Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2015 Ford Explorer

What the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration knows about this vehicle: every recall, every consumer complaint, every defect investigation, every NCAP crash test. Sourced directly from NHTSA data feeds.

9
Open recalls
1,721
NHTSA complaints
5
Defect investigations
124
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

1,721 filed
35
Crashes
1
Fires
95
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Unknown OR Other
    392
  • Steering
    329
  • Structure
    250
  • Engine
    225
  • STRUCTURE:BODY
    129
  • FUEL/PROPULSION System
    86
  • Electrical System
    85
  • AIR Bags
    83

Recalls

10 campaigns
25V695000·BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA2025-10-13

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

RiskA rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.

24V031000·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2024-01-19

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.

RiskA detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

21V537000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-07-15

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.

RiskA rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers 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.

20V675000·SUSPENSION:REAR2021-03-12

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.

RiskA rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixFord 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.

20V692000·POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT2020-11-10

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.

RiskThe failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.

FixFord will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.

19V435000·SUSPENSION:REAR2019-06-10

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.

RiskA fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord 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.

17E048000·WHEELS:HUB2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord 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 Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

17E048000·SUSPENSION:REAR2017-08-28

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

RiskA loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

FixFord 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 Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

+ 2 more recalls. Pagination is on the roadmap.

NHTSA investigations

7 actions
PE23001·STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS2023-01-27 → 2024-02-08

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

Led to recall24V031

EA17002·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

EA17002·STRUCTURE:BODY2017-07-27 → 2023-01-17

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

PE16008·ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

PE16008·STRUCTURE:BODY2016-07-01 → 2017-09-12

Ford Explorer Exhaust Odor

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