Model year record

2017 Ford Explorer

13 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 2,703 owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V448000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 288,314
Reported to NHTSA: 2026-07-14

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

Safety risk

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer 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, were mailed August 28, 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 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.

Recall campaignNHTSA 26V101000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 412,774
Reported to NHTSA: 2026-02-20
Owners notified: 2026-03-16

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V685000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component: Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 59,006
Reported to NHTSA: 2025-10-10

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

Safety risk

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.

Recall campaignNHTSA 25V347000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 492,145
Reported to NHTSA: 2025-05-23

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Safety risk

Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V031000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component: Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,889,110
Reported to NHTSA: 2024-01-19
Owners notified: 2024-07-18

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

Safety risk

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V537000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 631,176
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-07-15
Owners notified: 2022-03-16

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.

Safety risk

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V316000

Structure: body

Component: Structure: body
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 616,967
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-05-05
Owners notified: 2021-10-01

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.

Safety risk

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.

Recall campaignNHTSA 20V675000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 454,941
Reported to NHTSA: 2021-03-12
Owners notified: 2020-11-27

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.

Safety risk

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V651000

Seats

Component: Seats
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 311,907
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-09-11
Owners notified: 2019-11-08

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with power front seats. The seat frames may have sharp edges.

Safety risk

Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective tape on the exposed inside edge and tab of the power seat frames, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S29.

Recall campaignNHTSA 19V435000

Suspension: rear

Component: Suspension: rear
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,194,173
Reported to NHTSA: 2019-06-10
Owners notified: 2019-06-26

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Safety risk

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V530000

Steering

Component: Steering
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 253
Reported to NHTSA: 2017-08-28
Owners notified: 2017-09-13

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.

Safety risk

If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.

Recall campaignNHTSA 17V332000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component: Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 2,204
Reported to NHTSA: 2017-05-22
Owners notified: 2017-06-07

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety risk

If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.

Recall campaignNHTSA 16V925000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger

Component: Engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger
Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected: 1,163
Reported to NHTSA: 2016-12-22
Owners notified: 2017-01-31

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Safety risk

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

Component	Complaints	Median mileage
Structure	652	81,000 mi
Unknown or other	444	5,200 mi
Structure: body	327	35,389 mi
Engine	283	25,000 mi
Power train	137	53,000 mi
Electrical system	112	43,833 mi
Steering	90	44,200 mi
Engine and engine cooling	73	95,000 mi
Suspension	69	45,000 mi
Visibility/wiper	60	19,000 mi
Wheels	60	20,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system	50	17,125 mi
Air bags	43	45,000 mi
Seat belts	31	47,000 mi
Vehicle speed control	25	29,177 mi
Service brakes	22	29,000 mi
Seats	19	34,621 mi
Exterior lighting	17	2,000 mi
Tires	16	20,000 mi
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners	14	60,000 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars	13	69,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system	12	9,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter	9	95,000 mi
Back over prevention: warnings	8	—
Electrical system: instrument panel: speedometer/odometer	7	80,758 mi
Fuel system, gasoline	7	88,762 mi
Visibility: windshield	7	67,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: pump	6	59,800 mi
Structure: body: door	6	55,895 mi
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	5	21,000 mi
Tires: tread/belt	5	21,000 mi
Visibility	5	75,000 mi
Electronic stability control (ESC)	4	27,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	3	50,519 mi
Lane departure: blind spot detection	3	21,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages	3	70,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission	3	61,000 mi
Visibility: sun/moon roof assembly	3	71,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition	2	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: manifold/header/muffler/tail pipe	2	8,000 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	2	—
Lane departure: assist	2	—
Latches/locks/linkages: doors: latch	2	79,000 mi
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly	2	37,000 mi
Suspension: rear	2	31,250 mi
Tires: pressure monitoring and regulating systems	2	125,000 mi
Tether, lower anchor (on car seat or vehicle)	2	—
Visibility: glass, side/rear	2	15,000 mi
Wheels: lugs/nuts/bolts/studs	2	176,825 mi
Air bags: frontal: driver clockspring/spiral cassette	1	60,000 mi
Back over prevention	1	140,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera	1	—
Electrical system: wiring: fuses and circuit breakers	1	65,000 mi
Electrical system: wiring: relays/solenoids	1	90,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: cooling system: radiator assembly	1	134,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pump	1	—
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control	1	30,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor	1	46,000 mi
Equipment	1	—
Equipment: appliance: air conditioner	1	—
Equipment: electrical: infotainment	1	—
Latches/locks/linkages: hatchback/liftgate: lock	1	112,000 mi
Power train: axle assembly	1	39,000 mi
Seat belts: rear/other: buckle assembly	1	—
Seat belts: front: buckle assembly	1	104,000 mi
Service brakes, air: disc: caliper	1	33,038 mi
Structure: body: door: handle: exterior	1	60,000 mi
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments	1	75,000 mi
Structure: body: hood	1	60,000 mi
Structure: body: trunk lid	1	49,831 mi
Structure: interior panels: door	1	87,000 mi
Suspension: rear: axle: non-powered axle assembly	1	55,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: accelerator pedal	1	98,000 mi
Vehicle speed control: throttle	1	98,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system	1	69,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: condensor/evaporator	1	96,000 mi
Visibility: defroster/defogger/hvac system: rear window	1	20,000 mi

The 2016 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2018 model has 2 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.