2017 Ford Explorer Problems And Complaints

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Rating7.3

Ranked #7 in 

Midsize SUV
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$31,160 - $53,235
Starting Price 

Users Opinions on 2017 Ford Explorer

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Disliked by Users

  • DA

    Dennis Avery

    18/05/2021

    Rating:

    (2 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... Ford mechanic that the strut issue is not uncommon, so I was disappointed when they wouldn’t replace it free of charge. It’s a fairly expensive repair (they suggest replacing both struts even though only one is problematic) but apparently it’s not a life/safety problem so I’m just putting up with the occasional noise. Since then we have spent over $900 to replace the driver side heated seat and are now awaiting a small replacement motorRead More

    Source: edmunds

  • R

    Rehtaeh8604

    10/03/2020

    Rating:

    (2 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... remember exactly but google it & you'll find what I'm talking about). The second, a water pump failure (google this too). There may be more that I just haven't run across yet but it's very disappointing because I want to love Ford but they're making it so hard with all of these problems I've had with my 2017 Limited 4-cylinder. It's very hard for me to look at the positives with this car. Read More

    Source: edmunds

  • JC

    Joseph Clidsdale

    17/08/2019

    Rating:

    (1 Out Of 5 stars)

    ... This is a hatchback car, not an SUV. No where near the build of a Jeep or Durango. The AWD works pretty well though. My main complaint is that it sits low like a car and then has a ton of blind spots. The previous 2002-2010 model was a real suv and didn’t have all these problems. Read More

    Source: edmunds

2017 Ford Explorer SUV Problems, Issues, Complaints, Recalls, and Which Year to Avoid?

14

Recalls

2

Investigations

1597

Complaints
Overall Safety Rating
Nathan Dyer's image
Nathan Dyer 

Senior Editor,

Updated on April 15, 2023

The Ford Explorer has been a popular contender in the midsize crossover segment for quite some time now. The Explorer saw a boost in sales after it entered its fifth-gen model in 2011, with the 2016 Explorer clocking an impressive 216,294 units sales figure. The current 2017 Explorer carries an average base price of $31,660 and goes up to $54,180 for the top-end model including destination charges. Being a mass-produced vehicle, the Explorer’s reliability has been strictly mediocre in the recent past, and the SUV bagged a score of 79 out of hundred from J.D. Power as well. With that score, it lugs behind several contenders it faces in the class. In its class, the Ford Explorer competes against the Buick Enclave, the Kia Sorento, and the Toyota Highlander.

The 2016 Ford Explorer has seen 11 recalls and close to 1400 complaints along with one investigation regarding exhaust odor inside the cabin which is still open. The exhaust odor symptom has been faced by several owners of the 2018 model year of the vehicle too. The rivals have much better reliability scores from J.D. Power than the Explorer, the Buick Enclave having the highest, 84 out of hundred. Moreover, the rivals also have a much lower count of recalls and complaints as compared to a few recent model years of the Explorer. In case you wish to purchase the Ford Explorer, we’d recommend going for the 2015 model since it has seen the least number of recalls and complaints so far.

Ford Explorer user complaints and problems

Engine problems

  • Carbon monoxide poisoning: A lot of 2017 Ford Explorer models were hit by the infamous carbon monoxide poisoning issue. The owners complained that after starting to drive, the cabin would fill with toxic fumes of carbon monoxide from the engine and cause illness. In a few cases, the owners with medical conditions suffered from further complications.
  • Turbocharger oil leak: A handful of 2017 Ford Explorer models faced a turbocharger oil leak. The oil leaks occurred close to the turbochargers and resulted in engine malfunctions.

Electrical problems

  • Quick battery degradation: A couple of users complained that the batteries on their Ford Explorers leaked and caused corrosion. The occurrences happened much earlier than normal and a replacement of the battery failed to solve the problem as well.
  • Electrical fire: One owner faced this issue. The report stated that there was smoke from under the hood and when the vehicle was brought outside, it caught fire. Preliminary inspections revealed a faulty fuse module behind the fire.

Safety problems

  • Airbag failure: Several users reported that while they were involved in crashes, the airbags of their vehicles failed to deploy.

2017 Ford Explorer recalls

S.No.

Recall Date

NHTSA Campaign ID

Issues noticed

Additional remarks

Remedy

1

December 22, 2016

16V925000

Oil Leak from Turbocharger

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017.

2

May 22, 2017

17V332000

Driver Seat Back Frame May Fail/FMVSS 202, 207

If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seatback frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. 

3

June 26, 2017

17V401000

Second Row Seats may be Missing Attachment Studs

Seats with missing inboard attachments may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to verify that they have the second row seat attachment studs, installing them if not, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. 

4

August 28, 2017

17E048000

Hub Unit Bearing may Allow Wheel Detachment

A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. 

5

August 28, 2017

17V530000

Loss of Power Assisted Steering

If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017.

6

June 10, 2019

19V435000

Rear Suspension Toe Links May Fracture

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 26, 2019.

7

September 11, 2019

19V651000

Front Seat Frames May Have Exposed Sharp Edges

Occupants may come in contact with the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective tape on the exposed inside edge and tab of the power seat frames, free of charge. The recall began on November 8, 2019.

8

October 30, 2020

20V675000

Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on November 27, 2020.

9

May 5, 2021

21V316000

Roof Rail Covers May Detach

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021.

10

July 15, 2021

21V537000

Rear Suspension Toe Link Fracture

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk was mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022.

Should you buy a used Ford Explorer?

The Ford Explorer is an old chap in its class but due to its recent episodes regarding questionable reliability, its rivals have gained an edge over it. Going for a used example isn’t recommended by us given the vehicle's not-too-great reliability reports in the recent past as well. Alternatives such as the Chevy Traverse or the Toyota Highlander would make a good option.

  • Complaints
  • Recalls
  • Investigations
  • Manufacturer Communications

March 26, 2026, NHTSA ID Number: 11727358

Components: 162000 STRUCTURE

NHTSA ID Number:
11727358

Incident Date:
March 26, 2026

Vehicle Identification Number:
1FM5K8GT3HG

Consumer Location:
EL PASO, TX

Summary
the safety problem is a known recall that remains unfixed since 2024 and should have higher priority for ...

March 25, 2026, NHTSA ID Number: 11726921

Components: 160000 STRUCTURE

NHTSA ID Number:
11726921

Incident Date:
March 25, 2026

Vehicle Identification Number:
1FM5K8GT3HG

Consumer Location:
KELLER, TX

Summary
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 65 MPH, the passenger's side...

March 25, 2026, NHTSA ID Number: 11727135

Components: 020000 SUSPENSION

NHTSA ID Number:
11727135

Incident Date:
March 25, 2026

Vehicle Identification Number:
1FM5K8D83HG

Consumer Location:
CLAYPOOL, IN

Summary
I was driving 30 MPH down a country road and the drivers side toe link broke about putting me in the ditc...

March 24, 2026, NHTSA ID Number: 11726668

Components: 160000 STRUCTURE

NHTSA ID Number:
11726668

Incident Date:
March 24, 2026

Vehicle Identification Number:
1FM5K8F83HG

Consumer Location:
EAGLE ROCK, VA

Summary
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031...

March 24, 2026, NHTSA ID Number: 11726671

Components: 130000 VISIBILITY/WIPER (PWS)

NHTSA ID Number:
11726671

Incident Date:
March 24, 2026

Vehicle Identification Number:
1FM5K8D81HG

Consumer Location:
NASHWAUK, MN

Summary
The rear tailgate window has blown out twice. First time 2/10/2026 and again 3/22/2026. Both times happen...

77/100Best

Quality & Reliability

Assesses the extent of issues, glitches, and design imperfections encountered by...

81/100Best

Driving Experience

Owners' assessments regarding the vehicle's design, performance, comfort, functi...

80/100Best

Resale

CARHP's projection of depreciation, which estimates the probable decrease in the...

0/100Worst

Dealership Experience

Owners' interactions with dealerships associated with this brand, encompassing b...

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