Explorer

The Explorer is one of America’s best-selling SUVs, but its two most recent generations tell very different reliability stories – as covered in our full Ford reliability and maintenance guide, the platform and transmission changed enough between them that treating them as one continuous model would miss what actually matters. This guide covers the Explorer by generation and component: what to expect, and what to check before buying.

Ford Recalls & Safety Notices

Model years 2017–2026

LIVE DATA · SOURCE: NHTSA

Ford Explorer — latest recalls

Showing the 5 most recent recalls for this model.

Live · NHTSA

Date	Vehicle	Campaign	Component	Summary
2026-07-21	Ford Explorer MY 2026	26V470000 ↗	SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start. Consequence Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy The remedy is currently under development. The owner notification schedule has not been provided. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S53.
2026-07-14	Ford Explorer MY 2026	26V451000 ↗	SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly. Consequence A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
2026-07-14	Ford Explorer MY 2019	26V448000 ↗	STRUCTURE:BODY	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. Consequence A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed August 24, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
2026-06-24	Ford Explorer MY 2021	26V402000 ↗	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Consequence Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
2026-06-09	Ford Explorer MY 2024	26V371000 ↗	POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION	Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage. Consequence A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect for park system damage and replace the park system components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S39. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 12, 2026.

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Updated hourly

Generations Worth Knowing

• 5th generation, CD4 platform (2011-2019) – front-wheel-drive-based, paired with a 6-speed 6F55 automatic. The defining issue on this generation is torque converter clutch solenoid failure, producing a shudder under light acceleration. Steering is also a documented weak point across this generation – a federal complaint cluster of over 3,300 steering-related reports spans 2011-2019 production, typically surfacing between 45,000 and 270,000 miles, with repair costs around $4,500. 2011 specifically stands out as a weak year, with nearly 1,200 owner complaints on federal record.
• 6th generation, CD6 platform (2020-present) – a major architectural shift to a rear-wheel-drive-based platform (with all-wheel drive standard on most trims), paired with a 10-speed 10R60 automatic. This generation had one of the roughest launches in the industry: roughly 30 recalls in its first year alone.

Common Problems by Component

Transmission (6th Generation)

The 10R60 automatic is the most reported defect on 2020-and-later Explorers: gear hunting between 2nd and 3rd at low speed, jerky shifts, and abrupt downshifts, tied to five separate recalls. The 2020 model year alone accounts for over 1,200 powertrain-related complaints on federal record, with transmission issues making up roughly 45% of them. A full 10-speed rebuild commonly runs $3,800-5,200.

Rollaway and Camera Recalls

A widely-reported unintended-movement-while-parked issue affects over 250,000 6th-generation vehicles – Ford’s proposed fix has been contested by NHTSA, so confirm current recall status rather than assuming it’s resolved. Separately, a rearview camera defect affecting over 700,000 vehicles across six recall rounds has proven a recurring problem that’s been difficult to fully resolve.

Engine (6th Generation)

A 3.0L V6 valve failure prompted a 2024 recall of roughly 90,000 vehicles, with the risk of catastrophic engine damage if not addressed. Separately, 2020-2021 Explorer ST models with the 3.0L engine have a documented pattern of catalytic converter cracks and defective exhaust manifold welds that can let exhaust gas seep into the cabin – a burning smell during hard acceleration is worth investigating immediately given the carbon monoxide risk. More recent model years have seen smaller-scale issues: incorrectly machined connecting rods and an incorrect EGR valve on some 2025 models, and an oil leak traced to a cylinder head plug on some 2026 models.

Steering

Steering is the single most-reported problem area across the Explorer’s federal complaint history overall, spanning both generations – power steering failure or abnormal stiffness is the most common specific complaint.

Recommended Maintenance

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Ford Explorer reliable?

It’s a mixed picture, especially on the 2020-and-later generation, which had a genuinely rough launch with around 30 recalls in its first year. Steering issues span both generations. Confirm current recall status by VIN regardless of which generation you’re considering.

What’s the best Explorer year to buy?

Later 6th-generation production (2024+) benefits from running fixes to the early transmission and recall issues, though new smaller-scale issues have continued to surface each model year. If you’d rather have a more settled, better-understood platform, a well-documented late 5th-generation (2017-2019) example is a reasonable alternative.

Should I avoid the 2020 Explorer specifically?

It’s worth extra caution – 2020 has the highest concentration of powertrain complaints on federal record for this generation, nearly half of them transmission-related. Confirm the relevant recalls have been completed before buying.