2010 Ford EXPLORER: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
115 owner complaints analyzed
1 distinct recall campaigns
40,707 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2010 model year. Data snapshot: . 95 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Power Train is the most frequently named component, appearing in 26 of 115 complaints (22.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 34 | 29.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 16 | 13.9% |
| Steering behavior | 5 | 4.3% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 4 | 3.5% |
| Fuel system concerns | 2 | 1.7% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 26 |
| Seats | 17 |
| Engine | 14 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 14 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Service Brakes | 9 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Unknown Or Other | 8 |
Power Train: 26; Seats: 17; Engine: 14; Vehicle Speed Control: 14; Electrical System: 10; Service Brakes: 9; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Unknown Or Other: 8
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 35 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 15 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 12 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 14 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 35; 25,000 to 49,999: 15; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 12; 100,000 to 149,999: 14; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (35). 20 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 |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
2009: 2; 2010: 20; 2011: 18; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 15; 2015: 7; 2016: 9; 2017: 7; 2018: 8; 2019: 3; 2020: 2; 2021: 4; 2022: 4; 2023: 1; 2024: 1; 2025: 2; 2026: 3
Pattern summary
Power Train leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 34 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 16 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 5 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.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10294408 · 2009-12-03 (December 3, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADREST ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTENDS OUTWARD WHICH FORCES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REST HIS SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED SEVEN DAYS AGO WITHOUT HIM TEST DRIVING IT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS SINCE ALL OF 2010 FORD EXPLORERS WERE DESIGNED WITH THAT TYPE OF HEADREST. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT ROTATE THE H…
Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 10294408 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10295750 · 2009-12-15 (December 15, 2009)
THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10295750 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10320279 · 2010-03-16 (March 16, 2010)
JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EXPLORER, TRADING IN OUR 2006. SINCE THIS IS OUR SEVENTH EXPLORER, WE DIDN'T BOTHER WITH A TEST DRIVE. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME, WE WERE BOTH VERY UNCOMFORTABLE - THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE ANGLED SO FAR FORWARD THAT WE COULD NOT GET COMFORTABLE. WE PRIMARILY USE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG TRIPS, SO THAT WILL BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I JUST SPENT A FEW HOURS RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A SOLUTION; AND IT'S NOT JUST A FORD PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE TO BE THAT WAY TO MINIMIZE WHIPLAS…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10320279 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10321460 · 2010-03-22 (March 22, 2010)
2010 FORD EXPLORER RENTAL FROM HERTZ. APPROX 3500 MILES. AFTER 10 MILES DASHBOARD RED WARNING SAID "SERVICE RSC IMMEDIATELY" ALSO AUDIBLE ALARM REPEATED EVERY FEW MINUTES. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE. AFTER 10 MORE MILES, WARNING REPEATED THEN STOPPED. THEN CAR BEGAN TO PULSATE BRAKING PULL TO THE LEFT. HAD TO DRIVE THAT WAY 45 MILES TO AIRPORT TO EXCHANGE THE CAR WITH HERTZ.*DT
Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10321460 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10325969 · 2010-04-16 (April 16, 2010)
ON MARCH 29 AT 9PM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND PASSING A VEHICLE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. IF FELT LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 WITH 63,445 MILES. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WAS ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP, UNABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH OR SHIFT GEARS. REVERSE WAS COMPLETELY NOT WORKING. I HAD REPORTED THAT I SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS A YEAR PRIOR, AND DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. IN OCTOBER 2009 AT 59,492 MILES…
Owner-reported narrative. 63,445 miles reported. Look up ODI 10325969 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10326985 · 2010-04-22 (April 22, 2010)
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE AFTER DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. PRESSING HARDER ACTIVATED THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED INTO THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. NEAR T-BONE ACCIDENT. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OVER REV UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING KEY INTO OFF POSITION. RESTARTED FINE, BUT HAD PUL…
Owner-reported narrative. 7,600 miles reported. Look up ODI 10326985 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330645 · 2010-05-16 (May 16, 2010)
THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10330645 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10330895 · 2010-05-17 (May 17, 2010)
MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER JUMP FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT HAD HAPPEN TWICE. MAY 15,2010 AND MAY 17,2010. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 1,290 miles reported. Look up ODI 10330895 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
1 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
10V161000 · Seats:Front Assembly:Recliner
Reported: 2010-04-20 (April 20, 2010)
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA campaign record ↗