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Recalls are issued for a make, model and model year. Whether the repair has already been done on one specific car is known only to its manufacturer and dealers. Check your vehicle's official status at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a dealer.
US recalls (13)
Structure: body
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Risk and remedy
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.
Equipment: electrical, engine block heater
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk and remedy
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Structure: body
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Risk and remedy
Risk: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.
Structure: body, roof and pillars
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
Structure: body
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.
Seats
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with power front seats. The seat frames may have sharp edges.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S29.
Suspension: rear
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
Steering
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.
Seats: front assembly, recliner
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.
Engine and engine cooling: engine, gasoline
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Risk and remedy
Risk: 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 Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.
Canadian recalls (13)
Show 13 Canadian recalls
Structure
2026-07-14 · campaign 2026-341
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the repairs completed by a Ford dealer during customer satisfaction program 20N11 may not be effective. As a result, a second repair is required.
On certain vehicles, the roof rail covers could become loose and detach while driving.
Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2021-267. Vehicles repaired under that recall don't require this repair.
Safety Risk:
A roof rail cover that detaches while driving could create a hazard for other road users and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, secure the roof rail covers.
Suspension
2026-02-20 · campaign 2026-080
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the outer ball joint for the rear suspension toe link(s) may seize. If this happens, the toe link(s) could break while driving. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the rear suspension toe links.
Electrical
2026-01-09 · campaign 2026-005
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the engine block heater could leak coolant. If this happens, the block heater could short circuit when it's plugged in.
Note: This recall replaces Transport Canada recall no. 2025-554. Vehicles that were repaired under that recall don't require this repair.
Safety Risk:
A short circuit can create the risk of a fire.
Corrective Actions:
To reduce the safety risk, Ford advises you not to use the engine block heater until the recall repairs have been completed. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the block heater. Alternatively, owners can choose to have the dealership permanently disable the engine block heater.
Electrical
2025-10-10 · campaign 2025-554
This recall was replaced by Transport Canada recall no. 2026-005.
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the engine block heater could leak coolant. If this happens, the block heater could short circuit when it's plugged in.
Safety Risk:
A short circuit can create the risk of a fire.
Corrective Actions:
To reduce the safety risk, Ford advises you not to use the engine block heater until the recall repairs have been completed. Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to replace the block heater.
Structure
2025-05-23 · campaign 2025-282
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the exterior B-pillar trims on the driver and front passenger doors may not be properly attached. As a result, the trim(s) could loosen and separate from the vehicle.
Safety Risk:
Trim that detaches from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, secure the B-pillar trims.
Structure
2024-01-22 · campaign 2024-026
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the exterior A-pillar trim on either side of the windshield may not be properly attached. As a result, the trim(s) could loosen and separate from the vehicle.
Safety Risk:
Trim that detaches from the vehicle could create a road hazard for others and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your vehicle to a dealership to inspect and, if necessary, replace the A-pillar trim.
Suspension
2021-07-16 · campaign 2021-438
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the outer ball joint for the rear suspension toe link may seize. If this happens, the toe link could break while driving. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability.
Note: This recall only affects vehicles equipped with a rear ball joint manufactured by ZF.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to replace the rear suspension toe links and inspect the ball joints. If a ball joint requires replacement, the dealer will replace the rear suspension knuckle.
Structure
2021-05-06 · campaign 2021-267
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the roof rail covers could detach. If this happens while driving, the roof rail cover could separate from the vehicle.
Note: This recall only affects vehicles with painted roof rail covers.
Safety Risk:
A roof rail cover that detaches while driving could create a hazard for other drivers and nearby people, and could increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to secure the roof rail covers.
Suspension
2020-11-03 · campaign 2020-524
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the outer ball joint for the rear suspension toe link may seize. If this happens, the toe link could break while driving. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your vehicle to a dealer to inspect the ball joints for the rear suspension toe links. If a ball joint requires replacement, the dealer will replace the rear suspension knuckle.
Seats and restraints
2019-09-11 · campaign 2019-456
Issue:
On certain vehicles equipped with power front seats, the front seat frames may have sharp metal edges.
Safety Risk:
A person that reaches between the front seat and center console could be cut by the sharp edge.
Corrective Actions:
Ford will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a Ford or Lincoln dealer to install protective tape on the exposed edges on the inboard side of the seat frames.
Suspension
2019-06-11 · campaign 2019-280
Issue:
On certain vehicles, the rear suspension toe link(s) could break. This could cause a sudden loss of vehicle stability. Note: This problem is more likely to occur on vehicles that are driven on rough roads.
Safety Risk:
A loss of vehicle stability could cause a loss of control and increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Actions:
The company will notify owners by mail and instruct them to take their vehicle to a dealer to install improved rear suspension toe links.
Steering
2017-08-30 · campaign 2017-415 · 9 vehicles
On certain vehicles, the steering gear heat shield fasteners may have an incorrect coating that could cause the heat shield to corrode and detach. This could expose the steering gear system to higher temperatures and could cause the steering gear to overheat, which could result in a reduction of steering assist until the gear cools. If the steering gear electrical connectors were to melt, it would result in a sudden loss of steering assist. A loss of power steering assist could unexpectedly increase steering effort, which would increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the fasteners and replace as required. Note: In the event of a loss of power assist, the message "SERVICE POWER STEERING NOW" would be displayed in the instrument cluster.
Suspension
2017-04-25 · campaign 2017-224
On certain vehicles operated in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba, soil properties unique to these areas could cause an accumulation of soil to occur at the attachment point of the rear suspension toe link. This could impede the toe link's travel, causing bending stresses and potential fracture. A fractured toe link would affect vehicle handling and could increase the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace the toe links with revised parts.
Owner complaints (1,704)
Owners filed 1,704 complaints with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Explorer (34 crashes, 11 fires, 51 injuries reported). Among 44 model years of this model, it ranks #7 for the most complaints (median 630).
| Most-reported problem | Complaints | |
|---|
| Structure | 659 | |
| Unknown or other | 373 | |
| Engine | 241 | |
| Power train | 125 | |
| Electrical system | 94 | |
| Engine and engine cooling | 77 | |
| Steering | 76 | |
| Wheels | 60 | |
Crash test ratings
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Ford Explorer.
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|
| 2017 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV FWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
| 2017 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD | 5★ | 5★ | 5★ | 4★ |
Fuel economy
EPA ratings for each 2017 Ford Explorer version.
| Version | City MPG | Highway MPG | Combined | Yearly fuel cost |
|---|
| Explorer 2WD FFV 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
| Explorer AWD 2.3 L Automatic (S6) | 18 | 25 | 21 | $3,200 |
| Explorer AWD 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Explorer AWD 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 16 | 22 | 18 | $3,700 |
| Explorer AWD FFV 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 16 | 23 | 19 | $3,550 |
| Explorer FWD 2.3 L Automatic (S6) | 19 | 27 | 22 | $3,050 |
| Explorer FWD 3.5 L Automatic (S6) | 17 | 24 | 20 | $3,350 |
Need this data in your app?
Recalls, complaints, crash ratings and fuel economy as a JSON API. Decode up to 50 VINs per call and get a daily feed of new recalls.
Explore the API →Sources: NHTSA recalls, complaints and 5-Star Safety Ratings, US EPA fuel economy and Transport
Canada's Vehicle Recalls Database (contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada).
Recalls updated 2026-10-30.