Body problems of the 2019 Ford Explorer - part 1

The b post on the driver side flew off while driving. This is has been an ongoing issue. Ford has fixed them before and they keep causing issues on both the driver and passenger side. The exterior panel does not stay connected to the truck. It flew off at highway speeds, causing the air and rear tailgate to malfunction after it pulled a wire out. This is a huge safety issue Ford refuses to acknowledge.

The a-pillar applique trim, which borders the left and right side of the front windshield of my 2019 Ford Explorer has been under recall since January 2024. I've taken it to bill utter Ford in denton, texas, on four separate occasions to ask for it to be repaired. Generally stated, every six months since the recall. They tell me its too bad, there are np arts to repair it. Question, how can you all allow 2 years to pass and not force them to do something? on March 29, 2026, the drivers side piece came flying off at 30 miles per hour. Luckily no one was behind me. Now my windshield has no protection trim. Further, I cut my right hand trying to force the broken pieces back in.

Similar to NHTSA recall number 24v031, driver's "b-pillar" trim (top edge) has detached and loose, and is only secured in-place by remaining anchors/attachments. In inspecting underlying substrate, it appears that a mechanical anchor is missing and adhesive exhibits cohesive failure (remainder adhesive on both supporting/underlying substrate and backside of trim.

B-pillar panels (both driver side and passenger, driver side has keyless entry). Panel could be come completely detached if not properly secured and cause a driving hazard in the roadway. No, the dealership stated I would have to pay out pocket to repair (estimate of $1900). Yes, it was inspected while at the dealership for a separate recall. No, the adhesive or clips that keep the panels on the door have either completely broken or non-existent.

The a pillars are coming off. Other years make and model were recalled . The a pillars on the sides should be recalled just as the front b pillars.

In February I was driving to an appt. When the side panel on driver's door broke & started flying around & hitting car. (it has the numbers to enter the car without a key. ) so I had to roll down window 1/2 way, grab the broken part & drive 18 miles to town, holding the part so it wouldn't fly off (in 30 degree weather!) so I drove by the Ford dealership where I got my car. They thought there was a recall on that item so I've been waiting. I just saw on the NHTSA site there was a recall for that item on 2016-17? Explorers, but mine is 2019!!! would you please add the 2019 model to that recall? also, I'm still waiting (1 1/2 years later) for the recalled trim pieces around the front windshield.

I hand washed the vehicle on 1/10/2025 and noted no defects. On [xxx] traveling northbound on [xxx] in the vicinity of ontario, California at approximately [xxx], I heard a "clunk," but did not observe any road hazard. Upon arriving at ridgecrest, California I discovered that the passenger pillar applique was missing. I reported event to service at jim charlon Ford and was informed that currently no fix available. On 1/14/2025, I had jim charlon Ford remove the driver side pillar applique remove for purposes safety. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Exterior a-pillar trim part detached, now caused cracked windshield where trim would have been. The part has been detached for months and my local Ford dealership has no temporary or permanent solution. My windshield now has a spidering crack where it would have been protected .

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v031000 (structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

At two different times and locations, the side piece on the front windshield have become disconnected and flown off while traveling down the highway. The recall has been in effect for over a year and still no dealerships around me have the parts to fix the recall.

The a-pillar passenger side flank flew off while driving.

The trim that is on either side of the front windshield has come loose. The one on the driver side came loose while I was on the interstate and struck the vehicle behind me. It caused the driver to lose control and spin out. Fortunately, it did not cause a collision, but it could have caused a loss of life, we were travelling at highway speeds. The trim on the passenger side was still on the vehicle, but it had popped loose and was sticking up at an odd angle. I removed it to prevent the same thing from happening.

The b-pillar trim piece has become detached from the vehicle due to broken clips and when driving it appears as if it will fall off. Ford will not address the issue, other then using two sided adhesive tape which needs to be replaced continuously. The clips that hold the trim in place are broken and this is common on many Explorers. There are other body trim pieces which have been recalled for and this needs to be added as well. The a-pillar trim was recently a recall item and this is just as much a hazard.

The driver's side exterior windshield moulding detached from the vehicle traveling at interstate speed (75 mph) and struck the driver's door above the window. The apparent cause of detachment was failure of the retaining clips and adhesive that holds the external piece to the internal rubber moulding.

Driver side pillar molding next to the windshield flew off unexpectedly while driving on the highway.

Windshield trim piece (passenger side) detached from vehicle while travelling at 40 mph.

Passenger side window trim blew off at highway speed without warning. Have not had it to the dealer yet as this appears to be a problem for the Explorer. I am not sure where the piece ended up. There was not a vehicle immediately behind the car so I don’t believe it struck anyone.

We were traveling on i90 west of sioux falls, sd. 06-01-2023. There is a 14 mile stretch that is under construction and the traffic is head to head in that stretch. We met a semi that created a gust of wind that blew the front window trim off the passenger side of the vehicle. I do not know where the trim went once it exited the vehicle. It was in an area where construction workers were working along side of the road and there was a line of cars behind us.

While driving on highway I-20 at 80 miles per hour, the trim panel around the windshield detached. The panel detached on the drive side but the passenger side is already detaching from the bottom part.

I have been waiting on parts for the a-pillar trim recall for a couple years. I've checked with 3 different local Ford dealers and have been told these parts are still back-ordered. This is a safety issue as the trim can detach while driving at higher speeds on the interstate.

The front window side panel is in the process of coming off on both side it’s already detaching from the top of both side & im afraid it’s gonna hot someone if it flies off I started to notice this a little after I got the car & im noticing more & the dealer ship saw it when I got the car & said it’s not on recall.

Windshield trim panels flying off vehicle while driving down the road.

In October of 2022 a the top part of exterior trim beside my windshield pulled away from the vehicle. I took it to our local auto shop and they cleaned the adhesive off the lower piece of molding and installed a new top molding. I paid $166. 15 for this repair. Then in March of 2023 I was driving on the freeway when this same piece of trim suddenly flew off the vehicle just missing the car behind me, I took it to our local auto shop and they replaced the piece at a cost of $344. 10. Then in June of 2023 the same piece flew off again while I was driving on the freeway, again just missing the car behind me. This time I paid $374. 16 to have the piece replaced again, in February of 2024 I received a safety recall notice from Ford and NHTSA saying the there is a defect with my vehicle and the a pillar applique trim clip attachments are not properly engaged due to improper assembly or repair. I took the vehicle to a Ford dealership after receiving this notice and was told there was not yet a remedy and I would be notified when there was one. I have checked the NHTSA website several times since then since then and it indicated that a remedy should be available by the end of 2024. However, it is now mid-January 2025 and still no remedy and I have paid more than $800 to temporarily repair this issue.

I saw an article about the a pillars coming off while driving and wanted to report my story/experience with this problem vehicle! I pay wayyyy too much for this vehicle to be a 2019 and still have low miles (46,700) for it to be such a safety hazard for my family, I definitely expected more for such a big first Ford purchase. Very very disappointed. I don’t have all the receipts together right now to take pictures at this time but they are at my house if needed. -the a pillars have flown off the vehicle while driving down the freeway even after being fixed, even most recent fixes will not completely stay down and could still come off again. This has led to the window trim being ripped off with them and it all causing wind issues and allows stuff to catch on the windows while driving or build up underneath for weather conditions. -there is something within the vehicles power train that will not take alignments and has a very bad shimmy/sway within the wheels while driving. This is very very unsafe at any speed but quite bad at highway speeds, especially with wind because of the a-pillars issue. The way it moves while driving it feels like you’re not in control of the vehicle. Multiple alignments have been attempted, tire swaps and brand new ones have been put on and it continues to get worse. Nobody can figure out what’s causing this. -there are some electrical and heating shortages within the vehicle and intermittently these futures will glitch out and won’t work. Sometimes the display screen won’t come on or shut off, sometimes all the wipers will stop mid swipe and not fully stay down, sometimes the mirrors won’t adjust, some sensors barely work, there are times the seat warmer doesn’t work or does partially, the floorboard heat will only put out cold air unless it’s on auto and high, some lighting functions glitch out, same with the radio, sometimes the auto start don’t work, sometimes the seat positions will stop in mid move and won’t reposition.

The front pillar columns on either side of the windshield have flown off while driving on the interstate. This is a ongoing Ford issue that should be fixed and is so dangerous could crack someone’s windshield.

While driving on I-95 on 5/4, the rh windshield moulding broke off suddenly and flew off behind the car, fortunately not hitting another vehicle, although that could easily have happened. I took the car to mullinex Ford in new smyrna beach, FL on 5/9; they said the exterior moulding (which broke off) and the underlying rh a pillar moulding needed to be replaced (costing me $432, since it wasn't covered by my extended warranty). . Read more...

Driving 70 mph on interstate the driver side windshield trim came off. Startled the driver and caused car behind us to hit it on their windshield and lost control for a short time. In looking at trim clips they are plastic and 3 of them were broken. I drove to a Ford dealer and was told this is a problem but they have not recall on it. Components should not be falling off a 60k car. No warning that this might occur.

Subject: urgent complaint – recall repair delayed due to unavailable parts (2019 Explorer) to whom it may concern, I am writing to formally file a complaint regarding a safety-related recall/service campaign for my 2019 Ford Explorer (VIN: [xxx] ), specifically concerning the roof rack trim detachment issue (customer satisfaction program / recall #20n11 or 21s22). I visited an authorized Ford dealership to schedule the required repair, but was told that the necessary parts are currently unavailable, and no estimated delivery date could be provided. It has been an extended delay, and I am concerned about the continued safety risk this issue may present. As this is a known issue affecting many vehicles, I respectfully request: •a clear explanation of when the required parts will become available •an expedited resolution or alternative dealership that can complete the repair •a formal record of this delay for safety and warranty documentation purposes please treat this matter as urgent. I would appreciate a prompt response with a timeline and any appropriate next steps. Sincerely, [xxx] phone: [xxx] email: [xxx] location: manhattan, new york VIN: [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

Nthsa acknowledged there was an issue with 2019 Ford Explorer roof rails being a danger and filed a warning which Ford supposedly issued a recall which never happened, had my SUV to coggin Ford in orange city FL they made several repairs and the rails are still falling off SUV, now the dealership is stating parts are on backorder, nthsa filed wrong recall number with complaints, called Ford only to get a runaround for a week.

Roof rail covers are falling off. Ford dealer where purchased has repaired this trouble three times and the covers are now detached worse than ever. Dealer where purchased refuses to work on the vehicle and told me to take the vehicle elsewhere. Needs to be corrected before the covers come off at highway speeds and possibly create a catastrophic situation for vehicles following.

As per a recall on this vehicle, the roof rails become detached and have the potential to fly off the car at high speeds. I have brought this in to a Ford service center numerous times to be addressed and upon repair each time, the issue recurs. The latest conversation I have had with a Ford motor company representative is that the issue is known but there is no known fix for it at this time. Meanwhile, I, like so many others, are driving around with what can be a potential safety hazard for other drivers.

Roof rail covers on left and right sides of 2019 Ford Explorer come loose after dealership repaired Ford TSB-20-2154, still coming loose, they can fly off vehicle and cause an accident electrical wires are coded with soy causing squirrels / rodents etc. To eat engine wires and trying to build a nest in engine can creat a fire.

Roof rails come loose, totally unsecured to vehicle. One has fallen off while driving, one was destroyed in car wash. The rails seem to pop loose no matter what is happening with the vehicle (I. E. Parked, driving). This is a well documented problem online but nothing has been done to resolve it.

Roof rack on top of vehicle came off while driving. The plastic clips aren't enough to keep it on the vehicle. Vehicle had 12k miles when this happened. This is very unsafe I shouldn't have to worry about my roof racks coming off my vehicle.

Rear hatch electric opening/closing mechanism failed - hatch came down a struck the head of a person causing an injury. Also because the hatch wouldn't close properly exhaust entered the vehicle when being driven.