Recalls, complaints, and safety data from NHTSA
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 24 recalls, 381 complaints, and a 5-star overall safety rating from NHTSA.
24
Recalls
381
Complaints
★★★★★
Safety Rating
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated May 19, 2026
21V870000
SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Incorrect rear suspension module components may have been ...
20V788000
ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been in...
21V735000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Corsair, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras. Th...
21V652000
AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW:CURTAIN
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The side air bag attachment weld studs could detach during...
23V022000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree ...
23V069000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintenti...
23V199000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The ...
23V305000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Sc...
23V342000
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree ...
23V626000
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing ...
23V675000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the drivesh...
24V598000
ENGINE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility Package. In the event of an e...
24V635000
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICAL
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with e...
24V852000
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and...
25V093000
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Aviator vehicles. The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating posi...
25V159000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorre...
25V166000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. T...
25V393000
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind...
25V442000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 R...
25V455000
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln...
25V685000
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsai...
26V117000
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor m...
26V123000
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the c...
26V159000
SEAT BELTS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer sea...
Overall
★★★★★
Front Crash
★★★★★
Side Crash
★★★★★
Rollover
★★★★★
Rating for: 2021 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| May 4, 2026 | ENGINE | 2021 Ford Explorer used a work vehicle (house cleaning business) and family vehicle after hours (dri... |
| Apr 29, 2026 | ENGINE | I own a 2021 Ford Explorer ST (3.0L EcoBoost) with 47,680 miles. The vehicle is exhibiting a severe ... |
| Apr 24, 2026 | STRUCTURE,VISIBILITY/WIPER | I am reporting a safety incident involving a 2021 Ford Explorer. While driving at normal speed, the ... |
| Apr 17, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | My car has 68,908 miles on it and the sunroof sunshade has drooped down now when I attempt to open i... |
| Apr 16, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | While I drive my vehicle down the road the car all of a sudden sounds like you throw it in park, it ... |
| Apr 13, 2026 | FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,VISIBILITY | The contact 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V455... |
| Apr 8, 2026 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed... |
| Apr 8, 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Interior panoramic roof shade roller broke and is not retracting the liner anymore |
| Apr 8, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed... |
| Apr 7, 2026 | SEATS | The third-row seat headrest in my 2021 Ford Explorer is stuck in the upright position and will not f... |
| Mar 30, 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Car turns on but the engine will not turn over due to the electrical. And locks the car and not able... |
| Mar 25, 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Passenger low-beam headlight failure. Dealer replaced headlight module but did not resolve. Next sug... |
| Mar 23, 2026 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 2... |
| Mar 19, 2026 | Carry Handle, Shell, Base,Chest Clip, Buckle, Harness,Other/I am not sure | my son is rear facing and puts his arm in the forward facing belt path then can not get his arm back... |
| Mar 16, 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | vehicle stalls when diving . After pulling over ina coast and turning off with start stop button the... |
| Mar 6, 2026 | VISIBILITY/WIPER | SUNROOF SHADE SAGS WHEN OPENING IT, IMPEEDING REARVIEW VISABILITY |
| Mar 5, 2026 | SUSPENSION | When driving to our local store I noticed my down shift to be rough, so I turned into the back roads... |
| Mar 1, 2026 | VISIBILITY | The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 2... |
| Feb 13, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission clutch failure. As a result my 2021 ford explorer needs a new transmission. |
| Feb 10, 2026 | STRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Recently purchased a vehicle that had just previously got a recall 23S55 3 weeks prior. Upon receivi... |