The Lemon Index2025 Ford Explorer.
The 2025 Ford Explorer is so far better than average by owner complaints: 106 complaints in its first 3 years and a Lemon Index of 79, where 100 is the average car. Owners complain most about electrical, it has 20 recalls, and it gets 20 to 24 mpg combined. The best Ford Explorer year is 2008.
Early read
Before you buy. What matters most for this car.
How serious. Out of 106 owner complaints, owners reported:
Every Ford Explorer year. 2025 is highlighted. Lower is better.
What owners complain about most. From owner complaints to the government.
Share of this year's owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not the share of cars that break. One complaint can name more than one area.
When owners reported problems. From owner complaints to the government.
Most owners who filed a complaint with NHTSA had 0K to 9K miles on the car (15 complaints listed the miles). This shows when people who had a problem reported it, not the odds that your car will have it.
Recalls 20
- seats 2026
An unoccupied driver's seat may recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
- seats 2026
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
- engine 2026
The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Show all 20 recalls
- back over prevention 2026
The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping …
- seat belts 2026
The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
- engine 2026
The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
- lights 2026
The Dynamic Bending Light (DBL) system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road.
- visibility 2025
The windshield glass may have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility.
- trailer hitches 2025
The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.
- lights 2025
When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer may fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module.
- engine 2025
The connecting rod and rod bearing components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
- seats 2025
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
- brakes 2025
The bolts securing the front brake caliper may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of front brake function and possible wheel damage.
- body structure 2025
A mounting bolt for the front subframe may have been tightened improperly.
- transmission & drivetrain 2025
The powertrain control module (PCM) may reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall.
- transmission & drivetrain 2025
The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
- transmission & drivetrain 2025
The transmission may be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
- equipment 2024
The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard.
- back over prevention 2024
The rearview camera image may fail when the vehicle speed reaches 10 MPH or greater.
- fuel system, gasoline 2024
The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
Recall repairs are free at any dealer. A recall only matters if it's still open on that exact car, so check its VIN.
Problems Ford told dealers about
Ford sent dealers 189 repair notes for this car. The ones about its biggest problems:
- In some of the affected vehicles, the ABS Electronic Brake Booster may keep the electronic…
- "Quality improvements include: -Addresses a false DTC caused by a software bug -Robustness…
- Driver power door lock and auto start
Ask a seller or mechanic if these were done. Some are free under warranty or a special program.
Safety
Crash test details
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Explorer SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Explorer SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Explorer HEV SUV 4WD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
| Ford Explorer HEV SUV RWD | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ |
Fuel cost and engines
About $2700–3200 a year in fuel (EPA estimate). Engines: 2.3L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
In owners' words
the rear passenger door flew open while I was driving on a public road, with absolutely no warning or dashboard alert to indicate it was unlatched
2025 Ford Explorer owner · NHTSA complaint 11764979
More owner reports
6/2/25 tried to start vehicle, codes coming up and car would not start 6/6/25 car was in park running, starting chiming with alarms, the same alarms that came up a few days before.
NHTSA complaint 11665745
Put car in park. sUV rolled back & damaged my garage door. Also damaged my trunk of SUV.
NHTSA complaint 11645827
Quick answers
Is the 2025 Ford Explorer reliable?
It's too early to be sure. So far it has drawn 1.3× fewer complaints than average per car sold, against other 2025 cars after the same time on the road (early Lemon Index 79; 100 is average). The best Ford Explorer year by this measure since 2010 is 2024.
What are the most common 2025 Ford Explorer problems?
In owner complaints to the government, the parts named most are electrical (22%), brakes (17%) and automatic emergency braking (16%). That is the share of complaints, not the share of cars that break.
How many recalls does the 2025 Ford Explorer have?
20 safety recalls (latest: seats). Recall repairs are free at any dealer; check a specific car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What gas mileage does the 2025 Ford Explorer get?
20 to 24 mpg combined, depending on the engine (EPA estimate).
Is the 2025 Ford Explorer safe?
NHTSA gave it 5 out of 5 stars overall in its best tested version. Ratings differ by body style, and the full table is on the advanced page.
Does the 2025 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Transmission and drivetrain issues make up 14% of its owner complaints.
How much does the 2025 Ford Explorer cost in fuel a year?
About $2700 to $3200 a year, by the EPA's current estimate.
What engines does the 2025 Ford Explorer have?
2.3L 4-cyl, 3.0L 6-cyl.
What Ford Explorer year is better than the 2025?
By owner complaints per car sold, the best recent years are 2019, 2018 and 2010.
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the U.S. government (NHTSA) in a car's first 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average; lower is better. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect. How it works