Engine And Engine Cooling Problems of Ford Explorer - part 2

Ford Explorer recall – ongoing safety hazard in July 2025, Ford issued a recall notice for my vehicle. Shortly after, the check engine light came on. Starting October 15, 2025, my vehicle began failing to start after refueling—making noise and taking multiple attempts to start. The same issue occurred repeatedly on October 23 and October 30, worsening each time. On November 3, we brought the car to a Ford dealership. They confirmed there is no available fix for the recall and said there’s “nothing they can do. ” I explained this was a safety issue since I drive my son with a disability to therapy daily. They told me I would have to pay out of pocket for repairs even though the problem is linked to the recall. On November 8, while driving in arizona, my vehicle again failed to start after refueling. Later that day, it lost power on the road, the speed dropped suddenly, and it would not accelerate. The same stalling and jerking occurred again on November 10 while my husband was driving. We contacted Ford corporate and NHTSA, but both said nothing could be done because the recall label says the car is “still drivable. ” this is inaccurate and dangerous. The car stalls and loses acceleration randomly, creating a serious risk of an accident. On November 21, the car again failed to start after refueling. This has happened multiple times each week, and Ford continues to delay a fix. My vehicle is unsafe to drive, and this unresolved recall poses an ongoing safety hazard to my family and others on the road.

See all problems of the 2022 Ford Explorer 🔎.

When accelerating and braking, motor rocks forward and backwards. Rpms jump erratically when this happens and when sitting stationary at a light or stop sign. Which causes the entire vehicle to vibrate. Oddly enough, fuel injector cleaner seems to help with the vehicle shaking somewhat.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Ya me marco el funcionamiento del motor.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The vehicle has an ongoing oil leak originating from the engine/drivetrain area. The affected components include the intermediate shaft and related seals, which are subject to Ford technical service bulletins, and potentially the plastic engine oil pan and its sealing surfaces. The vehicle is currently operable and remains available for inspection upon request. He vehicle is actively leaking engine oil at approximately one drop per day. Oil leakage presents a safety risk due to the potential for oil contacting hot engine or exhaust components, reduced lubrication if the condition worsens, and the possibility of oil dripping onto road surfaces, which could reduce traction for other motorists. The condition has not caused an accident to date, but it presents an ongoing safety concern. Yes. A Ford dealership identified and documented oil leakage during a scheduled service visit in November. In addition, the dealership acknowledged known issues with the affected components and confirmed that the vehicle continues to exhibit oil leakage. The manufacturer has declined repair outside of warranty. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized Ford dealership on multiple occasions. Ford motor company executive customer care reviewed the case and documented a decision to decline repair based on warranty status. The vehicle has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. No warning lamps or messages were present prior to the discovery of the oil leak. The condition was first identified visually during a scheduled service visit in November when oil leakage was observed. The vehicle currently exhibits ongoing oil leakage without warning lamps or messages. I am also concerned that this model has had several recalls regarding the engin and our falls just outside the range of Ford recall it was build in January of 21 and the recall starts in may of 21. I would like to have that expanded to my vwhicle as well.

See all problems of the 2021 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The contact owns a 2016 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA campaign numbers: 21v316000 (structure), 24v031000 (structure), and 25v347000 (structure). However, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact became aware that rainwater was leaking inside the vehicle and standing water had accumulated on the carpet. The water was leaking from the front door, the roof near the dome light, and the glove compartment. The contact was unsure of where the water was entering the vehicle. The contact stated that there was a musty odor inside the vehicle. Most recently, while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal burnt odor inside the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was constantly illuminated since the vehicle was purchased. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Explorer 🔎.

My 2025 Ford Explorer st-line is up to date on recalls as of October 7, 2025. However, I am still experiencing engine "shudder" and hesitation at low rpms (between idle and 1500 rpm) when accelerating. The 10 speed transmission is also continuing to shift harshly at times. I am very concerned that the hesitation and shudder could be an issue when pulling out into traffic. By comparison, my previous 2017 Explorer did not exhibit this behavior, whichh I consider disconcerting. Also, this car (and all 2025 Explorer models ) injects fake engine noise into the audio speakers to make the 2. 5l engine sound more powerful. These fake "bass tones" are disturbing to some passengers with hearing aides, and per Ford's website there is no way to disable the fake noise. Thus, some people with a hearing disability cannot ride in my car without removing their hearing aides. It should be unacceptable to not be able to disable that feature. Note updated form dated 8/1/25 states fake noise cannot be turned off.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Explorer 🔎.

2022 Ford Explorer with less than 100,000 miles on it. Started getting engine shudders and a check engine light. It’s currently in the shop and I’m being told by the shop and a third party adjuster that I need a whole new engine because there is coolant leaking into the cylinders.

Coolant intrusion in the cylinder walls.

My vehicle is experiencing exhaust fume issue where the exhaust fumes are entering into the cabin for Explorer and aviator models (any model with the 3. 0l ecoobost). Upon inspection by 3rd party mechanic, it can be determined that the problematic catalytic converters that are not the one piece cast was installed on my vehicle from the factory. Speaking to other st and interceptor owners, the problem seems widespread to every 2021 model that Ford installed the multipiece welded catalytic converters. Apparently the cast part fairs better and is not subject to cracks. The recall originally covered the left side catalytic converter but the flawed design also affects the right side catalytic converter where many owners are experiencing this issue. This has affected all 3. 0l ecoboost engine vehicles. [xxx] I believe the recall should have extended to cover all 2020 and 2021 model year vehicles. There are forum posts where owners outside the recall have experienced the issue in addition to owners having to repeatedly replace the catalytic converters post warrant as Ford continued to reinstall bad catalytic converters as part of the repair process. I have driven this vehicle for several thousand miles with the issue and did not realize exhaust was leaking until notices of headaches and health issues as CO is odorless, causing co2 levels to reach 3000+ inside the cabin at stop lights and blows in through the vents if a/c is on. I believe NHTSA should investigate this issue further and require Ford to replace both catalytic converters as this issue poses a serious health hazard, especially given the location of the exhaust leak and the commonplace occurrence. I am happy to forward to forums and provide evidence of this occurring. Ford considers lifetime of the vehicle to be ~150k miles and these exhausts do not last close to that, resulting in a massive expense and danger to us consumers. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

It is known that for the specific year make and model that the water pump goes out around 100,000 miles. This water pump was built as an internal water pump, which is not typical for most cars. In order to fix this part, the engine has to be taken out and lots of parts have to be disassembled just to get to it. The part itself is fairly cheap, but the labor cost thousands of dollars due to where it is located. Ford knowingly built this car and put that pump where it is at and therefore should be reliable to pay the cost when it is so common that this part goes out around 100,000 miles. If it is a known issue that occurs on these models frequently then it should become a recall because a failing water pump can cause significant issues within the engine and make the vehicle in operable.

Engine stopped working I wanna know if there is a warranty.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Bought my car 2020 and every year I have been on and off the shop to fix it. Last year I just paid them to fox my transmission gearing, clutch and axle. The other dy I have them service it again due to power train malfunction. And sent me an invoice of $1700 not including the $195 to diagnostic test for my car.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph, the check engine warning light illuminated, and there was a burning odor coming from the vehicle. The contact pulled over and parked and allowed the vehicle to cool down before driving back to the residence. The vehicle was towed to the dealer and was diagnosed with coolant intrusion into the engine and the oil main bearings, causing engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The contact received a notification of NHTSA campaign number: 24v635000 (engine and engine cooling); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

The weld which attaches the tail pipe to the muffler failed causing the pipe to strike the pavement while the vehicle was in motion which resulted in sparks and potential fire hazard.

The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 mph, the traction control and check engine warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that a minute and a half later, while attempting to make a right turn, the steering wheel became firm, and added effort was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 170,000.

See all problems of the 2012 Ford Explorer 🔎.

I was driving down upper pleasant ridge road caldwell id . Had cruise control on doing 50 and all of a sudden car just stopped in the middle of the road. No warning, no noise, no smoke , no check engine light nothing. I was in the middle of the road ,in the dark. Had to call the canyon county sheriff out to help me not get hit by a car waiting on the tow truck. Put jumper cables on battery my new battery bought in Jan 2025 started smoking what ever happen fried my battery . Took it to dealership waiting on info.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking the vehicle for an annual smog check, the check engine warning light was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a diagnostic test was performed. The diagnostic showed that the vvt (variable valve timing) connected to the timing phasers had fractured and needed to be replaced. The contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,838.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed and then lost motive power. The engine made ticking sounds, and the vehicle was running rough. No warning light was illuminated. The contact coasted the vehicle into the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who discovered that the timing chain, spark plugs, and intake valves were fractured. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 80,000.

The internal water pump system on the ecoboost engine in the 2018 Ford Explorer failed after 7 years and only 63,880 miles. The vehicle was taken into the shop multiple times when the check engine light came on and the defect was not located until the vehicle failed. Due to the design, it is not easily fixed and cost an outrageous amount of money to fix for a vehicle with less than 100,000 miles. This is a safety risk because if this is a common issue, which it is, and the engine fails while driving it, the driver is not able to get to a safe area to address damages and is left stranded. There are numerous complaints regarding the design flaw of having the water pump inside the engine. The manufacturer refuses to address the flaw. The check engine light came on and was taken in and wrongly diagnosed each time until the engine failed.

See all problems of the 2018 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The contact owns a 2018 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. Prior to the failure, when the vehicle was started, there was an abnormal sound coming from the engine. After several minutes, the sound ceased. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who diagnosed the vehicle with a misfire in cylinder #3. The contact was informed that the spark plug was stuck, and the independent mechanic was unable to remove the spark plug. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the independent mechanic. The vehicle was diagnosed with a misfire in cylinder #3, and the spark plug and ignition coil were replaced. The contact was unsure if the stuck spark plug was removed the second time the vehicle was repaired. Most recently, the contact noticed that while the vehicle was in park(p) and left running, the vehicle was idling roughly. The message "engine coolant over temperature" was intermittently displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road, left the vehicle running, exited the vehicle, opened the hood, and there was no smoke or steam present. The contact returned to the vehicle and noticed that the temperature gauge was indicating that the engine was hot. The contact drove back to the residence. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with coolant intrusion in cylinders #1, #2, and #4. The contact was informed that the coolant reservoir was empty, that the spark plug in cylinder #3 was stuck, and that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact took the vehicle to an independent mechanic for a second opinion, who diagnosed coolant intrusion in cylinders #1, #2, and #4, and that the spark plug was stuck in cylinder #3. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The dealer notified the manufacturer of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 118,000.

1. Component/system failure: the water pump on my 2016 Ford Explorer failed, causing a significant antifreeze leak. The component is available for inspection upon request. 2. Safety risk: the failure creates a risk of engine seizure while driving. Loss of engine coolant can cause the engine to overheat suddenly, potentially leading to a dangerous situation on the road that could harm myself or other drivers. 3. Confirmation of problem: the problem has been confirmed by the dealer service department during inspection. The water pump leak was observed and diagnosed by a certified Ford service technician. 4. Inspections: the vehicle has been inspected by the dealer. I have also documented prior repairs to the vehicle, including a timing chain replacement two years ago. The water pump issue has not yet been inspected by Ford corporate. 5. Warning lamps/symptoms: prior to the failure, there were no warning lamps on the dashboard. I noticed coolant leaking from the water pump area, and the temperature gauge began to rise. The leak was first observed Aug 15.

Torque converter issue causes shuddered, can cause driver to unexpectedly adjust speed rapidly.

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. While the contact’s son was driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered and shook violently. The driver noticed a strong fuel odor inside the vehicle. The hood was raised, and the fuel odor was much stronger. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact’s son, who is a certified mechanic, used a diagnostic machine to retrieve dtc: p0300, p0304, p0305, p0306, and p0352, indicating several cylinder misfires. The vehicle was towed to the dealer the following day and was diagnosed with three incorrectly misaligned cylinders. The contact was informed that the three cylinders had been realigned. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 10,628.

See all problems of the 2023 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed an unknown warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed coolant pump. The contact was informed that the coolant pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was advised to tow the vehicle to the dealer. The dealer was made aware of the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline and report the failure. In addition, the contact was informed that NHTSA would attach the contact’s VIN to an unknown recall that had a similar failure description. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 75 mph with the cruise control activated the vehicle suddenly began to sputter and reduce speed. The vehicle was driven to the the side shoulder and stalled. The engine would not restart and the vehicle was later towed to the local dealer. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 52,000.

See all problems of the 2019 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Slipping gears between 1&2nd gear, harsh/delayed shifting, some power loss. Vehicle is around 120k miles.

Manufacture hasn’t made a remedy available for the recall and it’s past its anticipated availability date. Manufacturer recall number 24s52 NHTSA recall number 24v598.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 mph, the message “engine overheating” was displayed. The contact pulled over to the side of the road and allowed the engine to cool down. After restarting the vehicle, there was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the engine compartment. The contact then noticed a fluid leak underneath the front of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to the mechanic and the mechanic diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the water pump was leaking, causing the engine failure. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact discovered that the failure was a known issue; however, the VIN was not under recall related to the failure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that there was no recall on the VIN related to the failure. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.

The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon acceleration from a stop, the vehicle experienced a loss of automotive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and the fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that on another occasion while driving 63 mph, the vehicle lost automotive power. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a local dealer where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the fuel pump and fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred while driving 72 mph, and the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle came to a complete stop and the contact called the police for traffic control and the vehicle was towed to a local dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was informed that the fuel pump and the fuel injectors were faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 60,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was idling, the temperature gauge indicated that the engine was overheating. After a visual inspection of the engine compartment, the contact observed that the coolant reservoir was almost empty, even though the vehicle had just been serviced. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the water pump. The vehicle was repaired. The contact also stated that the water pump had failed and was replaced in February 2023. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 192,000.

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while depressing the accelerator pedal without warning. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the mechanic discovered an oil leak coming from the engine. The contact was informed that the vehicle was not under warranty and the contact was referred to the manufacturer. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 16v925000 (engine and engine cooling). The contact was then referred to the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 98,403.

On highway was accelerating to pass another vehicle the transition froze , engine revved with no acceleration ( transmission skipped) this has happened several times over the 5 years. The lasted event we documented the date and mileage it happened date 7/13/25 mileage is 34990. These skips have put us in extremely dangerous situations. Transmission has been making growling noise now under normal driving.

The contact, who owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact reported an issue with the power steering becoming inoperable. The incident occurred when the owner's husband stopped for fuel, and upon returning, the steering wheel locked up. The maintenance engine warning light was also illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the rack and pinion and steering needed replacement. However, the vehicle was not repaired at the dealership. Subsequently, an independent mechanic confirmed the need for steering and rack and pinion replacement, but the parts were backordered. The manufacturer was contacted, and a case was opened. The owner was referred to the NHTSA hotline. The failure occurred at approximately 102,000 miles.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon coming to a complete stop at a red traffic light, the vehicle inadvertently shut off in the middle of the roadway and failed to restart. The battery warning light was illuminated. No further information was available. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA action number: ea23002(engine). The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was also referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 112,000.

The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20-30 mph, the vehicle stalled, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was related to NHTSA campaign number: 25v455000 (fuel system, gasoline); however, the VIN was not included. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic. The contact called the local dealer, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 55,000.