2023 Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
107 owner complaints analyzed
15 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2023 model year. Data snapshot: . 25 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 24 of 107 complaints (22.4%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 14 | 13.1% |
| Braking behavior | 10 | 9.3% |
| Transmission and shifting | 9 | 8.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 9 | 8.4% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.7% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 0.9% |
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 | 24 |
| Electrical System | 13 |
| Suspension | 13 |
| Steering | 12 |
| Power Train | 11 |
| Engine | 10 |
| Structure:Body | 7 |
| Back Over Prevention | 5 |
Unknown Or Other: 24; Electrical System: 13; Suspension: 13; Steering: 12; Power Train: 11; Engine: 10; Structure:Body: 7; Back Over Prevention: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 18 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 18; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (18). 82 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 |
|---|---|
| 2023 | 19 |
| 2024 | 28 |
| 2025 | 30 |
| 2026 | 30 |
2023: 19; 2024: 28; 2025: 30; 2026: 30
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 14 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 9 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 11517340 · 2023-04-16 (April 16, 2023)
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 of the other. Even after trying to shut off the lane keeping assist feature, it it would automatically turn back on. Luckily, most of those incidents would happen in low traffic areas. Until the final time it happened, resulting in a head on collisi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11517340 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11536377 · 2023-08-03 (August 3, 2023)
I leased a brand new 2023 Ford Explorer. The day I was driving it home I noticed a distinct cracking/popping sound when I turned the steering wheel to the left while lifting my foot off the brake. It is not a series of pops. It’s just one pop when the wheel is turned. When I got home I took out the paper mat that was on the floor to make sure there were no other sounds in the car. The sound happens each time I am in my vehicle & it only happens when the wheel is turned to the left going less than 1 mph. I took it to a Ford dealership. The servi…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11536377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11532863 · 2023-07-17 (July 17, 2023)
-PARKING BRAKE IS AUTO ENGAGED 100% OF THE TIME AT START or WHILE SHIFTING OUT OF PARK or SHIFTING BETWEEN GEARS. DRIVE or REVERSE -TO DISENGAGE THE PARK BRAKE YOU HAVE TO DEPRESS THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. -PRESSURE ON THE ACCELERATOR TO DISENGAGE IS INCONNSISTENT EVERY TIME. -VEHICLE LURCHES UNCONTROLLABLY WHEN RELEASING THE VEHICLE OFF THE EMERGENCY PARKING BRAKE SETTING. -THE JOLT OF THE VEHICLE FROM THE DEPRESS PRESSURE IS SO SIGNIFICANT AND DANGEROUS CAUSING THE RISK TO HITTING ANY PARKED VEHICLE WHILE PARALLEL PARKING OR HITTING STRUCTURE/G…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11532863 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11513768 · 2023-03-25 (March 25, 2023)
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 crazy. You slam on the accelerator the RPMs start going up then it starts fluctuating crazy.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11513768 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11557544 · 2023-11-29 (November 29, 2023)
Every time i was traveling in sport mode, shifting was delayed & was very rough transition to next gear. Car was not accelerating or decelerating properly. Burning smell came from the engine. Car’s electrical momentarily went haywire. Wrench light came on. This happened within 18 hours of purchasing this NEW car. And several times over the subsequent week. Indicator light went on intermittently & so did same problems described above. My safety was put at risk because my car was not driving properly which caused distraction. I was confused abo…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11557544 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11578835 · 2024-03-22 (March 22, 2024)
Vehicle wouldn't start using push button start, several modules/components reported errors: traction control, parking break, steering, shifting. The vehicle drove fine less than 24 hours prior to 3/3/2024. Following a week at the dealership, Ford Motor Company and the Ford dealership determined the main wiring harness was the culprit. If the wiring harness fails while the vehicle is in motion/operation, that could result in a serious safety issue.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11578835 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11553342 · 2023-11-03 (November 3, 2023)
Vehicle purchased in May 2023 (51323) at koons silver spring. Vehicle had computer and 'random stalling' issues where the car would not start/stay on in August 2023. Called dealership, vehicle towed to Koons for repair. Service team said they could not replicate issue. Vehicle continued having intermittent issues, vehicle dropped off for repair in sept 2023 - service team repaired main computer system. Oct 3 2023 check engine light came on and vehicle continued random stalling/jarring/jerking forward for amount of time that vehicle had to be d…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11553342 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11624049 · 2024-11-07 (November 7, 2024)
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 15-20 MPH, the vehicle stalled on several occasions. The vehicle was restarted after fifteen minutes. The vehicle failed to unlock from inside or outside with the key. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the ground wire had caused the failure. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately…
Owner-reported narrative. 10,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11624049 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11698876 · 2025-11-12 (November 12, 2025)
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine was misfiring, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who replaced the spark plug,s but the failure persisted. Later, while driving, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the coolant hose had failed, and the hose was replaced. Shortly after retrieving the vehicle the misfire continued with the check engine warning light illumi…
Owner-reported narrative. 35,682 miles reported. Look up ODI 11698876 at NHTSA ↗