Last updated: 2026-03-04

Predicted

2026 Ford Explorer Reliability Score & Common Problems

Name: 2026 Ford Explorer
Brand: Ford

The 2026 Ford Explorer has a predicted reliability score of 72/100 based on prior model year data. Early data shows 4 recalls and 0 owner complaints.

Recalls

Complaints

Complaint Rate

N/A

per 10k sold

Est. Annual Cost

$732

Above avg

Major Repair Risk

14%

NHTSA Rating

5/5

Consider

Based on historical reliability patterns, predicted to score 72/100 — worth considering.

4 recalls on record

Should You Buy the 2026 Ford Explorer?

The 2026 Ford Explorer has a predicted reliability score of 72/100 ("Good") based on prior model year performance.

So far: 4 recalls, 0 owner complaints. No owner-reported issues on file yet.

Prior model years suggest dependable ownership. Confirm all recall repairs are completed, and consider a pre-purchase inspection for used examples.

See also the 2025 Ford Explorer for an earlier comparison.

Pros

Acceptable predicted reliability based on prior model years
Infrequent unscheduled repairs
Low major repair risk (14%)
Low complaint frequency

Cons

Score is a prediction — real-world data still developing
Above-average repair costs for its class
Moderate recall count

Compare 2026 Ford Explorer With

Predicted

2026 Volkswagen Atlas

Predicted: 59/100

Predicted

2026 Nissan Pathfinder

Predicted: 75/100

Predicted

2026 Honda Passport

Predicted: 79/100

Predicted

2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee

Predicted: 68/100

Predicted

2026 Toyota Grand Highlander

Predicted: 75/100

Common Problem Categories

Safety

4 manufacturer recalls issued

Recall Overview

recalls on record

The 2026 Ford Explorer has 4 recalls on record. This is a moderate number. Each recall represents a safety or compliance issue identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships, regardless of warranty status.

NHTSA.gov →

Complaint Breakdown

complaints

LowAvgHigh

Very Low

Safety Incidents

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Data sourced from NHTSA complaint filings and manufacturer recall notices. Complaint narratives are owner-reported.

2026 Ford Explorer Recall Details

4 recalls have been issued for the 2026 Ford Explorer. All recall repairs are performed free of charge at authorized dealerships.

26V0240002026-01-21

VISIBILITY

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 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 212, "Windshield Mounting."

Consequence

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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C02. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 22, 2026.

25V8280002025-12-01

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.

Consequence

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components increases the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in engine seizure and loss of motive power, increasing the risk of a crash.

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 will be mailed. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SD3. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on November 24, 2025.

25V7300002025-10-24

VISIBILITY

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 Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence

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 customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25C60. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall become searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning October 27, 2025.

2026 Ford Explorer NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall Safety Rating

Crash Test Results by Configuration (expand)

Gas Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 14.7%

Safety Technologies

Dynamic Head Restraints (Not Available)Head Restraint (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Advanced Belt Feature (Not Available)Seat Belt Pretensioners (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Seat Belt Load Limiters (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row)Frontal Air Bag (Driver, Front Passenger)Head Protection (Driver, Front Passenger, 2nd row, 3rd row)Torso and/or Pelvis Protection (Driver, Front Passenger)Knee (Driver)Additional Air Bags (Not Available)Meets Side Air Bag Out-of-Position Requirements (Yes)Unattended Child Reminder Direct Sensing System (No)LATCH Locations (2nd row, 3rd row)Driver Monitoring System (Yes)Automatic High Beams (Standard)

HEV Powertrain

Driver: 5/5Passenger: 5/5

Rollover risk: 14.7%

Safety Technologies

View full safety data on NHTSA.gov →

Ford Explorer Repair Costs & Maintenance

Maintenance Rating

3.5

Based on NHTSA complaint patterns, recall severity, and publicly available cost benchmarks.

Est. Annual Maintenance

$732

vs $573 avg for midsize SUVs

vs $652 avg for all vehicles

Repair Frequency

0.2

unscheduled repair visits per year

Severe Repair Probability

14%

chance of a major repair

Annual Cost Comparison

Explorer

$732

Category Avg

$573

All Vehicles

$652

Category-level averages derived from publicly available industry reports (AAA, CarMD). Model-level estimates produced by Auto Reliability Index.

Check Any 2026 Ford Explorer's History Before You Buy

Reliability scores tell you what to expect from the 2026 Explorer in general — but every car has its own story. Uncover past accidents, title issues, odometer rollbacks, and service records for a specific Ford Explorer with a free VIN lookup.

Run a Free VIN Check

Best & Worst Ford Explorer Years

Best Ford Explorer Years to Buy

The best Ford Explorer year is 2024 with a reliability score of 73/100, rated good. Other strong picks include 2025 (72/100) and 2023 (71/100).

Good

2024

6 recalls · 14 complaints

Good

2025

14 recalls · 65 complaints

Good

2023

12 recalls · 84 complaints

Ford Explorer Years to Avoid

The worst Ford Explorer year is 2020 with a score of 54/100, primarily due to power train (390) issues.

Mixed

2020

29 recalls · 1066 complaints

See full Ford Explorer years-to-avoid analysis →

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.

avg 66

Scores 0–100. Higher is better. Current year highlighted.

Ford Explorer reliability scores by year
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

Ford Explorer Reliability Compared to Other Years

Reliability scores compared across model years
Year	Score	vs Prior Year	Rating	Recalls	Complaints
2026(selected)	72/100 (predicted)	—	Predicted	4	0
2025	72/100	-1	Good	14	65
2024	73/100	+2	Good	6	14
2023	71/100	+6	Good	12	84
2022	65/100	+3	Good	21	208
2021	62/100	+8	Good	22	354
2020	54/100	-15	Mixed	29	1066
2019	69/100	+5	Good	4	252
2018	64/100	—	Good	5	651

2026 Ford Explorer Reliability by Powertrain

The 2026 Ford Explorer is available with 2 powertrain options. Here's how they compare on reliability.

Reliability comparison across powertrain options
Powertrain	Recalls	Crash Rating
Gas	4	5 out of 5
HEV	0	5 out of 5
Total	4

NHTSA tracks complaints separately for each powertrain configuration. Totals reflect the sum across all variants. N/T = Not tested by NHTSA.

* Incidents = crash + fire reports. A single complaint can include multiple incident types.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the 2026 Ford Explorer reliable?

The 2026 Ford Explorer has a predicted reliability score of 72/100 ("Good") based on prior model year data. So far there are 4 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file. This is a prediction — the actual score will be available once more real-world data accumulates.

What are the most common problems with the 2026 Ford Explorer?

There aren't enough owner complaints to establish common problem patterns yet for the 2026 Ford Explorer. Based on available data, the main item to verify is recall completion. Prior model years can indicate what to watch for.

How many recalls does the 2026 Ford Explorer have?

The 2026 Ford Explorer has 4 recalls on record. Recalls are safety or compliance fixes issued by the manufacturer and repaired at no cost at authorized dealerships.

How is the predicted score calculated?

The predicted score of 72/100 is calculated by averaging reliability scores from prior model years of the same generation. When generation data is unavailable, the average of the most recent model years is used. The prediction updates automatically as new data becomes available.

How We Calculate Reliability Scores

Auto Reliability Index scores are calculated on a 0–100 scale using a weighted formula that combines multiple public data sources. Each factor is weighted based on its predictive value for real-world ownership experience.

Key Ranking Factors

Complaint Severity

NHTSA owner complaints weighted by component category (e.g., powertrain, safety systems, electronics, cosmetic) — safety-critical issues carry more weight than cosmetic ones. Adjusted for sales volume so high-volume models aren't unfairly penalized.

Repair Costs

Independent reliability ratings based on repair frequency, average repair costs, and severity of typical repairs for each model.

Recall Impact

Number of NHTSA recalls weighted by severity. “Stop driving” and fire-risk recalls are penalized more heavily than minor software or labeling recalls.

Issue Diversity

Measures how many major vehicle systems (engine, transmission, electrical, braking, etc.) have recorded complaints. A vehicle with issues spread across many systems may indicate systemic quality issues.

Scores are grouped into four tiers:

80–100: Excellent — Top-tier reliability, minimal issues
60–79: Good — Reliable with some minor concerns
40–59: Mixed — Notable issues, research before buying
0–39: Risky — Significant problems, proceed with caution

Data is sourced from NHTSA recall records, owner complaint filings, and independent repair databases. Scores are recalculated as new data becomes available. While the weighting model is proprietary, all underlying data sources are public and traceable.