 |
| 1997 | 2149 | 180 |
| 1998 | 2374 | 219 |
| 1999 | 1737 | 143 |
| 2000 | 1203 | 115 |
| 2001 | 500 | 82 |
| 2002 | 4095 | 178 |
| 2003 | 1368 | 70 |
| 2004 | 1647 | 69 |
| 2005 | 604 | 30 |
| 2006 | 788 | 18 |
| 2007 | 271 | 14 |
| 2008 | 215 | 8 |
| 2009 | 49 | 8 |
| 2010 | 155 | 13 |
| 2011 | 1481 | 48 |
| 2012 | 1013 | 14 |
| 2013 | 2757 | 61 |
| 2014 | 2011 | 48 |
| 2015 | 2138 | 52 |
| 2016 | 2940 | 56 |
| 2017 | 1927 | 53 |
| 2018 | 819 | 23 |
| 2019 | 306 | 2 |
| 2020 | 1544 | 50 |
| 2021 | 492 | 21 |
| 2022 | 308 | 25 |
| 2024 | 21 | 0 |
| 2025 | 111 | 11 |
Active Recalls (14)
Federal safety recalls issued for this vehicle.
Camera
Campaign 23V022000 | 23/01/2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Automatic Transmission
Campaign 23V070000 | 10/02/2023
The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.
Camera
Campaign 23V342000 | 12/05/2023
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 23V-022. Vehicles previo
Turbo/Supercharger
Campaign 23V597000 | 25/08/2023
An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as soon as possible if they see an oil pressure warning light or smoke coming from the engine compartment. Dealers will replace the turbo oil supply line assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners m
Display Function
Campaign 23V686000 | 13/10/2023
A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C31.
Macpherson Strut
Campaign 24V091000 | 08/02/2024
A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Additionally, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulting in a brake fluid leak and a loss of braking ability. Eit
Dealers will inspect the fasteners, and tighten or install them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 08, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S04.
Labels
Campaign 24V852000 | 08/11/2024
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Software
Campaign 25V159000 | 14/03/2025
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.
Mid/Rear Assembly
Campaign 25V393000 | 13/06/2025
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
Software
Campaign 25V442000 | 27/06/2025
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Fuel Pump
Campaign 25V455000 | 07/07/2025
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy is under development. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 16, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated 2nd Quarter 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this reca
Engine Block Heater
Campaign 25V685000 | 10/10/2025
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipat
Software
Campaign 26V123000 | 03/03/2026
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy is currently under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed April 17, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated second quarter of 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-733
Seat Belts
Campaign 26V159000 | 17/03/2026
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed March 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Veh
General Vehicle Maintenance
Based on the most common issues reported for this vehicle.
- Follow the manufacturer's maintenance schedule in your owner's manual
- Don't ignore warning lights — early diagnosis prevents expensive repairs
- Keep records of all maintenance and repairs
- Use OEM or equivalent-quality parts for repairs
- Address unusual noises, vibrations, or smells promptly
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Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.
Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.
Data through: 2026-03-28