10.0
really awful- Crashes / Fires:
- 2 / 0
- Injuries / Deaths:
- 1 / 0
- Average Mileage:
- 14,849 miles
About These NHTSA Complaints:
The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.
Constant fail of O2 sensor and ABS causing check engine and ABS lights to come on. After diagnosis, did research and it is a common problem on Ford Explorers
- Boiling Springs, SC, USA
At 28,000 miles, the vehicle emitted black smoke from the exhaust. Despite the mechanic-??s efforts to identify the issue, no diagnostic codes were detected. Currently, the vehicle has accumulated 100,000 miles. The engine suddenly lost the ability to accelerate beyond 20 miles per hour. After several months of repairs involving multiple turbo replacements, it was determined that the engine was severely damaged and should have been replaced over 50,000 miles ago. The engine was subsequently replaced, but only a year later, it failed again. After replacing the first engine, the vehicle-??s performance deteriorated significantly. The vehicle required another visit to the shop for several months, resulting in another engine replacement. Over the course of several months, the vehicle lost all power and exhibited difficulty shifting into reverse. Consequently, it failed to reverse and was involved in an accident.
- Rayville, LA, USA
The car has a hard time with acceleration and I hear clunking noises
- Fort Knox, KY, USA
Transmission is not shifting correcting. Will be traveling down the road and loses power, loses it's acceleration. When trying to proceed after making a stop at a light, car will not go. Bucks hard when putting in reverse. I heard there was a recall on the torque converter's awhile back, but I never received any notification about it. Now that I know, the ford dealerships are telling me there are no recalls for this.
- Alma, IL, USA
- Transmission/torque convertor has and is failing. Results in lack of acceleration during launch, sluggish vehicle operation and shudder - Known issue with this make/model/year of vehicle. Failure of the above began at 40,000 some miles and is presently not driveable at only 67,000 miles without an $8-$10,000 repair for a new transmission. - Confirmed with dealer the above issue and is in writing and submitted Case #CAS-47518676-K5Y6Y7 with Ford directly. Located letter sent to dealerships regarding this very issue dated 10/2020. - Vehicle has not been in any accidents, but am receiving a "warning" light indicating failure.
- Elizabethtown, PA, USA
Car dies repeatedly while on the road driving and also while parked. Car has errors on dashboard when attempting to turn on, which I have a video of. First mechanic was able to replicate issue once and got some scan tool codes but he said after that, they all cleared out and he wasn't able to replicate. Car was given back to us, drove to store died and it wouldn't start in parking lot. Mechanic sent tow truck, car started when tow truck arrived. Took car to Ford, tech unable to replicate, car returned to us. Car died once again, which is when I took the error video and took the car back to Ford and showed service rep the video. Ford still unable to figure out the issue. We told Ford to keep the car because it isn't safe to drive until we find and fix the issue. Car has been in mechanic and Ford for about 4 months total.
- Cibolo, TX, USA
The transmission would slip and/or lag. This started around 65k miles. It was reported to the dealer, they couldn-??t reproduce it. Then at 101k miles the engine started vibrating when in gear and idling. Motor mounts were replaced, but the problem persisted. Eventually got the entire transmission replaced.
- Redding, CA, USA
Husband returning home, pulled into carport and as he removed foot from accelerator to brake, accelerator pedal kept accelerating. This caused explorer to hit carport awning, classic 65 mustang, 2007 Harley and shed. Airbags did not work. Accelerator is still pressed to floorboard.
- Buckeye, AZ, USA
The APIM is malfunction in my 2017 explorer. Accessories stay on after vehicle turned off, killed battery, vehicle collision sensors and camera intermediate malfunction. Cruise control intermittent function, GPS and screen options /operations inoperable
- Somerset, MA, USA
August 2020: When passing a vehicle on the highway, applied gas pedal fully to the floor, it stuck. Vehicle continued to accelerate, pedal would not return to normal position. Had to get to shoulder, shove vehicle into neutral and turn off. Ford dealer reviewed, determined only likely cause could be the throttle body, replaced throttle body. April 2021: When accelerating on the highway, pressed pedal to floor, pedal once again stuck. Would not return to normal position, continued to accelerate. Moved to shoulder at high rate of speed, applied brakes as much as possible and put vehicle into neutral, then park. Vehicle completely revved out, engine at max rpms. Turned off vehicle. Waited a few minutes. Tried to turn vehicle back on, sounded like starter was stuck. Turned off vehicle. Waited a few moments, turned on and drove carefully home.
- Eudora, KS, USA
*vehicle makes popping noise *jerks, loss of power when going down the road, hard to steer, push on gas and will not go. Engine light and wrench come on. Called dealer when first happened was told to turn off back on to reset. Have worked with dealer and manufacture. This is dangerous and I'm terrified to drive the vehicle. This will be at least the fourth time back in the shop for repairs. In addition to several calls.
- Ada, OK, USA
As I was driving the Explorer the cross traffic alert sensors went hayware, then the Navigator, radio, HVAC, and everything else froze did commands on its own. The part assist mode came on it own, steering wheel controls would not work and car started to take control. Very scary as the car was taking commands I could not control. Took it to the local Ford dealer where it was determined to be the accessory protocol interface module (apim). My vehicle is just out of warranty and Ford Motor Company would not help. Very dangerous, cost me $1,200. Ford had this same problem on earlier models and recalled, but not on mine. This failure need to be addressed and if not fixed could lead to a serious accident. Ford needs to issue a recall. Ford was no help to me, very disappoint in Ford and their neglect to mine and my families stafey.
- Glen Carbon, IL, USA
The cruise control at my speed of 65 mph stopped alone cause the car to break making me loose control, 2nd the voice command don't work or responding, to help navigation or phone perpouse ( don't use cell while driving) around December 2018 bring tothe attention of the dealer at service and the miss. Kenya after I pick the car she mansion that the reset to the manufacture day was relased, but the problem continue as today 10/07/2019 on June the battery exploded, and thank god how no body get injury. The car is leasing for 3 years, all problem starts December 2018, plus theare is a recall, and Ford sayville in 5686 sunrise hgwy, sayville, NY 11782 631 567-3800. Refuse to repaire the issues, claim the car is mile coverage is over, but the problem strat before plus all this it's manufature issues, please help me.
- Manorville, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. While traveling on the highway at an unknown speed with the cruise control engaged, it suddenly disengaged on its own. The failure caused the vehicle to brake on its own and swerve from side to side. Sayville Ford (5686 sunrise hwy, sayville, NY 11782, (855) 561-1191) stated that the leasing mileage limit was exceeded, but they would not cover the costs. The manufacturer provided the same information as the contact. The contact also mentioned that the battery exploded, but the dealer dismissed the concerns and stated that the vehicle was not covered under warranty. The failure mileage was 50,000.
- Manorville, NY, USA
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. While driving 65 mph and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle decelerated to 20 mph. The contact was able to park on the side of the road. There were no warning indicators illuminated. Contact stated car would not pick up speed and lost power. The vehicle was taken to hertrich Ford Lincoln (located at 1427 bay rd, milford, de 19963, (302) 725-0031) and informed them of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified. The failure mileage was 29,177.
- Dover, DE, USA
I purchased my Ford Explorer 2017, in September of 2016, I have returned back to the dealer more than 10 times less than a 2 year period. My first problem was the truck would not get enough speed, unless I hit the gas 2 oir 3 times, the dealer came it wasn't a problem until the engine light came on, and than I was told it was a recall on it, but when I check, there was no recall on my VIN. I have 5 batteries since I had the truck, I ask them what is causing this, I never get a response. My ac/heat went out, I told them, I notice something coming in through the vents. I informed the dealer's repair department that it smelled like a rotten egg or just look like air coming in the vents. I never got an answer to that question. I tried calling Ford corporate office, but know one never returned my call.
- Washington, DC, USA
Three different times in motion on the highway sudden acceleration occurred while cruise control was engaged or while beginning to start cruise control at an accessive rate of speed.
- Kimball Township, MI, USA
I have encountered too many issues with this vehicle, my biggest issue has to do with what I thought I was having a "falling asleep at the wheel" issue. There were a few times last winter, after letting the car sit stationary and warm up, that I couldn't "stay awake" while driving home on the freeway. It happened once, twice, then continued, and it became apparent it was the vehicle, not me, that was causing this. It can be best described as the sensation right before being put under for a medical procedure. I would then come out of this unconcious state in potentlally deadly driving situations. I also noticed that my dog was being affected at the same time. I could see him getting anxious next to me, and then have what looked like a panic attack until I put the window down. He would keep his head outside the vehicle for a majority of the ride. I basically stopped using the heater. At the same time, the battery kept dying, and the vehicle would shut down and go into a "battery safe" mode, and it needed to be jumped every other trip. When I took the car to the dealer, they basically said there may be a problem, but they didn't have the replacement parts, and would call me when they got in. I never heard back from them. This is my 3rd and last lease with Ford, my previous 2 edges both had numerous electrical issues, including loosing power while driving. Now, I'm in an unsafe vehicle, and they won't even acknowledge the problem. I want out of my lease, but in my experience with Ford, the consumer looses every time. Can't fight them if they don't acknowledge the problem. I'm praying for my life, and other drivers lives that something get resolved quickly before someone looses their life. Doesn't seem fair that the consumer has to pay for the companies shortcomings...
- San Rafael, CA, USA
Last nights as I drove my new 2017 Explorer off the lot with only 11 miles on it, I drove on surface streets and then onto the highway. After I got up to 65 mph the Explorer started to lose acceleration on the highway. I had to get off at the next exit and then had great difficulty getting the car to move from 0 to 30 miles per hour to get back to the dealership using the side streets. I now have a loaner car and I was first told it could be the electronic throttle body, and then after a hookup to the computer was told it was in Transport mode - however nothing on the instrument panel registered any problems. I had test driven the car on Saturday 3/18/17 using both surface streets and highways, and last night (3/20/17) I was able to get it up to speed on the highway again. The experience was very scary as I had to maneuver out of traffic to get off the highway at speed below 40 mph until I could get to the side streets.
- Avon, OH, USA
- Alexandria, MO, USA