Owner complaints
267NHTSA recordsUSED VEHICLE RESEARCH
2022 Ford Explorer
Research the 2022 Ford Explorer using available NHTSA owner complaints, safety recalls, manufacturer communications, defect investigations, and CarIQ data-coverage analysis.
DATA CONFIDENCE: ModerateFord Explorer2022 · RESEARCH CATALOG
Recall campaigns
24Year, make and model lookupManufacturer communications
0Matched NHTSA recordsInvestigations
1Matched NHTSA recordsSUBJECTIVE OWNER FEEDBACK
OWNER EXPERIENCE
What it is like to live with the vehicle—kept clearly separate from official NHTSA evidence.
THE FIRST USEFUL PERSPECTIVE COULD BE YOURS
No approved owner experiences yet.
Contributions are collected carefully and only appear here after moderation. No placeholders, sample testimonials, or invented sentiment.OWNED THIS CAR?
Help the next buyer understand the real ownership experience.
Share what you liked, what could be better, and whether you would choose it again. Every contribution is moderated before publication.NHTSA owner complaint records remain part of Official Vehicle Data. Subjective review contributions remain in Owner Experience. One does not validate or prove the other. Read the methodology.
EVIDENCE, NOT A SCORE
WHAT THIS DATA CAN TELL YOU ABOUT RELIABILITY
Official records can provide useful research context, but each source has a different meaning. Complaint counts are not failure rates; recalls are formal safety campaigns; manufacturer communications are technical or service documentation; and investigations reflect formal NHTSA activity. Data Confidence measures evidence availability, not vehicle quality. CarIQ does not publish a composite Reliability Score.
Available evidence summary: 267 NHTSA owner complaint records; 24 safety recall campaigns; 0 manufacturer communications; 1 applicable NHTSA defect investigation.
EVIDENCE AVAILABILITY — NOT VEHICLE RELIABILITY
DATA CONFIDENCE
ModerateData Confidence measures how much usable evidence CarIQ has for this vehicle. It does not measure how reliable the vehicle is.
Why this rating?
- Owner complaint data
- Available
- Manufacturer communications
- Available
- Recall data
- Available
- Investigation data
- Available
- Production denominator
- Unavailable
- Complaint component completeness
- 100%
- Mileage completeness
- 0%
- Incident-date completeness
- 100%
DESCRIPTIVE ANALYTICS
DATA INSIGHTS
Derived from official NHTSA source records. These statistics are descriptive and are not a reliability score.
- Complaint records analyzed
- 267 NHTSA complaints
- Most reported component
- Power Train 23% of categorized complaint records
- Top-three component concentration
- 52% Records mentioning at least one top-three component
- Median reported incident mileage
- Not available from current source 0 valid mileage observations
- Recall campaigns
- 24 NHTSA recalls
- Most recent recall report
- July 14, 2026 NHTSA recalls
- Manufacturer communications
- 0 NHTSA manufacturer communications
- Most documented component
- Not available NHTSA manufacturer communications
- Top-three communication concentration
- Not available Share of categorized manufacturer communications
SOURCE COMPLETENESS
DATA QUALITY
- Complaint records analyzed
- 267
- Component classification available
- 100%
- Incident date available
- 100%
- Mileage available
- 0%
- Structured outcome fields available
- 100%
Completeness describes fields present in the retrieved complaint records. It is not a data-quality grade or a vehicle assessment.
Learn about CarIQ methodologyPRODUCTION-ADJUSTED DESCRIPTIVE METRIC
NORMALIZED COMPLAINT CONTEXT
Production-normalized complaint data is not currently available for this vehicle.
This metric compares the number of NHTSA owner complaint records retrieved by CarIQ with NHTSA-reported production volume for the corresponding vehicle population.
It is not a vehicle failure rate. Complaint reporting behavior, vehicle age, time on the road, production definitions, and other factors can affect the result.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Early Warning Reporting, Light Vehicle Production Data. Read the methodology.
OFFICIAL NHTSA OWNER COMPLAINT DATA
PROBLEMS REPORTED IN NHTSA RECORDS
CarIQ groups available NHTSA owner complaint records for the 2022 Ford Explorer by vehicle system to make recurring documentation easier to research. Most represented complaint categories describe the retrieved records—not failure frequency.
MOST REPRESENTED COMPLAINT CATEGORIES
A complaint may list more than one component and therefore contribute to multiple categories. Percentages show the share of categorized complaint records that mention each component—not the percentage of vehicles affected. Category percentages may overlap.
INCIDENT REPORTS BY YEAR
Grouped from complaint records with a valid incident date.
RECENT OWNER COMPLAINTS
Unknown or Other
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11766032Read complaint narrative
Safety Defect: Moonroof Sunshade Sags and Obstructs Rearward Driver Visibility I am reporting a safety concern involving the fabric sunshade/moonroof cover in my 2022 Ford Explorer. When the moonroof fabric sunshade is closed/engaged, the fabric sags substantially downward from the roof. The sag is severe enough that the sunshade extends well below its intended position and can obstruct the driver’s view through the rear window. This is not simply a cosmetic issue. When the sunshade is engaged, the sagging fabric creates a significant obstruction to rearward visibility from the driver’s seating position. This can prevent the driver from seeing vehicles, pedestrians, or other objects behind the vehicle while driving. The attached photograph shows the condition from inside the vehicle. The fabric can be seen hanging substantially below the surrounding headliner and roof structure. The amount of sag is sufficient to interfere with the driver’s line of sight toward the rear of the vehicle. The driver should not have to operate the vehicle with the moonroof shade open simply to maintain adequate rearward visibility. The purpose of the shade is to block sunlight while remaining within the designed roof area; it should not hang down into the passenger compartment far enough to obstruct the driver’s view. Because this condition can directly affect the driver’s ability to observe traffic behind the vehicle, I believe it presents a potential motor-vehicle safety hazard and should be investigated as a possible defect affecting the moonroof/sunshade assembly. Vehicle: 2022 Ford Explorer I request that NHTSA investigate whether this condition is occurring in other Ford Explorer vehicles and whether the design, material, mounting, or tensioning system of the moonroof sunshade can cause it to sag and obstruct rearward visibility.
Suspension
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11766219Read complaint narrative
Car was purchased brand new from Ford Dealership in May 2023. In September 2026, brought car in for 20,000 mile service at Ford Dealership in San Jose, California to discover that both rear shock absorbers are already worn and shocks are leaking. Dealer recommended that they needed to be replaced. Upon research, this issue has very common with 2022 Ford Explorers (all trims). I believe this is a defective issue that should be investigated. No check engine or warning lights ever came up due to this issue.
Power Train
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11765658Read complaint narrative
Rear CV axel splines are causing an audible sound when shifting from park to reverse or park to drive. It also occurs when the car goes from accelerating to coasting and then back to accelerating. The sound has gotten louder and is more frequent within the last 2 months. Ford is stating this noise is otherwise not harming the CV Axel or the splines therein.
Visibility/wiper
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11764655Read complaint narrative
The headliner on the sunroof panel began sagging to the point that visibility is compromised between the driver and rear of the vehicle. This is a common failure on these vehicles, and very expensive to repair. It is obviously caused by the design of the sunroof shade cover assembly.
Fuel System · Gasoline
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11763609Read complaint narrative
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving 10 MPH with children inside the vehicle, while depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle hesitated and loss power. While attempting to restart the vehicle, the vehicle failed to respond. A dealer was contacted. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The contact stated that the failure had occurred on several occasions. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that a representative would return the phone call. The approximate failure mileage was 66,000.
Engine
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762952Read complaint narrative
The check engine light was on. A Ford dealership diagnosed the issue as a coolant intrusion manufacturer defect. There are a number of safety concerns associated with this issue. The primary danger of the coolant intrusion defect is catastrophic engine failure. Severe overheating, internal damage, misfires, fire hazard and oil contamination. There are no active recalls\campaigns\TSB for 2022 Ford Explorer XLT 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The car is available for inspection. Although, the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police or insurance agent, the issue was presented to Ford and a claim was submitted to the insurance company that services my Mechanical Breakdown Insurance. So far the insurance company is not authorizing the work without an engine breakdown. They are not excepting the P0300 and P0316 code or the results of a barascope and other test. The Ford corporation will not provide a written statement that confirms the dealerships diagnosis is accurate. Some doctrine that states the engine long block had to be replaced to fix the coolant intrusion defect. Ford has recalled coolant intrusion issues on other engine models. I requested a formal Tiered Goodwill Review based on the Miller v. Ford framework and resolution terms. Since the service center’s portal does not display an automatic, VIN-specific internal factory code for a long block replacement. The request was denied. While the Miller v. Ford litigation established corporate accountability for structural block and cylinder coolant intrusion faults in 2.0L blocks, my 2022 2.3L engine shares a highly similar open-deck block geometry and suffers from the exact same systemic coolant failure. Furthermore, Ford has acknowledged manufacturing line coolant and block defects on 2021–2023 2.3L engines through Customer Satisfaction Programs 23B42 and 23B08. Yet there are no recalls associated with my VIN.
Electrical System · Exterior Lighting · Seats
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762502Read complaint narrative
#1st- The AC goes on and off and now the AC no longer works it only blows out hot air ,earlier but it turns on and off by itself #2- the lights flicker #3- the seats move by themselves and just today Sunday [XXX] the seat having to see what all the way back by yourself thinning my [XXX] son's legs against his car seat thank [XXX] my fiance was in the passenger seat when it happened and had to lift it up and then it clicked and started moving back up by itself the dealership Jim Hudson dealership did 10 different service calls for electrical issues and did not report it to me once we plan on going in there and figuring out because I do not want this truck that's dangerous for my life as well as my [XXX] and my [XXX] turn the process of selling me the vehicle that did not tell me person that this vehicle has had electrical issues from day one with only 8000 miles on it was the first report of the electrical issue I had to look it up on the Ford app and found out that it's been serious 10 different times what's the dealership did not tell me in person first issue with this truck as nf electrical was INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Engine · Fuel/propulsion System
Owner-submitted NHTSA complaint · ODI 11762330Read complaint narrative
I have a loss of fuel pressure and flow from the fuel tank due to fuel pump failure. Sometimes my engine stalls while driving, and when I go to fill my tank with gas, the engine will not start. I have to engage it for about 15 minutes before it will start. My check engine light comes on, and I will get the low fuel indicator light. But more importantly I cannot pass inspection. I need my car, I am a health care professional I have contacted my dealership, a Ford Motor company representative, and the only response and action I get in return is that they are still waiting on the part to come in. It has been over a year. I need this recall to be completed as indicated by Ford Motor corporation and its dealerships, please. My contact information is [XXX], [XXX], my email is [XXX]. My vehicle is the 2022 FORD EXPLORER, VIN: [XXX], my Cell number is [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
NHTSA complaints are reports submitted by vehicle owners and other consumers. Complaint counts do not represent the percentage of vehicles affected and do not by themselves establish that a safety defect exists.
A higher complaint count can partly reflect how many vehicles were sold, vehicle age, and other factors. CarIQ does not yet normalize complaint counts by vehicles sold.
Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This site is not endorsed by NHTSA.
OFFICIAL NHTSA SAFETY RECALL DATA
SAFETY RECALLS
24 recall campaigns found
01SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLYCampaign 26V451000July 14, 2026
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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 letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
02SEAT BELTSCampaign 26V159000March 17, 2026
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
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 service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
03VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTORCampaign 26V117000March 3, 2026
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Safety Consequence
Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
04BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARECampaign 26V123000March 3, 2026
Summary
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 of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Safety Consequence
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
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 number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
05EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATERCampaign 25V685000October 10, 2025
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Safety Consequence
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
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 element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
06FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPCampaign 25V455000July 7, 2025
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
Safety Consequence
An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
07BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARECampaign 25V442000June 27, 2025
Summary
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 Maverick vehicles. A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
Safety Consequence
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
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 25S72.
08SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLYCampaign 25V393000June 13, 2025
Summary
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.
Safety Consequence
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
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 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
09BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARECampaign 25V159000March 14, 2025
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Safety Consequence
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.
10POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTCampaign 25V166000March 14, 2025
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
Safety Consequence
A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S22.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 888-327-4236 (TTY 888-275-9171) or go to nhtsa.gov.
11EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELSCampaign 24V852000November 8, 2024
Summary
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 number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
Safety Consequence
Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
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.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or go to nhtsa.gov.
12ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:HARD PARTS INTERNAL/MECHANICALCampaign 24V635000August 23, 2024
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
Safety Consequence
A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will perform an engine cycle test and replace the engine as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 3, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S55.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
13ENGINECampaign 24V598000August 10, 2024
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility Package. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
Safety Consequence
An engine compartment fire increases the risk of injury.
Remedy
Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as promptly as possible upon hearing unexpected engine noises, or after experiencing an unexpected engine power reduction, or seeing smoke from the engine compartment. Dealers will update the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) software. In addition, dealers will inspect for connecting rod bearing failure and if necessary, replace the engine long block. All inspections and repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S52.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
14POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFTCampaign 23V675000October 6, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
Safety Consequence
A disconnected driveshaft can result in a loss of drive power or a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt. They will also inspect the rear axle cover for damage near the bolt hole location and replace with a new cover if any damage is found. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 19, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S55.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
15ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERYCampaign 23V626000September 8, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Safety Consequence
Battery failure can cause a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash. Battery failure can also increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford Motor Company's number for this recall is 23S53.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
16BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERACampaign 23V342000May 12, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Safety Consequence
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 23V-022. Vehicles previously repaired under 23V-022 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
17BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONCampaign 23V305000April 28, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with a 12.1-inch Integrated Computer Screen (ICS). When the Display On/Off Button is used to turn the display to "Off" prior to placing the vehicle in reverse, the backup camera rearview image will not appear on the display. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Safety Consequence
A rearview camera that does not display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will update the ICS software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C14.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
18POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)Campaign 23V199000March 24, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended. In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
Safety Consequence
Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S16.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
19POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSIONCampaign 23V070000February 10, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
Safety Consequence
The inability to secure the vehicle in the park position can result in a rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the transmissions, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S06.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
20POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)Campaign 23V069000February 10, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 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.
Safety Consequence
A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the park system for damage and repair as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S05.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
21BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERACampaign 23V022000January 23, 2023
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Safety Consequence
Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S02. This recall expands and replaces NHTSA recall number 21V-735. Vehicles previously repaired under 21V-735 will need to have the new remedy performed.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
22FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSCampaign 22V685000September 14, 2022
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Ranger vehicles equipped with 2.3L engines. The fuel line may be loose due to improper tightening of the fuel line connection.
Safety Consequence
An improperly tightened fuel line connection may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of fire.
Remedy
Ford will inspect and replace the fuel line assembly, if needed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S60.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
23STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERSCampaign 22V454000June 24, 2022
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 208, "Occupant Crash Protection" and 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Safety Consequence
Improperly heat-treated engine rails may reduce the vehicle's structural protection in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. In addition, an engine rail may detach and contact the road while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will perform an engine rail strength test and replace the rails as necessary, free of charge. If the engine rails require replacement, owners will have the option for a vehicle replacement or buyback. Owner notification letters were mailed August 22, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C13.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
24FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAPCampaign 22V088000February 16, 2022
Summary
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The fuel filler tube may detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
Safety Consequence
A detached fuel filler tube can result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Dealers will install a fuel vapor line redundant locking clip, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C02.
Additional Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.
Recall results shown here are based on year, make, and model. A specific vehicle may or may not be affected. Check the vehicle's VIN with NHTSA to confirm open recalls before purchasing. Data provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
OFFICIAL NHTSA MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATION DATA
MANUFACTURER COMMUNICATIONS
No NHTSA manufacturer communication records were returned for this year, make, and model.
Manufacturer communications include service bulletins and other technical information submitted by manufacturers to NHTSA. The existence or number of communications does not establish how often a condition occurs or whether an individual vehicle will experience it.
Some manufacturers may issue more detailed service documentation than others, so communication counts should not be used alone to compare vehicle reliability.
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration manufacturer communicationsNATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION
NHTSA DEFECT INVESTIGATIONS
- Open investigations
- 0
- Closed investigations
- 1
- Applicability match
- range
Recall Query
Rear Axle Bolt Failure
- Status
- closed
- Component
- Power Train:axle Assembly · Power Train:driveline:differential Unit
- Opened
- Jun 20, 2023
- Closed
- Feb 15, 2024
Read NHTSA summary
On July 17, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 2 consumer complaints alleging loss of vehicle forward power and/or loss of transmission torque of the rear wheels in model year (MY) 2020-2022 Ford Explorer vehicles (subject vehicles). The RQ was opened to focus on the effectiveness of the remedies of Recalls 22V-255 and 23V-199 related to the alleged problem. Recall 22V-255 involved replacing the bushing and axle cover in the following subject vehicles: 3.3L FHEV Police built before October 14, 2020, and 3.3L Gas Police vehicle built before January 31, 2021. For 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3LFHEV, and 3.0LST retail (non-police) vehicles, the recall provided an PCM software update to engage the Electronic Park Brake (EPB) when Park is commanded. The recall addressed a breakage of the rear axle bolt that can cause the driveshaft/half shafts to disconnect, resulting in a loss of transmission torque to the rear wheels necessary to hold park. If the parking brake is not applied, the loss of the primary park torque will allow the vehicle to roll in park increasing the risk of crash and injury. Recall 23V-199 addressed 674 of the subject vehicles produced from February 2, 2019 to April 4, 2022, which received an incorrect remedy under Recall 22V-255. The affected vehicles had received a previous Powertrain Control Module (PCM) update which did not include an automatic EPB engagement when vehicle is shifted to park. On October 17, 2023, Ford filed a new safety recall (Recall 23V-675) covering 238,364 MY 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles with the following powertrains: 3.3L FHEV Police, 3.3L Gas Police, 3.0L Gas Police, 2.3L RWD, 3.0L PHEV, 3.3L FHEV, 3.0L RWD and 3.0L AWD, produced from October 22, 2018 to July 6, 2022, equipped with a 3-point mounted axle design. Ford stated that the cause of the bolt fracture is due to joint design not robust to peak axle input torques and manufacturing variability. The primary contributor is insufficient bearings for maximum joint loads. This can result in bearing deformation, increasing bending stress on the bolt, which may lead to fatigue failure. On January 19, 2023, Ford amended Recall 23V-675 to add 1,942 MY 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles with the following powertrain: 3.0L RWD Platinum and King Ranch variant, produced from October 22, 2018 to July 6, 2022, equipped with a 3-point mounted axle design. In addition to the safety recall, Ford will conduct a customer satisfaction program for the following MY 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles with the following powertrains: 2.3L AWD, 3.3L Gas Retail, 3.0L Gas AWD Platinum and King Ranch, produced from October 22, 2018 to July 6, 2022. Ford stated that the Explorer powerpack variants not covered under Recalled 23V-675 do not present an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety due to the combination of lower peak torque levels and torque management strategies to share inputs between front and rear axles, reducing occurrence of higher torque. According to Ford, this is also evidenced by the lower current and projected failure rates. In view of the recall action being taken by Ford, ODI is closing this RQ. NHTSA will continue to monitor complaints from the customer satisfaction program vehicles and reopen this issue, if necessary. The agency reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
NHTSA investigations evaluate potential motor-vehicle safety defects. The existence of an investigation does not by itself establish that a safety defect exists, and the absence of an investigation does not establish that a vehicle is problem-free.
Open and closed describe NHTSA's process status, not a CarIQ reliability judgment.
View official NHTSA investigation data ↗DESCRIPTIVE SOURCE OVERLAP
CROSS-SOURCE VEHICLE DATA
CarIQ compares categories appearing across independent NHTSA datasets. Overlap can help identify areas with more available documentation, but it does not establish defect frequency or prove that an individual vehicle will experience a problem.
| Component | Owner complaints | Manufacturer communications | Recall campaigns | NHTSA investigations | Official sources containing records |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Engine | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Seat Belts | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 of 4 |
| Power Train | 61 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Unknown or Other | 55 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Electrical System | 39 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Back Over Prevention | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion System | 21 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Visibility/wiper | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Fuel System | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
| Gasoline | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 of 4 |
Displayed first by the number of source categories containing the component, then by owner complaint count, then alphabetically. This is a presentation rule, not a vehicle ranking. Complaint reports, manufacturer communications, recalls, and investigations describe different events and are never added into a combined total.
- complaint
- Available
- communication
- Available
- recall
- Available
- investigation
- Available
- production
- Unavailable
COMMON RESEARCH QUESTIONS
QUESTIONS ABOUT THE 2022 FORD EXPLORER
Is the 2022 Ford Explorer reliable?
CarIQ does not currently assign a reliability score to the 2022 Ford Explorer. Available evidence is shown as separate official-source records with a Data Confidence classification of Moderate.
What problems are reported for the 2022 Ford Explorer?
267 NHTSA owner complaint records. When complaint data is available, the page groups records by the NHTSA component categories they identify without treating those categories as verified failure rates.
Are there recalls for the 2022 Ford Explorer?
24 safety recall campaigns. Year, make, and model results do not confirm whether a specific VIN is affected or whether a remedy has been completed.
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