vehicle signal
U.S. public vehicle records

2015 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

1,776 owner complaints analyzed

8 distinct recall campaigns

56,391 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2015 model year. Data snapshot: . 1,143 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 400 of 1,776 complaints (22.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
TopicMatching reportsShare of complaints
Steering behavior33919.1%
Electrical and battery issues623.5%
Braking behavior522.9%
Transmission and shifting372.1%
Engine operation291.6%
Fuel system concerns140.8%

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.

Unknown Or Other
400
Steering
336
Structure
259
Engine
226
Structure:Body
131
Back Over Prevention
101
Electrical System
89
Fuel/Propulsion System
86
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Unknown Or Other400
Steering336
Structure259
Engine226
Structure:Body131
Back Over Prevention101
Electrical System89
Fuel/Propulsion System86

Unknown Or Other: 400; Steering: 336; Structure: 259; Engine: 226; Structure:Body: 131; Back Over Prevention: 101; Electrical System: 89; Fuel/Propulsion System: 86

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
242
25,000 to 49,999
260
50,000 to 74,999
233
75,000 to 99,999
175
100,000 to 149,999
171
150,000 and above
62
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,000242
25,000 to 49,999260
50,000 to 74,999233
75,000 to 99,999175
100,000 to 149,999171
150,000 and above62

Under 25,000: 242; 25,000 to 49,999: 260; 50,000 to 74,999: 233; 75,000 to 99,999: 175; 100,000 to 149,999: 171; 150,000 and above: 62

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (260). 633 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.

2014
3
2015
51
2016
119
2017
270
2018
139
2019
183
2020
123
2021
89
2022
91
2023
152
2024
181
2025
250
2026
125
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20143
201551
2016119
2017270
2018139
2019183
2020123
202189
202291
2023152
2024181
2025250
2026125

2014: 3; 2015: 51; 2016: 119; 2017: 270; 2018: 139; 2019: 183; 2020: 123; 2021: 89; 2022: 91; 2023: 152; 2024: 181; 2025: 250; 2026: 125

Pattern summary

Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 339 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 62 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 52 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 10680739 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)

FORD MOTOR CO. AND WORTHINGTON FORD OF LONG BEACH, CA ARE SELLING VEHICLES WITH DAMAGED/DEFECTIVE STEERING AND REFUSING TO FIX THE DEFECT(S). 1/25/2015 PURCHASED FORD EXPLORER (8 MILES ON VEHICLE); DAY AFTER PURCHASE, 1/26/2015, NOTICED PROBLEM WITH STEERING, PARKED VEHICLE, WOULD NOT DRIVE OR LET WIFE DRIVE. RETURNED VEHICLE IMMEDIATELY TO DEALER VIA ARMSTRONG TOWING (FLATBED) FOR REPAIRS/EVALUATION. WORTHINGTON FORD OF LONG BEACH: [XXX] ALL ACCUSED ME OF CAUSING THE DAMAGE; SAID IT ISN'T UNDER WARRANTY SERVICE AND WANTED TO CHARGE ME $600.00…

Owner-reported narrative. 25 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680739 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10702065 · 2015-03-26 (March 26, 2015)

DRIVING HOME THE VEHICLE VEERED TO THE LEFT SUDDENLY AT APPROX 30 MPH. TRIED STEERING IT TO THE RIGHT BUT IT WOULD NOT. GOT OUT OF VEHICLE TO SEE THAT THE LEFT FRONT SUSPENSION WAS ON THE GROUND. IT HAD BROKEN AWAY FROM THE CAR WHERE IT HAD BEEN CONNECTED. LUCKILY I WAS NOT HURT JUST SHAKEN UP. IT HAD TO BE PUT ON A TOW TRUCK AND TAKEN TO FORD. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 4,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10702065 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10822763 · 2016-01-28 (January 28, 2016)

WE HAVE HAD CONTINUAL FAILURES WITH OUR 2015 AND 2016 FORD EXPLORERS WITH THE POLICE PACKAGE. THE BODY CONTROL MODULES, WIRING HARNESSES, RESTRAINT CONTROL MODULES THAT ARE EITHER PREVENTING NEW UNITS BEING PLACED INTO SERVICE OR FAIL ONCE THEY HAVE BEEN PLACED INTO SERVICE. WE CURRENTLY HAVE TWO OF THESE UNITS THAT WE PURCHASED OFF OF OUR STATE CONTRACT IN WASHINGTON STATE THAT ARE STILL AT THE DEALER. WE PURCHASED AND RECEIVED THESE UNITS IN NOVEMBER OF 2015. I HAVE PROVIDED THE VIN NUMBERS TO THESE TWO UNITS THAT ARE EFFECTED ALONG WITH THE …

Owner-reported narrative. 150 miles reported. Look up ODI 10822763 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10907077 · 2016-09-16 (September 16, 2016)

AUGUST 19:IDENTIFIED 3 ERROR CODES, ONE OF WHICH WAS THE POWER STEERING. TECH. SAID VEHICLE WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER IF IT LOST POWER STEERING BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF EXPLORER. SERVICE CHECKED WIRING AND CONNECTIONS, AND THEY HAD ALSO DRIVEN THE VEHICLE, BUT THEY NEEDED MORE TIME WITH THE VEHICLE. AUGUST 28: ON A CLEAR, WARM DAY AT ABOUT 1:00 PM, DRIVING 6 PEOPLE IN THE EXPLORER ON THE EXPRESSWAY WHEN WE STARTED EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS. CHIMING NOISES WERE HEARD INITIALLY, THEN INTERMITTENTLY. THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS STARTED BLINKING ON AN…

Owner-reported narrative. 31,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10907077 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10664314 · 2014-12-15 (December 15, 2014)

I WAS DRIVING YESTERDAY AND A MESSAGE POPPED UP "TERRAIN MANAGEMENT SYSTEM FAULT" AND THEN ALL OF A SUDDEN, A CHECK BRAKES MESSAGE SHOWED, LEAVING THE BRAKE INDICATOR, ABS MESSAGE SAYING IT IS OFF AND AN "AWD OFF" MESSAGE. THIS HAPPENED REPEATEDLY EVEN AFTER TURNING THE CAR OFF FOR HOURS AND RESTARTING. PICTURES WERE TAKEN OF THE MESSAGES AND IT WAS DROPPED AT THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP. THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD ABS SENSOR, BUT UPON FURTHER INVESTIGATION, SOMETHING IS REALLY WRONG IN THE COMPUTER AND SOME OT…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10664314 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10705832 · 2015-04-15 (April 15, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKE LINE ON THE FRONT PASSENGER AND FRONT DRIVER SIDE FRACTURED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE FRONT BRAKE LINE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. AN AUTHORIZED DEALER REPLACED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE BRAKE LINES. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10705832 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10864888 · 2016-05-14 (May 14, 2016)

I LOOSE POWER WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS ALL THE TIME. IT IS VERY NOTICEABLE WHE CAR SHIFT INTO 3RD GEAR. MY RPM'S GO FROM 4000 TO BELOW 3000 ( NORMAL ACCELERATION). WHEN I GIVE IT A LOT OF GAS I START TO SMELL THE TURBOS BURNING. PROBABLY CAUSE BY THE FACT THE ETANOL GAS IS NOT COMPATIBLE WITH THIS TWIN TURBO SET UP. NOT TO MENTION THE TRANSMISSION LEAKS AS WELL AS THE BOTTOM SIDE OF THE THROTTLE BODY. I LOVE FORD (AMERICAN MADE). BUT AS AN AMERICAN I FEEL THAT THEY FELLED ME. BREAKS MY HEART. ANYONE KNOW WHERE TO BUY A GOOD CHEVY FROM.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10864888 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10882240 · 2016-07-02 (July 2, 2016)

I BOUGHT THE CAR IN SEPTEMBER OF 2015 AND NOTICED UPON HARD ACCELERATION SUCH AS ENTERING THE INTERSTATE OR PASSING A CAR THERE IS A SMELL OF EXHAUST THAT COMES INTO THE CABIN AREA AND IN ORDER TO RELIEVE THE SMELL THE WINDOWS NEED TO BE CRACKED A LITTLE BIT AND THIS ONLY HAPPENS UPON HARD ACCELERATION.I HAVE NOT HAD THIS EXPERIENCE WITH ANY OTHER VEHICLE. I HAVE ALSO HAD PROBLEMS WITH THE TRANSMISSION BUT THEY CANNOT SEEM TO FIGURE OUT WHEN ACCELERATING BETWEEN 20 AND 40 MILES PER HOUR YOU FEEL A SHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHICH FOR A NEW VEHIC…

Owner-reported narrative. 5,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10882240 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10650450 · 2014-10-27 (October 27, 2014)

MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER (VIN #[XXX]), WHICH HAS LESS THAN 3,000 MILES ON IT, JERKED VIOLENTLY AND STALLED AT 70 MPH ON FRIDAY, OCTOBER 17, 2014 WHEN MY PARTNER [XXX] WAS DRIVING IT. AFTER THE SUDDEN JERK EVERY LIGHT ON THE DASH LIT UP WITH WARNING LIGHT INDICATORS. THE CAR STARTED ROUGHLY THREE MINUTES LATER LIKE NOTHING HAD HAPPENED. WE'RE LUCKY [XXX] WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE ON I-75 AND WASN'T KILLED. I TOOK THE CAR LATER THAT DAY FOR IN-TOWN DRIVING ONLY AND IT HAPPENED 3 ADDITIONAL TIMES WITHIN 2 MILES FROM MY HOME (WITH THE SAME VERY STRONG…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10650450 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10694109 · 2015-03-13 (March 13, 2015)

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 45 MPH, ALL THE WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AND A WARNING ALARM CHIMED. THE VEHICLE STALLED AND WOULD NOT RESTART. THE CONTACT HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE COMMUNICATION MODULE NEEDED REPLACING. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED SEVERAL TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10694109 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10923962 · 2016-11-03 (November 3, 2016)

EXHAUST GAS SMELL INSIDE THE CABIN DURING AND AFTER ACCELERATION, HILL CLIMBING OR TRAILER TOWING.

Owner-reported narrative. 10,008 miles reported. Look up ODI 10923962 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10946475 · 2017-01-19 (January 19, 2017)

I OWN A 2015 FORD EXPLORER AND HAVE COMPLAINED NUMEROUS TIMES TO THE DEALERSHIP ABOUT THE SMELL OF TOXIC GAS SMELL OR ROTTEN EGG SMELL UPON ACCELERATION. THEY ARE AWARE OF THE PROBLEM BUT HAVE NOT FIX FOR IT. I FILED A CLAIM WITH AUTONATION FORD A FEW MONTHS BACK AND LEFT SEVERAL MESSAGES, AS INSTRUCTED, FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER OF THE DEALERSHIP AND HAVE GOTTEN NOWHERE. HE DOES NOT RETURN MY CALL. I HAVE CHILDREN THAT SIT IN MY CAR AND I KNOW IT IS NOT SAFE. UPON RESEARCH IT IS THE RELEASE OF CARBON MONOXIDE AND COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10946475 at NHTSA ↗