Ford Explorer 2011–2019

5th generation · U502 (Ford D4) · 15,842 complaints, 9,738 with mileage

When failures happen

What fails, and when

By model year

Which systems, and when

Complaints about this generation are not spread evenly across the vehicle, and the systems that generate the most of them do not all fail at the same point in a car's life. The median failure across all systems here is 59,000 miles; the figures below show which parts of the car run ahead of that and which run behind.

The steering accounts for 21.6% of complaints (3,425 reports, 2,410 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 77,416 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 44,000 and 117,000 miles.

Body structure accounts for 19.1% of complaints (3,029 reports, 1,541 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 80,000 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 50,000 and 110,660 miles.

Problems owners could not categorise accounts for 14.4% of complaints (2,286 reports, 1,181 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 31,000 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 8,000 and 59,650 miles.

The engine accounts for 9.7% of complaints (1,536 reports, 993 of them with a mileage figure), and it fails early — a median of 37,800 miles, well before the vehicle's overall median. Failures clustered this far below the rest of the car usually point to a design or manufacturing problem rather than wear, because wear does not selectively target one system on low-mileage examples. The middle half of these reports falls between 9,000 and 73,425 miles.

The transmission and driveline accounts for 5.2% of complaints (826 reports, 565 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 55,200 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 25,000 and 90,000 miles.

The electrical system accounts for 5.1% of complaints (814 reports, 470 of them with a mileage figure), with a median of 51,700 miles, close to the vehicle's overall pattern. The middle half of these reports falls between 23,400 and 90,000 miles.

Differences between model years

Within this generation, complaint volume is not constant across model years. The 2016 model year drew the most — 3,022 complaints — while 2019 drew the fewest at 334. The median year sits at 2,037.

Recalls and what they cover

NHTSA records 32 recall campaigns covering vehicles in this generation. A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator concluded there was a safety defect or a standard was not met, and that a free remedy is owed to owners — including second and later owners.

The campaigns cluster around the suspension (6), seats (6), body structure (5). Repeated recalls against the same area of the car generally mean the first remedy did not fully resolve the underlying problem.

Recall status is specific to the individual vehicle, not the model. Checking a VIN against NHTSA's lookup is free and takes under a minute, and it is the only way to know whether a particular car has had the work done.

Reported severity

Of the 15,842 complaints filed against this generation, 369 reported a crash; 89 reported a fire; 507 reported an injury; 7 reported a fatality. Crash-involved reports represent 2.3% of the total.

These are owner-reported outcomes, not verified investigations, and they are not adjusted for how many of these vehicles are on the road. They are included because the distinction between a fault that strands a car and a fault that causes a collision is the one that matters most, and it is not visible in a complaint count alone.

What this means if you are buying one

For a buyer, failures on this generation are spread rather than concentrated: the middle half falls between 26,830 and 98,000 miles, with a median of 59,000. There is no single mileage threshold to watch, which means condition and maintenance records are more informative than the odometer.

On inspection, the steering and body structure are where this generation's reports concentrate, so those are the areas worth a specific look. The steering in particular shows a median failure mileage of 77,416, which gives a concrete number to compare against the odometer of any car you are considering.

None of this is a substitute for a pre-purchase inspection on the individual car. Aggregate patterns describe a population; the example in front of you has its own history.

Documented problems

Recalls (32)

What owners reported

Other generations

• Ford Explorer 1991–1994
• Ford Explorer 1995–2001
• Ford Explorer 2002–2005
• Ford Explorer 2006–2010
• Ford Explorer 2020–2025