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In a recent comparison of NHTSA owner complaints filed during each model year’s first three years, the 2019 and 2023 Ford Explorer had the lowest complaint totals among model years since 2016. The same comparison flagged 2015–2017 for substantially higher totals. These are useful screening clues, not proof that a particular Explorer will be reliable: complaint counts are not failure rates, and a vehicle’s history and condition matter.
Which Ford Explorer years look best in the available comparison?
Modelyears.com’s 2026 comparison uses NHTSA owner complaints filed during each model year’s first three years, giving the included years a similar reporting window. It identifies 2019 and 2023 as its strongest years among Explorers since 2016. The figures below are complaint counts, not the percentage of vehicles with a problem.
| Model year | NHTSA complaints in first three years | How the comparison characterizes it |
|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 41 | One of the strongest recent years |
| 2023 | 78 | One of the strongest recent years |
| Median, Explorer model years since 2016 | 143.5 | Comparison median |
| 2015 | 443 | Higher complaint total; flagged for extra caution |
| 2016 | 659 | Higher complaint total; flagged for extra caution |
| 2017 | 400 | Higher complaint total; flagged for extra caution |
Counts are unadjusted for sales, and a complaint is an owner report rather than an independently confirmed defect. The figures were reported by Modelyears.com in an update using NHTSA complaint data dated October 4, 2026. Its ranking excludes 2024–2026 because those model years had not yet completed three years of observation. See the comparison’s method and data.
Which Explorer years deserve extra scrutiny?
2015–2017: high complaint totals and issues to ask about
In the same first-three-year window, 2015, 2016, and 2017 had 443, 659, and 400 complaints, respectively—above the comparison’s 143.5 median for model years since 2016. Modelyears.com lists cabin exhaust-fume complaints among the most-described issues for 2015 and 2017, and power-steering complaints for 2016. Treat those descriptions as prompts for questions and inspection, not evidence that every vehicle from those years has a defect.
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What the exhaust-odor investigation did—and did not—find
NHTSA investigated 2011–2017 Explorers after reports of exhaust odors and closed the investigation without a recall. The agency said tested vehicles did not exceed applicable carbon-monoxide limits, while acknowledging reports of fumes entering cabins. Reporting on the investigation described possible sealing issues, particularly involving equipment installation in police vehicles and repairs after rear crashes. That conclusion does not mean no fumes were reported or that every Explorer had elevated carbon monoxide. The investigation covered nearly 1.5 million Explorers and reviewed more than 6,500 consumer complaints; those figures describe its scope, not confirmed defects. Associated Press coverage of NHTSA’s investigation closure.
2020–2022: verify the rear axle bolt recall
Certain 2020–2022 Explorers were recalled because rear axle mounting bolts could fracture. A failure could disconnect the driveshaft, cause loss of drive power, or allow the vehicle to roll away while parked. The reported remedy included replacing the bolt and bushing and inspecting the axle cover. Ford reported 396 rear-axle-bolt failures; it said fewer than 5% resulted in loss of power or rollaway, a company-reported figure rather than an independent failure-rate estimate. The recall applies to certain vehicles, not every Explorer in those model years. Check the specific VIN and obtain documentation of completed repairs. Associated Press coverage of the recall.
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2020: complaint and recall counts call for a closer look
Modelyears.com records 339 NHTSA complaints during the 2020 Explorer’s first three years and lists 34 recalls in its file current to October 5, 2026. Recall totals can change and do not, by themselves, measure reliability; the scope and status of recalls for the particular VIN matter more. A Consumer Reports search result also described the 2020 Explorer as much less reliable than other 2020 vehicles, but an exact rating and its underlying details are not established here, so it should not be treated as a comparable score.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to compare individual used Explorers
A model-year shortlist cannot tell you whether a specific SUV has been maintained, repaired, damaged, or recalled. Compare the evidence in separate categories rather than combining complaints, recalls, and survey ratings into one score.
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- Complaint history: Compare counts only when the observation window and source method are comparable. Complaint volume is not a failure rate and can be affected by how many vehicles were sold.
- Recall status: Check open recalls by VIN and ask for proof that completed campaigns were repaired. A year-level recall count does not establish the status of an individual vehicle.
- Vehicle history and condition: Review maintenance and repair records, accident history, mileage, and inspection findings. A pre-purchase inspection can identify concerns that a year-level ranking cannot.
- Reliability ratings: Check what a rating measures. Owner-survey ratings and government complaint records are different kinds of evidence and should not be merged as though they were the same metric.
What to check before you buy
- Ask for the vehicle identification number (VIN), then check it for open safety recalls. Ask the seller or a Ford dealer for documentation of completed recall repairs.
- Review service and repair records, accident history, and current mileage; arrange an independent inspection before purchase.
- For a 2011–2017 Explorer, ask whether occupants have noticed exhaust odors and whether the vehicle has had rear-collision repairs or sealing work. Have concerns inspected rather than treating the model year as proof of a defect.
- For a 2020–2022 Explorer, specifically verify whether the rear axle bolt campaign applies and whether the remedy is documented as complete.
- Choose between two candidates based on their records, inspection results, recall status, and use—not the model year alone.
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