Every Ford Explorer model year side by side — owner complaints and safety recalls filed with NHTSA, crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy. Pick a year for the full details.
Owners filed the most NHTSA complaints about the 2013, 2015 and 2016 Explorer — at least double the typical year (436). Check those years' problem areas and recall repairs carefully before buying.
Among model years at least two years old, the 2009, 2024 and 2025 Explorer drew the fewest owner complaints.
| Year | Lemon Score | Owner complaints | Recalls | NHTSA stars | Best fuel economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | 76· Some concerns* | 0 | 1 | — | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2026 | 68· Some concerns* | 0 | 14 | — | 9.8 L/100 km (24 mpg) |
| 2025Fewest complaints | 57· Elevated lemon risk | 102 | 20 | 5 / 5 | 9.8 L/100 km (24 mpg) |
| 2024Fewest complaints | 61· Some concerns | 21 | 10 | 5 / 5 | 9.8 L/100 km (24 mpg) |
| 2023 | 58· Elevated lemon risk | 110 | 15 | 5 / 5 | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2022 | 45· Elevated lemon risk | 268 | 24 | — | 9.4 L/100 km (25 mpg) |
| 2021 | 50· Elevated lemon risk | 436 | 26 | 5 / 5 | 8.7 L/100 km (27 mpg) |
| 2020 | 33· High lemon risk | 1,225 | 33 | 5 / 5 | 8.4 L/100 km (28 mpg) |
| 2019 | 62· Some concerns | 299 | 6 | 5 / 5 | 10.7 L/100 km (22 mpg) |
| 2018 | 45· Elevated lemon risk | 731 | 7 | 5 / 5 | 10.7 L/100 km (22 mpg) |
| 2017 | 26· High lemon risk | 1,706 | 14 | 5 / 5 | 10.7 L/100 km (22 mpg) |
| 2016Most complaints | 20· High lemon risk | 2,460 | 15 | 5 / 5 | 11.2 L/100 km (21 mpg) |
| 2015Most complaints | 28· High lemon risk | 1,800 | 9 | 5 / 5 | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2014 | 31· High lemon risk | 1,679 | 7 | 5 / 5 | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2013Most complaints | 22· High lemon risk | 2,235 | 12 | 5 / 5 | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2012 | 41· Elevated lemon risk | 829 | 7 | 4 / 5 | 10.2 L/100 km (23 mpg) |
| 2011 | 22· High lemon risk | 1,196 | 8 | — | 11.8 L/100 km (20 mpg) |
| 2010 | 67· Some concerns | 115 | 2 | — | 13.8 L/100 km (17 mpg) |
| 2009Fewest complaints | 73· Some concerns | 33 | 1 | — | 13.8 L/100 km (17 mpg) |
| 2008 | 66· Some concerns | 148 | 3 | — | 14.7 L/100 km (16 mpg) |
| 2007 | 63· Some concerns | 208 | 3 | — | 14.7 L/100 km (16 mpg) |
| 2006 | 47· Elevated lemon risk | 635 | 4 | — | 14.7 L/100 km (16 mpg) |
| 2005 | 53· Elevated lemon risk | 568 | 3 | — | 14.7 L/100 km (16 mpg) |
Sources: NHTSA (complaints, recalls, NCAP ratings) and U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Complaint counts aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold, and newer model years have had less time to collect complaints. * Provisional score. How the Lemon Score works.
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