Ford

Explorer

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD · model years 2010 to 2025

Includes Explorer 2WD, Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer 4WD and 4 more as listed by the EPA.

The verdict

Best year: 2024. complaints: 16, below this model's typical 1005; recalls: 8, below this model's typical 11.

Worst year: 2020. complaints: 1136, about 2.3x this model's typical 502; recalls: 31, about 2.8x this model's typical 11.

Year by year

Year by year summary for the Ford Explorer
Year	Trims	MPG	HP	Fuel cost	Recalls	Complaints	Investigations	Top complaints
2010	4Gas	16	292	$3,900	2	115	1	POWER TRAIN 18%, SEATS 13%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 115, below this model's typical 670 recalls: 2, below this model's typical 11 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 50 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2011	4Gas	19.5	287	$3,200	8	1,187	4	STEERING 50%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 8%, STRUCTURE 7%
complaints: 1187, about 1.8x this model's typical 670 recalls: 8, below this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 15 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2012	3Gas	20	262	$3,100	7	817	4	STEERING 35%, STRUCTURE 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 10%
complaints: 817, about 1.6x this model's typical 502 recalls: 7, below this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 13 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2013	6Gas	19.5	237	$3,200	12	2,214	6	STEERING 30%, STRUCTURE 16%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%
complaints: 2214, about 2.2x this model's typical 1005 recalls: 12, above this model's typical 11 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 1 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 61 Score: 7 of 100, where higher is better.
2014	6Gas	19.5	237	$3,200	7	1,666	4	STEERING 24%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 16%, STRUCTURE 13%
complaints: 1666, about 1.7x this model's typical 1005 recalls: 7, below this model's typical 11 deaths reported in NHTSA complaints: 2 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 38 Score: 14 of 100, where higher is better. Theft rate: 0.0 per 1,000 produced (federal data, last published for 2014).
2015	6Gas	19.5	237	$3,200	9	1,728	5	STRUCTURE 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, STEERING 16%
complaints: 1728, about 1.7x this model's typical 1005 recalls: 9, below this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 95 Score: 40 of 100, where higher is better.
2016	7Gas	20	275	$3,100	14	2,411	2	STRUCTURE 19%, STEERING 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%
complaints: 2411, about 2.1x this model's typical 1172 recalls: 14, above this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 58 Score: 23 of 100, where higher is better.
2017	7Gas	20	275	$3,100	13	1,648	2	STRUCTURE 32%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 18%, ENGINE 12%
complaints: 1648, above this model's typical 1172 recalls: 13, above this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 50 Score: 44 of 100, where higher is better.
2018	7Gas	20	275	$3,100	6	696	2 (1 open)	STRUCTURE 33%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 19%, ENGINE 11%
complaints: 696, below this model's typical 1172 recalls: 6, below this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 12 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 63 of 100, where higher is better.
2019	7Gas	20	275	$3,100	5	281	1	STRUCTURE 44%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, POWER TRAIN 11%
complaints: 281, below this model's typical 1172 recalls: 5, below this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 6 Score: 81 of 100, where higher is better.
2020	3Gas	23	400	$2,700	31	1,136	4 (1 open)	POWER TRAIN 28%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 12%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 1136, about 2.3x this model's typical 502 recalls: 31, about 2.8x this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 36 open NHTSA investigations: 1 Score: 0 of 100, where higher is better.
2021	6Gas	23	400	$2,700	24	383	3	POWER TRAIN 21%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ENGINE 9%
complaints: 383, below this model's typical 1005 recalls: 24, about 2.2x this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 14 Score: 45 of 100, where higher is better.
2022	7Gas	21	400	$2,950	23	233	3	POWER TRAIN 18%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 11%
complaints: 233, below this model's typical 1172 recalls: 23, about 2.1x this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 21 Score: 50 of 100, where higher is better.
2023	10Gas	20.5	400	$3,025	14	94	0	UNKNOWN OR OTHER 15%, STEERING 9%, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 8%
complaints: 94, below this model's typical 1674 recalls: 14, above this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 8 Score: 71 of 100, where higher is better.
2024	6Gas	20.5	400	$3,025	8	16	0	SUSPENSION 14%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 14%, VISIBILITY/WIPER 14%
complaints: 16, below this model's typical 1005 recalls: 8, below this model's typical 11 Score: 88 of 100, where higher is better.
2025	6Gas	21	400	$2,950	18	79	0	ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 13%, POWER TRAIN 13%, UNKNOWN OR OTHER 13%
complaints: 79, below this model's typical 1005 recalls: 18, about 1.6x this model's typical 11 injuries reported in NHTSA complaints: 3 Score: 68 of 100, where higher is better.

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median2010: 16 to 2025: 21

Owner complaints2010: 115 to 2025: 79

How we score each year

We compare each year of the Ford Explorer to the model's own typical numbers, not to other cars. A year reads solid when its recalls, owner complaints, and federal investigations sit at or below what is typical for this model, mixed when some of those numbers run above typical, and avoid when they run far above it. Deaths, reported fires, and an NHTSA advisory to park outside count against a year no matter what this model's baseline looks like.

A year is scored only when NHTSA has both complaint and recall counts for it. Complaint data often lags for the newest years, so a recent year can read not enough data even while its recall count already shows in the table. When the history is too thin, we say not enough data instead of guessing. Service bulletins are routine maintenance guidance from the manufacturer and do not lower a year's score.

Scores run 0 to 100, higher is better. Recall, complaint, and investigation figures come from NHTSA records. Fuel economy, fuel cost, and horsepower figures come from the EPA, shown as the median across the year's trims.

Information is gathered on a best-effort basis from public sources, may be incomplete or out of date, and is not purchasing or financial advice. Verify with the manufacturer or dealer before buying.