VehicleVerdict

Ford Explorer years to avoid

The Ford Explorer years to avoid are 2002, 2016, 2013, 1998, 2015, 1997, 2017, 2014, 1996, 1999, 2020, 2004, 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 2027 is the cleanest year on record.

43,211

Total complaints

154

Recall campaigns

1977–2027

Years covered

21

Years to avoid

Complaints by model year

Ford Explorer NHTSA complaints by model year4,097 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: 4,097 complaints2003: 1,369 complaints2004: 1,647 complaints2005: 604 complaints2006: 788 complaints2007: 271 complaints2008: 217 complaints2009: 49 complaints2010: 155 complaints2011: 1,499 complaints2012: 1,031 complaints2013: 2,792 complaints2014: 2,044 complaints2015: 2,221 complaints2016: 3,026 complaints2017: 2,044 complaints2018: 879 complaints2019: 340 complaints2020: 1,694 complaints2021: 557 complaints2022: 361 complaints2023: 149 complaints2024: 26 complaints2025: 148 complaints2026: 46 complaints2027: 0 complaints
Ford Explorer NHTSA complaints by model year. Red bars are years to avoid.

Explorer years to avoid

YearWhyComplaints
2002High complaint rate4,097
2016High complaint rate3,026
2013High complaint rate2,792
1998High complaint rate2,374
2015High complaint rate2,221
1997High complaint rate2,150
2017High complaint rate2,044
2014High complaint rate2,044
1996High complaint rate1,818
1999High complaint rate1,737
2020High complaints + open investigation1,694
2004High complaint rate1,647
1994High complaints + open investigation1,531
2011High complaint rate1,499
2003High complaint rate1,369
2000High complaint rate1,203
1993High complaints + open investigation1,151
1995Open safety investigation1,048
2018Open safety investigation879
1992Open safety investigation848
1991Open safety investigation764

Every Explorer year

YearComplaintsRecalls
202701
20264612
202514820
20242610
202314915
202236124
202155726
2020avoid1,69433
20193406
2018avoid8797
2017avoid2,04414
2016avoid3,02615
2015avoid2,2219
2014avoid2,0447
2013avoid2,79212
20121,0317
2011avoid1,4998
20101552
2009491
20082173
20072713
20067884
20056043
2004avoid1,6474
2003avoid1,3697
2002avoid4,09710
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, 2017, 2014, 1996, 1999, 2020, 2004, 1994, 2011, 2003, 2000, 1993, 1995, 2018, 1992, 1991. The cleanest year on record is 2027.

What is the best year for the Ford Explorer?

By complaint volume, 2027 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 154 distinct NHTSA recall campaigns and 43,211 consumer complaints on file.

Based on NHTSA ODI data through August 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated August 28, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.