The Lemon Index
Winner
Toyota RAV4
About 70% fewer owner complaints per car sold than the Ford Explorer, and fewer in 17 of 23 model years both were sold.
Head to head
Lemon Index
100 = average, lower is better
100 = average, lower is better
54
178
Years with fewer complaints
2001–2025
2001–2025
17 of 23
6 of 23
Recalls
2001–2025
2001–2025
120
258
MPG
latest year
latest year
28–39
20–24
Crash test
best, latest year
best, latest year
★★★★★
★★★★★
Best year to buy
Lemon Index = safety complaints filed with the government within 3 years, per car sold, against the average car of the same model year. 100 is average, lower is better. Green check = the better of the two on that line.
Year by year
Shorter bar = fewer complaints per car sold. Tap a year for its full report.
Every Toyota RAV4 year · Every Ford Explorer year · How the index works