NHTSA lists 24 safety recalls and 271 owner complaints for the 2022 Ford Explorer. Most complaints involve power train (61) and electrical system (39). The EPA rates it 19–27 mpg combined.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.
Complaints for each Explorer model year we’ve synced.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints |
|---|---|
| 1996 | 1,468 |
| 1997 | 1,789 |
| 1998 | 2,099 |
| 1999 | 1,465 |
| 2000 | 1,078 |
| 2001 | 730 |
| 2002 | 3,613 |
| 2003 | 1,313 |
| 2004 | 1,408 |
| 2005 | 568 |
| 2006 | 635 |
| 2007 | 208 |
| 2008 | 148 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 115 |
| 2011 | 1,197 |
| 2012 | 830 |
| 2013 | 2,237 |
| 2014 | 1,684 |
| 2015 | 1,814 |
| 2016 | 2,464 |
| 2017 | 1,713 |
| 2018 | 733 |
| 2019 | 302 |
| 2020 | 1,247 |
| 2021 | 452 |
| 2022 | 271 |
| 2023 | 113 |
| 2024 | 21 |
| 2025 | 107 |
| 2026 | 44 |
“Rear CV axel splines are causing an audible sound when shifting from park to reverse or park to drive. It also occurs when the car goes from accelerating to coasting and then back to accelerating. The sound has gotten louder and is more frequent within the last 2 months. Ford is stating this noise is otherwise not harming the CV Axel or the splines therein.”
“#1st- The AC goes on and off and now the AC no longer works it only blows out hot air ,earlier but it turns on and off by itself #2- the lights flicker #3- the seats move by themselves and just today Sunday [XXX] the seat having to see what all the way back by yourself thinning my [XXX] son's legs against his car seat thank [XXX] my fiance was in the passenger seat when it happened and had to lift it up and then it clicked and started moving back up by itself the dealership Jim Hudson dealership did 10 different service calls for electrical issues and did not report it to me once we plan on going in there and figuring out because I do not want this truck that's dangerous for my life as well as my [XXX] and my [XXX] turn the process of selling me the vehicle that did not tell me person that this vehicle has had electrical issues from day one with only 8000 miles on it was the first report of the electrical issue I had to look it up on the Ford app and found out that it's been serious 10 different times what's the dealership did not tell me in person first issue with this truck as nf electrical was”
“The check engine light was on. A Ford dealership diagnosed the issue as a coolant intrusion manufacturer defect. There are a number of safety concerns associated with this issue. The primary danger of the coolant intrusion defect is catastrophic engine failure. Severe overheating, internal damage, misfires, fire hazard and oil contamination. There are no active recalls\campaigns\TSB for 2022 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The car is available for inspection. Although, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance agent, the issue was presented to Ford and a claim was submitted to the insurance company that services my Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. So far the insurance company is not authorizing the work without an engine breakdown. They are not excepting the P0300 and P0316 code or the results of a barascope and other test. The Ford corporation will not provide a written statement that confirms the dealerships diagnosis is accurate. Some doctrine that states the engine long block had to be replaced to fix the coolant intrusion defect. Ford has recalled coolant intrusion issues on other engine models. I requested a formal…”
Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.
| Version | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel / yr | CO₂ g/mi |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Explorer HEV RWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 27 | 28 | 27 | $2,400 | 324 |
| Explorer Platinum HEV RWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Rear-Wheel Drive | 25 | 26 | 26 | $2,450 | 342 |
| Explorer HEV AWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 23 | 26 | 25 | $2,550 | 361 |
| Explorer RWD Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo, SIDI; Stop-Start · Rear-Wheel Drive | 21 | 28 | 24 | $2,700 | 370 |
| Explorer AWD Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo, SIDI; Stop-Start · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | $2,800 | 387 |
| Explorer Platinum HEV AWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 23 | 24 | 23 | $2,800 | 379 |
| Explorer AWD Auto 10-spd, 4 cyl, 2.3 L, Turbo, SIDI · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 26 | 22 | $2,900 | 404 |
| Explorer RWD Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 26 | 21 | $3,050 | 428 |
| Explorer AWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo, SIDI · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,200 | 444 |
| Explorer AWD Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo, SIDI · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 24 | 20 | $3,200 | 445 |
| Explorer RWD Auto (S10), 6 cyl, 3.0 L, Turbo, SIDI · Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | $3,200 | 437 |
| Explorer FFV AWD Auto 10-spd, 6 cyl, 3.3 L · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 16 | 24 | 19 | $3,400 | 470 |
| Item | Miles | Time | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Engine oil & filter | 5,000–10,000 mi | 6–12 months | Follow the oil-life monitor if fitted |
| Tire rotation | 5,000–7,500 mi | Every oil change | Check pressure monthly |
| Engine air filter | 15,000–30,000 mi | 1–2 years | Sooner in dusty areas |
| Cabin air filter | 15,000–25,000 mi | 1–2 years | |
| Brake fluid | — | 2–3 years | Absorbs moisture over time |
| Coolant | 60,000–100,000 mi | 5–10 years | Long-life coolants last longer |
| Spark plugs | 60,000–100,000 mi | — | Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end |
| 12V battery | — | 3–5 years | Heat shortens battery life |
24 safety recalls as of Nov 3, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.
Owners filed 271 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are power train (61), electrical system (39), engine (30). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.
The EPA rates the 2022 Ford Explorer at 19–27 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (12 versions rated).