Is This A Lemon?

Year · Make · Model

2021 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.

24
Open recalls
381
NHTSA complaints
2
Defect investigations
280
Service bulletins

NCAP safety

Overall
Frontal
Side
Rollover

Consumer complaints

381 filed
13
Crashes
5
Fires
14
Injuries reported
0
Fatalities reported

What people complain about

  • Power Train
    99
  • Unknown OR Other
    75
  • Engine
    43
  • Electrical System
    38
  • VISIBILITY/WIPER
    20
  • Back Over Prevention
    18
  • Service Brakes
    17
  • STRUCTURE:BODY
    15

Recalls

27 campaigns
26V159000·SEAT BELTS2026-03-17

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.

RiskA loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

FixDealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.

26V123000·BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE2026-03-03

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

RiskAn incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixThe remedy is currently under development. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 6, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated second quarter of 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.

26V117000·VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR2026-03-03

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.

RiskWindshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in May 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.

25V685000·EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER2025-10-10

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.

RiskAn electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

FixOwners 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 September 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.

25V455000·FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP2025-07-07

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

RiskAn engine stall increases the risk of a crash.

FixThe remedy is under development. Interim notification letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed July 16, 2025. Second letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated 2nd Quarter 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.

25V442000·BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE2025-06-27

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.

RiskA rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.

25V393000·SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY2025-06-13

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.

RiskA seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

FixDealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.

25V159000·BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE2025-03-14

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

RiskLoss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

FixDealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.

+ 19 more recalls. Pagination is on the roadmap.

NHTSA investigations

3 actions
EA23002·ENGINE2023-09-29 → 2024-10-31

Loss of Motive Power

Led to recall24V635

RQ23002·POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY2023-06-20 → 2024-02-15

Rear Axle Bolt Failure

Led to recall23V675

RQ23002·POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DIFFERENTIAL UNIT2023-06-20 → 2024-02-15

Rear Axle Bolt Failure

Led to recall23V675

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