Is your defective Ford Explorer actually a LEMON?

Find out in 30 SECONDS or less if it qualifies for a REFUND or a CASH SETTLEMENT.

Print this page

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
1 / 1
Injuries / Deaths:
1 / 0
Average Mileage:
8,474 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 engine problems

engine problem

Find something helpful? Spread the word.
Get notified about new defects, investigations, recalls & lawsuits for the 2021 Ford Explorer:

Unsubscribe any time. We don't sell/share your email.

2021 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #19

May 092024

Explorer

  • miles

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

I have a catastrophic engine failure. The dealership (Doherty Ford) in Forest Grove Or acknowledges it. They are working with me. However, Ford has not responded to the dealers request for warranty work. It will be two weeks since I took the car to the dealer with a loud ticking noise. Dealer found a BUNCH of metal in the oil. I'm waiting to hear how Ford will fix it. The car has 45k on it. They also gave me an extended warranty because of all the issues I had with the car when I first got it. The [XXX] steering coupler to the rack was loose and almost came off when I drove it home. I have had a number of other issues. All dealer repaired. The car has also been to Doherty Ford almost exclusively for all its oil changes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

- Forest Grove, OR, USA

problem #18

May 122024

Explorer

  • 54,500 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70-?"75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 54,500.

- Palmetto, GA, USA

problem #17

Apr 092024

Explorer

  • miles
The recall to replace the rear axle bolt was completed and new boil installed. They left the automatic emergency brake program engager which results in the vehicle lurching forward or backward when shifted into gear and results in collisions with other vehicles as the collision detection system is not working.

- Middleton, WI, USA

problem #16

Mar 032024

Explorer

  • miles

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

My vehicle started to put up messages regarding going into power saver mode. The vehicle then said all wheel drive not available. After that electrical components started going unavailable such as power steering, brake assist, blind spot monitoring, cameras, and traction control. The vehicle then shut down while driving and all I could do was brake. When I attempted to restart the vehicle it did not restart. I jumped it and was able to safely pull it off the road. This is the 2nd time in three weeks this happened. Ford looked at the vehicle and tightened the battery cables. Then told me it was fine.

- Aliquippa , PA, USA

problem #15

Jan 152024

Explorer

  • miles
P25B4- turbocharger/supercharger waste gate (a) stuck closed P0299- turbocharger/supercharger underboost powertrain and 4-wheel drive in-operable, turned on vehicle to drive and immediately threw the two codes above. Ford says this is not a covered issue.

- Kansas City, KS, USA

problem #14

Feb 012023

Explorer

  • miles
The oil crank case is getting fuel inside. In approximately 1000 to 1500 miles there is a 1 quart and a half of fuel in the oil making the oil level overfill. This oil diluting the fuel issue. Seems like it could be a safety issue if it continues to pour gasoline into the oil crank case. My local Ford dealer, Gary Yomans Ford in Daytona Beach Florida. Verified the concern and told me there-??s no repair available yet. The technician further stated that it will eventually destroy the engine from the inside. This issue only started this year. There is at this time 30,959 miles on the vehicle.

- Port Orange , FL, USA

problem #13

Oct 092023

Explorer

  • 22,000 miles

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

The contact owned a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 25 MPH he depressed the brake pedal to slow for a traffic signal and the vehicle experienced brake failure. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact drove over the median to avoid crashing into vehicles directly in front of his vehicle. The contact stated that he was pumping the brake pedal however, the vehicle seemed to accelerate independently. The contact stated that he attempted to shift the vehicle into neutral(N) however, the shifter dial would not move. The contact stated he had attempted to turn the vehicle off but could not turn off the vehicle. The contact stated he was finally able to stop the vehicle prior to crashing into traffic directional poles. The contact stated that the Police arrived on the scene and wrote a report. The contact had the vehicle towed to a dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the driver's side front shock absorber was damaged and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

- Haines City, FL, USA

problem #12

Sep 292023

Explorer

  • miles
I was sitting at a stop light and when the light turned green I pushed on the gas pedal and I had NO POWER! However, all of my auxillary power worked. Everything inside the car still had power, from my dashboard to my Apple CarPlay but my engine would not turn on. The check engine light did come on but not until it had been sitting there for 20-30 minutes. The Auto Start/Stop was activated so I don't know if there was an issue with that and it just never turned back on. The alternator belt was still intacted. Had it towed to repair shop (took about an hour) when it got to repair shop it started and shop couldn't find anything wrong. It has started every time since. I am afraid to drive it because I don't know if or when it will happen again.

- Jefferson, GA, USA

problem #11

Jul 152023

Explorer

  • 69,000 miles
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, there was a rattling sound coming from the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle started shaking and vibrating before the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer who diagnosed that the engine was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 69,000.

- Derry, NH, USA

problem #10

Mar 092023

Explorer

  • 15,500 miles
Last month out of the blue, my 2021 Ford Explorer ST with 15,500 miles would not start. Attempts to jump it were futile. I then had it towed in to the local Ford dealer. At first, they were thinking the starter. A few days later, I got a call saying they could not hand crank the motor as it seized up. In addition to that, they found pieces of metal from the piston in the oil pan. The dealer took apart the intake manifold and found that the valve keeper failed thus dropping the intake valve into the #5 cylinder. This necessitated replacement of the engine, both turbos and even the flywheel and torque converter. This is a known issue with the 2021 Broncos and is even being investigated by the NHTSA. I just wanted to bring awareness that this can happen to the 2021 Explorer with the 3.0 Ecoboost as it was built in the same factory as the Bronco 2.7 and is a similar engine. I can provide the repair invoice upon request. I couldn't get it to upload.

- Leesburg, VA, USA

problem #9

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 #8

Feb 282023

Explorer

  • miles
Defective Starter - car will not start, battery, alternator check off ok.

- Palmdale, CA, USA

problem #7

Jan 102023

Explorer

  • miles
On or about 9 am on Tuesday, January 10, 2023, I entered a parking garage facility and drove up the ramp and continued on a level parking area and begin to turn into a parking space beside a large cement column. Just as I entered the parking space at a low rate of speed without my foot on the accelerator, I experienced sudden unintended acceleration which caused the vehicle to narrowly miss the cement column and the front cement wall of the parking space. Fortunately, I quickly braked to avoid a collision and then put the vehicle in park and shut off the vehicle. There were no warning lights on the vehicle dash, and I have not yet taken the vehicle to an authorized Ford Dealer to have it checked. Vehicle is still under factory order and has approx. 26,700 miles.

- Towson, MD, USA

problem #6

Oct 242022

Explorer

  • miles
When driving at lower speeds, typically under 30 MPH, the vehicle jerks & lurches. Also sometimes lurches, hesitates or doesn-??t react on rapid acceleration such as highway merging or passing. Have had many near-misses. Parking, Reverse & Drive do not always engage immediately upon shifting. I nearly ran over my husband when the car was supposed to be in park and it was still in drive. Car will become extremely hot after extended driving causing the A/C to automatically turn to hot air in order to cool the engine. It smells bad and is not at all comfortable on long summer road trips.

- Flower Mound , TX, USA

problem #5

Jul 252022

Explorer

  • miles
Vehicle began smoking after a cold start at around 9000 miles. Dealer confirmed the issue was happening and the engine was replaced, but the smoking problem remains. No warning lamps, indicators, or DTCs have been thrown to help in diagnostic. Thus far, there has been no safety impact due to the issue.

- Marysville, OH, USA

problem #4

Jun 082022

Explorer

  • miles
Gear(transmission), when put in reverse the car goes forward instead of reverse, and Jerks in reverse after 7-15 sec. And it also jerks while accelerating.

- Brooklyn, NY, USA

problem #3

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 #2

Feb 232022

Explorer

  • miles
Got it in the car and pushed the push start button. The cars engine turned over only half way and started to restart and turn over multiple times even though the motor was running halfway. This went on for 15 minutes until i opened up the hood and looked down and after a couple minutes the engine seized and turned off and started smoking, shortly after started on fire from the bottom of the engine. The fire went on for 10 minutes until we turned it off.

- Upland, CA, USA

problem #1

Jan 122022

Explorer

  • miles
A police officer complained of a strong odor of exhaust coming through the hvac vents. Officer complained of a light dizziness feeling. Suv was grounded from service. Complaint was verified. Upon opening of the hood a odor of exhaust gas was smelled on the right side of the motor. No visible leaks could be heard or seen. Suv was driven to our local Ford dealer for repair.

- Allentown, PA, USA

Not what you are looking for?