Problems · NHTSA complaints
2010 Ford Explorer problems
Owners filed 115 complaints about the 2010 Ford Explorer with NHTSA between Dec 2009 and Feb 2026. The most-cited component is power train (28).
Complaints
115
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
8
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
13
People reported injured
Deaths
50
Reported to NHTSA
Complaints by component
One complaint can cite several components
- Power train28
- Seats20
- Engine14
- Vehicle speed control14
- Electrical system12
- Service brakes9
- Fuel/propulsion system8
- Air bags6
- Service brakes, hydraulic6
- Wheels5
- Suspension4
- Steering4
- Visibility3
- Electronic stability control (esc)3
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 7, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
When complaints were filed
Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
2
20
18
6
3
15
7
9
7
8
3
2
4
4
1
1
2
3
View as table
| Model year | Complaints filed per calendar year |
|---|---|
| 2009 | 2 |
| 2010 | 20 |
| 2011 | 18 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 15 |
| 2015 | 7 |
| 2016 | 9 |
| 2017 | 7 |
| 2018 | 8 |
| 2019 | 3 |
| 2020 | 2 |
| 2021 | 4 |
| 2022 | 4 |
| 2023 | 1 |
| 2024 | 1 |
| 2025 | 2 |
| 2026 | 3 |
Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.
Top problems in owners’ words
Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first
Power train
28 reports3 crashes
“Thing accelerate by itself while on highway od light blinking at high speeds and then when you come to a complete stop and try to takeoff it goes really slow with the RPMs high then it will kick into gear, unsafe on the road. Truck willjump in gear then out on takeoff.”
Seats
20 reports1 related recall
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FRONT DRIVER SIDE SEAT FAILED TO RE-ADJUST FORWARD. THE FAILURE RECURRED NUMEROUS TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.”
Engine
14 reports1 crash
“Driving 65 mph on I95 and it just shut off. The yellow wrench on dash came on. I somehow was able to Pull over to the shoulder without being killed. I cranked once then tried it again and it started. Drove all the way home and it’s running fine now. This is a common problem and Ford should be contacting me to warn me and fix it. By the way I had a baby in the car. Thanks Ford for the warning.”
Vehicle speed control
14 reports2 crashes
“I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT WHEN I AM ON THE HIGJWAY DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A INCREASE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I AM GOING SPEEDS OF 55 MPH - 60MPH. EVEN WHEN I HAVE TAPPED THE BRAKE, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE INCREASE OF SPEED. ON AUGUST 12, 2015 AT APPROXIAMTELY 5:30PM, WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I TURNED BUT MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AND IT ACTUALLY TRIED TO OVERRIDE MY BRAKING AND ACCELERATED TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER 2 JOLTS OF ACCELERATION (WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE), IT FINALLY STOPPED. I AM ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER RIGHT NOW TO GET THIS RESOLVED.”
Electrical system
12 reports
“Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 135,902. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 224,283. The information was from a Carfax Report.”
Service brakes
9 reports5 crashes
“3 times this has happened. I brake and it seems like I'm pressing the gas pedal and the brakes feel like they aren't stopping the vehicle. The third time put me in incoming traffic and the vehicle was totaled as it already had a rebuilt salvage title when we bought it.”
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 7, 2026
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.