general problems of the 2021 Ford Explorer

Six problems related to visibility have been reported for the 2021 Ford Explorer. The most recently reported issues are listed below. Please also check out the statistics and reliability analysis of the 2021 Ford Explorer based on all problems reported for the 2021 Explorer.

1 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 04/13/2026

The contact 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 25v455000 (fuel system, gasoline) and 26v117000 (visibility); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while driving approximately 40 mph in inclement weather, the windshield wipers were activated, and the driver’s side windshield was not cleared, causing limited visibility. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

2 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 04/08/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in heavy rain, the windshield wiper motor started to operate at an excessively high speed. The contact attempted to change the setting; however, the wipers continued to operate very quickly. The following day, the contact discovered a significant amount of spider cracks on the windshield, specifically where the wiper blades operated. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v117000 (visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was not contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was 42,508.

3 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 03/23/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v117000 (visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed in the rain, the windshield wiper motor failed to function as intended and prevented the windshield wipers from operating properly. The local dealer was not contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

4 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 03/01/2026

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 26v117000 (visibility); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds in the rain, the windshield wipers intermittently failed to operate as needed. Additionally, the windshield wiper fluid system failed to spray washer fluid while activating the button, even though the windshield washer fluid bottle was full. The local dealer was contacted and stated that the part for the recall would not be available until August 2026. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

5 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 08/09/2025

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver’s door window independently rolled down. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had previously occurred with the front passenger’s and rear driver’s side windows. The contact stated that during the first failure the vehicle was repaired by the dealer and covered under warranty. After the second failure, the vehicle was repaired by an independent mechanic and the contact paid out-of-pocket. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 68,188.

6 Visibility problem

Failure Date: 10/18/2024

The contact's son owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 5 mph down a hill and making a left turn, the hood was unintentionally released, swung open, and hit the front windshield causing it to shatter. There was an abnormal snapping or popping sound detected. The driver pulled over immediately since their view was obstructed. No warning lights were illuminated before the failure however after the hood shattered the windshield the "hood open sensor" light was displayed. The driver's pregnant fiancé was occupying the front passenger's side seat and sustained injuries and pain to her left side. There was glass in her lap, and medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred to the NHTSA hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 55,401.


Other Visibility related problems of the 2021 Ford Explorer



Explorer Service Bulletins
Explorer Safety Recalls
Explorer Defect Investigations