2026 Ford Explorer ST-Line
2026 Ford Explorer ST-Line — 2.3L 4 Cyl, 4x4, Automatic. Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV].
Safety & Recall Score: Fair
This score reflects NHTSA safety data only — recalls, complaints, and crash ratings. It does not include title status, accident history, or odometer records. Verify hidden history with VIN Pro Plus →
Composite rating based on recalls, complaints, crash ratings, and vehicle age.
VIN Decoded
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- Type: MULTIPURPOSE PASSENGER VEHICLE (MPV)
- Body: Sport Utility Vehicle [SUV]/Multipurpose Vehicle [MPV]
- Plant: CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, UNITED STATES (USA)
NHTSA Recalls
14 Recall Campaigns- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Lincoln...
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2026 Explorer,...
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer...
Owner Complaints
42 filed with NHTSA- Rear liftgate window spontaneously shattered while sitting in my...
- Traveling of the freeway at 80 mph, pull left...
Fuel Economy
23 MPG Combined- City: 20 MPG
- Hwy: 27 MPG
- Combined: 23 MPG
- Fuel: Gasoline
Vehicle Overview
VIN Breakdown
Engine & Powertrain
Fuel Economy & Environmental Impact
Safety & Driver Assistance
Vehicle Dimensions & Weight
Towing & Utility
Wheels & Tires
Manufacturing & Identity
Recall & Safety Summary
✅ Pre-Purchase Checklist
Estimated Market Value
Based on vehicle age, class, trim & U.S. market conditions
Based on vehicle class, age, trim, and U.S. market trends. Verify with Kelley Blue Book or Edmunds for mileage-adjusted value.
📚 Helpful Vehicle Resources
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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...
Risk: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford...
ENGINE
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.
Risk: An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In...
Remedy: Dealers will replace the cylinder head assembly, free of charge. All affected vehicles are still within dealership inventory and therefore no owner notification letters...
TRAILER HITCHES
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
Risk: While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either...
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29,...
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD
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...
Risk: In the event of a crash, windshield detachment can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will remove and replace the windshield, free charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at...
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS
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...
Risk: A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were...
SEAT BELTS
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.
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters...
VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR
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.
Risk: An inoperative windshield defrosting and defogging system may decrease the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and secure the instrument panel joints as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may...
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine for missing or mis-installed circlips and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed...
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
Risk: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service...
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
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.
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy...
SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:POWER ADJUST
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.
Risk: Unexpected movement of the driver’s seat back may trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed...
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
Risk: Engine failure can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, bearing failure may cause a breach...
Remedy: Dealers will replace the engine long blocks, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service...
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
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.
Risk: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block, if necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety...
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL
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.
Risk: An air bag that does not deploy as intended increases the risk of injury in a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer...
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Rear liftgate window spontaneously shattered while sitting in my...
Rear liftgate window spontaneously shattered while sitting in my driveway.
Traveling of the freeway at 80 mph, pull left...
Traveling of the freeway at 80 mph, pull left to pass Semi, upon getting halfway past the truck the adaptive cruise Control activates and brings the vehicle to...
The contact owns a 2026 Ford Explorer. While the...
The contact owns a 2026 Ford Explorer. While the contact's wife was driving 45 MPH, an unknown warning light illuminated, and the hood latch independently released. The contact...
- Driver seat back reclines by itself when vehicle...
- Driver seat back reclines by itself when vehicle is approached by key fob. As acknowledged by Ford, this situation could result in harm to a passenger sitting...
I was sold and delivered a car with an...
I was sold and delivered a car with an active safety recall for 2nd row seat easy entry. At the time of sale I was told the recall...
Vehicle would not accelerate, was shuddering and continued shuddering...
Vehicle would not accelerate, was shuddering and continued shuddering while stopped and parked.
During a traffic accident the driver side seat airbag...
During a traffic accident the driver side seat airbag deployed. The airbag vent faces towards the driver when it deploys. The air escaping the vent burned through the...
The glass roof exploded while traveling down the road....
The glass roof exploded while traveling down the road. No cause for failure present.
This schedule is a general reference based on make, model year, and powertrain. Always follow your owner's manual for exact intervals.
Estimated depreciation for this 2026 FORD Explorer based on vehicle class and age. These are projections from today’s general estimate, not past sale prices. Verify with KBB or Edmunds for mileage-adjusted value.
Estimates based on vehicle class averages. Actual values vary by mileage, condition, and location.
Estimated annual cost to own this vehicle at average U.S. driving conditions.
National averages. Registration varies by state. Does not include parking, tolls, or loan interest.
Ford reliability is mixed. Trucks and V8 Mustangs score well; some EcoBoost engines and electronics have higher complaint rates.
General editorial reference for this manufacturer, not a live or VIN-specific measurement — see the sources below for detailed, current data.
Use this checklist to track which recalls have been resolved. All recall repairs are free at authorized dealerships.
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