Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 24 recalls, 365 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
24
Recalls
365
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 7, 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...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2021 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Mar 30, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Car turns on but the engine will not turn over due to the electrical. And locks the car and not able... |
| Mar 23, 2026 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 2... |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Carry Handle, Shell, Base,Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness,Other/I am not sure | my son is rear facing and puts his arm in the forward facing belt path then can not get his arm back... |
| Mar 16, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | vehicle stalls when diving . After pulling over ina coast and turning off with start stop button the... |
| Mar 6, 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SUNROOF SHADE SAGS WHEN OPENING IT, IMPEEDING REARVIEW VISABILITY |
| Mar 5, 2026 | SUSPENSION | When driving to our local store I noticed my down shift to be rough, so I turned into the back roads... |
| Feb 13, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission clutch failure. As a result my 2021 ford explorer needs a new transmission. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Recently purchased a vehicle that had just previously got a recall 23S55 3 weeks prior. Upon receivi... |
| Jan 28, 2026 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | For full details please refer to complaint 11715221. Since the initial complaint, repairs have been ... |
| Jan 28, 2026 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | On [XXX], we sent a 2021 Ford Interceptor to J.C. Lewis Ford located at 309 W. Oglethorpe Hwy, Hines... |
| Jan 28, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Sun roof fabric/covering came off tracks and is now sagging. Many forums on this issue. When driving... |
| Jan 20, 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed... |
| Jan 16, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The drivers side door latch mechanism malfunctions and causes the door to unlatch or does not allow ... |
| Jan 8, 2026 | ENGINE | I was informed by the dealership that the engine issue with my 2021 Ford Explorer is the same issue ... |
| Jan 5, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Rear differential/axle bolt broke, destroying other parts and making vehicle unsafe at the moment an... |
| Jan 2, 2026 | SUSPENSION | 2024 - 19k miles. Both rear shocks were leaking. Dealer replaced both at no charge. 2025 - 30k rear... |
| Dec 19, 2025 | SERVICE BRAKES | While applying brakes coming to a stop light, the vehicle gave a message stating service brakes. Th... |
| Dec 17, 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Adaptive Headlamps keep going out causing a safety issue. |
| Dec 16, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | When given gas to move from a complete stop, vehicle lost all power. After vehicle lost all power to... |
| Dec 16, 2025 | ENGINE | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campai... |