2015 Ford Explorer Problems And Complaints

2015 Ford Explorer User Complaints and Problems

Mechanical problems:

1. There are many complaints about the car accelerating independently and crashing into different places.
2. Another common problem is the steering assist fault. The steering wheel becomes slightly sticky and loses power assist slowly. In fact, this is one of the most common complaints but a 2015 Ford Explorer steering recall was not issued.
3. Multiple 2015 Ford Explorer transmission problems have also been registered. It asks drivers to shift to Park even when the car is in Park. Sometimes, the gears failed to engage as well. The PTU is a known area of failure but no repairs are possible because the unit is sealed.
4. Many cars have also stalled and vibrated to a stop. At this point, sometimes the car starts back up but in other cases, it leads to catastrophic engine failure.
5. Sudden deceleration has also occurred in many vehicles and the cause for the problem is unknown. There are many cases in which the engine fails to respond completely to driver input.
6. Water pump failure is a very common issue in these cars and this will result in coolant leaking. If left unchecked, this will result in the engine seizing due to overheating. There was no 2015 Ford Explorer water pump recall issued.
7. The timing chain is another known area where multiple people have experienced failures. It stretches due to the phasers and will fail very soon.
8. Many people have also reported that there are exhaust fumes inside the car and the smell is often nauseating.
9. Many owners have also experienced the oil and coolant mixing in these engines and causing catastrophic failure.
10. Catalytic converter failures are also quite common in these engines and it indicates a design fault.
11. Multiple cars have had wheel bearings failing prematurely.
12. Multiple cases of the exhaust emitting white smoke have also been recorded and the issue could be related to the spark plugs or the ignition coils.
13. Several complaints about the throttle body of this car have also been registered. The controlling system responsible for maintaining the position of the throttle body according to driver input is notably error-prone.
14. The brakes of the car have also produced issues including ABS, traction control, stability control as well as brake booster issues. The emergency brake also fails to engage in many cars.
15. Fuel leaks are also quite common and it is usually indicated by a gas smell inside the car.
16. The lug nuts of the car are also prone to getting swollen and this makes it hard to remove the wheels. It is a very common issue.

Electrical system problems:

1. The rear-view camera in this car has failed to work for many owners. It can either cut off while backing up or not activate at all. Others have also had distortions in the picture.
2. The brake lights also have malfunctioned in several cars and other warnings are illuminated without any reason including the low engine oil warning.
3. The Accessory Protocol Interface Module is a commonly experienced failure. Although Ford's website issues an update, most owners are not able to do it themselves.
4. The fuel gauge is also known to produce erroneous readings.
5. The HVAC system has reported several faults including the AC stopping to work as well as the heating and cooling functions on the seats failing to work intermittently.
6. The power windows of the vehicle have also shown many problems. Especially when it is cold outside, the power windows failed to work.
7. The door locks of the vehicle have also produced multiple issues and they fail to work after a while.
8. The instrument cluster can also go on and off at times and deprive the driver of critical information.
9. The Sync system used for infotainment is also prone to many complaints and gets disconnected very frequently. Many owners have also complained that the speakers blast a sudden screech that is deafening and then shut themselves off completely.
10. Several electrical systems in the car have thrown up warnings and malfunctioned. The issue is quite common and multiple fault codes are issued, causing trouble to owners because these issues affect the climate control system, radio, seat controls, power windows, and so on.
11. The hands-free trunk in this car has produced problems with opening and closing.

Safety problems:

1. There are a lot of complaints about the airbags of this vehicle producing a warning sign that does not go away despite repairs. The problem is with the wiring harness and the repairs are very expensive.
2. In many cases, the airbags failed to deploy. This causes a life-threatening situation.
3. Seat belts of this car are also prone to locking in place and being hard to engage and disengage. It also fails to retract properly.

Interior problems:

1. Some interior trim pieces like the armrest, lumbar bags, and so on are known to produce problems. The lumbar support also has a sharp edge that pokes out and might hurt passengers.
2. The plastic pieces of trim inside the car including the door panels, claddings, window pillars, and so on are known to fracture. The door handles also fracture.

Exterior problems:

1. Multiple complaints regarding water leaks have also been recorded and the main problem seems to be the sunroof.
2. The halogen headlights used in the car are known to be very dim. They also failed to light intermittently and cause safety problems. They're also prone to getting water inside and the sealing does not seem to be proper.
3. The automatic cruise control in this car has produced a wide range of faults that can threaten safety.
4. The door locks of this car also have the issue of not closing properly. The doors may come open at this point.

Miscellaneous problems:

1. Multiple complaints about the manufacturer not making parts for the recall available on time have been registered.

2015 Ford Explorer Recalls

S. No.	Date	NHTSA Campaign Number	Issues Noticed	Additional Remarks	Remedy
1	July 15, 2021	21V537000	Rear suspension toe link may fracture	The cross-axis ball joint may corrode due to road salt and result in fracture of the rear suspension toe link	Dealers will inspect and replace the cross axis ball joint, and toe links as necessary
2	November 10, 2020	20V692000	Link shaft brackets may fracture	The support bracket for the front driveshaft may fail	Dealers will replace the link shaft bracket
3	October 30, 2020	20V675000	Rear suspension toe link may fracture	The outboard section of the rear suspension toe link may fracture	Dealers will inspect and replace the cross axis ball joint, and toe links as necessary
4	June 10, 2019	19V435000	Rear suspension toe link may fracture	A welding problem may result in toe link fracture	Dealers will inspect and replace the toe links as necessary
5	August 28, 2017	17E048000	Hub unit bearing may allow wheel detachment	The hub unit bearings may have been manufactured without a self-retention feature and result in possible separation of the wheel.	Ford will notify distributors to specify that the hubs are only to be used on drive axles
6	April 26, 2016	16V245000	Rear suspension toe link may be improperly welded	The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to improper welding	Dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links
7	July 24, 2015	15V464000	Parking brake may not fully engage	The parking brake may not fully be engaged while being applied	Dealers will test the operation and replace the parking brake control assembly if necessary

Should you buy the 2015 Ford Explorer?

The Ford Explorer is a car that provides a lot of equipment and style but is not at all reliable. This car has issues that are spread across all parts and will require a significant redesign to prevent problems. We feel that it is best avoided despite any merits the car might have. As an alternative, we would suggest the Honda Pilot.