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
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train28
  2. Seats20
  3. Engine14
  4. Vehicle speed control14
  5. Electrical system12
  6. Service brakes9
  7. Fuel/propulsion system8
  8. Air bags6
  9. Service brakes, hydraulic6
  10. Wheels5
  11. Suspension4
  12. Steering4
  13. Visibility3
  14. 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
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20092
201020
201118
20126
20133
201415
20157
20169
20177
20188
20193
20202
20214
20224
20231
20241
20252
20263

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.

03 —Owner reports

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 28, 2026Power trainODI 11713879

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2015SeatsODI 10786535

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 6, 2021Power train, Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11431861

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 13, 2015Vehicle speed control, Service brakesODI 10748316

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 23, 2026Electrical systemODI 11719863

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.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Sep 26, 2025Service brakes, Fuel/propulsion systemCrash reportedODI 11689973
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.