Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 26 recalls, 412 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
26
Recalls
412
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated September 1, 2026
21V870000
SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Incorrect rear suspension module components may have been ...
20V788000
ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been in...
21V735000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras. Th...
21V652000
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during...
23V022000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree ...
23V069000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintenti...
23V199000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The ...
23V305000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Sc...
23V342000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree ...
23V626000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing ...
23V675000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the drivesh...
24V598000
ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility Package. In the event of an e...
24V635000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with e...
24V852000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and...
25V093000
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating posi...
25V159000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorre...
25V166000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. T...
25V393000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
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...
25V442000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 R...
25V455000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
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...
25V685000
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsai...
26V117000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor m...
26V123000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the c...
26V159000
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer sea...
26V402000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The tran...
26V451000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2021 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Aug 10, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2012 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed... |
| Aug 1, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | I previously reported my rear view camera not working despite ford having many recalls for that prob... |
| Jul 22, 2026 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the local de... |
| Jul 22, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Recently my car has had a series lights come on including 4wd fault, pre-colliosion assist not avail... |
| Jul 15, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I parked my car and when I returned to it the car would not start. Diagnosed as a faulty fuel pump. ... |
| Jul 14, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The vehicle has been failing shifting. There is something from with failure to shift. The vehicle wo... |
| Jul 13, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | When i go to accelerate i lost power and then 2 seconds later car would finally go, this has happene... |
| Jul 12, 2026 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front windshield wipers were inop... |
| Jul 9, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I was traveling on an 8 hour drive after just getting a new battery and fresh oil change, I also had... |
| Jul 7, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The dash near the windshield driver side is coming undone out of the dash. |
| Jul 4, 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | Rear wiper motor stopped working completely. Fuses are good, wires are good, motor is good, it just ... |
| Jul 3, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Driving down road and lost power with grinding gears. Vehicle displayed warning on instrument panel ... |
| Jun 29, 2026 | SEATS | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear seat unlocked and flipped fo... |
| Jun 27, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 35 MPH... |
| Jun 20, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Was driving down the interstate and the vehicle started making an awful noise and dash lights went c... |
| Jun 12, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power and... |
| Jun 9, 2026 | AIR BAGS,STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Dashboard separation concerned with airbag. Every day driving you run the risk of more damage. Have ... |
| Jun 6, 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Vehicle is not even 5 years old , and passenger headlight - low beam failed. Ford Dealership quote i... |
| Jun 1, 2026 | STRUCTURE | The top of dashboard is lifting up and coming apart on drivers side. |
| May 24, 2026 | STEERING,POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | NHTSA COMPLAINT: VIN [XXX]: Transmission cooler (Part 7869) ruptured, mixing fluid/coolant into corr... |