2022 Ford Explorer Problems & Owner Complaints

Power Train 59 2 crash 1 injury

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated when she was shifting the vehicle into reverse (R), and as she depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle was lunging forward. The contact stated that the failure had occurred following a routine service appointment with a local dealer. The contact stated that the failure was occurring only when she was shifting into reverse (R). The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she had had a crash in a parking lot after she had shifted to reverse (R). The contact stated that the vehicle lunged forward and the fro…”
NHTSA complaint #11626629, 2024 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“When vehicle is put into reverse, there is a 15-20 second delay before reverse kicks in. You don't know when it is reverse yet , you let go of brakes and vehicle moves forward until transmission engages. Have taken vehicle to dealer to have checked out and ford and dealer says normal delay. Very unsafe not knowing when reverse kicks in, I have rolled forward into garage when ready to back out. No warnings come on about transmission. This started as soon as i bought the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11506963, 2023 · crash

“Powertrain System Fault will cause the vehicle to lose power possibly leaving the vehicle and passengers in danger if crossing traffic, pulling onto a road, etc.”
NHTSA complaint #11734583, 2026

Unknown Or Other 52 1 crash 1 fire 2 injury

“I was driving (at a fairly low speed) recently when my vehicle began driving erratically. I pulled over and noticed that there was smoke in the passenger compartment. I exited the vehicle and walked to the passenger side (out of traffic) and opened the passenger door to retrieve my cell phone. At that point there was a burst of flame upon opening the door, and the fire quickly spread to the passenger compartment.”
NHTSA complaint #11516106, 2023 · fire · 1 injury(ies)

“Front panel of panoramic sunroof "exploded" into the vehicle while traveling on interstate without any sign of a projectile or rock hitting the vehicle. Outdoor temperature was -3 degrees Fahrenheit with indoor temperature set to 75 degrees Fahrenheit. Glass rained down into the vehicle, startling the driver (myself) and passengers. One piece of tempered glass went into one rear seat passenger's eye and was successfully removed without extensive injury. Reported incident to Ford Dealer and had dealer service department inspect the vehicle. Attempted to have it repaired under manufacturer war…”
NHTSA complaint #11641351, 2025 · 1 injury(ies)

“1. My 2022 Explorer limited purchased mid Dec 2022 began having issues during shifting of gears and would stutter before jolting or would drive in the opposite direction when shifting btwn gears starting in Feb 2023. Ford would not give me an appt until may. In March I put the car in reverse in front of my child's daycare, it drove forward, hit a large vase and damaged the front end. Ford was contacted and again told me the earliest they could get me an appt was may. I recorded all events from there forward. In May my car was inspected and numerous error codes were found. One of which was a "g…”
NHTSA complaint #11527710, 2023 · crash

Electrical System 36 1 crash 1 fire 1 injury

“I was driving (at a fairly low speed) recently when my vehicle began driving erratically. I pulled over and noticed that there was smoke in the passenger compartment. I exited the vehicle and walked to the passenger side (out of traffic) and opened the passenger door to retrieve my cell phone. At that point there was a burst of flame upon opening the door, and the fire quickly spread to the passenger compartment.”
NHTSA complaint #11516106, 2023 · fire · 1 injury(ies)

“I was backing up at low speed (less than 1 mph) to park by gently letting my foot off the brake to back. I was using the rear backup camera to gauge how far I could go back without striking the vehicle behind me. The screen showed video that I was still several feet away from the vehicle behind me when I felt a sudden bump. I stepped on the brake hard to ensure I was no longer moving but the camera still showed several feet between my rear bumper and the vehicle behind me. I put the vehicle in park and got out to verify that I had struck the vehicle behind me. I had. I returned to the driver’s…”
NHTSA complaint #11529002, 2023 · crash

“While driving, parking, or doing any function of the vehicle, the screen will intermittently switch from the cameras being used to the on board navigation and start routing the vehicle to random locations, or it may blank out completely. It has also frozen in place and will not display reverse cameras, show proximity sensors, or anything.”
NHTSA complaint #11747294, 2026

Engine 24 1 crash 1 fire 5 injury

“The contact owned a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking off after yielding to a stop sign, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of an intersection. As a result, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the rear driver's side door, sending the vehicle careening back through the inspection past the stop sign before coming to a complete stop. All air bags were deployed. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a tow yard and deemed a total loss by the contact's insurance provider. A police report was filed, and injuries were reporte…”
NHTSA complaint #11660969, 2025 · crash · 4 injury(ies)

“I was driving (at a fairly low speed) recently when my vehicle began driving erratically. I pulled over and noticed that there was smoke in the passenger compartment. I exited the vehicle and walked to the passenger side (out of traffic) and opened the passenger door to retrieve my cell phone. At that point there was a burst of flame upon opening the door, and the fire quickly spread to the passenger compartment.”
NHTSA complaint #11516106, 2023 · fire · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle was driving unusually rough and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to stall as intended. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed low pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the low pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was re…”
NHTSA complaint #11740416, 2026

Back Over Prevention 23 3 crash

“The rear traffic warning did not alert timely, resulting in a fender bender in a parking lot. I have dash cam footage with audio supporting that it did not beep until it was too late.”
NHTSA complaint #11671386, 2025 · crash

“I was backing up at low speed (less than 1 mph) to park by gently letting my foot off the brake to back. I was using the rear backup camera to gauge how far I could go back without striking the vehicle behind me. The screen showed video that I was still several feet away from the vehicle behind me when I felt a sudden bump. I stepped on the brake hard to ensure I was no longer moving but the camera still showed several feet between my rear bumper and the vehicle behind me. I put the vehicle in park and got out to verify that I had struck the vehicle behind me. I had. I returned to the driver’s…”
NHTSA complaint #11529002, 2023 · crash

“In late October, 2022, when reversing in my driveway, I hit a tree. The rear camera alert system did not notify me of the presence / closeness of the tree (lived here almost 6 years, should know of tree but heavily rely on the camera and alerts to let me know if I'm too close). On another day, my husband was in the car with me and as I was reversing - he said "your alert didn't go off, this is probably why you hit that tree." I was unaware until today (1/30) that there is an active recall on my car for this issue. I had the damage fixed in November at Gerber Collision Center in Sebastian…”
NHTSA complaint #11504384, 2022 · crash

Fuel/Propulsion System 19 1 injury

“On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] PM, my 2022 Ford Explorer suddenly lost power while driving in the left lane of [XXX] in Emporia, VA, at 70 MPH (the posted speed limit), with my [XXX] daughter. My vehicle shuddered and started to decrease in speed. I was able to maneuver safely to the shoulder, and my Explorer became inoperable requiring roadside assistance. My daughter and I remained on [XXX] for several hours due to delayed tow service availability. My Explorer has been at Battlefield Ford in Culpeper, VA since June 19, 2026, and is available for inspection upon request. Battlefield has con…”
NHTSA complaint #11747291, 2026 · 1 injury(ies)

“This recall - NHTSA Recall Number25V455 has been issued since over a year ago. Why is there not a fix for this issue yet? This needs to be elevated. Vehicle is driving very rough and could be due to this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11753910, 2026

“Im being told my car is not covered under the recalls from the Chicago Ford plan when I have the exact same DTC codes currently showing on my car as listed in the recall and SSM. The check engine light is on with DTCs P018C and P04F0. Please have the technician specifically reference Ford Special Service Message (SSM) 51247 and inspect connector C1198 on the driver's side frame rail for water intrusion, damaged terminals, or poor pin fit before replacing any parts. Also, please check my VIN for open Recall 22C02 (Fuel Filler Tube End Form) and perform the recall if applicable. If the P04F0…”
NHTSA complaint #11749225, 2026

Visibility/Wiper 17

“The panoramic sun roof shade failed on my vehicle where instead of it retracting properly it drops down onto the second row passenger's. This posses a safety risk as it impedes completely the drivers ability to see through the rear view mirror by blocking off the view of the back glass. The issue happened without any notice or noise it just happened all of a sudden I noticed it as I was not able to look through rear view mirror. This also puts at risk others as it impedes the drivers field of view allowing the possibility of an accident of occurring. I like to drive with my sunroof open very o…”
NHTSA complaint #11751397, 2026

“Recently, my sun roof shade has started to sag and no longer retracts correctly. This is causing a loss of visibility out of the rear and side windows. It also is causing a distraction as it has lost it's tension. Additionally I have contacted two separate Ford dealerships, only for them to tell me that I have to bring the vehicle in and pay hundreds of dollars to "diagnose" that the shade is broken and that my extended warranty will not cover this cost even though it is a danger for me to drive my vehicle in this condition.”
NHTSA complaint #11729741, 2026

“The panoramic sunroof sunshade in my 2022 Ford Explorer failed and now sags downward. The shade hangs low enough to partially block the rear window and interferes with visibility through the rearview mirror. After researching the issue, I found many other owners reporting the same failure with the sunroof sunshade mechanism or clips. This appears to be a common defect. The reduced rear visibility while driving creates a safety hazard when checking traffic behind the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11722595, 2026

Fuel System 13

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.”
NHTSA complaint #11747129, 2026

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, the vehicle was driving unusually rough and the vehicle stalled. In addition, the check engine warning light illuminated, and the vehicle lost motive power. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The contact stated while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to stall as intended. The vehicle was towed to the independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with a failed low pressure fuel pump. The contact was informed that the low pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was re…”
NHTSA complaint #11740416, 2026

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was restarted and taken to the dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. There were no diagnostic trouble codes retrieved. The dealer confirmed that parts were…”
NHTSA complaint #11732715, 2026

Forward Collision Avoidance 11 1 crash 4 injury

“Ford explorer didn’t recognize the vehicle coming from right side and it didn’t applied emergency brakes as well as it didn’t show any forward collision alert also.”
NHTSA complaint #11531079, 2023 · 4 injury(ies)

“On [XXX] my 2022 Ford Explorer was involved in a collision during my morning commute to work. On [XXX] while stopped at a stoplight across from Sheetz, with the auto brake hold engaged for a minute or two already, my vehicle accelerated forward into the vehicle in front of me. The impact was so sudden that the driver of the vehicle I collided with thought I had been rear ended. While I had contacted my insurance company (Erie Insurance) regarding the collision, I had also reached out to my service center, Laurel Ford (Windber, PA), concerning the incident. Because of my concerns with the auto…”
NHTSA complaint #11633997, 2024 · crash

“Ongoing issues with the screen displaying upside down, blurry, red/green lines, powering on and completely off. Rearview calibration issue off centered (dealership fixed). This also impacts the cruise control alerts, lane keeping assist, etc. and occasionally powers vehicle off. Dealership was able to fix delayed reverse transmission via software for the PCM. Multiple dealership repair attempts have not fixed this ongoing issue from 2022-2025. Videos available via email request. Dealership verified some of the concerns and Ford would only authorize software updates, new battery, some camera c…”
NHTSA complaint #11689007, 2025

Service Brakes 11 2 crash 4 injury

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, the brakes were applied, and the brake pedal fell off. The brake pedal was not responding. The vehicle increased in speed to 43 MPH. The contact maneuvered around an unknown vehicle to avoid an accident, but the unknown vehicle turned and crashed into the passenger-side quarter panel. The vehicle traveled off a curb and landed in a ditch. The contact and two passengers occupying the second-row seats and one child passenger occupying the third row in a car seat sustained bruises and cuts and were transpor…”
NHTSA complaint #11659021, 2025 · crash · 4 injury(ies)

“On 4 separate occasions the brakes on this Explorer failed to engage. The first incident happened as I was backing out of my garage and the brakes did not engage immediately. This resulted in my damaging our trellis. I was traveling at about 5 mph This happened Sept. 2023. The second incident happened as I was coming out of the car wash and applied the brake, but it did not engage and this resulted in a small fender bender with the car in front of me.- Again very slow speed, about 2 MPH Happened in November 2023. The third incident was on the road as I approached a car stopped for a…”
NHTSA complaint #11573855, 2023 · crash

“The contact owns a 2022 FORD EXPLORER. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact state that while his daughter was at a stop sign and depressing the accelerator pedal to drive, the vehicle stalled. The contact was concerned that control of the vehicle was lost and could result in a accident. In addition, the contact stated that when dep…”
NHTSA complaint #11740100, 2025

Suspension 11 1 crash

“While traveling on I-26 east near North Carolina MM 51 in the left lane, the vehicle suddenly pulled uncontrollably to the left resulting in a sideswipe of the guardrail. The vehicle then swerved to the right stopping near the center of the interstate. My wife was able to move the vehicle to the right shoulder under its own power. The right front tire/wheel was laying almost flat attached to the vehicle only by the brake line. The entire wheel assembly was detached from the steering/suspension system. The vehicle was towed to a local collision center and inspected by my insurance adjuster. The…”
NHTSA complaint #11715098, 2026 · crash

“Driving home from work at intersection of XXX and [XXX] after stopping at signal light heard loud knocking sound. Stop check tires and could find anything wrong visually. Drove off and vehicle making clunking noise from rear. Drove home parked vehicle. Called warranty agency Fidelity and had vehicle towed to Planet Ford I-45. XXX Fidelity denied claim state the rear differential mounting bushing failure caused by workmanship performed in previous recall repair 23S55/22S27. 5/1/26 Planet Ford submit claim to SSSC 5/8 SSSC claim denied. 5/12/26 Called Ford Customer Care - Case# XXX as of 6/12/…”
NHTSA complaint #11743762, 2026

“With less than 33,000 miles, started to experience noise, like something was loose coming from the right rear when going over bumps. This is intermittent. Took to mechanic and there is leaking coming from the shocks. same issue as stated in NHTSA complaint ID11544167. There is also a General Accounting Bulletins acknowledging this issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11726734, 2026

Structure 10

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the sunroof sunshade detached from the inner roof and sagged downward, creating a visibility hazard. The contact stated that the rearview mirror view was obstructed due to the failure. The contact stated that the failure was caused by faulty clips securing the sunshade. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and a local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11749368, 2026

“The panoramic sunroof sunshade in my 2022 Ford Explorer failed and now sags downward. The shade hangs low enough to partially block the rear window and interferes with visibility through the rearview mirror. After researching the issue, I found many other owners reporting the same failure with the sunroof sunshade mechanism or clips. This appears to be a common defect. The reduced rear visibility while driving creates a safety hazard when checking traffic behind the vehicle.”
NHTSA complaint #11722595, 2026

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the hood independently unlatched and opened. The contact stated that the front windshield was fractured into pieces because of the failure. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where the contact was informed that there was no evidence of what caused the failure. The contact was informed that the hood needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the parts were on back order. In addition, the c…”
NHTSA complaint #11687944, 2025

Visibility 10 1 injury

“The plastic window switch has peeled, creating essentially a very sharp edge that has cut me and caused bleeding and pain. It is available for inspection and I have pictures. This is a problem known to Ford. The vehicle was dropped of at a Ford dealership, Crossley Ford Liberty, MO. The problem identified, but not covered under warranty.”
NHTSA complaint #11545808, 2023 · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the front windshield wiper was operating intermittently. The contact received notification of NTHSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (Visibility); and associated the failure with the recall. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.”
NHTSA complaint #11751835, 2026

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the sunroof sunshade detached from the inner roof and sagged downward, creating a visibility hazard. The contact stated that the rearview mirror view was obstructed due to the failure. The contact stated that the failure was caused by faulty clips securing the sunshade. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer and a local dealer were notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11749368, 2026

Steering 9 1 crash

“While traveling on I-26 east near North Carolina MM 51 in the left lane, the vehicle suddenly pulled uncontrollably to the left resulting in a sideswipe of the guardrail. The vehicle then swerved to the right stopping near the center of the interstate. My wife was able to move the vehicle to the right shoulder under its own power. The right front tire/wheel was laying almost flat attached to the vehicle only by the brake line. The entire wheel assembly was detached from the steering/suspension system. The vehicle was towed to a local collision center and inspected by my insurance adjuster. The…”
NHTSA complaint #11715098, 2026 · crash

“The rack and pinion system needs to be replaced as a result of "normal wear and tear"”
NHTSA complaint #11722417, 2026

“Ongoing issues with the screen displaying upside down, blurry, red/green lines, powering on and completely off. Rearview calibration issue off centered (dealership fixed). This also impacts the cruise control alerts, lane keeping assist, etc. and occasionally powers vehicle off. Dealership was able to fix delayed reverse transmission via software for the PCM. Multiple dealership repair attempts have not fixed this ongoing issue from 2022-2025. Videos available via email request. Dealership verified some of the concerns and Ford would only authorize software updates, new battery, some camera c…”
NHTSA complaint #11689007, 2025

Air Bags 7 4 crash 4 injury

“POLICE VEHICLE WAS CLEARING INTERSECTIO WHEN A UPS TRUCK COLLIDED WITH IT'S RIGHT SIDE FORWARD. THE COLLISION CAUSED THE SIDE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. THE OFFICER'S VEST, SWEATER, UNDERSHIRT, T-SHIRT AND THE OFFICER'S RIGHT SIDE SUFFERED THERMAL BURNS FROM THE EXHAUST PORT. THE OFFICER SUFFERED 3RD DEGREE BURNS AND HAD TO HAVE SURGERY AND SKIN GRAFT.”
NHTSA complaint #11647596, 2025 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“The contact rented a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while her husband was driving approximately 65 mph, attempting to slow down, he crashed into a deer. There were no warning lights illuminated. The passenger-side front knee air bag was partially deployed. The passenger sustained bruising to her lower leg. There was a plastic substance released from the air bag which cut her ankle. The passenger was taken to the hospital where medical attention was provided. The vehicle was towed to a tow lot. A police report was filed. There were no reported fire. The local dealer was not c…”
NHTSA complaint #11530890, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph when another vehicle suddenly pulled in front of their vehicle causing them to hit the driver's side of their vehicle. The contact's vehicle had damage to the front bumper and passenger side of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belt failed to lock causing the contact to slam into the steering wheel. The contact injuries to their left shoulder, left foot, head, neck, back, and stomach area. Medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven aw…”
NHTSA complaint #11523646, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

Vehicle Speed Control 6 2 crash 1 injury

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while his fiancé was at a complete stop, the auto-hold mode designed to maintain the brake pedal depressed was engaged. However, the vehicle accelerated unintendedly and crashed into the rear of the vehicle in front of him. There was no warning light illuminated. The air bags did not deploy. The contact stated it was a minor crash. The contact's fiancé did not sustain any injuries. The driver of the other vehicle sustained unknown injuries and sought medical assistance. A police report was filed. The contact's fiancé was able to driv…”
NHTSA complaint #11478937, 2022 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was stationary and idling in a pharmacy drive-thru line with the auto hold parking feature activated, the vehicle suddenly experienced unintended acceleration and drove forward driving over a median divider and crashing into a parked vehicle. The contact indicated that the auto-hold parking feature was activated but malfunctioned. During the crash, no air bags were deployed and no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not yet det…”
NHTSA complaint #11494582, 2022 · crash

“The contact owns a 2022 FORD EXPLORER. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. Local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact state that while his daughter was at a stop sign and depressing the accelerator pedal to drive, the vehicle stalled. The contact was concerned that control of the vehicle was lost and could result in a accident. In addition, the contact stated that when dep…”
NHTSA complaint #11740100, 2025

Seat Belts 5 1 crash 2 injury

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 30 mph when another vehicle suddenly pulled in front of their vehicle causing them to hit the driver's side of their vehicle. The contact's vehicle had damage to the front bumper and passenger side of the vehicle. The airbags did not deploy. The seat belt failed to lock causing the contact to slam into the steering wheel. The contact injuries to their left shoulder, left foot, head, neck, back, and stomach area. Medical attention was needed. A police report was filed. The vehicle was able to be driven aw…”
NHTSA complaint #11523646, 2023 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“On XXX, in the parking lot of O'Reilly Auto Parts (store #2460, telephone number: [XXX]) [XXX], between 12:10 pm and 12:45 pm, my [XXX] daughter was seated in the rear driver's side seat of my parked 2022 Ford Explorer when the unbuckled seat belt unexpectedly became twisted around her body and would not release through normal operation. She was unable to free herself and the belt continued to tighten as we attempted to untangle her. She experienced difficulty hearing, breathing, lost sensation in her arms and nearly lost consciousness. Multiple adults attempted to release the seat belt using…”
NHTSA complaint #11750920, 2026 · 1 injury(ies)

“Seat warning module failed. When unbuckling seatbelt car does not recognize you unbuckled, therefore the airbag system does not recognize which seats are occupied. This would also cause a safety concern as you do not have to buckle the seatbelt with no warning or alert there is an issue. Car has been at Ford dealer for service for a month with them failing to find any other vehicle that they can replicate the problem. This is one Ford dealer, but it should be something that is investigated as it might be easily overlooked. Car has been in the dealership for the last month with no answers from…”
NHTSA complaint #11634961, 2024

Exterior Lighting 4

“My front passenger get side lighting component started blinking about 6 months ago. Now it’s completely out. I went to get a new bulb and they told me I need to buy the entire lighting unit it’s $2800 at the dealership. I joined a Ford group on Facebook and hundreds of people are having the same issue. Some models newer than mine, but most from 2020 - 205 models. I reached out to Ford they won’t cover the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11721270, 2026

“Head lamp warning alerted (refers driver to drivers manual, only to say see a dealer) but no issues, both lamps were working. Took vehicle to Ford service center and they could not find a problem, we figured this could be an electronic issue with the warning, but Head lamp warning became more frequent again no issues. Then while driving in the dark with headlights on the automatic function, head lamps would cycle rapidly between bright and normal when approaching another vehicle…Even turning them to manual it continued to cycle Researched the issue and apparently it’s a known issue with For…”
NHTSA complaint #11722629, 2025

“An alert often shows up on the dashboard "check headlamp system. See manual". This is occasionally associated with one headlamp not working. This happens on and off. The alert spontaneously turns on, may stay for days or weeks and then spontaneously turns off. Ford dealership service were unable to fix this problem. This has happened multiple times since we purchased the car”
NHTSA complaint #11635142, 2024

Seats 4

“After multiple attempts to fold the third-row power seat in my 2022 Ford Explorer, the seat mechanism failed completely. The seat will no longer lock securely in either the upright or folded position. The seat frame appears to have failed and the seat constantly springs back and will not stay in place. The seat was being operated normally using the factory power folding function when the failure occurred. There was no unusual load or misuse of the seat prior to the failure. The issue was inspected and diagnosed by a Ford dealership, which confirmed that the third-row seat frame had failed an…”
NHTSA complaint #11724004, 2026

“Not sure exactly what caused it to fail, but the heated seat when turned on barely gets warm then shuts off with the red lights on button still lit up. I can turn it completely off and back on and seast have immediately get really warm like they are supposed to. But again, only lasts 10mins. Not sure if electrical or not. Just purchased vehicle less than a month ago through Dealership. I have read many people have this same problem with the ST. Other models do not do this. I will.contact dealership on Monday 10/20 since I have 4,600 miles on warranty left.”
NHTSA complaint #11694276, 2025

“Seat warning module failed. When unbuckling seatbelt car does not recognize you unbuckled, therefore the airbag system does not recognize which seats are occupied. This would also cause a safety concern as you do not have to buckle the seatbelt with no warning or alert there is an issue. Car has been at Ford dealer for service for a month with them failing to find any other vehicle that they can replicate the problem. This is one Ford dealer, but it should be something that is investigated as it might be easily overlooked. Car has been in the dealership for the last month with no answers from…”
NHTSA complaint #11634961, 2024

Engine And Engine Cooling 2

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact’s son started the vehicle and became aware that the "Cylinder Head Temperature Overheated" message was displayed on the instrument panel while the vehicle was parked in the driveway. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed that the engine and engine cooling system had failed due to water leaking into the turbo. The dealer stated that the sensor failed to identify and inform the driver that the engine was running hot. The contact became aware that the failure had occurred with the previous owner of the vehicle approximately 2 - 3 yea…”
NHTSA complaint #11676588, 2025

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon starting the vehicle, the check engine warning light illuminated and remained illuminated. Additionally, there was an abnormal rattling sound coming from the front end of the vehicle, and there was an abnormal gasoline odor inside the cabin of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the catalytic converter was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage…”
NHTSA complaint #11670581, 2025

Latches/Locks/Linkages 2

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the hood suddenly opened and struck the windshield, causing the windshield to crack. The contact stated that the month prior to the failure, the hood had been opened for a routine oil change. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries. The vehicle was taken to a body shop. The local dealer was contacted and referred the contact to the manufacturer for assistance. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotlin…”
NHTSA complaint #11656495, 2025

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at approximately 50 MPH, the hood came ajar and shattered the front windshield. The driver heard two abnormal beeps before the failure. There was glass on the interior of the vehicle. There were no reported injuries. The driver was able to continue driving. There were no warning lights illuminated. The contact noticed that the safety latch was missing. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who informed the contact that the latch had to be pulled twice to unlock. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repai…”
NHTSA complaint #11582972, 2024

Parking Brake 2

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was experiencing an unintended activation of the electric parking brake while the vehicle was in park(P). The contact stated upon starting the vehicle and shifting into gear, the message "Park Brake Fault - Service Now" was displayed, and the vehicle made an abnormally loud beeping sound and then failed to respond. The contact stated that upon pressing the Push to Start button for several minutes, the vehicle became drivable; however, the failure recurred upon parking the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, wh…”
NHTSA complaint #11645614, 2025

“The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the vehicle failed to move, after which the contact became aware that the parking brake had failed to properly disengage. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 40,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11578136, 2024

Tires 2

“Tire: 275/45/r21 110w all season Reported to authorized dealer (ford dealership) back in November 2024. Authorized representative from Pirelli came out this month to dealership regarding issue. No concern for safety whatsoever. Rep. Only offered maybe 25% that’s with purchasing new set of tires and sending my current tires back. Tires are falling apart in chunks.”
NHTSA complaint #11637972, 2024

“Pirelli Scorpion All season tires 275/45 R21. Tire completely "blew out" while driving 30 mph on a main road. There was no obvious hissing sound commonly when running over an object. There was an explosive sound and within seconds had a complete flat. The vehicle did get damaged on the inside tire well along with bumper damage/Crack.”
NHTSA complaint #11508812, 2023

Wheels 2 1 crash

“While traveling on I-26 east near North Carolina MM 51 in the left lane, the vehicle suddenly pulled uncontrollably to the left resulting in a sideswipe of the guardrail. The vehicle then swerved to the right stopping near the center of the interstate. My wife was able to move the vehicle to the right shoulder under its own power. The right front tire/wheel was laying almost flat attached to the vehicle only by the brake line. The entire wheel assembly was detached from the steering/suspension system. The vehicle was towed to a local collision center and inspected by my insurance adjuster. The…”
NHTSA complaint #11715098, 2026 · crash

“VEHICLE REAR AXLES CLICK WHEN YOU PLACE VEHICLE IN REVERSE AND DRIVE THIS IS THE CV AXLES BREAKING EVENTUALLY LEADING TO POWER LOSS.”
NHTSA complaint #11536367, 2023

Chest Clip 1

“No accident, I noticed strap fraying when inspecting the car seat. The lower car seat straps have fraying on them, rendering the car seat unsafe and unusable. My child will not be safe if a car crash would occur, she could potentially be released from the seat. It was reported to evenflo with pictures. They are claiming it is our fault and my 3 year old did it with something sharp. You cannot see the back of the straps as they enter the car seat. We do have photos of the proof. We also know there is an ongoing investigation into evenflo for this very reason.”
NHTSA complaint #11610242, 2024