NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
This page covers 27 recalls, 385 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2021 Ford Explorer.
20–24 mpg combined
9.8–11.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 6 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Powertrain complaints dominate owner reports for the 2021 Ford Explorer, with transmission problems leading the pack. Owners frequently describe hesitation, rough or delayed shifting, shuddering, and in some cases complete loss of drive power. Engine complaints follow, with several owners reporting knocking or ticking noises, check engine lights, and unexpected power loss while driving. The back-over prevention system, the rear camera and proximity warning setup, draws a notable cluster of complaints as well, with owners describing the system failing to activate, displaying a blank or distorted image, or giving no warning when reversing. Scattered reports also mention windshield wiper failures during rain and at least one account of a hood flying open while driving and blocking the windshield, though that last one appears in a small number of reports rather than as a broad pattern.
385
Total Complaints
15
Crash-Related
5
Fire-Related
13
With Injuries
By System
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 27 recalls, the most serious involving multiple drivetrain failures that can cut power or allow the vehicle to roll away, along with a plug-in hybrid battery defect that can cause a fire.
Several related drivetrain issues cover a rear axle bolt that can fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, a loose motor mount that can separate the axle from the engine, and intake valves in 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engines that can break and cause engine failure. Prior repair attempts for the driveshaft issue did not fully resolve the problem. The low-pressure fuel pump can stall the engine while driving, and on Police Interceptor models, an engine failure can release oil and fuel vapor near hot components and start an engine fire. The plug-in hybrid battery can develop an internal short causing power loss or fire, and the engine block heater can crack and short circuit when plugged in.
On the occupant safety side, seat belt anchor bolts at multiple seating positions may be loose, curtain and seat-mounted side airbags can deploy improperly in a crash, and second-row easy-entry seats can unlatch or slide unexpectedly while driving. A rear suspension module with incorrect components can affect handling and braking. Several rearview camera recalls cover failures where the image goes blank, inverts, or fails to appear when reversing. The wiper motor can also fail and reduce forward visibility. A missing airbag warning label rounds out the list.
At a glance
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What can fail
The bolts securing the seat belt anchors at the second-row outer seats may not be properly tightened, potentially allowing the seat belts to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten, repair, or replace the second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The center display screen may flip or invert when you shift into reverse, causing the rearview camera image to display upside down or backwards.
What the fix does
Ford will send you a letter with instructions for a software or hardware update to correct the display orientation.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield wiper motor may fail, causing the windshield wipers to stop working properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the front wiper motors and replace them if needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant, which may cause it to short circuit when plugged in.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the block heater at no cost, or install a blanking plug and remove the heater cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine block heater can crack and leak coolant. When plugged in, the leaked coolant may cause an electrical short circuit.
What the fix does
The dealer will replace the block heater at no cost, or install a blanking plug and remove the heater cord.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, causing the engine to stall while driving.
What the fix does
Ford is developing a fix. A second letter with repair instructions will be mailed when available, expected in Q2 2026.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image or fail to clear the image after backing up.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the rearview camera software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, causing the seats to unlatch, fold, or slide unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch and replace the bezel around the switch as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may not display on the screen due to video output failure in vehicles that received an incorrect repair under a previous recall.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software at no cost to restore rearview camera display.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture on vehicles that received incorrect repairs under previous recalls, potentially causing the driveshaft to disconnect.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost to correct the previous repair issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Seat belt buckle anchor bolts at any seating position may not be properly tightened. The seat belt retractor and anchor bolts at the second-row center seat may also be loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect all seat belt anchor bolts. Loose bolts will be corrected by replacing affected seat components at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine intake valves may break during driving, potentially causing the engine to fail and loss of driving power.
What the fix does
Dealers will test the engine and replace it if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine connecting rod bearing may fail, allowing oil and fuel vapor to leak into the engine compartment where they can accumulate near hot surfaces and ignition sources, risking engine compartment fire.
What the fix does
Dealers will update engine control software, inspect for bearing failure, and replace the engine if needed. All work is free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture, causing the driveshaft to disconnect from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt, and inspect and replace the rear axle cover if damaged.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing flaw in the high voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit, leading to battery failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will test the battery control module and replace the high voltage battery pack if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 360-degree camera system may fail to output video, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying on the vehicle's screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The backup camera image won't display on the 12.1-inch screen if the Display On/Off Button is pressed to turn it off before reversing.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the integrated computer screen software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The parking brake may not engage automatically when you shift to park. Additionally, a rear axle bolt can crack, potentially causing the driveshaft to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost to reprogram the automatic parking brake feature and address the axle bolt issue.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The powertrain control module may unexpectedly reset while driving, which can damage the park system.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the park system for damage and repair it at no cost if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image may stop displaying because the video processing system can fail.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the image processing module software at no cost to restore camera functionality.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may crack and break, causing the driveshaft to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the bushing and axle cover, or update the electronic parking brake software, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles may have incorrect parts installed in the rear suspension module due to a labeling mistake during manufacturing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your rear suspension module and replace any incorrect parts at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The 360-degree camera system's video output may fail, causing the rearview camera image to stop displaying on your screen.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software at no cost to restore camera display function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The side airbag in the seat may not be securely attached, preventing it from inflating correctly during a crash.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to have a dealer replace the side airbag assembly.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The welds attaching the side air bag could fail during deployment, causing the air bag to not work properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the side air bag assemblies at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fasteners securing the right motor mount may have been insufficiently tightened during manufacturing and could gradually loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will remove and replace the right motor mount fasteners at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
