general problems of the 2021 Ford Explorer - part 1

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 65 mph, the vehicle ran over an object and a moment later, the vehicle suddenly jolted very hard and transmission was upshifting and downshifting erratically. The contact was able to pull over safely. The contact became aware of a foul burning odor inside the vehicle cabin of the vehicle coming from the transmission. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer where technicians confirmed a front axle leak and discovered that the internal e-clutch inside the transmission had come apart, causing the transmission fluid to burn. The contact referenced Ford special service message ssm: 49507 and Ford technical service bulletin: 23-2250; as possible causes of the failure. The failure mileage was 69,000.

While driving with the cruise on at 74 mph the vehicle jerked as if the brakes had been tapped. I shut off the cruise and tried to accelerate but nothing happened. At this point I signaled to change lanes and pulled to the right shoulder. There were no dash lights or warning alarms prior to the engine stalling. Clearly an engine stalling at this rate of speed could have ended bad for all 5 passengers and surrounding vehicles. Vehicle is being towed to augusta, KS Ford dealer this morning 9/21/26. Vehicle was scanned and is showing a hard code for low pressure to fuel pump. This vehicle is not currently included in the nhsta campaign 25v455000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormally loud sound and vibration coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that upon inspecting the vehicle, the contact became aware that the rear axle bolt and rear axle were detached. The failure reoccurred while the contact was driving out of the residence driveway. The vehicle was driven back into the driveway. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 22v255000 (power train); in June 2025. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 109,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle came to a complete stop in the middle of traffic. The vehicle was restarted, and the contact attempted to shift it into drive(d); however, the shifter returned to park(p) independently. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer stated that the transmission needed to be replaced due to a transmission rollaway issue. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 26v402000 (power train). The contact stated that a yellow light was flashing on the instrument panel, with an abnormal sound coming from the vehicle during the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the fault codes listed for the transmission failure were associated with the recall.

While attempting to operate the vehicle, the transmission/gear-selection system malfunctioned. When drive or reverse is selected, the vehicle does not remain in the selected gear and instead returns to park, preventing the vehicle from moving. The condition is repeatable and the vehicle is currently disabled. The exact failed component is unknown. The vehicle has not yet been repaired. An authorized Ford dealer has declined to work on the vehicle after we requested written clarification regarding coverage. Ford motor company has been contacted and a corporate case has been opened. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle can become completely immobile and cannot be relied upon to enter or remain in a drive gear when transportation is needed. No crash, fire, injury, or fatality occurred. The vehicle remains available for inspection.

I was driving down the road and the vehicle started to cut out like it was running out of fuel. Maybe 1 minute later it died in the middle of heavy traffic and would not re-start. I had to have it towed and I called Ford and they told me to wait until the repair remedy was available to have it fixed. I have been without this vehicle for 6 weeks now and still no remedy.

While driving the vehicle, in any mode, the car will stutter or "cough" causing it to slow down. I have to pull the vehicle to the slow lane until it eventually corrects itself. Also, on multiple occasions when I hit the gas the car stalls until I let off the gas pedal and let the car "think" for a moment and then it will drive. This happens a lot at stop signs or when the light changes. I will hit the gas to go and the car does nothing. It feels like the engine stalls even though the car is still on. On a few occasions I will be driving at high speeds on the interstate and I will punch the gas to go around a car and it stalls. On every occasion when this happens, whether I am pulling out at a busy intersection or am driving with the flow of traffic on the interstate, I am around multiple cars and cars are having to hit their brakes or swerve to avoid my vehicle. When this happens it only takes about 10 seconds for the car to go again but that is still long enough to get hit. I am scared to drive my car with my children in it because of this. A have contacted the dealership but they say to bring it in when it is acting up but it does not do it everyday so there is no way for me to do that. They also said they could keep it and drive it but they do no offer a loaner vehicle so I cannot be without my only vehicle for multiple days at a time. On other occasions the vehicle seems like it looses momentum and is very sluggish. Sometimes the car jerks into gear instead of a smooth transition.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission shifted hard. The failure had occurred on several occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that a software update was needed. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the parking brake engaged each time the vehicle was shifted into park, and the message "stuck in park" was displayed on the instrument panel while driving. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v402000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed the part was not available for the recall repair. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 72,000.

The vehicle has been failing shifting. There is something from with failure to shift. The vehicle won’t accelerate, and slows down in the middle of traffic and the truck has no other problem. I’ve only have it for 3 years with no problems. But this is a big safety issue while driving.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. The contact stated that the vehicle decelerated as if the vehicle was turned off. The contact stated that the vehicle then accelerated and an unknown warning light was illuminated. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the vehicle was inspected. The contact was informed that parts were unavailable. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure reoccurred and became a persistent failure. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle failed to respond as intended, and the vehicle bucked, with an abnormal burning oil odor. The transmission independently shifted into park. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v402000 (power train); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact was informed that the parts would be unavailable until 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 200,000.

Driving down road and lost power with grinding gears. Vehicle displayed warning on instrument panel briefly. Had to stop in middle of road and shift to park then drive to resume.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 mph down a hill, the engine and powertrain were resistant when the brakes were applied. No warning lights illuminated. A mobile mechanic was sent by a local dealer to inspect the vehicle. The mechanic determined that the failure was due to the transfer case but was not related to NHTSA campaign number: 26v402000 (power train). After test driving the vehicle, the mobile mechanic determined that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the local dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 89,200.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v402000 (power train); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the messages “service vehicle soon” and "shift service fault" were displayed. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had failed to repair the vehicle within a reasonable amount of time. The failure mileage was unknown.

Was driving down the interstate and the vehicle started making an awful noise and dash lights went crazy with cannot shift to park error on dash. We pulled over ASAP and shifted to park and went to exit vehicle and the car tried to roll off and wouldn’t engage in park and has since done this same thing 2 more times. Ford says there’s a recall and the software and parts won’t be available until may of 2027 I do not think this vehicle is safe to drive.

Nhtsa complaint: VIN [xxx]: transmission cooler (part 7869) ruptured, mixing fluid/coolant into corrosive glycol-acid in violation of ssm 52917. Contamination dissolved wiring insulation and delaminated clutch plates, causing systemic short circuits and can-bus load-shedding. Boiling fluid released toxic glycol/hydrocarbon vapors through hvac ducts into the cabin without notice, creating an inhalation hazard. Vehicle available for inspection at south bay Ford (bar #xxx; captive 93 days). Risk: on xxx short circuits caused complete power steering assist dropout mid-transit. Steering locked during a turn, causing a crash into gate posts, endangering my minor children inside. Cabin chemical vapor inhalation caused respiratory tract irritation, dizziness, and headaches. Open recall hazards remain for visibility loss (recall 26s14) and rollaway (recall 26s48 parts backordered to 2027). Confirmation: contamination, a -1,212-mile odometer fraud discrepancy, and bricked electrical starting systems confirmed by dealer records xxx. Admitted unauthorized repairs to mask trouble codes and evade ssm 52917 confirmed in writing by service director [xxx] xxx, violating CA bus & prof code 9884. 9. History: tracked under Ford rav buyback #xxx, corporate escalation #[xxx], and CA bureau of automotive repair investigator [xxx] (case #xxx). Total statutory loss is $54,628. 75. Symptoms: transmission drops began xxx (42,319 miles). Dealer cleared codes and coerced 500 extra miles. Xxx alerts included "powertrain malfunction" loops. Telematics registered false "vehicle is on" loops. On xxx, dealer blocked diagnostics via a manufactured battery charge demand exactly 24 hours before federal recall 26s48 launched. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

I am reporting a safety concern involving a delayed transmission gear engagement and delayed rearview camera activation. Intermittently, when shifting the vehicle from park into reverse or drive, there is a noticeable delay before the transmission actually engages the selected gear. During this delay, the rearview camera also fails to activate immediately. Because there is no immediate indication that the requested gear has engaged, I have experienced situations where I believed the vehicle was in reverse or drive, but it remained in the previous state for several seconds. In some instances, the transmission engages unexpectedly after the delay, causing the vehicle to move in a direction different from what I anticipated. For example, after selecting reverse, the vehicle may hesitate before moving, or after changing between reverse and drive, the delayed engagement can result in the vehicle moving in the previously engaged direction before finally shifting into the selected gear. This creates a significant safety hazard, particularly when parking, backing out of driveways, or maneuvering in areas with pedestrians or other vehicles. The delayed rearview camera activation further increases the risk because it prevents the driver from immediately seeing behind the vehicle while attempting to reverse. The issue occurs intermittently and without warning, making it difficult to predict. I am concerned that this condition could lead to a crash, property damage, or injury if the vehicle moves unexpectedly due to the delayed gear engagement. I request that NHTSA investigate this issue to determine whether it is related to a transmission, electronic shift control, or software defect affecting the safe operation of the vehicle.

While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle displays a "drive train malfunction" warning message and the traction control warning light illuminates. Shortly after the warning appears, the vehicle loses power and may enter a reduced-power mode or stall, creating a serious safety hazard in traffic. This has occurred while traveling on the highway, forcing sudden deceleration and creating the risk of being struck by other vehicles. The check engine light is illuminated, and diagnostic code p0a1e is present. The problem is intermittent and unpredictable, making it difficult to determine when the next failure will occur. The vehicle has been taken to Ford for diagnosis multiple times, and significant money has been spent attempting to repair the issue. Despite these efforts, the root cause has not been identified and the problem continues to occur. This defect affects the drivetrain system and impacts the safe operation of the vehicle. The sudden loss of power on the highway places the driver, passengers, and surrounding motorists at risk. Based on discussions with other owners, this appears to be a common issue affecting Ford Explorer police interceptor utility vehicles and warrants investigation by NHTSA.

I had my car parked in a driveway that has a slight incline. I was buckling my child in their car seat in the back when the car started to roll backwards. The car had been parked prior and was off when the rolling occurred. Now my car is in for service requiring an entirely new transmission (under 80,000 miles) after un-smooth driving led me to bring it in.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 26v117000 (visibility), 26v402000 (power train), and 26v451000 (seats); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 26v117000 (visibility) and 26v402000 (power train); however, the parts to perform the recall repairs were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. While driving at various speeds, the transmission shifted into park, the vehicle entered limp mode, the engine revved abnormally, and there was a smoke odor inside the vehicle. The contact coasted to the side of the road, shifted into park, and waited before shifting back into drive. While refueling the vehicle with the engine turned off and the nozzle inside the fuel filler neck, the vehicle suddenly rolled forward, pulling the fuel pump away from the station. The contact stated that the vehicle continued to roll unless the parking brake was engaged. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were unavailable for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was notified of the issues and stated that parts were expected in the second quarter of 2027. The failure mileage was approximately 64,000.

Transmission clutch failure. As a result my 2021 Ford Explorer needs a new transmission.

I am reporting ongoing safety-related powertrain and drivability concerns involving my 2021 Ford Explorer st in fresno, California. The vehicle has experienced recurring transmission and driveline problems, including harsh or delayed shifting, hesitation, abrupt gear engagement, jerking/surging, and inconsistent acceleration. These symptoms are similar to transmission concerns documented by Ford for 2021 Explorers equipped with the 10r60 automatic transmission, including harsh/delayed engagement or shifting and potential issues involving transmission controls, solenoid strategy, and main-control valves. The vehicle has also required cv axle/half-shaft repairs, raising additional concerns regarding driveline reliability. I am also concerned about the known rear differential/rear axle mounting-bolt defect affecting 2021 Explorers. Ford has documented that the rear axle mounting bolt may fracture, allowing the axle housing to move. This can result in severe vibration/noise and possible driveshaft or half-shaft disconnection, potentially causing loss of propulsion. The defect may also contribute to a vehicle rollaway hazard. These combined transmission, cv axle, and rear differential concerns create a significant safety risk. Delayed acceleration or engagement can prevent the vehicle from responding as expected when entering intersections, making left turns, merging onto highways, changing lanes, or avoiding hazards. Abrupt engagement after hesitation can cause unexpected vehicle movement. Failure of a cv axle, half-shaft, or rear axle/differential mounting component could cause sudden loss of propulsion or vehicle control. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate whether these recurring transmission and driveline problems represent a broader safety defect involving the 10r60 transmission, cv axles/half-shafts, rear differential mounting system, or related powertrain components.

On [xxx], we sent a 2021 Ford interceptor to j. C. Lewis Ford located at 309 w. Oglethorpe hwy, hinesville, georgia 31313 for a recall under 23s55. The recall is a safety issue related to a rear axle bolt and the possibility the bolt can fracture. We had the recall done and returned the vehicle to service. On or about [xxx], our fleet manager was called to the liberty county jail because this vehicle was making a loud noise from the rear end. Our fleet manager had the vehicle towed to the county shop where it was inspected. They concluded the vehicle would need to be towed to Ford for repair since the rear axle bolt fractured, the exact issue that was addressed under the recall. A few days later, we were notified that the dealer was refusing to pay for the repair since they had already done the recall. I contacted Ford customer service, case number [xxx], to try and resolve the issue. After going back and forth, I received notification on February 3, 2026, that financial assistance has been denied and that this concern is caused by how the vehicle was / is used over and form of manufacturer defect or previously completed recall. The vehicle is a police interceptor purchased for use as a patrol vehicle for the liberty county sheriff's office located in hinesville, georgia. The vehicle is assigned to our civil division and the operator serves evictions and civil documents. The vehicle is not used for patrol but even if it had been, that's the intended purpose of the vehicle when purchased. I have photos of the bolt which show it fractured and also shows the head of the bolt appears to have some damage, possibly from the manner in which it was installed. This failure has been identified as a safety issue related to the 2021 Ford interceptor and is not a new issue. The recall referenced an axle bolt that can fracture, and that did happen but Ford doesn't want to take responsibility. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

For full details please refer to complaint 11715221. Since the initial complaint, repairs have been completed and I will attach a list of parts that were replaced. The repair confirmed the rear axle bolt sheared and there were significant metal shavings in the rear differential. When the bolt broke, numerous other components were damaged as detailed in the repair documentation. Ford has refused to accept any responsibility for this repair even though the safety implications for this type of incident are alarming.

Rear differential/axle bolt broke, destroying other parts and making vehicle unsafe at the moment and then inoperable. Vehicle had previously had the recall work done for this exact issue prior to any issues/damage. Dealership is repairing the vehicle under warranty, but made sure to tell us that this is a known issue and the only true way to “fix” the issue is to install an aftermarket brace (at our cost).

When given gas to move from a complete stop, vehicle lost all power. After vehicle lost all power to rear wheels, warning lights flashed on cluster. Manually moved vehicle to side of road and checked under SUV to see rear axle was at a unusual angle and later discovered rear axle bolt on road. Vehicle was towed to dealership, which originally completed recall repair in July of this year, for this known issue. Repairs have been completed after 2 weeks, and was informed by dealership it was roughly 6 thousand in damages.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 23v675000 (power train); however, the repair failed to prevent a failure shortly after the vehicle was serviced. The contact stated that after shifting from reverse(r) to drive(d), there was an abnormal grinding sound coming from the vehicle before the vehicle lost automotive power. The vehicle was towed back to another local dealer, sutton Ford (21315 central Ave, matteson, IL 60443); where it was diagnosed with a fractured rear axle bolt. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 77,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate. In addition, the vehicle jerked aggressively, and the engine idled roughly. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the contact's residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 23v675000 (power train). The contact inquired if the failure was the result of the recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 97,954.

We received notification from Ford that there is a "rear axle bolt fracture" possible on our 2021 Ford Explorer and noted we were to contact our dealer to address. However when I reached out to the dealership (and then subsequently to Ford customer service) I was told that the issue was being treated on an "extended warranty" basis. We would recognize the issue when we noticed severe vibration and lost of mobility in the vehicle and that putting it in park would not keep the vehicle from rolling. Based on those calls, my wife could be left on the side of the road, involved in a fatal accident (to her or others) etc. , instead of addressing the issue as a preventive measure. In addition, nothing in our coversations or in their notice involved the cost to us for additional damage to the vehicle, towing or a rental car (as the dealership said they wouldn't even be able to order the bolts until the fracture occurred and they had the vehicle in their shop. The service code for this defect is 24n01. As of this date we have not experianced this issue but am trying to avoid it occurring since it is a known defect by Ford.

Everyday I get alerts saying the power train system, then I can’t use my cruise control, and many other alerts pop up.

There was no lights on the dash but the transmission was shifting very hard when slowing down. I took it to the dealer for service, but the dealer says the transmission is full of debris and needs a full replacement. When slowing down it was causing the vehicle to buck forward very hard advancing it forward and causing me the driver to feel forward force from the harsh bucking of the transmission.

Approximately 6 weeks ago, while driving at 30 -35 mph in residential area, vehicle started lurching/jolting, took to local dealership, nothing found, reported to customer service, instructed to write to fmc consumer affairs and am waiting on reply.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, there was an abnormal clunking sound coming from the rear differential, with the vehicle vibrating. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the drive axle, wheel hub assembly, and the hub splines needed to be replaced. The dealer informed the contact that the vehicle was previously included in NHTSA campaign number: 22v255000 (power train); and was repaired by hutchinson Ford of forsyth (288 harold g. Clark parkway, forsyth, GA 31029). The vehicle was not yet repaired for the recent failure. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 113,000.

My Explorer has a 10 speed transmission, and its really heavy on shifting like it is missing shifts or slipping, it will shoot up in rpms to the 7-8k mark and jerk forward, this will happen every few minutes when varying speed, driving through residential areas or normal trafficways not including the highway, however on the highway it has a tendency to feel as if it loses power and regains it, dropping rpms and shooting back up to 4-5k rpm, and dropping back down to around 2k. Today I had the incident where the car jerked hard after a shift, gave me prompts on the dash about seeing the manual, and that drive modes are not available. This has happened in the past month before multiple times, however this time I lost all power to acceleration going down the road, ended up just coasting to a stop on a road that speed limit is 55 mph. This made me panic, because I could have possibly been rear ended, or in any other case could have been hit if my car would not have properly been able to accelerate. The car has had similar problems reported from previous owners and they have been taken into a dealership for repairs of which did not fix the problem or the problem is reoccurring. There are no warning lamps prior to the jerkiness of shifting and loss of acceleration because of it. It will jerk a handful of times and eventually give me the "see manual" prompt after the initial problem was noticed, I decided to look online for answers as to what was wrong and it seems like this is a reoccurring problem with vehicles similar to mine. Hopefully it hasnt caused and injuries, but it definitely has the possibility to from what I have experienced.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her fiancé was driving 76 mph, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power. The driver was able to pull over to the shoulder of the roadway, where the vehicle was able to be restarted. After restarting the vehicle, the vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 39,000.