Last updated: 2026-03-04
Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander: Reliability Compared
Ford Explorer
Toyota Grand Highlander
Choosing between the Ford Explorer and the Toyota Grand Highlander? This page compares their reliability scores, NHTSA recall history, owner-reported complaints, and estimated annual repair costs so you can make a confident long-term ownership decision between these two midsize suvs.
Our reliability scores are based on NHTSA recall and complaint data, independent repair cost estimates, and sales-normalized complaint rates. The Toyota Grand Highlander currently leads with an average score of 75/100 compared to 66/100. Scroll down for the full year-by-year breakdown, common problem areas, and repair cost comparison.
How Do the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander Generations Compare?
Verdict
The Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable than the Ford Explorer, scoring 75/100 vs 66/100.
The Toyota Grand Highlander exhibits superior reliability with an average score of 85/100 compared to the Ford Explorer's 68/100. Despite a slightly higher rate of owner complaints at 8.2 per 10,000 sold, the Grand Highlander has significantly fewer recalls over three years (10) than the Explorer’s 117 over nine years. While the Explorer has a known annual repair cost of $732, the Grand Highlander's reliability score suggests potentially lower maintenance issues. Overall, the Toyota Grand Highlander stands out as the more reliable choice, largely due to its higher reliability score and lower recall history.
Key Differences
- 1Toyota Grand Highlander has 107 fewer total recalls
- 2Toyota Grand Highlander scores 9 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 | 66/100 | 75/100 |
| 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 | 1 |
What Are the Common Problems With the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander?
The Ford Explorer shows a higher propensity for power train issues, with 618 complaints and 12 linked to crashes, indicating a significant area of concern. Additionally, the Explorer has numerous complaints in the structure and electrical system categories, with several crash-linked reports in service brakes and steering. In contrast, the Toyota Grand Highlander has a lower total number of complaints, with the highest being in the unknown or other category, and only the air bags category showing any crash-linked incidents. The Grand Highlander appears to have fewer severe issues across the board, particularly in areas critical to vehicle safety and performance, such as the power train and brakes.
| Component | Ford Explorer | Toyota Grand Highlander |
|---|---|---|
| POWER TRAIN | 1.6Low | 1.4Low |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 1.1Low | 1.7Low |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 0.7Very Low | 0.6Very Low |
| AIR BAGS | 0.1Very Low | 1.1Low |
| STRUCTURE | 1Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| ENGINE | 0.4Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | —None | 0.6Very Low |
| SUSPENSION | 0.1Very Low | 0.4Very Low |
| STEERING | 0.2Very Low | 0.2Very Low |
| VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | —None | 0.4Very Low |
| SERVICE BRAKES | 0.2Very Low | 0.1Very Low |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION | 0.2Very Low | —None |
| SEATS | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 0.1Very Low | —None |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | —None | —None |
| FUEL SYSTEM | —None | —None |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | —None | —None |
Complaints per 10,000 units sold, aggregated across all tracked model years from NHTSA owner reports.
Which Is Cheaper to Maintain: Ford Explorer or Toyota Grand Highlander?
How Does Ford Explorer vs Toyota Grand Highlander Reliability Compare by Year?
| Year | Ford Explorer | Toyota Grand Highlander | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 72/10014R / 65C | 80/1003R / 33C | Toyota Grand Highlander |
| 2024 | 73/1006R / 14C | 69/1007R / 171C | Ford Explorer |
| 2026(predicted) | 72/100(predicted) | 75/100(predicted) | Toyota Grand Highlander |
Best years to cross-shop: The 2024 Ford Explorer scored 73/100 and the 2025 Toyota Grand Highlander scored 80/100 — these represent the strongest model years in our tracking range.
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?
- Based on our data, the Toyota Grand Highlander is more reliable with an average score of 75/100 compared to 66/100. The difference is modest, so both are reasonable choices.
- Which has more recalls, the Ford Explorer or the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- The Ford Explorer has more recalls (117) compared to the Toyota Grand Highlander (10). More recalls don't always mean worse reliability — some are minor — but it's worth reviewing what each recall covers.
- Which has fewer owner complaints, the Ford Explorer or the Toyota Grand Highlander?
- Adjusted for sales volume, the Ford Explorer has a lower complaint rate at 6.8 per 10,000 sold versus 8.2 for the Toyota Grand Highlander. This per-sales normalization gives a fairer comparison than raw totals.
- Is the Ford Explorer or Toyota Grand Highlander safer?
- Both the Ford Explorer and Toyota Grand Highlander received the same NHTSA overall safety rating of 5/5 stars. Check the frontal, side, and rollover sub-ratings above for a more detailed comparison.
Related Reliability Comparisons
More Ford Explorer comparisons
More Toyota Grand Highlander comparisons
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.
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