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2015 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs

8 safety recalls list the 2015 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 1,800 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

8
safety recalls
1,800
owner complaints to NHTSA
37 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
18–23
MPG combined (EPA)

8 safety recalls for the 2015 Ford Explorer

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

  1. Camera (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 25V695000 Reported 1,448,655 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters…

  2. Roof and pillars (structure)

    NHTSA 24V031000 Reported 1,889,110 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters…

  3. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 21V537000 Reported 631,176 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West…

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245,…

  4. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 20V675000 Reported 454,941 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island,…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020.…

  5. Axle shaft (power train)

    NHTSA 20V692000 Reported 15,587 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second…

  6. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 19V435000 Reported 1,194,173 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26,…

  7. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 16V245000 Reported 75,364 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture.

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…

  8. Parking brake

    NHTSA 15V464000 Reported 7,165 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking…

    Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may…

1,800 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2015 Ford Explorer have filed 1,800 complaints with NHTSA; 37 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 98 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 63,805 miles. Complaints peaked in 2017 with 270 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Back over prevention

“The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Th”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, October 5, 2026 · Back over prevention

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2015 Ford Explorer (Explorer 2WD FFV, Explorer AWD, Explorer AWD FFV, Explorer FWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined18–23 mpg
City / Highway16–20 / 22–27
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2/3.5 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S6); Automatic 6-spd

Compare Ford Explorer model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Ford Explorer model year in NHTSA's database.

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Ford Explorer02
1984 Ford Explorer01
1985 Ford Explorer01
1986 Ford Explorer03
1987 Ford Explorer03
1988 Ford Explorer04
1989 Ford Explorer01
1990 Ford Explorer012
1991 Ford Explorer8609
1992 Ford Explorer4633
1993 Ford Explorer6939
1994 Ford Explorer41,207
1995 Ford Explorer5843
1996 Ford Explorer61,450
1997 Ford Explorer71,731
1998 Ford Explorer91,959
1999 Ford Explorer91,348
2000 Ford Explorer9952
2001 Ford Explorer6375
2002 Ford Explorer43,295
2003 Ford Explorer21,131
2004 Ford Explorer01,304
2005 Ford Explorer0497
2006 Ford Explorer1630
2007 Ford Explorer1208
2008 Ford Explorer1148
2009 Ford Explorer033
2010 Ford Explorer1115
2011 Ford Explorer61,197
2012 Ford Explorer5829
2013 Ford Explorer112,235
2014 Ford Explorer61,679
2015 Ford Explorer81,800
2016 Ford Explorer142,461
2017 Ford Explorer131,697
2018 Ford Explorer7732
2019 Ford Explorer6299
2020 Ford Explorer331,227
2021 Ford Explorer26436
2022 Ford Explorer24268
2023 Ford Explorer15110
2024 Ford Explorer1021
2025 Ford Explorer20102
2026 Ford Explorer1439
2027 Ford Explorer10

Checking a specific 2015 Ford Explorer

How do I know if my 2015 Ford Explorer has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 8 campaigns currently list the 2015 Ford Explorer; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Ford dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 15V464000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Ford models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.