2019 Ford Explorer: owner complaints and recalls
Analysis of 287 owner complaints filed with NHTSA and 6 recall campaigns. Updated 2026-07-25.
287
Complaints
6
Recalls
2
Crash reports
0
Fire reports
6
Injuries
19.5
Severity index
Severity index 19.5 - Low. This weights crashes, fires, injuries and fatalities per 100 complaints; see methodology.
Among the 123 2019 vehicles we track with at least 40 complaints on file, the 2019 Ford Explorer ranks 104 of 123 by severity, where 1 is the worst. Its severity is higher than 15% of its model-year peers. See the full 2019 ranking.
What actually fails
| Component | Complaints | Share of complaints citing it |
|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 146 | 50.9% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 44 | 15.3% |
| POWER TRAIN | 34 | 11.8% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 19 | 6.6% |
| ENGINE | 18 | 6.3% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 14 | 4.9% |
| SUSPENSION | 10 | 3.5% |
| STEERING | 9 | 3.1% |
The single most-reported system is STRUCTURE, cited in 146 of 287 complaints (50.9%). One complaint can name several systems, so these shares overlap and do not total 100%.
Complaints filed per year
| Year | Complaints |
|---|---|
| 2019 | 13 |
| 2020 | 14 |
| 2021 | 14 |
| 2022 | 20 |
| 2023 | 35 |
| 2024 | 64 |
| 2025 | 91 |
| 2026 (year to date) | 36 |
Complaint volume is rising - the last three years carry 4.0x the filings of the three before them, which usually signals a wear-related defect surfacing with age.
Recall campaigns
| Campaign | Reported | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21V316000 | 05/05/2021 | STRUCTURE:BODY | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle. |
| 19V633000 | 28/08/2019 | SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recline |
| 24V031000 | 19/01/2024 | 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. |
| 26V012000 | 15/01/2026 | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. |
| 26V101000 | 20/02/2026 | SUSPENSION:REAR | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture. |
| 26V448000 | 14/07/2026 | STRUCTURE:BODY | Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle. |
Source. US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration public complaint and recall APIs (api.nhtsa.gov), retrieved 2026-07-25. Complaints are unverified consumer reports; volume is influenced by how many units were sold and how long the vehicle has been on the road. Not affiliated with NHTSA or any manufacturer.