Body Problems of Ford Explorer - part 1

The paint is starting to bubble and flake off from inside the vehichle doors by the seam where corrosion under the paint has started. I have looked at multiple complaints from other Explorer owners and this is a common issue that Ford does not want to fix. There sheet metal is contaminated with “white oxidized rust underneath the paint causing the bubbling and paint letting go resulting in further rust.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Manufacturer safety recall: # 24s02 2011-19 Explorer a-pillar trim detachment safety NHTSA: #24v031 [xxx] came a loose on FL interstate and reported to riverside Ford 8-17-26 and dropped car off 8-18-26 they kept car two nights call to pickup car but it was not fixed just ordered parts. My husband has to get [xxx] we have no transportation the car sits in our garage not drivable. Macon,GA [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Explorer 🔎.

On August 14, 2026, the power liftgate on my 2020 Forde Explorer unexpectedly began closing while I was loading my dog into a kennel in the rear cargo area. I did not press the liftgate close button and no one else activated a liftgate control. My key fob was inside my purse on the front seat of the vehicle. The liftgate came down while I was underneath it and struck me directly on the head. The impact knocked me to the ground. I saw stars and was confused immediately afterward and sustained a scalp laceration with significant bleeding. I did not lose consciousness and did not require stitches. One person directly witnessed the incident and was also struck by the closing liftgate. Because the liftgate struck my head first, its force was reduced before it contacted the other person, who was not injured. Other people arrived immediately afterward and can confirm my condition following the impact and that the key was in my purse on the front seat. This was not the first time this has happened. It has occurred on multiple occasions while loading without intentionally activating. I have been hit in the head before but not enough to cause bleeding. The incident occurred Friday evening on 8/14/2026. Vehicle has not yet been inspected because the service department is closed for the weekend. I plan to contact Ford once open on Monday. I am reporting this because I am concerned there may be a defect involving unintended activation of the power/hands-free liftgate and/or its safety obstacle-detection system. The unexpected closure has now caused an injury and also struck a second person.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Recall hasn't been fixed since January when I purchased the vehicle.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Explorer 🔎.

This vehicle was a rental car. The rear door opens and closes at random times. On multiple occasions even after locking the car, we would come out to the door being open. The door came down on its own and smacked my wife as well as hitting my [xxx] daughter in the head. While driving down the highway that rear door decided to open on its own putting my family in immediate grave danger. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Explorer 🔎.

I know there is a current recall, but I have no idea why Ford is taking almost 2 years now for a remedy. Now the trim piece under this recall is starting to separate from the driver side. This also has electrical functions (keyless entry), and is making driving the vehicle a challenge as who knows when the piece will fully separate from the vehicle. Help please, there has to be a faster way to get this recall work done.

Been waiting on parts to repair existing a pillar trim recall for almost 2 years. This is unacceptable.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Passenger side exterior b pillar trim came off while driving on highway on July 3, 2026. Trim was on vehicle when it left home. It was not on it when it arrived at destination. Possible danger to other drivers from flying trim component. No inspection or any symptoms of the problem prior to failure. Same problem as recall on 2016-2017 models.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Explorer 🔎.

B pillar trim flew off while going down highway. Almost hit vehicle behind me.

Regarding safety recall notice 25s53 / NHTSA recall 25v347, I received the recall literature June 2025. This past week, a trim piece in this recall came off the vehicle while in motion. This is a safety hazard and can cause accidents. Upon reaching out to Ford, no remedy is available and might have something (might) November 2026. That is too long to wait for other pieces to fall off and possibly create accidents. I can't understand why it has taken over a year now to come up with a remedy. Obviously they are aware of the seriousness of this failure, and this should be addressed ASAP!.

I was driving along the highway and and the passenger side a-pillar trim blew off my vehicle. I had to pull over to the side of the road and pick up the piece that blew off. The driver side appears to be also loose as if it would come off. This part is recalled on other Explorers of the same year, but for some reason, my VIN isn’t included.

Multiple Ford dealerships in my service area have been contacted for recall dated Jan 19,2024, manufacturer recall number24s02, NHTSA recall number24v031 but indicate Ford manufacturing does not have parts available. It has been over 2 years. What recourse do consumers have? summary in some of the affected vehicles, it may be possible that some of the exterior a-pillar applique trim clip attachments are not properly engaged due to improper assembly or repair. If this occurs, the a-pillar applique trim, which borders the right and left side of the windshield, may be loose, missing or become detached. Safety risk an exterior a-pillar trim part that detaches while driving can create a road hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Ford motor company has authorized your dealer to inspect and repair any loose or missing exterior a-pillar trim moldings free of charge parts and labor. A temporary repair may also be completed as needed.

The pillar covers fell of the vehicle when driving last week. Both plastic covers are on the side of the interstate. I was told and found there is a recall for the clips on these covers, but when I searched, they are not listed for this vehicle. There appears to be an issue with this recall and the Explorer.

See all problems of the 2011 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Dashboard separation concerned with airbag. Every day driving you run the risk of more damage. Have spoken to koons Ford who states cannot help due to warranty. No one has looked at it except for pictures. This should not be the owners responsibility since I am not alone with issues of this problem.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Attempted to make an appointment on xxx with [xxx], 2121 w bell rd, phoenix, az 85023 phone 602-375-7400 to have the two open safety recalls completed( 26v101 & 24v031). Could not make a service appointment because the service writer said that parts were not available and had no idea of when they would be available to fix the safety recalls. Service writer indicated they could not notify me when parts were available. I was to continuously call them for follow up as to when the car could be fixed. I continue to use the vehicle in spite of the safety defects as I can not afford another transportation method. Please help me get my Explorer fixed. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The driver side keyless door entry pillar has come off on the highway and hit something. The keyless door entry panel came off in 2023 and koons Ford of annapolis charged me $ 523. 00 to fix the panel. The panel has a small clip and double stick tape. Sorry, double stick tape is not going to hold up to weather variations throughout the year, wind speed and age. Terrible and dangerous design. You gave 2017 a recall 25s53 for Ford but not 2018.

The top of dashboard is lifting up and coming apart on drivers side.

The exterior a-pillar applique trim piece began detaching from the vehicle while driving. The part became loose and was hanging from the vehicle whilst in motion, at which point I safely pulled over and removed it to prevent it becoming a road hazard. The trim is now fully detached and available for inspection upon request. Upon checking Ford's official recall portal, the recall is confirmed as incomplete against this vehicle with the status "remedy not yet available. " Ford's own recall notice stated parts were anticipated in the latter half of 2024 — it is now June 2026 and parts remain unavailable, representing an 18-month overrun on Ford's own published commitment. No warning was given prior to the trim becoming loose. No crash, fire or injury occurred. I am requesting this be logged as an active safety incident rather than a routine pending recall, and that NHTSA apply pressure on Ford to prioritize parts availability for owners whose trim has already physically detached while driving.

This recall has been unresolved for approximately two years. Recently, while traveling at highway speeds, the a-pillar trim detached from my vehicle and flew off, striking a vehicle behind me. Fortunately, no accident occurred, but the situation was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in serious injuries or property damage. This is precisely the type of incident the recall was intended to prevent. I have reached out to my local dealership numerous times and am told that Ford has no parts available. This is not acceptable and Ford is not handling this recall in a timely fashion.

In early 2024, we learned our 2011 Ford Explorer was under open recall (NHTSA #24v031) for the a-pillar windshield trim, which could detach and create a road hazard. For two years, our Ford dealer said repairs could not be done due to parts availability. The a-pillar trim detached three separate times, including once at 75 mph on a highway, causing fear and danger. The vehicle’s elderly owner stopped driving for safety. On may 26, 2026, a non-Ford mechanic attempted a repair due to the delay at Ford, but the part broke during that attempt. The recall remains incomplete, and we have ongoing safety concerns, out-of-pocket expenses, and no timeline for a real fix.

The driver’s side b-pillar popped off while driving on the highway at appx. 65mph. It snapped in half. The top portion is gone but the wired portion with the keypad is remaining still. The passenger side looks like it may come off as well.

The trim piece that has the keyless entry pad on it that was attached to the drivers door came off while driving down the interstate.

The silver roof rack cover on both sides of vehicle completely came off of vehicle while driving. The clips broke off just like the problems listed in another recall for the same year Explorer. There is a recall for all models of the same year and make, however the limited is excluded from the recall. If someone was behind me it could've resulted in a crash. This recall for this part needs to be for all models.

The fabric/plastic/felt under the car is falling to pieces! it's becoming a safety hazard. This complaint is posted in a lot of forums.

The mold that holds the windshield came off of the side of the windshield in both sides of the window and since then there is a loud noise coming from the windshield as we drive and gets louder the faster you go.

Roof rail covers, exterior a and b pillar trim have not been fixed. I was told at the time of purchase the recall (1) was fixed. The rubber trim in the pillar trim flaps in the wind and I was told to buy the parts on amazon and that it isn’t hard to install. Along with the a/c not working a week after I bought the SUV. Dealership is uncooperative.

Sunroof retractable headliner.

I am reporting a safety incident involving a 2021 Ford Explorer. While driving at normal speed, the hood unexpectedly flew open and struck the windshield, completely obstructing visibility and causing damage. I did not open the hood prior to driving, and there were no prior warnings or indications of failure. The incident suggests a possible hood latch or secondary safety latch malfunction. I am submitting this report due to a serious safety concern involving sudden loss of driver visibility.

A and b trim pillar pieces are loose and I just lost one going down the interstate. It is also causing my car to leak when it rains. Recall was issued over a year ago and still no parts available to fix it.

While driving at highway speeds on the interstate, the b-pillar exterior trim suddenly detached from the vehicle. The trim remained tethered only by the keypad wiring, causing it to flail in the wind and create an immediate road hazard. Simultaneously, the vehicle’s instrument cluster triggered a "liftgate open" warning, despite the liftgate being secure. I was forced to make an emergency pull-over onto the shoulder of the interstate—a dangerous situation—to prevent the trim from completely detaching and striking other vehicles. Upon reaching my destination, the vehicle suffered a significant electrical short. The interior lights remained on indefinitely due to the false "liftgate open" sensor reading, and the door keypad became completely inoperable. To prevent a total battery drain and potential fire risk from the short, I had to manually disconnect the battery. The dealership confirmed the failure but stated that current b-pillar recalls (such as recall 25s53) currently only apply to 2016–2017 models, despite my 2019 model using the same defective clips and adhesive. This failure is identical in nature to recall 24s02 (a-pillar detachment). The detachment of this trim is a documented projectile hazard. Furthermore, the resulting electrical short in the door harness has compromised the integrity of the vehicle’s sensor system. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate the expansion of the b-pillar recall to include the 2019 model year to prevent further highway incidents.

The a-pillar trim on the driver's side is pulling away from the body of the car. The previous generation of this vehicle had the same issue and has had a recall. The trim can fly off while driving causing damage to other cars and accidents. The dealership body shop inspected the part and said that it needed replaced. I first noticed this due to the sound of wind while driving even with the windows shut. Not long after, I noticed the trim sticking out away from the body of the car.

My b pillars started coming off on the highway going 60 mph. Driver side was hanging by electrical piece for the keypad for door opening. My son looked and passenger side coming off as well. Had to pull over and duct tape it on. Already had a pillars replaced which left side was coming off, had to duct tape. For some reason their is a recall for this on 2016 and up but not 2015.

After more than two years with an open recall, Ford has not been able to repair my 2013 Ford Explorer due to an inability to source the replacement parts. On Sunday, April 12th the defective a-pillar trim on the driver’s side detached while driving at highway speeds on the interstate. My Ford dealer states that there is a backorder of over 80,000 a-pillar covers. It doesn’t seem that they are very interested in addressing this recall. What recourse do I have?.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Explorer 🔎.

I am reporting a serious safety concern with my 2017 Ford Explorer. The vehicle currently has approximately 93,752 miles and has become increasingly unreliable and unsafe to operate. On April 9, 2026, while my wife was driving home from work, the vehicle overheated, creating a dangerous situation and risk of sudden breakdown. This is especially concerning as the vehicle is used to transport children. Recently, after taking the vehicle in for an oil change, I was informed of multiple additional problems (three separate issues) affecting the vehicle. In addition, the check engine light remains on continuously, even after attempted repairs, indicating unresolved underlying problems. I have also previously attempted to have a recall repair completed, but was told that the necessary part was unavailable and that I would be contacted when it became available. Months later, I have still not been contacted, and the recall issue remains unresolved. Based on my experience and publicly documented issues, this appears consistent with known defects associated with this model, including reported water pump failures leading to engine overheating, rear suspension issues affecting control, and concerns regarding exhaust fumes entering the cabin. This is not normal wear and tear, but a potential safety-related defect. It is a serious concern that known recalls and defects cannot be repaired due to lack of available parts, leaving the vehicle in an unsafe condition. I am also concerned about the risk of continuing to operate this vehicle and potentially causing an accident that could injure myself, my family, or others on the road. This risk is heightened by the lack of timely communication and resolution regarding known defects and recalls. I am requesting investigation into these issues to prevent harm to drivers and passengers.

Insignias on motor vehicle labeled as "police" facilitates false impersonation of a police officer and/ perception of false pretenses. Seller has actual knowledge and can be punished under color of law upon a purchase agreement.