Last updated: 2026-10-10
Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Reliability Compared
Ford Explorer
Toyota Grand Highlander
On reliability, the Toyota Grand Highlander beats the Ford Explorer by a wide margin. Explorer owners report engine failures and sudden power loss. Grand Highlander complaints are milder, though the model is only a few years old and its record is still short.
How Do the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 79/100 vs 67/100.
Reliability favors the Grand Highlander by a large gap, and severity decides it. Explorer owners describe engine failures, stalling, and transmission faults, with crash-linked reports in five problem areas. Grand Highlander complaints center on hesitation, a slow airbag recall fix, and a fuel gauge that reads low. Its complaint rate per vehicle sold is a little higher, and it has far less time on the road, so its record is short. Even so, the problems reported so far are less severe and carry fewer crash-linked reports.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Grand Highlander has 107 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Grand Highlander scores 12 points higher in reliability
- 3Ford Explorer has 1.4 fewer complaints per 10k sold
Category Scoreboard
Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Which Is More Reliable?
| Metric | Ford Explorer | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| Reliability Score | 67/100 | 79/100 |
| Years Tracked | 9 | 3 |
| Total Recalls | 117 | 10 |
| Complaints per 10k Sold | 6.8 | 8.2 |
| Safety RatingNHTSA overall | 2026 NHTSA | 2026 NHTSA |
| Frontal | ||
| Side | ||
| Rollover | ||
| Year Wins | 1 | 2 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander?
Mechanical failure dominates the Explorer's complaints. Power train reports describe gears slamming in from a stop, skipped gears, and cars that lose power while driving. Engine reports include fractured timing chains, a dropped intake valve, and coolant in the oil, with replacement quotes of $11,000 to $12,000. Wiring faults have caused stalls and lost power. Power train, structure, electrical, engine, and back over prevention all carry crash-linked reports. The Grand Highlander has a crash-linked report only in air bags. Its main issues are hesitation at a stop, a delayed airbag recall remedy, hood flutter, and a fuel gauge that reads empty with gallons left.
| Component | Ford Explorer | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1.6Low | 1.4Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.1Low | 1.7Low |
| STRUCTURE | 1.1Low | 0.5Very Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 1.1Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | —None |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| EXTERIOR LIGHTING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | 0.1Very Low |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY | —None | —None |
| SEAT BELTS | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
How Does Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Explorer | Toyota Grand Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 70/1004R / 0C | 88/1000R / 0C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2025 | 72/10014R / 65C | 80/1003R / 33C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2024 | 73/1006R / 14C | 69/1007R / 171C | Ford Explorer |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Explorer scored 73/100 and the 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander scored 69/100 — the strongest shared model years that have been on the road for at least two years, where available.
Who Should Buy the Ford Explorer vs the Toyota Grand Highlander?
Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Common Questions
- Is the Ford Explorer more reliable than the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- No. The Grand Highlander leads by a large gap. Explorer owners report engine failures, stalling from wiring faults, and rough shifting, with crash-linked reports in five problem areas. The Grand Highlander has only one crash-linked area, air bags. It is newer, so its record is shorter.
- Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Grand Highlander?
- The Explorer has far more. Federal recall records show 117 across nine model years, against 10 across three for the Grand Highlander. Part of that is age, but owners also say Explorer rear camera recall parts were unavailable for a long wait.
- Which is cheaper to repair, the Explorer or the Grand Highlander?
- A direct comparison is not possible, because only the Explorer has repair-cost data here. It runs about $732 a year, with 0.2 unscheduled shop visits and a 14% chance a repair is major. Engine replacement quotes for failed Explorers reach $11,000 to $12,000.
- What is the main problem with the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- Power train hesitation leads the complaints. Drivers describe stuttering at a stop, a few seconds with no acceleration, and rough shifts, and dealers often cannot reproduce the fault. Owners also wait months for the curtain airbag recall fix, and the fuel gauge can read empty with several gallons left.
- Which Ford Explorer years should I avoid?
- Avoid 2020 and 2021, which are the weakest years and the first years of the sixth generation. Whatever year you shop, confirm the rear camera recalls were completed and ask whether the engine was ever replaced, since some owners paid for engines outside recall coverage.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Ford Explorer comparisons
More Toyota Grand Highlander comparisons
Decided between Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander? Run a VIN check before you buy — uncover hidden accidents, title issues, and open recalls.
How we score the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander
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.
See incorrect data? Report an issue