Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2026 Ford Explorer, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Unknown or other11
- Electrical system9
- Seats7
- Engine6
- Visibility/wiper5
- Forward collision avoidance4
- Fuel/propulsion system3
- Power train3
- Lane departure3
- Service brakes2
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
New York safety inspections
At its first New York inspection the 2026 Ford Explorer failed the safety check 0.01% of the time — 92% less often than the average 2026 passenger car (0.16%). Median odometer at inspection: 11 miles.
NY DMV Vehicle Inspections (vezn-fmmk), initial inspections since Aug 2021 · how we count
In the Netherlands
1,112 first registered in 2026 are on Dutch roads; 0% arrived later as imports. Median list price when new: €46,600.
Colours
RDW Open Data: registered vehicles and APK defects (CC0) · defect descriptions in the RDW's Dutch wording
In Finland
311 of these cars first registered in 2026 were in use in Finland on 30 Jun 2026.
Traficom (Finnish Transport and Communications Agency), open data on vehicles in use · CC BY 4.0
Crash-test ratings
NHTSA 5-star results for 2 variants; 2 of 2 rated variants score five stars overall. Rollover risk is the estimated chance of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.
| Variant | Overall | Rollover risk |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV HEV 4WD | ★★★★★ | 15.1 % |
| 2026 FORD EXPLORER HEV SUV HEV RWD | ★★★★★ | 14.7 % |
- Electronic stability control
- Standard
- Forward collision warning
- No
- Lane departure warning
- No
- Best overall rating
- 5 / 5
NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), api.nhtsa.gov · US federal work, public domain
Fuel consumption
Official Canadian test results for 4 variants: combined 10.4–12.4 L/100 km (about 19–23 mpg US), CO₂ 245–290 g/km.
| Variant | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 11.9 | 8.7 | 10.4 |
| Explorer Tremor AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 12.1 | 10.1 | 11.2 |
| Explorer AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 13.3 | 9.6 | 11.6 |
| Explorer Tremor AWD · Sport utility vehicle: Standard · Regular gasoline | 13.8 | 10.6 | 12.4 |
Litres per 100 km. Natural Resources Canada, Fuel consumption ratings (open.canada.ca) · Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls in Canada
9 Transport Canada recalls for the 2026 Ford Explorer.
| 2026411 26 Aug 2026 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine pistons may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the pistons may crack and cause the engine to fail. If th… |
| 2026340 14 Jul 2026 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the driver's seat could recline on its own when using certain remote features including remote door unlocking, remote start and/or… |
| 2026339 14 Jul 2026 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles the recall repairs completed by a Ford dealer during recall 25S67 (Transport Canada recall no. 2025-328) may not be effective. As a … |
| 2026258 27 May 2026 | Engine Issue: On certain vehicles, the engine may not have been manufactured properly. As a result, the engine could fail and cause a loss of power to the wheels. … |
| 2026159 1 Apr 2026 | Heater And Defroster Issue: On a small number of vehicles, the ground connection for the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) blower motor may not have been secured pr… |
| 2026124 17 Mar 2026 | Seats And Restraints Issue: On certain vehicles, the second-row outboard seat belt anchor bolt(s) may be loose or missing. As a result, the seat belt(s) could detach in a crash. … |
| 2026099 3 Mar 2026 | Lights And Instruments Issue: On certain vehicles, a software problem could cause the right headlamp to become incorrectly aimed when turning the steering wheel. As a result, the ve… |
| 2026019 21 Jan 2026 | Structure Issue: On a small number of vehicles, the windshield may not be properly attached and could separate from the vehicle in a crash. Safety Risk: A windshi… |
| 2025548 11 Oct 2025 | Structure Issue: On certain vehicles, the trailer hitch bolts may not have been tightened properly. As a result, the bolts could loosen and the hitch could detach from … |
Transport Canada Vehicle Recalls Database · Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada
Recalls
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. The active vent on the passenger side may not open as intended, preventing the air bag from deploying properly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Bronco, Bronco Sport, Mustang, and Ranger vehicles. The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can result in piston dome failure and lead to a loss of drive power.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine. The engine connecting rod bearings may seize, which can result in engine failure.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2027 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system may fail, which can cause the defrosting and defogging system to become inoperative.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer and Mustang vehicles. The engine piston circlips may have been incorrectly installed during manufacturing, which can result in piston failure and engine damage, leading to a loss of drive power.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer vehicles. The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer vehicles. During manufacturing, the windshield may not have been properly bonded to the vehicle, allowing it to detach in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer, Mustang, Lincoln Corsair, and 2025 Maverick vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln Corsair, Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words