2021 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 26 NHTSA recalls and 446 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2021 Ford Explorer
The 2021 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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26
NHTSA Recalls
26 recalls on record
446
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
14
Crash Reports
5 fire reports
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NHTSA Recalls — 2021 Ford Explorer (26)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Suspension: Rear
A rear suspension module with incorrect components may affect vehicle handling, ride height, and braking characteristics, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rear suspension module, and replace any incorrect parts, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer…
🔧 Engine
With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the right hand motor mount fasteners, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Air Bags: Side/Window: Curtain
Improper deployment of a side air bag increases the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 10, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the park system for damage and repair as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
🔧 Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (tcm/Pcm/Tecm)
Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Display Function
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will update the ICS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
🔧 Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April…
Showing 10 of 26 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
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Most Common Problems — 2021 Ford Explorer
Based on 446 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 2021 model year is highlighted.
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⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2016, 2017 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019, 2022, 2023 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
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Frequently Asked Questions — 2021 Ford Explorer
Is the 2021 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 Ford Explorer has 26 recall campaigns and 446 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 2021 Ford Explorer have?
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 26 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 2021 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2021 Ford Explorer are: Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Engine. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2021 Ford Explorer safe to buy?
The 2021 Ford Explorer has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 26 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, 2022, 2023. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2016, 2017.
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.