CarRecallWatchThe 2021 Ford Explorer has 26 safety recalls on file with NHTSA.
Owners have filed 452 complaints with NHTSA, including 14 crashes, 6 fires, 17 injuries.
The most-reported problem area is Power Train (128 reports).
2021 Ford Explorer recalls
Second-Row Seats May Unlatch or Slide in Crash Risk
Certain Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs may have a switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats that can bind or stick.
Transmission Could Engage Park While Moving, Risking Rollaway
The transmission park pawl, the part that locks the transmission in Park, may engage while the vehicle is still in motion.
Loose Rear Seat Belt Anchor May Fail in a Crash
Some Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator SUVs from model years 2020 through 2023 may have seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions that are not properly secured.
Wipers May Fail, Reducing Driver Visibility
Certain 2020-2022 Ford Explorer and Escape vehicles, and Lincoln Aviator and Corsair vehicles, have a front windshield wiper motor that may fail.
Rearview Camera Image May Flip, Reducing Rear View
The center display's rearview camera image may flip or invert when the vehicle is put in reverse.
Engine Block Heater May Crack and Cause Fire Risk
The engine block heater can crack and develop a coolant leak.
Fuel pump can fail, causing engine stall while driving
The low-pressure fuel pump in certain vehicles may fail, which can cause the engine to stall while you are driving.
Rearview Camera May Show Blank or Stuck Image
A software error can cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or to keep showing the camera image after the vehicle has left reverse.
Second-Row Seats May Unlatch or Move While Driving
Certain 2020-2023 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles have a second-row easy-entry seat switch that may bind or stick.
Rearview Camera Image May Fail, Reducing Rear Visibility
Certain Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator and Corsair vehicles from the 2020 to 2022 model years, plus some 2021 to 2023 models, were previously repaired incorrectly under an earlier recall.
Driveshaft May Disconnect, Causing Rollaway or Power Loss
Certain 2020-2022 Ford Explorers were previously repaired under an earlier recall, but the repair was done incorrectly.
Loose Seat Belt Anchors Could Fail to Restrain Occupants
Some vehicles may have seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions that were not properly secured.
Missing Air Bag Warning Label on Dashboard
Some vehicles may have a missing air bag warning label on the dashboard.
Engine Valves May Break, Causing Loss of Drive Power
Certain 2021-2022 vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine may have engine intake valves that break while driving.
Engine failure can leak oil and fuel, risking a fire
Certain 2020-2022 Ford Explorer vehicles with the Police Interceptor Utility Package may experience an engine failure.
Rear Driveshaft Can Disconnect, Causing Power Loss or Rollaway
A rear axle horizontal mounting bolt can fracture, which may allow the driveshaft to disconnect from the vehicle.
Battery Cell Short Can Cause Power Loss and Fire
A manufacturing defect in one or more high-voltage battery cells can cause an internal short circuit and battery failure in these plug-in hybrid vehicles.
360-Camera Can Fail, Blocking Rear View and Crash Risk
The 360-degree camera system in certain Ford Explorers and Lincoln Aviators and Corsairs may fail, so the rearview camera image may not display.
Backup Camera May Not Display When Screen Is Turned Off
Certain vehicles have a defect in the display software that controls the backup camera image.
Explorer May Roll Away or Lose Drive Power
Certain 2020-2022 Ford Explorers may not apply the automatic electronic parking brake when the vehicle is shifted into Park, as intended.
Transmission May Fail to Park, Risking Rollaway
Certain 2020-2022 Ford Explorer vehicles with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission may experience an unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset while the vehicle is moving.
Rearview camera image can fail, raising crash risk
The 360-degree camera system in certain Ford Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles may fail to send video to the display, so the rearview camera image does not appear on screen.
Wrong rear suspension parts may hurt handling and braking
Some rear suspension modules may have been built with incorrect components because of a labeling error.
Rearview camera may fail to display image, raising crash risk
Certain 2020-2021 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator and Corsair vehicles equipped with 360-degree cameras may have a rearview camera whose video output fails, so the camera image does not appear on the display.
Side Air Bag May Deploy Improperly in a Crash
Some side curtain air bags may have attachment weld studs that could detach when the side air bag deploys.
Loose Engine Mount Can Cause Sudden Power Loss
The right-hand engine motor mount fasteners on certain vehicles may have been tightened incorrectly, and they can loosen over time.
Most common 2021 Ford Explorer problems
Problem areas named in the 452 complaints owners filed with NHTSA.
| Problem area | Reports |
|---|---|
| Power Train | 128 |
| Unknown Or Other | 86 |
| Engine | 51 |
| Electrical System | 49 |
| Back Over Prevention | 40 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 28 |
| Structure | 26 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 22 |
| Visibility | 22 |
| Service Brakes | 20 |
What owners report
The brake pedal on my 2021 Ford Explorer intermittently sticks or fails to return to its upright position after being depressed. This mechanical binding and failure to release changes drastically with seasonal weather transitions and ambient temperature drops. When the vehicle or the outside air is cold, the pedal requires me to physically hook my foot underneath the pedal arm to pull it back up so that the brakes fully disengage. This creates a severe safety hazard, as the brakes remain partially applied or sluggish to respond, which causes unexpected vehicle deceleration, brake drag, and a delayed throttle response when trying to accelerate. The vehicle is unpredictable to drive in traffic
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V117000 (VISIBILITY); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
On October 21, 2026, after an approximately one-hour round trip in our 2021 Ford Explorer, we arrived home and noticed smoke coming from under the hood. When we opened the hood, we found oil spread throughout the engine compartment. The smoke and oil leak raised concerns about a possible fire and the safety of continuing to drive the vehicle. The vehicle had recently received its second replacement engine, installed by Stuckey Ford of Bellefonte on September 2, 2026. We brought it back to that dealership on October 23. Service staff told us they believed the oil leak involved the valve cover gasket on the recently installed long block. This is a preliminary diagnosis; we have not received w
Fire started around center console when car was parked. HVAC/ info screen/ rear view mirror substained severe burn.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the vehicle suddenly shut off. The vehicle was pulled over safely and turned off; however, the vehicle failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with low-pressure fuel pump failure. The contact associated the failure with NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V455000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The dealer was notified of the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 78,209.
2021 Ford Explorer questions
Does the 2021 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 26 safety recalls for the 2021 Ford Explorer: Second-Row Seats May Unlatch or Slide in Crash Risk; Transmission Could Engage Park While Moving, Risking Rollaway; Loose Rear Seat Belt Anchor May Fail in a Crash; Wipers May Fail, Reducing Driver Visibility; Rearview Camera Image May Flip, Reducing Rear View. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Explorer?
Based on 452 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are Power Train (128), Unknown Or Other (86), Engine (51).
How do I check if a recall on my 2021 Ford Explorer has been fixed?
Enter your 17-character VIN in our VIN recall check. It shows open recalls that have not been repaired on your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are normally free at an authorized dealer.