Equipment Problems of Ford Explorer - part 1

The piller on the passenger side flew off the vehicle driving down the interstate. It’s a recall that has been open for awhile but Ford never had the parts/remedy when I call.

See all problems of the 2016 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The sync touch responsive interface for climate control fails. This failure causes the system to repeatedly respond without prompt continually causing the driver to continually attempt to disengage the system causing a significant safety hazard. The chip in the system for the effected buttons is the component that fails. There is no solution. Replacement or upgraded interfaces are not available and disconnection of the panels renders the climate control, radio/entertainment, navigation and all other systems relayed thru the touch screen completely inoperable which is unreasonable. This occurs at random while operating the vehicle with the error often occurring continuously or at very high frequency. Ford discontinued the sync touch panel control due to issues but has provided no solution for the safety hazard it has created.

See all problems of the 2013 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The b pillar plastic trim pieces are detaching from the vehicle on both sides. If these plastic pieces become dislodged at high speeds on a highway if could potentially cause damage to another vehicle/ cause a crash. There is a recall for the 2017 Ford Explorers for the same problem (25s53) however Ford refuses to cover this in that recall.

See all problems of the 2015 Ford Explorer 🔎.

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!.

See all problems of the 2017 Ford Explorer 🔎.

When getting off the interstate at an exit, my husband pushed the brakes to stop and our vehicle completely shut off. The hazard lights would not work and it would not restart. We were at a very busy exit and we had our 2 children in the car with us. We could not get it jumped or anything and were 2. 5 hours away from home. The fact that we couldn't even use hazards to warn other cars was scary, as it was a very busy exit. Our car was towed to the shop and we were just told that the battery mounted mega fuses had melted and that is what caused the car to completely shut down. This is not covered by warranty and we recently had our battery checked to make sure we did not need a new battery as we figured it was getting close to time. Apparently the fuses are not typically inspected. If this is the case, why would this not be covered by a warranty? this put us in a very dangerous situation. As it could have happened on the interstate if we would have needed to brake. The police did show up to help make sure cars went around us.

See all problems of the 2022 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 🔎.

Tried countless times to have a recall repaired at this facility, at my convenience. Set up an appointment to stay with car, when that time came, the service department didn't know who I was or what the recall was about. This was a red flag for me, my VIN# brought this part to this place, looking for a more reliable dealership.

The dashboard glue melted dashboard lifting also inside other areas of the dashboard leather?? vinyl is detaching also on the drivers side.

See all problems of the 2020 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The heat from the sun is making the leather dash warp and flipping up in the drivers view. It is also coming apart behind the media control screen.

While driving approximately 65-70mph on a straight stretch of road back end began to fish tail, unable to control the steering of the vehicle, vehicle slide to right, hitting a ditch, causing the vehicle to roll multiple times . Causing severe damage to car, and bodily injury to driver.

The defective recall items outlined in NHTSA recall 24v031 (safety recall notice 24s02) continue to remain unrepaired and unresolved. The original notice was dated January 2024 and advised that parts and repairs should be available by late 2024. As of may 26, 2026 parts are not available and the windshield trim attachments and related rubber seals are not in place. The safety recall notice details the risks associated with this unrepaired and unresolved recall item.

See all problems of the 2014 Ford Explorer 🔎.

The a pillar piece has been on recall since 2024. I have been trying to get this fixed for almost 2 years and stevens Ford in milford has been telling me the pieces are on back order since then. The piece became loose recently when driving on highway and I called them (Ford dealer) to notify them. They said they were still waiting on parts and were not going to have them until August. I called Ford corporate number two times and then received a call back for scheduling my recall repair. The recall was on the driver side and passenger side a pillar. They only repaired the side that was missing that flew off on highway. I explained to them the risk of safety to myself and others if the other side was not repaired in a timely manner. Kait brudecki service advisor told me in person today when I picked up my car, that they have no control over the parts they receive and that they only get one part delivered to them every 6 months and that this recall has cause them a lot of grief. This piece that flew off of my car on highway caused me to swerve because I thought something hit my car, it then hit the car behind me causing them to swerve as well. I am scared that if this other piece on driver side is not replaced this will happen and end up in an accident. I drive for work and do home health care and frequent the highway. Please help!.

When putting the car in reverse and moving backwards start to feel the vehicle look drive power and knock sounds. Sounds likes and feels like gear teeth or not aligned. When putting the car into drive the vehicle jumps a little and you hear a lout pop noise.

The reverse camera started pointing straight down one day so I took it in for a recall dealing with the screen and camera. Ther replaced the camera, and did some updating and when I got it back the camera is still pointing straight down. I called them immediately and told them my camera was still pointing straight down they asked me to bring it back. I was there 5 minutes and the service manager came to me and said the camera was pointing down when I brought it in and that the reason was probably because it was an aftermarket part, which it’s not it’s all factory, and that wasn’t in the recall. "under fmvss 111, s5. 5, my vehicle is required to display a rearview image that covers a 10-foot by 20-foot zone directly behind the rear bumper. Because the camera is pointing at the ground, it fails to provide the 'clear and reasonably unobstructed view' mandated by federal law. This is a safety non-compliance issue that Ford is obligated to rectify to bring the vehicle back into a street-legal state. " • "federal safety standards for rear visibility do not have an expiration date for manufacturing defects. A mounting system that allows a safety-critical camera to fail and point at the ground is a defect in material and workmanship that creates a safety hazard. ".

Service advance track 4 weel drive doesn’t work and I don’t have control on the weels.

Unknown! sometimes the rear back up camera goes into a black screen and then once in drive the info screens stays black for about 30 seconds. The cars shifting is hard at times especially when going from slow to fast like for instance on a highway on ramp the shifting is very sluggish. The cupholder are a real hazard my cupholder bottomed out and my drink fell thru luckily there was no liquid in the cup otherwise it could have spilled into the electrical since it is right where the gear shift is. The the car not accelarating is dangerous when you trying to get on the highway. Rear camera going blank sometimes and not being able to see whats behind you even when looking around you just can not see the blindspot which the camera could if it would not go black sometimes. If the car does not shift right when it is supposed to makes it really hard to go with flow of traffic on the highway. There never have been any warning lamps, message or anything else during these incidents and it does not happen all the time but when it does it is not safe.

Hello, I am contacting Ford regarding a serious concern with my newly purchased 2026 Ford Explorer st. Within days of purchase, we discovered water leaking from the moonroof area into the interior of the vehicle, including water coming through the seatbelt pillar area , wetting the roof as well, during rain and vehicle washes. In addition to the leak, there is noticeable wind and air noise coming from the moonroof area even when the roof is fully closed, (we notified them the day we got the vehicle about this) which raises concerns that the seal is not properly seating or sealing against the vehicle. After noticing these issues, we inspected several similar vehicles on the dealership lot and observed that multiple vehicles appeared to have uneven or improperly fitted moonroof seals as well. This has increased our concern that this may be a manufacturing or assembly defect rather than normal wear or an isolated issue. Because this vehicle is brand new and the issue was reported almost immediately after purchase, we are requesting that Ford review this matter seriously and assist in ensuring the vehicle is properly repaired or otherwise resolved. We are concerned about long-term damage to the interior, electronics, airbags, mold or mildew risks, and the overall value and reliability of the vehicle. We have documented the leak and seal concerns with photos/videos and are currently working with the dealership for inspection. Thank you for your time and assistance.

The car had been parked for 30 minutes in the driveway and spontaneously caught on fire. Our lives and home were at risk of serious injury due to the fire. Firefighters and police were called to the scene and the fire was put out. There were no mechanical issues prior to this happening.

Unknown. The rubber seals and plastics that hold my windhield in place are all cracking and fading significantly faster than they should be. The windshield has started leaking due to the fact that Ford has not ensured that the peices were up protected.

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.

Ford has failed to remedy this issue and has been pending for more than 1 month.

I purchased the Ford Explorer in June of 2023. The struts were replaced at 10,400 miles because of this problem. I have tried to work with Ford customer service and have a case number associated with it xxx . I brought the Explorer in to get it fixed again for the same strut problem. It has 44,600 miles on it. So it’s out of the warranty it 36k miles . Still after working with Ford customer relations service they denied any coverage for the repair. They said they don’t cover regular worn parts . Now, I am paying out of pocket $2,097. 47. This is a known problem and I feel Ford needs to pay for the repair of the strut . It’s clearly a manufacturer defect. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

See all problems of the 2023 Ford Explorer 🔎.

I was driving on the highway and all the sudden for absolutely no apparent reason the passenger side door window completely shattered into small bits of glass. I check the vehicle for any damage other than the window not a scratch on the door at all I have no idea what caused the window to shatter.

See all problems of the 2025 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Vehicle: 2023 Ford Explorer recall number 25s49 (NHTSA:25v315) I am filing this complaint regarding a failed recall remedy & my Ford dealership's refusal to re-repair my vehicle. The recall remedy was previously performed at an authorized Ford dealership. The defect has since recurred, my infotainment screen is completely black & non-functional at all times, leaving me with no rear-view camera visibility when reversing, which is an ongoing safety hazard. When I returned to the dealership they refused to perform a second repair under the recall. Dealer records confirm the original repair was completed. I am requesting the NHTSA document this complaint, investigate the failed remedy & require Ford to provide a durable fix for vehicles where the recall repair did not hold.

Hi! I brought my car in to the Ford dealership in lexington, SC to get a recalled a frame pillar repaired. They took the part off and didn’t repair it because they didn’t have the parts in. When I called corporate to check on the status of that part, I found out they had marked the recall as “complete” which was not the case. Corporate opened the case again for me, so it should’ve read incomplete in their system. (therefore, maybe they would call me to let me know the part was in stock. That didn’t happen. ) when I called back 2 months later, they had apparently marked it as complete a second time. Which again, was false. 12 months later, they’re finally agreeing to replace the part. I also found out from corporate in that same phone call that I had a recall to a power steering component. When I called the shop, they said that had been marked as complete too so I was not eligible for a second replacement. I have a hard time trusting that the original was actually replaced now. And the steering feels like a major safety concern! point is, I’m worried that location may be doctoring their documentation, marking recalls as repaired when repairs have clearly not been made. I’d hate for it to cause a major accident or something. Bringing this up in case it warrants an audit. I’m sure I’m not the only person they’ve done this to. I’ve opened a case with Ford’s automatice safety office as well and they are investigating but I thought it prudent to mention to an outside source. Like I said, I’d hate for someone to get in accident because they thought a repair had been made when it actually never was.

See all problems of the 2012 Ford Explorer 🔎.

Filing a complaint as the NHTSA. Gov website suggests: "if the manufacturer has failed or is unable to remedy this safety recall for your vehicle in a timely manner . . . File an online complaint with NHTSA" it has been over 27 months and I have contacted my dealership numerous times. The local Ford dealership told me that there is no estimated resolution time from Ford, and it will probably never be addressed. I don't understand how it is acceptable for Ford to ignore this issue.

The trim on both a pillar and b pillar are coming off. When I spoke with Ford about a year ago they informed me of one recall with another coming. One of the trip pieces broke off in an automatic car wash. I was able to go back and get it, but have cut my hand on door multiple times as this is the driver's door with keypad. I have called our local Ford and they continue to say there is a recall but no parts available. This is very frustrating as now there are two more pieces of trim coming off that could fly off while driving. I want this remedied as this is to be the vehicle my son was planning to take road test in but unsure that this will even be safe. I even wrote a letter to Ford back in March and inquired on this fix and was told to contact dealership. I just spoke with dealership, again who says they can't get the parts for recall.

My car has 68,908 miles on it and the sunroof sunshade has drooped down now when I attempt to open it. When it does this it completely blocks the rearview window/3rd row seating which is a safety concern. There are no warning lamps at all for this issue. It sounds like it is operating normally but looks as though the glue has failed that holds the sunshade in the track possibly?.

The coating over the window up/ down controls is pealing and flaky. The coating is very sharp and brittle and has deeply gashed a couple fingers.

While driving, sirius xm pushes advertisements to my infotainment display. These notifications are distracting to driving and they will cause an accident. This practice should be banned outright and a monetary fine placed on sirius xm for impairing driving. Completely unacceptable placement of advertisements and it is going to get someone seriously injured or worse.

I was driving home from work on the interstate. It was not overly crowded and not many vehicles around me. I was going the speed limit. All the sudden I heard a loud pop and a very loud sound. I wasn’t sure exactly what happened. I thought maybe I blew a tire so I pulled over to the side of the road. I then figured out that my sunroof had shattered/exploded in my brand new 2026 Ford Explorer. I just purchased it new on 1/30/26 and it has approx 3k mileage. Luckily I had the shade on my sunroof closed otherwise glass would have been everywhere in my car and all of me while I was driving. I was now on the side of the interstate cleaning glass off the top of my car into a bag so I could continuing driving home and it wouldn’t blow off onto the highway into traffic. Needless to say it took a long time. I have no idea what could have caused this to happen other than a manufacture defect in the glass. It is very scary for that to happen while traveling at a higher speed on an interstate. In addition if the sunshade would have been open. I have not spoken to the dealership or insurance company yet, but will call them tomorrow.

The dashboard cover has come unglued from the part of near the front windshield. It first bubbled up then became unglued and rolled up. There’s white material underneath that appears to have swollen up like wet cork board. Also, this part of the dashboard is no longer flush like the parts to right and left of the distressed area. Additionally, the exposed white part reflects in my line of sight causing limited visibility which is a safety concern to me. Based on my research, this issue is being reported by owners of the 2017 and 2018 Ford platinum Explorer models particularly. This issue is not something that I can repair as a diy and since others are reporting the same exact issue with the same models, I tend to believe there’s a defect.

When it rain outside, my passenger side floor has a puddle of rainwater. This happened at least 4 times over the life of my vehicle.

Interior panoramic roof shade roller broke and is not retracting the liner anymore.

Part came off while on my way to church at some point and was unable to locate the piece that came off.