VehicleVerdict

Ford Explorer years to avoid

The Ford Explorer years to avoid are 2002, 2016, 2013, 1998, 2015, 1997, 2014, 2017, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2020, 1994, 2011, 2003, 2000, 1993, 1995, 2018, 1992, 1991 — each drew complaint volumes well above the model's norm or has an open safety investigation. The 1989 is the cleanest year on record.

42,886

Total complaints

150

Recall campaigns

1977–2026

Years covered

21

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Ford Explorer NHTSA complaints by model year4,096 complaints1977: 2 complaints1984: 1 complaints1985: 1 complaints1986: 3 complaints1987: 3 complaints1988: 7 complaints1989: 1 complaints1990: 12 complaints1991: 764 complaints1992: 848 complaints1993: 1,151 complaints1994: 1,531 complaints1995: 1,048 complaints1996: 1,818 complaints1997: 2,150 complaints1998: 2,374 complaints1999: 1,737 complaints2000: 1,203 complaints2001: 503 complaints2002: 4,096 complaints2003: 1,369 complaints2004: 1,647 complaints2005: 604 complaints2006: 788 complaints2007: 271 complaints2008: 216 complaints2009: 49 complaints2010: 155 complaints2011: 1,494 complaints2012: 1,027 complaints2013: 2,781 complaints2014: 2,038 complaints2015: 2,187 complaints2016: 3,004 complaints2017: 2,010 complaints2018: 859 complaints2019: 327 complaints2020: 1,617 complaints2021: 525 complaints2022: 339 complaints2023: 143 complaints2024: 26 complaints2025: 132 complaints2026: 25 complaints
Ford Explorer NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Explorer years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2002High complaint rate4,096
2016High complaint rate3,004
2013High complaint rate2,781
1998High complaint rate2,374
2015High complaint rate2,187
1997High complaint rate2,150
2014High complaint rate2,038
2017High complaint rate2,010
1996High complaint rate1,818
1999High complaint rate1,737
2004High complaint rate1,647
2020High complaints + open investigation1,617
1994High complaints + open investigation1,531
2011High complaint rate1,494
2003High complaint rate1,369
2000High complaint rate1,203
1993Open safety investigation1,151
1995Open safety investigation1,048
2018Open safety investigation859
1992Open safety investigation848
1991Open safety investigation764

Every Explorer year

YearComplaintsRecalls
2026259
202513218
2024269
202314314
202233923
202152525
2020avoid1,61732
20193275
2018avoid8596
2017avoid2,01013
2016avoid3,00414
2015avoid2,1879
2014avoid2,0387
2013avoid2,78112
20121,0277
2011avoid1,4948
20101552
2009491
20082163
20072713
20067884
20056043
2004avoid1,6474
2003avoid1,3697
2002avoid4,09610
200150312
2000avoid1,20315
1999avoid1,73715
1998avoid2,37414
1997avoid2,15012
1996avoid1,81811
1995avoid1,04812
1994avoid1,5317
1993avoid1,1519
1992avoid8487
1991avoid76411
1990120
198910
198870
198730
198630
198510
198410
197720

Common questions

What are the worst Ford Explorer years?

Based on NHTSA complaint rates and open investigations, the Explorer years to avoid are 2002, 2016, 2013, 1998, 2015, 1997, 2014, 2017, 1996, 1999, 2004, 2020, 1994, 2011, 2003, 2000, 1993, 1995, 2018, 1992, 1991. The cleanest year on record is 1989.

What is the best year for the Ford Explorer?

By complaint volume, 1989 has the cleanest NHTSA record among Explorer years with enough data to compare.

How many recalls does the Ford Explorer have?

Across all model years, the Explorer has 150 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 42,886 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.