NHTSA (USA)High Risk
At a glance
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.
This page covers 16 recalls, 92 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2023 Ford Explorer.
20–24 mpg combined
9.8–11.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
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 10 tested variants for this model year.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Complaints about the 2023 Ford Explorer cluster most visibly around structural and suspension issues, with owners frequently describing front suspension clunking, rattling, or knocking at low speeds over uneven pavement, a pattern some report returning even after dealer repairs. Strut-related problems appear more than once, including at least one case where the issue recurred well after the initial fix. Powertrain complaints include coolant intrusion into the cylinder head, with owners describing white exhaust smoke as the tell. A handful of owners also report back-over prevention system concerns. One isolated report describes the steering locking up entirely, requiring a tow and an extended dealer diagnosis.
92
Total Complaints
7
Crash-Related
1
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2023 Ford Explorer has 16 recalls, the most serious being fire risks from two separate sources: an engine block heater that can crack, leak coolant, and short circuit when plugged in, and a turbocharger oil supply line on 2.3L engines that can leak oil onto hot engine components.
A loose bolt in the automatic transmission can prevent the vehicle from fully engaging park even when the shifter shows "P," creating a rollaway risk. The low-pressure fuel pump can also fail and stall the engine while driving. On the suspension side, a right-front fastener connecting the steering knuckle to the strut may be loose or missing, causing the vehicle to pull to one side or require extra steering effort.
Two occupant restraint concerns affect the second row: seat belt anchor bolts at the outer positions may not be properly secured, and the easy-entry seat switch can stick and cause seats to unlatch or fold unexpectedly while driving, either of which can reduce protection in a crash.
Several recalls cluster around rear visibility. The rearview camera can display a blue screen, a flipped image, or no image at all when reversing, and prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue on some vehicles. Rounding out the list, the airbag warning label may be missing from the dashboard on some vehicles.
At a glance
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.
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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 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 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 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
The bolt connecting the right-front steering knuckle to the strut may be loose or missing, affecting steering control.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the fastener and tighten or replace it 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 wiring harness may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying on the screen when reversing.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to bring your vehicle to a dealership, where technicians will inspect and repair the rearview camera wiring harness if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A manufacturing error in the rearview camera wire harness may cause the camera to display a blue image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is in reverse, preventing you from seeing what's behind your vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The turbocharger oil supply line can become damaged, allowing oil to leak inside the engine compartment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the turbocharger oil supply line assembly 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 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
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 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.
