NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
What can fail
This page covers 27 recalls, 228 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2022 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 8 tested variants for this model year.
Powertrain issues dominate what 2022 Ford Explorer owners report, with transmission and engine-related problems drawing the highest complaint volume. Owners frequently describe unexpected stalling while driving, sudden loss of power, and powertrain fault warnings that leave the vehicle unable to accelerate normally. The second most-reported area involves the backup camera and rear detection system, where owners describe the camera failing to display or producing an unreliable image when reversing. Electrical complaints follow, covering a range of intermittent faults. A recurring secondary issue owners describe is the panoramic sunroof headliner sagging off its tracks, with the fabric dropping into the cabin and preventing normal sunroof operation.
228
Total Complaints
17
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
11
With Injuries
By System
The 2022 Ford Explorer has 27 recalls, the most serious involving fuel lines, filler tubes, and vent tubes that can leak or detach and create a fire hazard, along with a low-pressure fuel pump that can stall the engine while driving.
Several recalls center on rollaway and drivetrain risks. The rear axle mounting bolt can fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, causing the vehicle to roll away when parked or lose drive power while moving. A loose transmission bolt can prevent the gearbox from actually engaging park despite the shifter showing otherwise, and a powertrain control module issue on some 2.3L models can damage the park system in a similar way. On 3.0L PHEV models, a high-voltage battery cell defect can cause an internal short leading to fire or loss of drive power. Engines with 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost engines can suffer broken intake valves and engine failure. Police Interceptor models carry an added fire risk if the engine fails and releases oil and fuel vapor near hot exhaust components.
On the occupant safety side, second-row seats can unlatch or slide unexpectedly while driving, and second-row seat belt anchor bolts may be loose and fail to hold an occupant in a crash. Rearview camera failures across several recalls can produce a blank, inverted, or missing image when reversing. The windshield wiper motor can also fail, reducing visibility in wet conditions.
At a glance
What can fail
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
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 →
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
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
A loose bolt in the automatic transmission may prevent the vehicle from actually engaging park gear, even though the gear shifter shows park position.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the transmission 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
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 fuel line connection may be loose because it wasn't tightened properly during manufacturing, which could allow fuel to leak.
What the fix does
The fuel line assembly will be inspected and replaced if necessary at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Engine rails may not have been properly heat-treated, which can weaken them and compromise their ability to protect occupants and fuel system integrity during a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will test engine rail strength and replace rails if needed at no cost. If replacement is required, you can choose a vehicle replacement or buyback.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front frame rails may not have been made correctly, which could prevent the vehicle from meeting Canadian crash safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to have a dealership inspect and test your frame rails. If they fail, Ford offers repair, vehicle replacement, or buyback.
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
The fuel filler tube can separate from the vehicle during a crash, potentially causing fuel leakage.
What the fix does
Dealers will install an additional locking clip on the fuel vapor line to secure the filler tube.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The fuel filler vent tube may not be properly connected and could loosen or detach during a crash, causing fuel to leak.
What the fix does
A dealer will install a locking clip on the fuel vapour line to secure the connection.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
