What Owners Report NHTSA ODI · 2,175,102 complaints · MY1998–2026

2021 Ford Explorer

Typical pattern

4.4% of complaints about the 2021 Ford Explorer came in the first year, which is unremarkable for a 2021 vehicle — around the middle of the 159 model-years on record. The median complaint arrives at 3.6 yr in service. The most-reported system is power train (121 complaints), typically at 3.3 yr or about 46,000 miles.

Complaints
571
Median age at failure
3.6 yr
Median mileage
44,000 n=128
Crash / fire / tow
10.7% of reports
Safety recalls
10

When each system is reported — middle 50% of complaints

System
0y2y4y6y8y10y12y14y
Power train
121 reports · 46,000 mi
3.3 yr
7.4%
Other
83 reports
4.4 yr
6%
Engine
47 reports · 69,000 mi
4.3 yr
21.3%
Electrical system
43 reports · 23,000 mi
3.0 yr
18.6%
Back over prevention
40 reports · 36,000 mi
2.8 yr
0%
Structure
24 reports · 58,000 mi
3.8 yr
4.2%
Visibility / wipers
23 reports
4.8 yr
4.3%
Collision avoidance
22 reports · 12,000 mi
3.2 yr
9.1%
Service brakes
19 reports · 37,000 mi
3.2 yr
21.1%
Visibility
18 reports · 55,401 mi
4.9 yr
11.1%
Fuel / propulsion
17 reports
4.2 yr
5.9%
Suspension
15 reports · 12,000 mi
3.6 yr
0%

Safety recalls — NHTSA campaigns

26V451000 2026-07-14
Seats:mid/rear assembly

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

26V402000 2026-06-24
Power train:automatic transmission

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.

Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

26V159000 2026-03-17
Seat belts

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

26V117000 2026-03-03
Visibility:windshield wiper/washer:motor

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

26V123000 2026-03-03
Back over prevention:software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

25V685000 2025-10-10
Equipment:electrical:engine block heater

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

25V455000 2025-07-07
Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

25V442000 2025-06-27
Back over prevention:software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

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.

25V393000 2025-06-13
Seats:mid/rear assembly

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.

A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

25V159000 2025-03-14
Back over prevention:software

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

In owners’ own words

Suspension 20 mi 5 mo in service
THE WHEEL WELLS OF THE VEHICLE COLLECT LARGE AMOUNTS OF SNOW AND ICE. THIS BUILD UP CONSTRICTS THE WHEELS OF THE VEHICLE CONTACTING THE TIRES RESTRICTING ROTATION AND STEERING. THIS IS AN EXTREMELY DANGEROUS POTENTIALLY DEADLY SITUATION. WE HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY AND THE DEALERSHIP. NO REMEDY TO THIS SITUATION HAS BEEN OFFERED. PLEASE INVESTIGATE AND ANY ASSISTANCE IS APPRECIATED. I BELIEVE THIS IS A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM FORD IS UNWILLING TO DEAL WITH. THIS CONDITION OCCURS IN COLD WEATHER AND SNOWY ICY CONDITIONS. THE BUILD UP HAZARD HAPPENS EVEN DRIVING SHORT HIGHWAY DISTANCES.
Suspension mileage not reported 1.3 yr in service
Ford has started a recall for vehicles with a single bolt in the rear differential mount. This is in reference to the roll away issue as their calling it. Some people have recieved notice for this and others have not. My production date is listed as 8/21. Which I believe is in part of the recall. Even if not this vehicle has only one bolt in the unit and not 2. Which is part of the recall issue.
Suspension 12,000 mi 11 mo in service
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear end of the vehicle became very unstable, and the vehicle fishtailed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who performed a rear wheel alignment, but the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V870000 (Suspension). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 12,000.
Electrical system mileage not reported 1.4 yr in service crash / fire / tow
Got it in the car and pushed the push start button. The cars engine turned over only half way and started to restart and turn over multiple times even though the motor was running halfway. This went on for 15 minutes until i opened up the hood and looked down and after a couple minutes the engine seized and turned off and started smoking, shortly after started on fire from the bottom of the engine. The fire went on for 10 minutes until we turned it off.

Other Explorer model years

20252023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020082007200620052004200320022001200019991998

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