Ford Explorer Years to Avoid — five generations, five different problems.
The 2002 is the Explorer to avoid: 3,622 NHTSA complaints, 1,040 of them about the transmission. Each generation since has its own weak spot, from tires in the 1990s to steering, exhaust fumes and water pumps on the 2011–2017. The 2007–2010 drew the fewest.
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Quick Answer
- What Ford Explorer years should you avoid?
- The 2002 first: 3,622 complaints, 1,040 about the transmission, and the 2003–2004 had the same problem on a smaller scale (232 and 357). Then the 2011–2017: the 2013 drew 2,239 complaints and the 2016 drew 2,466, about steering, exhaust smells inside the cabin and, on the 2016–2017, water pumps.
- What is the most reliable Ford Explorer year?
- By NHTSA complaint count, the fourth generation: 2009 (33), 2010 (115), 2008 (148), 2007 (208) drew the fewest from 1995 to 2021, once years dominated by one fault are left out. The 2006, the first year of that generation, is the exception, with 226 of its 635 complaints about the transmission.
- Which Explorer years have the water pump problem?
- NHTSA complaints mention the water pump most on the 2016 (138) and 2017 (90). Owners below describe a pump inside the 3.5-liter engine, behind the timing chain, which makes it an expensive repair. No recall on NHTSA's list covers it.
Five checks for a used Explorer, by generation
The tenth character of the VIN gives the model year, and the year tells you which generation, and which weak spot, you're looking at.
- 1Find the model year in the VINCharacter 10 is the year code; match it to the generations below.
- 21995–2002: the cruise-control switchRecall 09V399000 covers a speed-control deactivation switch that can overheat and burn.
- 32002–2006: drive it cold and warmSlipping and failed shifts are what owners describe on these transmissions.
- 42011–2019: steering, smell, coolantTurn it lock to lock at low speed, run the fan with the windows shut, and check the coolant level.
- 52020–2022: confirm the axle recallsAsk for proof that 23V675000 and, if it applies, 25V166000 were done.
Five Generations, Five Different Problems
Each Explorer generation has its own cluster in NHTSA's complaint records.
1995–2001: 10,285 complaints
Tires named most on the 1996–1998; 2,288 complaints mention them.
2002–2005: 6,911 complaints
1,629 on the 2002–2004 mention the transmission, 644 the liftgate glass.
2006–2010: 1,139 complaints
The quietest generation, though 226 of the 2006's complaints are about the transmission.
2011–2019: 12,990 complaints
Steering, exhaust fumes, the 3.5's water pump and loose pillar trim.
2020–2026: 2,229 complaints
The 2020 launch year has 33 recalls on NHTSA's list, the most of any Explorer.
Avoid: the 2002 Explorer and Its Transmission
The 2002, the first year of the third generation, is the worst-reported Explorer by a distance. It drew 3,622 NHTSA complaints, against 2,466 for the next-worst year (the 2016), and the power train is the component owners name most. 1,040 of the complaints mention the transmission: slipping, failing to shift, or quitting on the road.
The 2003 and 2004 carry the same fault at a lower level (232 and 357 complaints), and by the 2005 it falls to 68. The same three years have a second, smaller cluster: 644 complaints about the liftgate glass, which can break when a hinge or strut lets go.
NHTSA's list has no transmission recall for these years. If you're looking at one, a transmission with records of a rebuild or replacement is worth more than a low odometer.
The 2002–2004 by the numbers
- 3,622 · 1,313 · 1,408 complaints on the 2002, 2003 and 2004.
- 1,629 of them mention the transmission.
- Recall 04V442000: 2002–2003 Explorers; the liftgate glass strut can come loose or the hinge can crack, letting the glass fall.
- 163 · 71 crash and fire reports on the 2002.
Every Ford Explorer Model Year Compared
NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns for every Explorer from 1995 to 2026, read on 12 November 2026.
| Year | Generation | Complaints | Crash · fire reports | Recalls | Most-cited component |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 2nd | 950 | 96 · 33 | 12 | Tires |
| 1996 | 2nd | 1,640 | 204 · 39 | 11 | Tires |
| 1997 | 2nd | 1,981 | 165 · 61 | 12 | Tires |
| 1998 | 2nd | 2,248 | 192 · 122 | 14 | Tires |
| 1999 | 2nd | 1,568 | 123 · 53 | 15 | Tires |
| 2000 | 2nd | 1,133 | 113 · 83 | 15 | Tires |
| 2001 | 2nd | 765 | 97 · 41 | 12 | Power Train |
| 2002 | 3rd | 3,622 | 163 · 71 | 10 | Power Train |
| 2003 | 3rd | 1,313 | 69 · 19 | 7 | Structure |
| 2004 | 3rd | 1,408 | 75 · 16 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2005 | 3rd | 568 | 27 · 7 | 3 | Structure |
| 2006 | 4th | 635 | 13 · 7 | 4 | Power Train |
| 2007 | 4th | 208 | 11 · 5 | 3 | Power Train |
| 2008 | 4th | 148 | 6 · 3 | 3 | Electrical System |
| 2009 | 4th | 33 | 5 · 0 | 1 | Vehicle Speed Control |
| 2010 | 4th | 115 | 8 · 0 | 2 | Power Train |
| 2011 | 5th | 1,197 | 30 · 4 | 8 | Steering |
| 2012 | 5th | 831 | 10 · 6 | 7 | Steering |
| 2013 | 5th | 2,239 | 44 · 11 | 12 | Steering |
| 2014 | 5th | 1,684 | 32 · 6 | 7 | Steering |
| 2015 | 5th | 1,820 | 37 · 1 | 9 | Structure |
| 2016 | 5th | 2,466 | 39 · 14 | 15 | Structure |
| 2017 | 5th | 1,715 | 34 · 11 | 14 | Structure |
| 2018 | 5th | 735 | 15 · 7 | 7 | Structure |
| 2019 | 5th | 303 | 2 · 0 | 6 | Structure |
| 2020 | 6th | 1,252 | 37 · 10 | 33 | Power Train |
| 2021 | 6th | 456 | 15 · 6 | 26 | Power Train |
| 2022 | 6th | 276 | 18 · 1 | 24 | Power Train |
| 2023 | 6th | 113 | 7 · 2 | 15 | Electrical System |
| 2024 | 6th | 21 | 2 · 1 | 10 | Forward Collision Avoidance |
| 2025 | 6th | 111 | 8 · 0 | 20 | Electrical System |
| 2026 | 6th | 0 | 0 · 0 | 15 | — |
Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not divided by sales. NHTSA files some Explorer Sport and Sport Trac complaints under "Explorer", so early-2000s totals include a few of those trucks. NHTSA lists no complaints yet for the 2026.
2011–2017: Steering, Exhaust Fumes and the Water Pump
With the 2011 generation the complaints change completely. Steering is the component named most on every year from 2011 to 2014: 1,929 complaints describe power-steering assist cutting out or the wheel going heavy. Recall 14V286000 covers an intermittent power-steering connection on 2011–2013 Explorers built in a set window, so not every truck of those years is included.
From the 2013, a second complaint grows: exhaust smell inside the cabin. 992 complaints on the 2013–2016 describe exhaust fumes, a smell of exhaust or a carbon-monoxide alarm. No campaign on NHTSA's recall list covers it.
The 2016 and 2017 add the water pump (228 complaints between them). Owners below explain why it's feared: on the 3.5-liter V6 the pump sits inside the engine, behind the timing chain, so a leak can mean a large repair bill. No recall covers that either.
Recalls on the 2011–2019
- Recall 14V286000: 2011–2013, power-steering assist can shut off.
- Recall 19V435000: 2011–2017, rear suspension toe links can fracture.
- Recall 24V031000: 2011–2019, A-pillar trim can detach; 877 complaints on the 2016–2017 mention pillar trim.
- Recall 25V347000: 2016–2017, B-pillar door trim can come off while driving.
What Explorer Owners Say on Reddit and YouTube
Explorer owners split along the same lines as the data. Owners of early-2000s trucks report high mileage and few repairs; owners of 2016–2017 models talk about water pumps and repair bills.
In owners' words (paraphrased)
- r/Ford, 'yay or nay': a commenter says the reliable years tend to be the late 2010s, if they were serviced regularly: not luxury cars, but they feel sturdy.
- YouTube, 2017 Explorer: an owner says the water pump failed and leaks, a $4,000 job because the pump is inside the engine behind the timing chain.
- YouTube, on the 3.5: another commenter says they won't buy any Ford with the 3.5's internal water pump.
- YouTube, 2016 Limited: an owner calls it a money pit: more than 10,000 in repairs in about a year and a half, with the A/C compressor, sunroof and power liftgate still to fix.
- YouTube, 2014 Explorer: an owner bought it at 89,000 miles and is nearing 203,000; reliable, they say.
- YouTube, 2004 Limited 4.0: bought at 50,000–60,000 miles, now past 300,000 with no transmission trouble, though the timing chain has rattled since about 100,000.
- YouTube, 2002 Limited V8: an owner reports 132,000 miles and no engine or transmission problems.
- YouTube, 2003 then 2006: an owner had a 2003 for 7 years and only replaced a starter; the 2006 that followed is the worst vehicle they've owned.
Checking an Explorer for Sale?
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Fewest vs. Most Explorer Complaints
Fewest is limited to 1995–2021 and leaves out years where one fault is a quarter or more of complaints (1995–1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2011–2013 and 2017–2019). The 2009's 33 is low even next to the 2008 (148) and 2010 (115), so read it as "few reports", not proof of a better truck.
Fewest complaints
- 2009: 33 complaints, 1 recall
- 2010: 115 complaints, 2 recalls
- 2008: 148 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2007: 208 complaints, 3 recalls
- 2021: 456 complaints, 26 recalls
Most complaints
- 2002: 3,622 complaints, 10 recalls
- 2016: 2,466 complaints, 15 recalls
- 1998: 2,248 complaints, 14 recalls
- 2013: 2,239 complaints, 12 recalls
- 1997: 1,981 complaints, 12 recalls
Recall counts include multi-model campaigns.
The Explorers Our Visitors Check
Between 12 June 2026 and 11 November 2026, visitors ran 1,354 different Ford Explorer VINs through our free preview. Every one starts with 1FM, and every one we sampled decoded through NHTSA's VIN decoder as built in the United States.
681 (50%) were 2011–2019 models and 512 (38%) 2020 or newer; only 157 were 2010 or older. The single most-checked year was the 2020, at 167 VINs, and 251 were 2016–2017 models, the water-pump years.
Explorer Complaints by Generation
By generation, the fifth (2011–2019) has the most complaints, 12,990 over nine years, and the second (1995–2001) has 10,285. The 2002–2005 drew 6,911 in four, more than half of them on the 2002. The 2006–2010 drew 1,139.
The 1990s Explorer: Tires and Crash Reports
Tires are the component named most on the 1996, 1997 and 1998, with 2,288 complaints mentioning them, and those three years also carry the most crash reports in the Explorer's record (204, 165 and 192). Recall 00T005000 is the tire maker's: Firestone tires whose tread could separate. Ford's own 01X001000 replaced Firestone Wilderness AT tires on its trucks and SUVs; NHTSA lists it as a safety improvement campaign rather than a safety recall.
On a 1995–2002 Explorer today, the recall to confirm is 09V399000: a cruise-control deactivation switch that can leak, overheat and start a fire even with the engine off.
What to Check on a Used Explorer
By year, the faults to look for.
1995–2002: the cruise switch
Confirm recall 09V399000 was done.
2002–2006: the transmission
Ask for transmission records; drive it cold and hot.
2011–2014: low-speed steering
Turn it in a parking lot; confirm 14V286000 if it applies.
2011–2019: fumes in the cabin
Drive with the windows closed and the fan on recirculate.
2016–2017: coolant
Check the level and look for a sweet smell or residue; ask about the water pump.
Any year: VIN records
Open recalls, title brands and odometer history.
Reading Explorer Complaint Numbers
NHTSA complaints are owner reports, not verified and not divided by sales, so a year that sold more trucks collects more of them. The clusters matter more than the raw totals: 1,040 transmission complaints on one model year is a pattern at any sales level.
The fault counts come from searching the words owners used, so they are a minimum. Newer years have had less time to collect complaints: the 2021 has 456 so far, and the counts for recent years will keep rising.
Related Checks and Guides
Recalls, history checks and the Explorer's rivals.
Where These Facts Come From
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's own records; owner experiences are linked so you can read them in full.
NHTSA records read 12 November 2026. Written by the CarCheckerVIN editorial team with AI assistance, from NHTSA's complaint and recall records, our own preview logs and the owner posts linked above; figures checked November 2026. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Ford.
Ford Explorer Years to Avoid — Frequently Asked Questions
Transmissions, water pumps and the newest Explorers.
What is the worst year for the Ford Explorer?+
By NHTSA complaint count, the 2002 (3,622), then the 2016 (2,466) and the 1998 (2,248).
Which Explorer years have transmission problems?+
Most of all the 2002 (1,040 complaints), then the 2004 (357), 2003 (232) and 2006 (226). On the newer trucks, the 2020 drew 308.
Is the 2016 or 2017 Explorer a good buy?+
They drew 2,466 and 1,715 complaints, about steering, cabin exhaust smell, loose pillar trim and the water pump. Ask whether the pump has been replaced, and confirm recalls 24V031000 and 25V347000.
What about the 2020 Explorer?+
It drew 1,252 complaints, 308 about the transmission, and carries 33 recalls, the most of any Explorer. 81 complaints on the 2020–2021 mention the rear axle bolt covered by 23V675000.
Is a high-mileage Explorer worth buying?+
It can be. Owners above report a 2004 4.0-liter past 300,000 miles and a 2014 nearing 203,000. On a 3.5-liter V6, ask about the water pump first.
Will your report show these problems?+
No history report can tell you a water pump is leaking. Ours lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos for the VIN. Recalls are free to check on NHTSA's site.
Pick the Generation, Then the Truck
The year tells you which weak spot to look for. Free preview first; the full report is $14.99 and lists title brands, NMVTIS junk and salvage records, insurance total-loss records, odometer readings, and auction records with the damage the auction recorded and its photos.
Complaint and recall figures are NHTSA's public records as read on 12 November 2026; complaints are unverified owner reports. Owner comments are paraphrased from the linked posts. CarCheckerVIN is not affiliated with Ford. Records in our reports reflect what was reported to our data providers. Our reports do not include police or repair-shop accident entries.
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