Is your defective Ford Explorer actually a LEMON?

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10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,888 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.

2021 Ford Explorer drivetrain problems

drivetrain problem

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2021 Ford Explorer Owner Comments (Page 3 of 4)

« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #23

Aug 302022

Explorer

  • miles

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

At 13,000 miles this New vehicle started smoking blue gray smoke on startup I have videos. Yes the Dealer reproduced the problem. The dealer stated that both turbos were defective and leaking oil into the hot exhaust on both sides of the engine which could have lead to a fire and endangered our lives. The dealer removed the engine and transmission from the vehicle in the process broke numerous bolts and repaired with inferior quality parts.after four attempts to pick up the car hoses were left loose and short on antifreeze and Turbo boost hose fell off, now there is a antifreeze burning smell and a rough idle. There were no warning lights or messages. This car was meticulously maintained since brand new I have all records to back up. Ford Corporate has just denied a buy back request and said I don-??t qualify for state Lemon law after 2 months at dealer.

- Wallingford, CT, USA

problem #22

Mar 042023

Explorer

  • miles
The transmission hesitates for several seconds and shifts hard when being shifted into reverse. The dealership has made one repair attempt already.

- Gallatin, TN, USA

problem #21

Nov 092022

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle developed a clicking noise when accelerating/decelerating. Noise also present when switching between drive/reverse. Ford dealer found that driveline was flexing. Closer inspection revealed that the bushing for the single bolt rear subframe mounting to rear differential was broken. Had this not been caught, the bolt would have broken releasing the rear driveline from the structure of the vehicle. The 2020 Ford Explorer ST had two bolts that connected the rear diff to the rear subframe. In 2021-2022 Ford changed this to a one bolt design. This triggered the current recall for the 2021-2022 in which the 'fix' was to apply the emergency brake if the bolt broke. On the 2023 Ford Explorer ST model, Ford has returned to the two bolt design used in 2020. Photos uploaded.

- Keene, VA, USA

problem #20

Oct 032022

Explorer

  • miles

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

Rear subframe bolt bushing broke. (See existing recall for the rear subframe bolt breaking). This vehicle had recall performed which actually didn't address the engineering shortfall from Ford using the wrong, lighter duty, subframe on the ST model. This subframe only has one bolt holding the rear diff to the subframe. The 2020 model had two bolts, as do all MY of the Lincoln Aviator. While Ford is fixing this under warranty, using the same subframe will not fix this issue. Result will be that the bolt may break or the bushing may fail. A broken bolt will result in the drive shaft disconnecting while driving, loss of acceleration, potential wreck from drive shaft hitting ground at speed.

- Keene, VA, USA

problem #19

Aug 022022

Explorer

  • miles
Numerous times no response when pushing gas pedal no acceleration when vehicle is in electric and switching to gas.This a Hybrid vehicle. I can't let my wife drive it. No warning lights come on. The recall for rear end states if the bolt fails the drive shaft and rear axles could move out of alignment and cause an accident.....yet they refuse to replace it.

- Saint John, IN, USA

problem #18

Feb 252021

Explorer

  • miles
My Explorer ST has the issue of having the incorrect rear subframe for the high-performance engine with only one bolt holding the differential to the rear subframe. I have talked to all of the Ford dealerships in my area. They said that this is a problem, but Ford has not provided a solution or any timeframe to fix this major issue. Another example of Ford not caring about their customers and putting profits ahead of safety. Why did they think that they could get away with installing incorrect parts for the four-cylinder engine on a vehicle that develops substantially higher HP and torque. This is my first and last Ford product I will ever buy. Why doesn't the NHTSA force Ford to fix this potentially dangerous issue.

- Orem, UT, USA

problem #17

Jan 012022

Explorer

  • miles

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

Ford has started a recall for vehicles with a single bolt in the rear differential mount. This is in reference to the roll away issue as their calling it. Some people have recieved notice for this and others have not. My production date is listed as 8/21. Which I believe is in part of the recall. Even if not this vehicle has only one bolt in the unit and not 2. Which is part of the recall issue.

- Huntsville , AL, USA

problem #16

Sep 022022

Explorer

  • 37,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he had received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V255000 (Power Train). During a routine maintenance check, the recall was serviced; however, upon return of the vehicle, the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard with the parking brake fault, uphill assist, and ABS warning lights illuminated. The contact also stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake pedal hardened and the vehicle failed to stop as needed. The contact's wife called the dealer and was informed that there were 5 other vehicles that had experienced the same failure. The contact attempted to reach the manufacturer but was unsuccessful. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 37,000.

- Franklin, KY, USA

problem #15

Aug 232022

Explorer

  • miles
I recently had the recall addressed at my local Ford dealer, Performance Ford in Randolph, NJ. Ford is only allowing dealerships to reprogram the parking break to engage whenever the vehicle is placed in park. If the axle bolt were to shear, it would disengage, allowing the vehicle to roll in park. This remedy does not adequately address the underlying issue- which was the fact that Ford-??s Chicago mfg facility used a part designed for the 4-cyl engine power train, not the 4 bolt design required in the Police Interceptor and Explorer ST versions. The police version will be getting the parts upgraded while consumers are left with a band-aid solution. NHTSA should force Ford to address the issue- which is an inadequate bolt configuration for the HP/Torque output of performance version Explorers. This is a safety hazard as the bolt can snap while in use, disconnecting the drive axle from the rear differential.

- Succasunna, NJ, USA

problem #14

Aug 272022

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
My 2021 Ford Explorer should be included in safety recall NHTSA 22V255, Ford recall 22S27, Ford Program 22N06 My vehicle[XXX] was built in September 2021. Ford identified to NHTSA that Explorer vehicles built between June 4 2020 to November 10, 2021 were affected. My vehicle was built during that period. My vehicle has the V6 engine with AWD powertrain. My vehicle has the 52T trailer towing package. Trailer towing will put additional load on the powertrain and the rear axle mounting bolt. The bolt may fracture while towing the trailer leading to a serious injury and personal property damages. I have not received the recall letter from Ford. All letters were supposed to be sent by June 2022. Ford will not include my vehicle in the recall at my request. Ford will not apply the PCM update to automatically engage the electronic parking brake every time the vehicle is shifted into Park (P). Ford will not provide the one-time repair of the for 10 years or 150,000 miles. I'm concerned the vehicle may experience the rear axle mounting bolt fracture. Please help. Thank you. -------------------------------------- Safety Recall 22S27 / NHTSA Recall 22V255 / Customer Satisfaction Program 22N06 Certain 2020-2022 Model Year Explorer Vehicles Rear Axle Bolt Fractures REASON FOR THIS SAFETY RECALL In some of the affected vehicles, the rear axle mounting bolt may fracture during vehicle acceleration. A fractured rear axle bolt will allow the rear axle housing to move out of position, resulting in severe noise and vibration. If the rear axle bolt breaks, the driveshaft/half shafts may become disconnected, resulting in loss of transmission torque to the rear wheels which is necessary to hold the vehicle in park. If the parking brake is not applied, the loss of the primary park torque will allow the vehicle to roll in park increasing the risk of crash and injury. --------------------- INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Lancaster, NY, USA

problem #13

Jun 272022

Explorer

  • miles

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

Our 2021 Ford Explorer Limited was purchased in December of 2020. It currently has been driven only 6,900 miles. Our apparent transmission problem has occurred three times so far. 1. On 27 June 2022, I experienced the first problem. While turning left on to a four-lane city street, which is largely flat in that area, a loud grinding/ringing sound occurred. Right in the middle of the four-lane street, the transmission dropped into neutral. It scared the crap out of us. We could have been hit by oncoming traffic. I brought it to a stop, then shifted to park and then into drive. We drove away normally as if nothing happened. 2. On 28 July 2022, after having the "bolt failure" recall completed (22S27/22V255/22N06), the transmission again made the loud grinding/ringing sound immediately after accelerating from stopping at a city street intersection. The road grade has a slight incline in the direction we were traveling. The vehicle dropped into neutral, then the newly programmed "auto braking" brought us to an abrupt stop in the middle of this intersection! Again, a scary situation. 3. Today, 25 August 2022, while backing out of our garage today, which has a slight downward driveway, the vehicle did an abrupt stop while halfway out of the garage. The message was "Hill Start Assist Warning." The message on my phone was "The Hill Start Assist System has detected a failure." This is the first and only time that this problem has happened. I think it is related to the problems mentioned above. It is a good thing I was not backing out into a busy street.

- Laurel, MS, USA

problem #12

Jul 162022

Explorer

  • miles
The car is struggling to switch gear and loosing power. While I am driving

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #11

Jun 202022

Explorer

  • miles
My vehicle is throwing alerts about a power train malfunction. It reduces speeds by it self attempts to loose all power when having issues and the transmission feels like it is slipping or not shifting into gear. This has now happened on multiple occasions.

- Loveland, CO, USA

problem #10

Jun 172022

Explorer

  • miles
Feedback on Manufacturer Recall Number 22S27, NHTSA Recall 22V255 Allowing Ford to reprogram the powertrain control unit (ECU) on this vehicle so that the vehicle applies the emergency brake whenever the vehicle is placed in park in order to prevent the vehicle from rolling away if/when this one bolt breaks on the rear differential is NOT sufficient. The 2020 MY Ford Explorer ST/Plantium models have two bolts attaching the rear differential to the rear subframe. The equivalent 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator also has two bolts on this part. The issue is that Ford ran out of the correct rear subframe parts and substituted a part for a lower powered powertrain, or this was a cost cutting measure gone bad. Cross referencing Ford's own parts numbers with the VIN shows the incorrect rear subframe installed at the factory. NHTSA should require Ford to properly and securely attach the rear differential to the rear subframe of the vehicle to prevent this issue. Allowing a workaround, use of parking brake to prevent rollaway, is not ok. Additionally, the equivalent police interceptor is obtaining the correct rear subframe as part of the manufacture defect resolution. Why wouldn't the others receive the same fix?

- Keene, VA, USA

problem #9

Jun 102022

Explorer

  • 10,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the transmission was either in park(P) or drive(D), the vehicle independently rolled away without warning. The contact stated that he forcefully depressed the brake pedal in an effort to stop the vehicle. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and transferred him to the NHTSA. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V255000 (Power Train) which he linked to the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.

- Dorchester, MA, USA

problem #8

Jan 102022

Explorer

  • miles
While driving vehicle, reduced engine power occurred resulting in the vehicle being unable to safely maintain highway speeds. Once safely on side of roadway, vehicle lost all engine power and would start. Vehicle had 11,049 miles on it and had been properly maintained. Attempts to start vehicle were unsuccessfully and engine sounded like internal components had failed (like a bag of rocks inside the engine). Vehicle was towed to Ford dealer in East Peoria, Illinois for examination and repairs. Excessive metal shavings were found in the oil filter and it was discovered internal engine components had failed, causing catastrophic engine failure. Engine block was replaced. Dealer was provided all previous maintenance records to show that the vehicle was properly maintained.

- Springfield, IL, USA

problem #7

May 042022

Explorer

  • miles
Ford safety recall 22S27 dated April 19, 2022 DOES affect my car and I just called Ford corporate and they DO NOT confirm that my car should be on the recall list. I have visually inspected my car and I do have the improper 1 bolt, rather than 2 bolt design installed on my car. If the bolt breaks, my car will be disabled wherever this happens without warning. This can cause an accident and I do not understand how Ford is not at least including me on the recall list. The only way to fix this issue is to replace the axle structure with the 2 bolt design.

- Murrells Inlet, SC, USA

problem #6

Jun 012021

Explorer

  • 11,100 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 50 MPH, the vehicle started to hesitate as if the transmission was slipping. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact drove the vehicle to an unknown dealer where it was diagnosed that no issues were found. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 11,100.

- Seminary, MS, USA

problem #5

Jan 172022

Explorer

  • 7,500 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the transmission would suddenly downshift or upshift erroneously. Additionally, while operating the vehicle a grinding sound was present while the transmission was shifted into drive with a chemical odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 7,500.

- Riviera Beach, FL, USA

problem #4

Dec 062021

Explorer

  • 7,600 miles
The contact leased a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH, the vehicle accelerated independently. The contact stated that five minutes later the vehicle went into safety mode and the vehicle failed to move. The low battery message was displayed. The vehicle was towed to the residence. The contact called the local dealer but, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 7,600.

- Bronx, NY, USA

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