U.S. public vehicle records

Ford EXPLORER problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

31,844 owner complaints analyzed

141 distinct recall campaigns

68,775 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1977 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: 2026-09-12 (September 12, 2026). 16,152 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3,649 of 31,844 complaints (11.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	4,373	13.7%
Transmission and shifting	3,523	11.1%
Braking behavior	2,703	8.5%
Engine operation	1,038	3.3%
Electrical and battery issues	1,024	3.2%
Fuel system concerns	327	1.0%

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.

Steering

3,649

Unknown Or Other

3,041

Power Train

2,363

Structure

2,051

Engine

2,046

Power Train:Automatic Transmission

1,909

Tires:Tread/Belt

1,858

Structure:Body

1,839

Steering: 3,649; Unknown Or Other: 3,041; Power Train: 2,363; Structure: 2,051; Engine: 2,046; Power Train:Automatic Transmission: 1,909; Tires:Tread/Belt: 1,858; Structure:Body: 1,839

Reported problems by failure mileage

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

Under 25,000

2,871

25,000 to 49,999

2,712

50,000 to 74,999

3,269

75,000 to 99,999

2,832

100,000 to 149,999

3,089

150,000 and above

1,379

Under 25,000: 2,871; 25,000 to 49,999: 2,712; 50,000 to 74,999: 3,269; 75,000 to 99,999: 2,832; 100,000 to 149,999: 3,089; 150,000 and above: 1,379

50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3,269). 15,692 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.

1995

544

1996

414

2000

3,896

2001

1,365

2002

841

2003

863

2004

861

2005

884

2006

672

2007

777

2008

1,052

2009

857

2010

1,000

2011

692

2012

646

2013

548

2014

694

2015

614

2016

992

2017

1,492

2018

1,032

2019

1,243

2020

882

2021

902

2022

1,050

2023

1,765

2024

1,748

2025

2,437

2026

1,081

Complaints over time data
Category	Count
1995	544
1996	414
2000	3896
2001	1365
2002	841
2003	863
2004	861
2005	884
2006	672
2007	777
2008	1052
2009	857
2010	1000
2011	692
2012	646
2013	548
2014	694
2015	614
2016	992
2017	1492
2018	1032
2019	1243
2020	882
2021	902
2022	1050
2023	1765
2024	1748
2025	2437
2026	1081

1995: 544; 1996: 414; 2000: 3,896; 2001: 1,365; 2002: 841; 2003: 863; 2004: 861; 2005: 884; 2006: 672; 2007: 777; 2008: 1,052; 2009: 857; 2010: 1,000; 2011: 692; 2012: 646; 2013: 548; 2014: 694; 2015: 614; 2016: 992; 2017: 1,492; 2018: 1,032; 2019: 1,243; 2020: 882; 2021: 902; 2022: 1,050; 2023: 1,765; 2024: 1,748; 2025: 2,437; 2026: 1,081

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 4,373 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 3,523 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2,703 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 723175 · 2000-05-25 (May 25, 2000)

VISITED DEALER WITH COMPLAINT OF NOISE(GROWL) IN STEERING COLUMN. WAS ADVISED THAT THIS WAS NORMAL. ALSO, FRONT SUSPENSION HAS NUMEROUS SQUEAKS AS YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE IN AN OLDER VEHICLE THAT HAS NOT HAD PROPER LUBRICATION. DEALER ADVISED THIS WAS NORMAL. DOES NOT SEEM NORMAL. I INTEND TO TAKE VEHICLE TO SPECIALIZED SUSPENSION REPAIR SHOP FOR EVALUATION. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 723175 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10044439 · 2003-10-22 (October 22, 2003)

WHEN DRIVING 4-WHEEL DRIVE ENGAGED WITHOUT WARNING. THIS CAUSED STEERING WHEEL TO PULL EITHER RIGHT OR LEFT. HAD TO MAINTAIN CONTROL. DRIVER SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO DISENGAGE 4-WHEEL DRIVE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10044439 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 960285 · 1995-02-21 (February 21, 1995)

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED, TRANSMISSION IS NOT LARGE ENOUGH TO PULL THE VEHICLE WEIGHT. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 960285 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 966874 · 1995-06-14 (June 14, 1995)

TRANSMISSION HAS FAILED SIX TIMES. WOULD NOT SHIFT. TT

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 966874 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 982535 · 1996-04-09 (April 9, 1996)

VEHICLE'S FRONT DISC ROTORS WARP WHEN APPLYING BRAKES, VEHICLE WILL VIBRATE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 982535 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 507612 · 1996-08-16 (August 16, 1996)

ANTILOCK BRAKES LOCK UP UPON ENGAGEMENT, CAUSING VEHICLE TO SKID MOMENTARILY.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 507612 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10049974 · 2003-12-03 (December 3, 2003)

WHILE COMING TO A STOP AT 20 MPH VEHICLE STALLED/ LOST POWER. CONSUMER PULLED OVER AND MANAGED TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 58,410 miles reported. Look up ODI 10049974 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10012376 · 2003-04-07 (April 7, 2003)

ERRORS WERE MADE IN THE INSTALLATION OF THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR. MR. *AK. THE VEHICLE STALLED AFTER THE CONSUMER WAS TOLD THE REPAIRS WERE MADE, CONSUMER REQUESTED REIMBURSEMENT. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10012376 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 745034 · 2001-05-07 (May 7, 2001)

TIRE "DETREADED" AT HIGHWAY SPEED, CAUSING MAJOR FENDER AND ELECTRICAL DAMAGE TO TAILLIGHT. FORTUNATELY THE TIRE DID NOT GO FLAT. *AK (DOT NUMBER: HYKC FRX TIRESIZE: P205 75 R1)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 745034 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10007047 · 2001-05-31 (May 31, 2001)

FUEL TANK-VAPOR VENT VALVE CARRIER WELD FAILED. DEALER FAILED TO DIAGNOSE PROBLEM. INDEPENDENT REPAIR FACILITY FOUND FUEL LEAK, REPLACED FUEL TANK AT MY EXPENSE. I RECENTLY LEARNED OF RECALL NO. 91V025000. FORD STATES THAT THIS IS ADVISORY BULLETIN ONLY AND NOT A RECALL, AND IN ANY CASE, DOES NOT APPLY TO MY VEHICLE. I ORDERED MY VEHICLE IN MAY 1990 AND TOOK DELIVERY IN SEPTEMBER 1990. I BELIEVE THAT MY VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE BEEN INCLUDED IN RECALL, AND THAT DEALER THE SHOULD HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM CONSIDERING RECALL BULLETIN. *JB *NLM …

Owner-reported narrative. 79,300 miles reported. Look up ODI 10007047 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10046613 · 2003-11-07 (November 7, 2003)

AFTER FILLING THE FUEL TANK VEHICLE CAUGHT ON FIRE FROM UNDER THE HOOD WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH. *AK

Owner-reported narrative. 100,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10046613 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.