Ford Explorer: which model years draw the most owner complaints?
23,915 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer, model years 2000 to 2026. 9 model years stand out for the engine or transmission: 2002 (transmission 36×); 2004 (transmission 11×); 2020 (transmission 12×); 2003 (transmission 8×). Quietest mature years by complaint count: 2009, 2010, 2008. Counts of unverified owner reports, compared only with other years of the same model; not failure rates.
Complaints by model year
| MODEL YEAR | COMPLAINTS | VS OTHER YEARS | STANDS OUT | RECALLS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Explorer | 951 | transmission 3.1× | 15 | |
| 2001 Explorer | 375 | quiet: 6 of 20 | 12 | |
| 2002 Explorer | 3,291 | transmission 36× | 10 | |
| 2003 Explorer | 1,131 | transmission 8× | 7 | |
| 2004 Explorer | 1,299 | transmission 11× | 4 | |
| 2005 Explorer | 497 | transmission 2.4× | 3 | |
| 2006 Explorer | 630 | engine 6.9×, transmission 7× | 4 | |
| 2007 Explorer | 207 | transmission 1.4× | 3 | |
| 2008 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 148 | quiet: 3 of 20 | 3 | |
| 2009 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 33 | quiet: 1 of 20 | 1 | |
| 2010 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 115 | quiet: 2 of 20 | 2 | |
| 2011 Explorer | 1,198 | — | 8 | |
| 2012 Explorer | 830 | — | 7 | |
| 2013 Explorer | 2,238 | — | 12 | |
| 2014 Explorer | 1,681 | — | 7 | |
| 2015 Explorer | 1,815 | — | 9 | |
| 2016 Explorer | 2,465 | — | 15 | |
| 2017 Explorer | 1,706 | — | 14 | |
| 2018 Explorer | 735 | — | 7 | |
| 2019 Explorer | 303 | quiet: 5 of 20 | 6 | |
| 2020 Explorer | 1,251 | transmission 12× | 33 | |
| 2021 Explorer | 455 | transmission 3× | 26 | |
| 2022 Explorer | 274 | — | 24 | |
| 2023 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 113 | — | 15 | |
| 2024 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 21 | — | 10 | |
| 2025 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 109 | — | 20 | |
| 2026 ExplorerFEW REPORTS | 44 | — | 14 |
"Stands out" = 40 or more complaints naming that system and at least twice the model's quiet (lower-quartile) year, or twice the share seen across every vehicle of that model year. Newer years have had less time on the road. "Quiet" ranks only years with 7+ years on the road and 20+ complaints. NHTSA data through November 2026.
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Other Ford models
Ford 500 · Ford Bronco · Ford Bronco Sport · Ford C-Max · Ford Contour · Ford Crown Victoria · Ford E-150 · Ford E-250 · Ford E-350 · Ford E-450 · Ford EcoSport · Ford Edge · Ford Escape · Ford Escape Hybrid · Ford Escort · Ford Excursion · Ford Expedition · Ford Explorer Sport · Ford Explorer Sport Trac · Ford F SD · Ford F-150 · Ford F-150 Hybrid · Ford F-150 Lightning BEV · Ford F-250 SD · Ford F-350 SD · Ford F-450 SD · Ford F-550 SD · Ford Fiesta · Ford Five Hundred · Ford Flex · Ford Focus · Ford Focus Electric · Ford Ford · Ford Freestar · Ford Freestyle · Ford Fusion · Ford Fusion Energi · Ford Fusion Hybrid · Ford Maverick · Ford Maverick Hybrid · Ford Mustang · Ford Mustang GT · Ford Mustang Mach-E · Ford Ranger · Ford Taurus · Ford Taurus X · Ford Thunderbird · Ford Transit · Ford Transit Connect · Ford Windstar. All makes and models.
Source: NHTSA public complaints, recalls, service bulletin and investigation databases, data received through November 2026. Complaints are unverified reports from owners, not failure rates: sales volumes are unknown, so a model year is only compared with other years of the same model. Not a diagnosis and not financial advice. PulsCar is not affiliated with NHTSA. Year pages: 20002001200220032004200520062007201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022