Ford EXPLORER HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
11 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
59,074 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2020 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: . 2 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 11 complaints (27.3%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 18.2% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 9.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 3 |
| Power Train | 2 |
| Air Bags | 1 |
| Back Over Prevention: Warnings | 1 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control | 1 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking | 1 |
| Power Train:Automatic Transmission | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 3; Power Train: 2; Air Bags: 1; Back Over Prevention: Warnings: 1; Electrical System: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Adaptive Cruise Control: 1; Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking: 1; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 1 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 0 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 1; 25,000 to 49,999: 0; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2023 | 4 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2026 | 5 |
2020: 1; 2023: 4; 2024: 1; 2026: 5
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 11732065 · 2026-04-18 (April 18, 2026)
I was driving the vehicle through a neighborhood and there was a clunk noise and it sounded like my brakes were metal on metal. I stopped to ensure my brakes were okay. Then I continued to drive home when there was a louder clunk and the reared on my vehicle locked up and the car would no longer move. The reared differential unit had failed and exploded parts and put holes in the unit causing fluid to exit onto the street and lock up the drive tires. The vehicle was stranded in the middle of the street and could not move. There was no warning o…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11732065 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11744180 · 2026-06-15 (June 15, 2026)
Brake system Fault - no power assist. While the Deputy was driving his vehicle every light on the dash lit up and it said all systems were not working. He stated that only brakes he had were the regenerative brakes for the electric motors. He stated that he turned the car off for 10 minutes and everything worked again. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer and they are looking to replace the ABS HCU on this vehicle. Additionally we have a second one that was purchased around the same time as this one with similar issues of no power assist bra…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11744180 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11383331 · 2020-12-14 (December 14, 2020)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT THE INDEPENDENT MECHANIC SHOP MAKING NECESSARY REPAIRS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. WITHOUT WARNING THE VEHICLE WENT UP IN FLAMES INSIDE THE GARAGE OF THE INDEPENDENT SHOP. NO INJURIES SUSTAINED. THERE WAS PROPERTY DAMAGE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND DEEMED THE VEHICLE A TOTAL LOSS. A POLICE REPORT WAS MADE. THE VEHICLE IS AWAITING INSURANCE ADJUSTOR INFORMATION FOR THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE THAT OCCURRED. THE CONTACT MENTIONED NHTSA CAM…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11383331 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11556636 · 2023-11-24 (November 24, 2023)
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer Hybrid. The contact stated that after restarting the vehicle, there was a burning odor present. The message "Pull Over Possible Powertrain Damage" was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who determined that the high voltage junction box had overheated and was burned. The high voltage junction box and high voltage junction box wiring harness were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and indicated that the VIN was not included in the NHTSA Campa…
Owner-reported narrative. 96,147 miles reported. Look up ODI 11556636 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11513540 · 2023-03-24 (March 24, 2023)
I was making a slow speed u-turn to stop a speeding motorist. As I came out of the u-turn, the wheel did not come back to center and I continued the turn going up a curb and striking a chain link fence. When I realized what was occurring, I manually began to turn the steering wheel to the right to get back on the roadway. There is patrol car dash cam footage of this collision. Police report# 23-688.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513540 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 0 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 1 |
| 2027 | 1 |
2020: 1; 2021: 1; 2022: 1; 2023: 0; 2025: 2; 2026: 1; 2027: 1