Ford Explorer Years to Avoid — Worst & Best Years to Buy
Every Ford Explorer model year (1996–2026) ranked by recall count, complaint volume, deaths, and injuries. Data sourced directly from NHTSA.
Ford Explorer Years to Avoid
8 recalls · 2052 complaints
121 reported injuries
Top issue: POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Problem score: 2318
8 recalls · 976 complaints
244 reported injuries
50 reported deaths
Top issue: TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Problem score: 1738
12 recalls · 1203 complaints
162 reported injuries
30 reported deaths
Top issue: TIRES:TREAD/BELT
Problem score: 1713
Best Ford Explorer Years to Buy
5 recalls · 0 complaints
Main area: No significant complaints
Problem score: 15
6 recalls · 9 complaints
Main area: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Problem score: 27
1 recall · 27 complaints
Main area: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Problem score: 34
Found the right year? Verify that specific Explorer with a free VIN report.
Ford Explorer — Year-by-Year Problem Report
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | Injuries | Deaths | Problem Score | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 15 | Excellent |
| 2025 | 13 | 66 | — | — | 105 | Excellent |
| 2024 | 6 | 9 | — | — | 27 | Excellent |
| 2023 | 13 | 54 | 6 | — | 105 | Excellent |
| 2022 | 19 | 155 | 14 | — | 240 | Good |
| 2021 | 22 | 281 | 15 | — | 377 | Good |
| 2020 | 25 | 818 | 24 | — | 941 | Caution |
| 2019 | 2 | 165 | 6 | — | 183 | Excellent |
| 2018 | 4 | 427 | 15 | — | 469 | Good |
| 2017 | 9 | 970 | 37 | — | 1071 | Caution |
| 2016 | 12 | 1526 | 29 | — | 1620 | Avoid |
| 2015 | 7 | 1072 | 74 | — | 1241 | Caution |
| 2014 | 5 | 1026 | 32 | — | 1105 | Caution |
| 2013 | 10 | 1391 | 47 | 1 | 1520 | Avoid |
| 2012 | 5 | 527 | 4 | — | 550 | Good |
| 2011 | 6 | 743 | 19 | — | 799 | Good |
| 2010 | 2 | 70 | 12 | 50 | 350 | Good |
| 2009 | 1 | 27 | 2 | — | 34 | Excellent |
| 2008 | 2 | 110 | 2 | — | 120 | Excellent |
| 2007 | 3 | 137 | 3 | — | 152 | Excellent |
| 2006 | 3 | 423 | 9 | — | 450 | Good |
| 2005 | 2 | 322 | 7 | 1 | 347 | Good |
| 2004 | 3 | 857 | 43 | — | 952 | Caution |
| 2003 | 5 | 704 | 31 | 1 | 786 | Good |
| 2002 | 8 | 2052 | 121 | — | 2318 | Avoid |
| 2001 | 10 | 262 | 31 | 6 | 384 | Good |
| 2000 | 13 | 622 | 65 | 4 | 811 | Good |
| 1999 | 11 | 863 | 81 | 3 | 1073 | Caution |
| 1998 | 11 | 1233 | 140 | 8 | 1586 | Avoid |
| 1997 | 12 | 1203 | 162 | 30 | 1713 | Avoid |
| 1996 | 8 | 976 | 244 | 50 | 1738 | Avoid |
All 31 model years shown. Deaths and injuries from NHTSA complaint filings. Higher problem scores indicate more reported safety issues.
Ford Explorer Shopping Guide by Era
2018–Present
Best: 2026Recent Explorer models benefit from updated safety systems and revised engineering. The 2026 stands out with just 15 problem points. Always request a pre-purchase inspection and VIN history report.
2013–2017
Best: 2017Mid-decade Explorer units are entering high-mileage territory. Inspect carefully for powertrain wear and verify recall completion status. The 2017 shows the lowest problem count for this era.
Pre-2013
Proceed with CautionOlder Explorer models have more accumulated wear and a larger recall history. These are higher-risk purchases without documented maintenance records and a clean VIN history report.
Frequently Asked Questions
What year Explorer should I avoid?+
Avoid the 2002 Ford Explorer if possible. It has 8 recalls, 2052 owner complaints. The overall problem score is 2318 — the highest in our dataset.
What is the best year Explorer to buy?+
The 2026 Ford Explorer is the lowest-risk year in our analysis, with a problem score of 15. It has only 5 recalls and 0 complaints on record with NHTSA.
Which Explorer has the fewest problems?+
The 2026, 2024, 2009 model years have the fewest documented problems. Even for low-problem years, verifying a specific vehicle's history via its VIN is always recommended before purchase.
More Ford Explorer Research
Check a Specific Ford Explorer VIN
Model-year rankings show statistical risk. A VIN-specific report reveals the individual vehicle's full history — accidents, odometer rollbacks, auction records, and open recall status.
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