2017 Ford Explorer
The Verdict
Worst problem area
Body, Seats & Latches
Body, Seats & Latches leads by volume: 677 of 1,697 complaints (40%) mention it. Complaints mentioning Engine include more reported injuries (14) than those mentioning any other identified area.
Complaints filed fell from 2,469 in 2016 to 1,697 in 2017.
Data last changed . Sources: NHTSA complaints and recalls, EPA fuel economy data. Methodology
Cost, Fuel Economy & Complaint History
| Category | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | vs. 2017 Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Annual fuel cost ($) | 2,700–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | 2,850–3,450 | |
| Combined MPG | 18–23 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 18–22 | 18–22 | |
| City / Highway MPG | 16–20 / 22–27 | 16–19 / 22–27 | 16–19 / 22–27 | 16–19 / 22–27 | 16–19 / 22–27 | |
| CO₂ tailpipe (g/mi) | 394–490 | 410–490 | 408–494 | 409–486 | 409–500 | |
| Complaints filed | 1,783 | 2,469 | 1,697 | 731 | 294 | |
| Recalls issued | 9 | 15 | 15 | 7 | 6 | |
| Crash-involved complaints | 37 | 39 | 34 | 16 | 2 | |
| Fire-involved complaints | 1 | 14 | 11 | 7 | 0 | |
| Injuries reported | 98 | 59 | 51 | 13 | 6 | |
| Deaths reported | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Configurations compared | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Not compared: this database has no vehicle sales or registration figures, so a raw count mostly reflects how many were sold, not how safe the vehicle is.
Common questions
How many recalls does the 2017 Ford Explorer have?
15 NHTSA recall campaigns as of Sep 16, 2026. Check your VIN with NHTSA to see whether one applies to your car.
What is the most common complaint about the 2017 Ford Explorer?
Body, Seats & Latches: 677 of 1,697 NHTSA complaints (40%) mention it.
What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Explorer get?
EPA rates it 18–22 MPG combined.
How much does it cost to fuel a 2017 Ford Explorer?
EPA estimates $2,850–$3,450 a year in fuel costs, using EPA's assumptions.
Similar Vehicles
EPA-Rated Configurations (7)
| Configuration | Transmission | Cylinders | Displacement | Drivetrain | Fuel Type | Vehicle Class | City | Highway | Combined | Annual Fuel Cost | CO₂ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Configuration 1 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.3L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 19 mpg (high) | 27 mpg (high) | 22 mpg (high) | $2,850 (low) | 408 g/mi (low) |
| Configuration 2 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 452 g/mi |
| Configuration 3 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | Front-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD | 17 mpg | 24 mpg | 20 mpg | $3,100 | 452 g/mi |
| Configuration 4 | Automatic (S6) | 4 | 2.3L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 18 mpg | 25 mpg | 21 mpg | $2,950 | 430 g/mi |
| Configuration 5 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 475 g/mi |
| Configuration 6 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Gasoline or E85 | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 23 mpg | 19 mpg | $3,300 | 475 g/mi |
| Configuration 7 | Automatic (S6) | 6 | 3.5L | All-Wheel Drive | Regular | Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD | 16 mpg (low) | 22 mpg (low) | 18 mpg (low) | $3,450 (high) | 494 g/mi (high) |
Complaints by Category
| Category | Complaints | Crash-Involved | Fire-Involved | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 300 | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 |
| Transmission & Drivetrain | 123 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Fuel System | 49 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Electrical | 93 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| Brakes | 26 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Steering | 76 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Suspension, Wheels & Tires | 126 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| Airbags & Restraints | 52 | 10 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Driver Assistance & Speed Control | 37 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Body, Seats & Latches | 677 | 7 | 2 | 8 | 0 |
| Visibility & Lighting | 88 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Other | 378 | 4 | 2 | 15 | 0 |
A complaint that names more than one category is counted in each, so the rows can add up to more than the total number of complaints.
Recalls (15)
STRUCTURE:BODY · Campaign 26V448000 · Jul 14, 2026
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 26V101000 · Feb 20, 2026
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER · Campaign 25V685000 · Oct 14, 2025
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
STRUCTURE:BODY · Campaign 25V347000 · May 27, 2025
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.
Consequence: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.
STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS · Campaign 24V031000 · Jan 19, 2024
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Consequence: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 21V537000 · Jul 16, 2021
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Consequence: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
STRUCTURE:BODY · Campaign 21V316000 · May 5, 2021
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Consequence: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 20V675000 · Nov 2, 2020
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.
Consequence: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.
SEATS · Campaign 19V651000 · Sep 12, 2019
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with power front seats. The seat frames may have sharp edges.
Consequence: Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective tape on the exposed inside edge and tab of the power seat frames, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S29.
SUSPENSION:REAR · Campaign 19V435000 · Jun 11, 2019
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Consequence: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
Show 5 earlier campaigns
STEERING · Campaign 17V530000 · Aug 30, 2017
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Consequence: If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.
SUSPENSION:REAR; WHEELS:HUB · Campaign 17E048000 · Aug 29, 2017
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Consequence: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY · Campaign 17V401000 · Jun 28, 2017
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles. The affected vehicles may be missing the two front inboard attachments for the second row seats. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating systems", and (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
Consequence: Seats with missing inboard attachments may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to verify that they have the second row seat attachment studs, installing them if not, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C10.
SEATS; SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER · Campaign 17V332000 · May 23, 2017
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Consequence: If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER · Campaign 16V925000 · Dec 22, 2016
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.
Consequence: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.