2017 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 14 NHTSA recalls and 1,712 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2017 Ford Explorer
The 2017 Ford Explorer shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
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14
NHTSA Recalls
14 recalls on record
1,712
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
34
Crash Reports
11 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2017 Ford Explorer (14)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Seats
Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.
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,…
🔧 Suspension: Rear
A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Wheels: Hub
A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from…
🔧 Steering
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.
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…
🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner
If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
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…
🔧 Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Gasoline: Turbo/Supercharger
An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
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…
🔧 Structure: Body
A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
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….
🔧 Suspension: Rear
A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Suspension: Rear
A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
🔧 Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars
A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
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…
Showing 10 of 14 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2017 Ford Explorer
Based on 1,712 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
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Ford Explorer — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2017 model year is highlighted.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019, 2021 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2017 Ford Explorer
Is the 2017 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2017 Ford Explorer has 14 recall campaigns and 1,712 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Explorer have?
The 2017 Ford Explorer has 14 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2017 Ford Explorer are: Structure, Unknown Or Other, Engine, Power Train. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2017 Ford Explorer safe to buy?
The 2017 Ford Explorer has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 14 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Explorer should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Explorer are: 2019, 2021. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2016.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update.
For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit
NHTSA.gov/recalls.