Ford

Explorer

Sport Utility Vehicle - 2WD · model years 1991 to 2026

Includes Explorer 2WD, Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer 4WD and 5 more as listed by the EPA.

See all 202 Explorer trims All Ford cars

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	TSBs	Top complaints
1991	4Gas	16	no data	$3,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1991
1992	4Gas	16.5	no data	$3,775	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1992
1993	4Gas	17	no data	$3,650	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1993
1994	4Gas	16.5	no data	$3,775	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1994
1995	4Gas	16.5	no data	$3,775	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1995
1996	6Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1996
1997	8Gas	15	no data	$4,150	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1997
1998	8Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1998
1999	8Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 1999
2000	9Gas	16	no data	$3,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2000
2001	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2001
2002	8Gas	16	no data	$3,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2002
2003	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2003
2004	6Gas	16	no data	$3,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2004
2005	6Gas	15	no data	$4,150	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2005
2006	4Gas	15	no data	$4,150	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2006
2007	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2007
2008	4Gas	15.5	no data	$4,025	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2008
2009	4Gas	16	no data	$3,900	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2009
2010	4Gas	16	292	$3,900	2	115	1	22	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	71	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	81	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	130	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	121	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	116	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	183	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	183	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)	176	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	127	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)	362	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	294	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	232	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	152	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	94	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	$2,850	18	79	0	161	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.
2026	4Gas	22	no data	$2,725	no data	no data	0	no data	no data
no complaint or recall data on file for 2026

How the numbers moved

Combined MPG, median1991: 16 to 2026: 22

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.