Model year record

2019 Ford Explorer

6 recall campaigns on file for this model year. 494 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 26V012000

Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

Component
Equipment: electrical: engine block heater
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
2,403
Reported to NHTSA
2026-01-15

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer 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 February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 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 January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.

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 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 19V633000

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Component
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Manufacturer
Ford Motor Company
Vehicles affected
639,137
Reported to NHTSA
2019-08-28
Owners notified
2019-10-21

Defect description

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety risk

A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.

Owner complaints

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

ComponentComplaintsMedian mileage
Structure16664,000 mi
Structure: body597,083 mi
Unknown or other583,000 mi
Power train4284,000 mi
Engine2641,000 mi
Fuel/propulsion system211,800 mi
Electrical system1719,000 mi
Suspension17130,000 mi
Steering1256,000 mi
Engine and engine cooling1056,000 mi
Electrical system: horn746,000 mi
Power train: automatic transmission: torque converter582,000 mi
Wheels55,200 mi
Seats413,000 mi
Visibility/wiper47,083 mi
Service brakes32,500 mi
Air bags2
Back over prevention: warnings2
Fuel system, gasoline252,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump250,000 mi
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors260,000 mi
Latches/locks/linkages2
Power train: automatic transmission: control module (TCM/PCM/TECM)283,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: pads236,000 mi
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: rotor236,000 mi
Structure: interior panels: dashboard2100,000 mi
Tires22,000 mi
Vehicle speed control2
Visibility: windshield: critical fasteners240,000 mi
Back over prevention: sensing system: camera1
Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery142,000 mi
Electrical system: ignition11,100 mi
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking136,066 mi
Forward collision avoidance: sensing system: camera168,500 mi
Seat belts1
Service brakes, hydraulic: antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip: ABS warning light136,066 mi
Structure: body: door1
Structure: body: hood118,600 mi
Structure: body: roof and pillars1
Visibility150,000 mi
Visibility: rearview mirrors/devices: exterior143,000 mi

The 2018 model has about half as many complaints as this one. The 2020 model has about a fifth 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.