Reliable Auto DB

2023 Ford Explorer reliability

Is it reliable?

The 2023 Ford Explorer has 109 complaints with NHTSA after 4 years, or 26 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Explorer years here — under the median of the other years, which is 64. NHTSA has 15 recalls on file, including Middle or rear assembly, Seat belts, and Back-over prevention, software.

2020 Ford Explorer
Photo by Benespit, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons CC BY-SA 4.0
Complaints

109

Per year

26

Recalls

15

Years on the road

4

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (13 of 109), then Suspension (13) and Powertrain (12). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 17,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 33,000 miles. Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Next to 2022 and 2024

The 2022 Explorer has 265 complaints, 43 per year, and the 2024 has 20 complaints, 7 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2024.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2023 Ford Explorer. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (15)

Recall seats, middle or rear assembly 2026-07-14 · NHTSA campaign 26V451000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 387,911
Recall Seat belts 2026-03-17 · NHTSA campaign 26V159000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 561
Recall back-over prevention, software 2026-03-03 · NHTSA campaign 26V123000
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."
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.
Vehicles affected 889,950
Recall equipment, electrical, engine block heater 2025-10-10 · NHTSA campaign 25V685000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 59,006
Recall Fuel pump 2025-07-07 · NHTSA campaign 25V455000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 850,318
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 25V442000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 200,237
Recall seats, middle or rear assembly 2025-06-13 · NHTSA campaign 25V393000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 304,662
Recall back-over prevention, software 2025-03-14 · NHTSA campaign 25V159000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 49,399
Recall Labels 2024-11-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V852000
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."
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.
Vehicles affected 27,678
Recall suspension, front, MacPherson strut 2024-02-08 · NHTSA campaign 24V091000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles. The right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing.
Remedy Dealers will inspect the fasteners, and tighten or install them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 08, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S04.
Vehicles affected 121
Recall back-over prevention, display 2023-10-13 · NHTSA campaign 23V686000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with a standard rearview camera. Due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness, the rearview camera may display a blue image on the SYNC screen 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."
Remedy Dealers will inspect the rearview camera wire harness and repair any loose splices, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 2, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23C31.
Vehicles affected 2,866
Recall engine and cooling, engine, gasoline, turbocharger 2023-08-25 · NHTSA campaign 23V597000
Summary Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines. The turbocharger oil supply line may be damaged, which can result in an oil leak inside the engine compartment.
Remedy Owners are advised to park and shut off the engine as soon as possible if they see an oil pressure warning light or smoke coming from the engine compartment. Dealers will replace the turbo oil supply line assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 8, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S50.
Vehicles affected 10
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2023-05-12 · NHTSA campaign 23V342000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 442,973
Recall powertrain, automatic transmission 2023-02-10 · NHTSA campaign 23V070000
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."
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.
Vehicles affected 1,138
Recall back-over prevention, sensing system, camera 2023-01-23 · NHTSA campaign 23V022000
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.
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.
Vehicles affected 382,759

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (109 total)

Electrical system
13
Suspension
13
Powertrain
12
Steering
12
Engine
10
Structure
10
Back-over prevention
7
Lane departure
7
Forward collision avoidance
6
Seat belts
5
Service brakes
5
Visibility
5
Visibility and wipers
5
Air bags
4
Exterior lighting
2
Fuel and propulsion system
2
Speed control
2
Engine and engine cooling
1
Fuel system, gasoline
1
Latches, locks, and linkages
1
Parking brake
1
Seats
1
Tether and lower anchor
1
Wheels
1
Show 16 more Show less
Crash-flagged

7

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

5

Death reports

0

Of the 25 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 17,000 miles. The middle half fall between 5,000 and 33,000 miles.

Complaints filed per year

192023282024302025322026
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I was driving on the highway at approximately 70mph in my 2023 Ford Explorer Platinum which has 30,000 miles on it. We heard a loud noise which sounded like a gun went off inside the car. My sunroof exploded outward…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-18
  • "While driving, vehicle made a grinding sound, and all systems related to cruise, 4wd, decent control all illuminated on dash. Vehicle was taken to dealer, metro ford. Metro ford stated the transfer case has failed…"
    Powertrain, Lane departure, Forward collision avoidance · filed 2026-09-16
  • "Purchased new June 2023, took delivery October 2023 due to camera recall. Drive to work 5 miles a day, less than 10000 miles on it yet my driver side dash is now Ingles and rolling up. I see this is a common issue. I…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-09-06
  • "The exhaust pipe that connects a catalytic converter to the muffler broke and was dragging on the highway. It was during rish hour and was no safe place for me to pull over and within just a few miles, the other side of…"
    Unknown or other · filed 2026-08-28
  • "The panoramic sunshade on our 2023 Ford Explorer bunches up and dips down into the rear passenger compartment when being retracted, obstructing rear visibility when using the rear view mirror or looking over your…"
    Visibility and wipers · filed 2026-08-27

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2023 Ford Explorer HEV SUV 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Explorer HEV SUV RWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars
2023 Ford Explorer SUV RWD 5 stars 5 stars 5 stars 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Explorer all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Explorer all-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 20 27 23 MPG $2800
Explorer all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Explorer all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 18 24 20 MPG $3250
Explorer all-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 20 26 22 MPG $2950
Explorer all-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 17 24 20 MPG $3250
Explorer flex-fuel all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 17 25 20 MPG $3250
Explorer hybrid all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 23 26 25 MPG $2600
Explorer hybrid rear-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 27 28 27 MPG $2400
Explorer Platinum hybrid all-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Part-time four-wheel drive 23 24 23 MPG $2800
Explorer Platinum hybrid rear-wheel drive 3.3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 25 26 26 MPG $2500
Explorer rear-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 21 28 24 MPG $2700
Explorer rear-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 18 26 21 MPG $3100
Explorer rear-wheel drive 3L, 6-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Rear-wheel drive 18 25 20 MPG $3250
Explorer rear-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic 10-speed Rear-wheel drive 20 28 23 MPG $2800
Explorer Timberline all-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 19 22 21 MPG $3100
Explorer Timberline all-wheel drive 2.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (10-speed) Part-time four-wheel drive 19 21 20 MPG $3250

Specs and fitment

6th generation, 2020–present
Body styles SUV
Oil 5W-30 synthetic (2.3L/3.0L EcoBoost); 5W-20 synthetic (3.3L V6/hybrid) , 5.2 qt capacity
Tire size 255/65R18 (Base) to 275/45R21 (Platinum/ST)

Known issues for this generation

Three NHTSA recalls address the same defect on 2020-2022 Explorers: the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect, which can result in a loss of drive power or a vehicle rollaway if the parking brake is not applied. Recall 22V-255 covered 252,936 vehicles, with dealers either replacing the bushing and axle cover or updating the electronic parking brake software depending on the model. Recall 23V-199 then covered 674 vehicles whose powertrain control module update under 22V-255 had not included the automatic electronic parking brake feature, fixed with a further software update. Recall 23V-675 covered 238,364 vehicles with a hardware remedy: dealers replace the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt and inspect the axle cover for damage near the bolt hole. All repairs were free of charge.

Compare

Previous year 2022 Ford Explorer Next year 2024 Ford Explorer See every Ford Explorer model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2023 Ford Explorer reliable?

The 2023 Ford Explorer has 109 complaints with NHTSA after 4 years, or 26 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Explorer years here — under the median of the other years, which is 64. NHTSA has 15 recalls on file, including Middle or rear assembly, Seat belts, and Back-over prevention, software.

What are common problems with a 2023 Ford Explorer?

The complaints owners file most often name Electrical system (13 of 109), then Suspension (13) and Powertrain (12). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 17,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 5,000 and 33,000 miles. Those filings include 7 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 5 that report an injury.

Is the 2023 Ford Explorer more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2022 Explorer has 265 complaints, 43 per year, and the 2024 has 20 complaints, 7 per year. The 2023 has fewer complaints per year than the 2022. The 2023 has more complaints per year than the 2024.

Has the 2023 Ford Explorer been recalled?

The 2023 Ford Explorer has 15 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2023 Ford Explorer?

Owners have filed 109 complaints about the 2023 Ford Explorer with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2023 Ford Explorer get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2023 Ford Explorer is 22.1 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

What generation is my Ford Explorer?

2011-2019 is the 5th generation, built on a unibody platform, and 2020-onward is the 6th generation, which switched to a rear-wheel-drive-based platform shared with the Police Interceptor Utility.

Are there rear axle problems on the 6th-generation Explorer?

Yes. 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles were covered by recalls 22V-255, 23V-199, and 23V-675 for a rear axle horizontal mounting bolt that may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft, risking a loss of drive power or a rollaway.