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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
4 / 3
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
19,647 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2017 Ford Explorer engine problems

engine problem

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2017 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 5 of 10)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #113

Aug 012022

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Carbon monoxide leaking into my car-?"tailgate area and through the front hvac. Weird sound from engine that sounds and smells like electrical burning or something overheating.

- Ocala , FL, USA

problem #112

May 182022

Explorer

  • miles
Ford Eco Boost Coolant Intrusion Issues. If the car sits an idles the coolant light will come on an say the coolant is too hotIf I run the air conditioning it will do the say, or drive it on the freeway. There are no leaks, no were. And you can smell the coolant, it smells really hot. My engine line is on.

- Metamora , MI, USA

problem #111

Jul 112022

Explorer

  • miles
Transmission is giving out has turned off while driving and sometimes it won't go reverse and Or won't go into gears Machine shows code p0731

- Tonopah, AZ, USA

problem #110

Jul 022022

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Water pump failed and coolant leaked into the engine

- Sanger, CA, USA

problem #109

Nov 152021

Explorer

  • miles
I have a 2017 Ford Explorer with a 2.3 EcoBoost Four-Cylinder with 59k mileage. Back in November of 2021 My Ford dealership said Coolant is leaking into the Cylinder head causing the car to misfile after a check engine light diagnoses. This causes the car to overheat and can cause major issues. Now i need my entire engine replaced. I have a read that this a know issue in other Ford SUVs in but not in a Ford Explorers, however I have the same engine type. This is a problem for the Ford EcoBoost four-cylinder engines produced since 2010.

- Coppell, TX, USA

problem #108

Dec 272021

Explorer

  • miles
Increasing the risk of a crash

- Los Angeles, CA, USA

problem #107

Aug 282021

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

car stops an air-conditioned Bell Brooking due to bearing inside a clutch on the AC compressor !! I was on the highway and the car just stops I almost got hit from behind

- Elkhart , IN, USA

problem #106

Aug 312021

Explorer

  • miles
About a week ago I started smelling coolant after shutting down the engine, took the vehicle to my mechanic and was informed that the water pump is going bad.

- Sardinia , OH, USA

problem #105

Apr 182021

Explorer

  • miles
While driving at highway speeds the vehicle lost power due to a main crankshaft bearing failure. The vehicle was repaired at a Ford Dealer and was not under warranty at the time. I was forced to pull off the road due to the loss of power while travelling on a busy highway creating an unsafe emergency situation. There was no warning lights or warnings of any given before the engine failure. It simply lost power and stopped working.

- North Bethesda, MD, USA

problem #104

Jun 162021

Explorer

  • miles
Initially the cars check engine light came on intermittently for about 3 days, then one day while driving the wrench light came on and the car immediately started decelerating - almost as if I was breaking hard, and would not accelerate over 30. After turning it on and off multiple times the light went away for days until my appointment with the mechanic, that same day it came back on. We went to a Ford dealership and they said it was the throttle body and repaired it. Two weeks later the same issue occurred. I know this was a big issue in 2016 and earlier models, I believe the problem was never fixed in 2017 models. Our car is currently in the shop and they are "emailing Ford" about what to do. The first incident I was on the interstate when I stopped abruptly and the second was on the highway. I luckily had no one behind me both times otherwise this could've easily caused an accident.

- Blue Grass, IA, USA

problem #103

Jun 062021

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request" I have been experiencing the smell of gas/exhaust leaking into the cabin. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? I am concern with the health issues that this smell could put my family and I in. Specially if theirs a possibility that carbon monoxide could be leaking into the cabin. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center?No Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? I had the vehicle inspected by Ford but they advise that they couldn-??t reproduce the smell. They also advice that their were a two drain plugs missing in the lift gate which would resolve the issue if replaced. I have replaced the two missing plugs and continue to experience the issue. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear"no

- Sachse, TX, USA

problem #102

May 312021

Explorer

  • miles
47k miles. 2.3L Eco-Boost. Rough idle, vibration/shaking sometimes at start, slow acceleration, Engine Coolant High Temp light came on for a minute while driving, Check Engine light came on after another rough start (stayed on) took it to Ford for service, they said several misfires, coolant in cylinders, and now possibly a blown head gasket. Waiting for word from Ford service dept, may need an engine replacement. Thankfully, covered by warranty, for now.

- Sorrento, FL, USA

problem #101

May 252021

Explorer

  • miles
-??17 Explorer with 32,000 miles on it, bought new from dealership and have kept up with all recommended maintenance to vehicle and have went above and beyond to keep it in pristine condition but started experiencing coolant dripping from internal water pump this May -??21. Last year Jan -??20 was repaired for faulty clock spring and again in March of -??21. Same issue. No longer under bumper to bumper warranty so became out of pocket expense. This year alone, it-??s been out of service for two weeks already.

- Santa Ana, CA, USA

problem #100

Apr 012021

Explorer

  • miles
Recall has been issued on the ford explorer for smell of exhaust in the cabin. I have had the recall inspected and completed in 2019. I am now smelling the exhaust again upon acceleration. I told the dealership I have always been able to smell the exhaust even after they "fixed" the issue the first time. It just wasn't as bad. The smell is much worse now.

- Bismarck, AR, USA

problem #99

Feb 192021

Explorer

  • 30,000 miles
The vehicle had loose K member bolts, bent struts, loose exhaust system. This was found when we took vehicle in for first oil change

- Gold Canyon, AZ, USA

problem #98

Apr 182021

Explorer

  • 62,000 miles
My 2017 Ford Explorer with 62,000 miles suffered a catastrophic engine failure while driving at highway speed. The car immediately lost power and I was almost hit from behind. I limped into a rest area where the vehicle had to be towed to a dealer. The Ford dealer service technician diagnosed the issue as a main bearing failure. The car now requires a new engine that will cost $6700 dollars and Ford has denied to provide any financial assistance even though the vehicle has only 62,000 miles on it.

- Rockville, MD, USA

problem #97

Mar 312021

Explorer

  • 77,000 miles
The water pump leaked coolant into the engine oil and will cost over $3,000 to fix. The Ford exropler engine design with the water pump in the engine is a cash trap for consumers. The design is horrible.

- Concord, CA, USA

problem #96

Feb 012021

Explorer

  • miles
Explorer truck started leaking coolant from water pump. In parked position a puddle started to form under it.

- Fresno, CA, USA

problem #95

Dec 312020

Explorer

  • 73,400 miles
My 3 yr old truck already has a leaking coolant line which come to find out is draining into the water line in the engine. I can't drive more than 5miles before I need to refill my coolant. In addition, the heating elements in both the driver and passenger seats has gone out. I thought it was a fuse and of course its something more.

- Rosharon, TX, USA

problem #94

Nov 262020

Explorer

  • 65,000 miles
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 60-65 mph, the vehicle started overheating. The contact stated that prior to the failure, the vehicle had received an oil change and the coolant and other unstated fluids were topped off. The contact pulled over to the side of the roadway and had the vehicle towed to maplecrest Ford Lincoln of union located at 2800 springfield ave, suite 1, vauxhall, NJ 07088, where the vehicle was diagnosed. The contact was informed that coolant was found in the engine and also that the water pump was defective. The vehicle was not repaired due to the repair cost. The contact was also informed that the warranty had expired. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 16V925000 (engine and engine cooling) as a possible solution to the failure however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure but provided no further assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 65,000.

- Vauxhall, NJ, USA

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