Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.
2015 Ford Explorer — Known Issues & Recalls
Complaints from Jan 2025 to Dec 2025
The most reported issue is structure problems (303 complaints). 35 complaints involved crashes. 1 involved fire.
Open Safety Recalls (9)
NHTSA Campaign: 19V435000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Risk: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
NHTSA Campaign: 17E048000
Component: WHEELS:HUB
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Risk: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
NHTSA Campaign: 15V464000
Component: PARKING BRAKE
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
Risk: If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.
NHTSA Campaign: 16V245000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture.
Risk: A fracture of the rear suspension toe link may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S18.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V692000
Component: POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY:AXLE SHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
Risk: The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.
NHTSA Campaign: 21V537000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Risk: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
NHTSA Campaign: 20V675000
Component: SUSPENSION:REAR
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.
NHTSA Campaign: 24V031000
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 18, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
NHTSA Campaign: 25V695000
Component: BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Risk: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Owner-Reported Issues (20 of 1708)
Structure →8 issues
The trim piece on your passenger side A-pillar (the vertical support between your windshield and side window) cracked and came loose while driving, leaving it hanging across your windshield. This allowed outside air and moisture to leak into your vehicle's interior. You received a recall notice about this issue, but replacement parts weren't available to fix it, and Ford hasn't provided assistance to resolve the problem.
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While driving at 75 MPH, the trim piece on the outside of your A-pillar (the vertical support between your windshield and side window) came loose, flapped against your window, and then fell off the vehicle. Your dealer inspected the vehicle under a Ford recall but found the replacement part wasn't available yet and couldn't complete the repair. When you checked with NHTSA, you learned your vehicle's VIN was no longer covered by that recall. The fix would involve replacing the windshield exterior A-pillar trim with the proper replacement piece from Ford.
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The plastic trim piece on the passenger side of your car's front pillar (the vertical support between the windshield and front door) came loose and flew off while you were driving. This exposed the pillar underneath and could be a safety or weather-sealing concern.
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Your 2015 Ford Explorer is subject to a recall (Campaign 24V031000) involving the vehicle's structure, but the replacement parts aren't available yet. You've contacted your dealer and confirmed the parts are on backorder. You haven't experienced any actual failure, but you're concerned about how long the manufacturer is taking to make parts available for this recall repair.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2015 Ford Explorer has a known recall (Campaign 24V031000) for the front driver's side A-pillar trim, which is shaking and vibrating while driving. The sealant around this area has also started to deteriorate. Your dealer contacted Ford about the recall repair, but the required parts are not yet available, and you feel the manufacturer is taking too long to address this issue.
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You've been trying to get your 2015 Explorer fixed under recall 24S02/24V031 for the exterior A-pillar trim since 2024, but your dealer keeps saying they don't have the parts in stock and promise to call you back — though they never follow up or show any progress on the repair.
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The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.
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Your vehicle came with insignia labeled 'POLICE' on it, which could facilitate false impersonation of a police officer or create a false perception of authority. The seller may have knowledge of this issue and could face legal consequences.
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Structure,back Over Prevention →4 issues
Your rear-view camera stops working or only works intermittently when you shift into Reverse. Your vehicle is under two active recalls related to this issue, but your dealer says replacement parts aren't available yet. This makes it difficult to see behind your car when backing up.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2015 Ford Explorer's rear-view camera occasionally displays a distorted or unclear image when you shift into reverse. Ford has issued two recalls for your vehicle, but the replacement parts needed to fix this issue aren't yet available from dealers. You've contacted two local dealerships, and both confirm the parts are on back-order. The repair will likely involve replacing the rear-view camera or its wiring harness once parts become available.
Parts you may need:
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Your 2015 Ford Explorer has two open recalls, but the dealer doesn't have parts available to fix them. When you back up, your backup camera image displays in reverse and stays on the screen longer than it should before switching back to the main display. Additionally, the trim around your entire windshield is peeling and detaching from the vehicle. The repairs likely involve replacing the backup camera module and re-securing or replacing the windshield trim.
Parts you may need:
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The contact's mother owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE) and 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
Parts you may need:
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Back Over Prevention →2 issues
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received the recall notification letter for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the camera became inoperable.
Parts you may need:
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The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that occasionally, while in reverse(R), the rearview camera failed to display a clear image on the center digital screen.
Parts you may need:
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Visibility/wiper,lane Departure →1 issue
Your rear view camera and A-pillar clips that were supposed to be provided through recalls are still unavailable, making it unsafe to back up your vehicle. Additionally, the A-pillar trim clip could potentially detach and endanger other drivers on the road. Getting these recalled components installed should restore safe visibility and secure the trim.
Parts you may need:
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Power Train,vehicle Speed Control,engine →1 issue
Your check engine light is turning on and off intermittently, and the dealership found that your engine's camshaft timing is out of sync with the crankshaft. This is causing reduced engine performance, stalling, and hesitation when accelerating—especially dangerous at highway speeds. The fix will likely involve diagnosing the root cause of the timing misalignment and replacing or adjusting camshaft timing components as needed.
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Suspension,structure →1 issue
You're hearing a loud roaring noise from the rear of your vehicle at various speeds, and you've discovered the steel belts on both rear tires are prematurely worn. Your A-pillar trim pieces (the vertical trim at the top of your doors) are also loose. While you found two related recall campaigns, your dealer said your vehicle isn't covered under the suspension recall because a previous owner already had it repaired, and the parts needed for the structure recall aren't currently available. You'll likely need to replace both rear tires and have the A-pillar trim pieces reattached or replaced.
Parts you may need:
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Steering →1 issue
While driving at 55 MPH, your 2015 Ford Explorer became hard to steer. An independent mechanic diagnosed worn front ball joints and a lower control arm that needed replacement. After the repair, the steering problem returned. You discovered there may be a recall related to this issue, but your VIN wasn't included in it. The steering problem may require replacement of the ball joints, control arm, and related suspension components.
Parts you may need:
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Engine And Engine Cooling,structure →1 issue
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there were exhaust fumes inside the vehicle while accelerating. There were no warning lights illuminated.
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Power Train →1 issue
I have always maintained the vehicle and drive the vehicle well. The car just started stuttering when driving and the torque converter for the transmission failed. It doesn’t even have many miles.
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Related Vehicles
Other Ford Explorer years:
Other 2015 vehicles: