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2024 Ford Explorer Recalls, Complaints & Specs

10 safety recalls list the 2024 Ford Explorer, and owners have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA. Check your own VIN below.

10
safety recalls
21
owner complaints to NHTSA
2 / 1
complaints citing a crash / fire
20–24
MPG combined (EPA)

10 safety recalls for the 2024 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. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 26V451000 Reported 387,911 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch 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…

  2. Automatic transmission (power train)

    NHTSA 26V371000 Reported 58 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect for park system damage and replace the park system components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at…

  3. Seat belts

    NHTSA 26V159000 Reported 561 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer…

  4. Software (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 26V123000 Reported 889,950 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…

  5. Engine block heater (equipment)

    NHTSA 26V012000 Reported 2,403 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

    Remedy: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater…

  6. Trailer hitches

    NHTSA 25V687000 Reported 1,412 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Explorer and 2024-2026 Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

  7. Software (back over prevention)

    NHTSA 25V442000 Reported 200,237 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024…

    Remedy: Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is…

  8. Mid/rear assembly (seats)

    NHTSA 25V393000 Reported 304,662 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. 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.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…

  9. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 24V852000 Reported 27,678 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard…

    Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.

  10. Hybrid propulsion system and cables (electrical system)

    NHTSA 24V685000 Reported 61 vehicles potentially affected Ford Motor Company

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…

21 owner complaints filed with NHTSA

Owners of the 2024 Ford Explorer have filed 21 complaints with NHTSA; 2 describe a crash and 1 describe a fire. Reports cite 4 injuries and 0 deaths. The average mileage at failure in those reports is 15,316 miles. Complaints peaked in 2026 with 8 filed that year.

Most-reported components

What owners are reporting

“Officer was involved in a crash where the vehicles airbags were deployed. When the driver side seat airbag deployed it vented its gas towards the driver. When this happened the heat from the deployed”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 22, 2026 · Air bags

“The problem with my car is that I replaced the catalytic converter four months ago; I used an original part from the dealership. I am very concerned that the catalytic converter has failed again after”

Owner complaint to NHTSA, September 10, 2026 · Unknown or other

Fuel economy and specs

EPA ratings for the 2024 Ford Explorer (Explorer AWD, Explorer FFV AWD, Explorer RWD, Explorer Timberline AWD). Ranges cover every tested configuration.

Combined20–24 mpg
City / Highway17–21 / 22–28
FuelGasoline or E85, Regular
EPA classStandard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD, Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Engine4/6 cyl, 2.3/3/3.3 L
TransmissionAutomatic (S10); Automatic 10-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 2024 Ford Explorer

How do I know if my 2024 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. 10 campaigns currently list the 2024 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 24V685000).

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.