Last updated: 2026-10-10
Ford Explorer Reliability by Year
Ford Explorer shoppers should favor the 2024 and skip the 2020, whose transmissions and electrical systems draw the most owner complaints.
Ford Explorer Reliability Overview
Transmissions that shudder or lose drive and A-pillar trim that flies off at highway speed are the Explorer's main complaints. Reliability standing is good, but it sits below average among SUVs, and repair costs run above the midsize class. The 2020 model year is the one to avoid. The 2024 is the year to favor.
Current generation: 6th gen (2020–2023).
Best & Worst Ford Explorer Years
Best Ford Explorer Years to Buy
Based on reliability index scoreOwners filed only 14 complaints on the 2024, against 1066 for the 2020, and it has 6 recalls instead of 29. The reports are about front-end clunking and windshield distortion, not failing transmissions. It has also been on the road at least two years, so the low count is not only newness.
Ford Explorer Years to Avoid
Owners filed 1066 complaints, mostly about the transmission: harsh or delayed shifts, slipping, and lost drive on the highway. Some cars needed a new transmission within a few thousand miles. Others fail to hold park and roll away. Electrical fires and blank backup cameras add to the list, and the year carries 29 recalls.
Ford Explorer Reliability Score Trend
Ford Explorer reliability has improved in recent years, with newer models scoring an average of 70/100 compared to 62/100 for older years.
Scores 0–100. Higher is better.
| Year | Score | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 64/100 | Good |
| 2019 | 69/100 | Good |
| 2020 | 54/100 | Mixed |
| 2021 | 62/100 | Good |
| 2022 | 65/100 | Good |
| 2023 | 71/100 | Good |
| 2024 | 73/100 | Good |
| 2025 | 72/100 | Good |
| 2026 | 70/100 | Good |
Year-by-Year Reliability
2026 Ford Explorer
4 recalls · 0 complaints
Too new to have owner complaints on file, with four recalls covering visibility, the engine, and trailer hitches, plus a 5-star federal crash rating.
2025 Ford Explorer
14 recalls · 65 complaints
Rates good and stands among the stronger Explorer years, though owners report blackout screens, rollaway park failures, and recall repairs still pending.
2024 Ford Explorer
6 recalls · 14 complaints
Best-rated of the nine scored Explorer years, with only 14 owner complaints, mostly front-end clunking and windshield distortion.
2023 Ford Explorer
12 recalls · 84 complaints
Final year of the sixth generation, with good reliability and far fewer complaints than 2022, though wiring faults and strut noise still show up.
2022 Ford Explorer
21 recalls · 208 complaints
Middle of the Explorer pack, with fewer complaints than the 2021 but more than the 2023, and late Reverse engagement as its main problem.
2021 Ford Explorer
22 recalls · 354 complaints
Weaker than most Explorer years, with axle bolt fractures, transmission trouble, and early engine failures, though it fares better than the 2020.
2020 Ford Explorer
29 recalls · 1066 complaints
Weakest scored Explorer year and the first of the sixth generation, with heavy transmission, backup camera, and electrical complaints that neighboring years do not match.
2019 Ford Explorer
4 recalls · 252 complaints
Last year of the fifth generation, it rates better than both 2018 and 2020, but windshield trim and transmission failures still turn up.
2018 Ford Explorer
5 recalls · 651 complaints
Weaker than most Explorer years, with loose A-pillar trim that has owners waiting two years or more for parts.
Common Ford Explorer problems
Problem areas with the most owner complaints, each with the years affected, symptoms, and fixes.
Found Your Ford Explorer? Check Its History
Electrical system (11) problems come up most in Ford Explorer owner complaints, and 117 recalls cover the years we track. A VIN check shows whether the car you found had its recall work done, plus accident and title history.
- Accidents
- Open Recalls
- Title History
- Odometer Rollback
Ford Explorer Repair Costs
Reliability Rating
3.5/5
Annual Repair Cost
$732
Repair Frequency
0.2/yr
Major Repair Risk
14%
$159 above the midsize SUVs average of $573/yr.
Ranked #19 of 26 among midsize SUVs.
Ford Explorer Resale Value
The Ford Explorer is estimated to retain about 60.5% of its original value after 5 years, based on observed used-car listings.
- Value Retained
- 60.5%
- Depreciation
- 39.5%
- Listings Analyzed
- 717
after 5 years
over the same period
U.S. used-car listings
Listings observed in . Actual resale value varies by trim, mileage, condition, and location.
Explore Ford Explorer depreciation and resale value on CarResaleValue.comFord Explorer Years to Avoid
See which model years have the most problems
Most Reliable Ford Models
Compare all Ford models by reliability
Compare Ford Explorer With Similar SUVs
The Ford Explorer competes with other midsize suvs such as Toyota Grand Highlander, Volkswagen Atlas, and Nissan Pathfinder.
Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander
3 years tracked · 204 complaints
Explorer vs Volkswagen Atlas
9 years tracked · 2107 complaints
Explorer vs Nissan Pathfinder
8 years tracked · 457 complaints
Explorer vs Honda Passport
8 years tracked · 548 complaints
Explorer vs Chevrolet Traverse
9 years tracked · 1417 complaints
More Ford Explorer comparisons
- Explorer vs Buick Enclave
- Explorer vs Chevrolet Blazer
- Explorer vs Chevrolet Blazer EV
- Explorer vs Chevrolet Tahoe
- Explorer vs Dodge Durango
- Explorer vs GMC Acadia
- Explorer vs Honda Pilot
- Explorer vs Hyundai Palisade
- Explorer vs Hyundai Santa Fe
- Explorer vs Jeep Grand Cherokee
- Explorer vs Kia Telluride
- Explorer vs Land Rover Defender 110
- Explorer vs Mazda CX-9
- Explorer vs Mazda CX-90
- Explorer vs Subaru Ascent
- Explorer vs Subaru Outback
- Explorer vs Toyota 4Runner
- Explorer vs Toyota Highlander
- Explorer vs Toyota Venza
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is the best year for the Ford Explorer?
- The 2024 is our pick. It has the fewest owner complaints of any year that has been on the road at least two years, and its reports center on front-end clunking and windshield distortion. The 2020 is the weakest year, so avoid it.
- Is the Ford Explorer reliable long term?
- Its standing is good, but it falls below average among SUVs. Long-term trouble centers on the transmission, with replacements commonly reported between 62,000 and 100,000 miles. EcoBoost engines also show coolant leaks and failures between 63,880 and 102,000 miles.
- What are the most common Ford Explorer problems?
- Power train is the top problem area. Transmissions shift hard, shudder, slip, or lose drive with a wrench light. Next is structure: A-pillar trim and windshield molding come loose at speed under federal recall 24V031000, and owners report long waits for parts. Electrical faults and engine coolant leaks follow.
- How much does it cost to repair a Ford Explorer?
- Independent repair-cost data puts the estimated annual repair cost at $732. The average for midsize SUVs is $573. That makes the Explorer costlier to keep running than a typical rival, and a transmission or engine replacement would add far more.
- Do Ford Explorers have a fire problem?
- Owners do report fires, mostly from the electrical system. They describe fires under the dash, behind the glove box, or after a loud pop and stall. The 2020 has the most fire reports, at 11. One engine compartment fire destroyed a vehicle.
How we score the Ford Explorer
Scores weight complaint severity at 35%, repair costs at 30%, recall impact at 20%, and the spread of complaints across systems at 15%, with complaint counts adjusted for US sales. Read the full methodology.
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