MODELYEARINDEX

Which Ford Explorer years to avoid

Across 12 scored model years, the 2016, 2020 and 2015 model years carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates.

Ownership label · Ford Explorer Full report
F
Grade 2010–2021
2016 vs model median 2.1×
Model median3× median
Steering 238
Engine 231
Drivetrain 94
Avoid

2016 · 2020

Best

2010 · 2019

What the record shows

Written from this model’s own complaint and recall history.

Steering leads the Explorer’s worst year, 2016, with engine reports close behind. The median odometer reading at complaint is around 25,000 miles.

Two separate issues run through this generation. NHTSA investigated reports of exhaust odour entering the cabin on 2011–2017 Explorers, with owners describing a smell of fumes under acceleration; Ford addressed it through service actions rather than a safety recall for most of the affected population, and the matter attracted particular attention because of complaints from police-fleet vehicles. Separately, Ford recalled Explorers of this era for a rear suspension toe link that could fracture, which produces exactly the sudden change in steering feel that appears repeatedly in the steering filings.

2020, the launch year of the next redesign, is flagged again — the same first-year pattern the Escape shows. The 2010 and 2019 model years record the lowest rates in this dataset. If you are looking at a 2016, ask whether the toe link recall was completed and take a long test drive with the windows up.

Reviewed Claude, 10 August 2026, against the model's own record and NHTSA campaign filings

Year by year

Severity-weighted complaints filed in each model year’s first 60 months on the road, so every year is measured over an identical window.

Year Complaint volume vs median Reports Grade
2010
0.10× 68 A
2011
0.92× 520 C
2012
0.53× 311 B
2013
1.23× 794 D
2014
1.08× 733 C
2015
1.45× 904 D
2016
2.09× 1,303 F
2017
1.10× 683 C
2018
0.39× 237 B
2019
0.16× 107 B
2020
1.57× 952 D
2021
0.73× 428 C
2022 P
0.61× 360 C
2023 P
0.30× 150 B
2024 P
0.04× 26 B
2025 P
0.23× 139 B

P — provisional. These years have not completed 60 months on the road, so their totals are incomplete and they are excluded from the verdict.

What owners report

The component groups most often named, with one representative report. These are unverified — allegations, not findings.

2016 F 1,303 reports · median 25,000 mi

  1. Steering 238

    While making a turn on a local street power steering went out. I was able to pull to the side shut off the vehicle and waited a minute and restarted no further issues. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Engine 231

    Radiator cooling fan squeals loudly when car is idle or driving slowly. Car has already been in the shop to replace the fan once. New fan began squealing again within 30 minutes of driving after repair. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Drivetrain 94

    Vehicle lost acceleration suddenly: first time happened when I stopped at the intersection waiting the traffic to clear and when I want the vehicle to accelerate it did not so I pulled over and turned engine off and… owner complaint filed with NHTSA

29 crash · 7 fire · 60 injuries

2020 D 952 reports · median 9,000 mi

  1. Drivetrain 227

    I purchased a 2020 ford explorer at sames ford in laredo, tx. The vehicle was received 11 sept 2019. The vehicle broke down on 18 sept 2019 in indiana (mileage 1896) while in motion on the highway. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  2. Driver Assist 178

    While I was driving on the interstate, in the left most lane, there was road on the side of the road sighted ahead that was extending into the left lane I was traveling in. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

  3. Electrical 117

    The contact owns a 2020 ford explorer. While the vehicle was parked, the engine suddenly began to rev very highly and the vehicle attempted to accelerate forward. owner complaint filed with NHTSA

39 crash · 17 fire · 35 injuries

The best year for the Explorer

Ranked by overall score among years with a full 60 months on the road.

2010 is the best-scoring Explorer model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.5 out of 100 — a score that combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.

Yearvs medianReportsGrade
2010 0.10× 68 A
2019 0.16× 107 B
2018 0.39× 237 B

Recalls

95 campaigns on record.

Campaign Component Model years Units affected
24V031000 STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS 2011–2019 1,889,110
25V695000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2015 1,448,655
19V435000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2011–2017 1,194,173
26V123000 BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE 2020–2024 889,950
25V455000 FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP 2021–2023 850,318
26V402000 POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION 2020, 2021 741,195
19V633000 SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER 2018–2020 639,137
21V537000 SUSPENSION:REAR 2013–2017 631,176
20V575000 BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA 2020 620,246
21V316000 STRUCTURE:BODY 2016–2019 616,967
26V117000 VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR 2020–2022 604,533
25V347000 STRUCTURE:BODY 2016, 2017 492,145

+ 83 further campaigns

How long do they last?

Complaint records show when problems get reported, not how long a car survives. Where owners gave an odometer reading, faults on the 2016 were reported at a median of 25,000 miles. Treat that as the point problems start being noticed, not a lifespan.

Common questions

Answered directly from this model’s record.

Which Ford Explorer years should you avoid?
2016, 2020, 2015 carry the highest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Explorer model year measured over an identical 60-month window.
What is the best year for the Ford Explorer?
2010 is the best-scoring Ford Explorer model year with a full 60 months on the road, at 92.5 out of 100. The score combines complaint rate, recall campaigns and open investigations.
How many recalls does the Ford Explorer have?
95 distinct recall campaigns are on record across all scored Ford Explorer model years. A recall is a matter of record: the manufacturer filed a defect report with NHTSA.

How this was calculated

Every model year is scored over an identical window: complaints filed with NHTSA during the first 60 months after that model year went on sale. Without this, older cars look worse purely because they have had longer to accumulate reports.

Limitations. Complaints are unverified reports submitted voluntarily by owners; they are allegations, not findings, and reporting rates vary between models. Model years with fewer than 60 months on the road are marked provisional and excluded from verdicts. Cross-model comparison is withheld pending production-volume data.

Full methodology · Sources · Data vintage August 9, 2026

Working 2016 Explorer
Complaints in window
1,303
Severity-weighted
1,724.5
Model median (weighted)
824
vs model median
2.09×
Recall campaigns (weighted)
15
Open investigations
0
Score 32.7 F