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2017 FORD EXPLORER Official Safety Recalls

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

15 Recalls Recorded
NHTSA: 26V448000
Report Date: July 14, 2026

STRUCTURE:BODY

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.

~288,314 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 26V101000
Report Date: February 20, 2026

SUSPENSION:REAR

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.

~412,774 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 25V685000
Report Date: October 10, 2025

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

Authorized Manufacturer 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.

~59,006 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 25V347000
Report Date: May 23, 2025

STRUCTURE:BODY

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Explorer vehicles. The driver and front passenger B-Pillar door trim may detach while driving.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Dealers will repair the B-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S53.

~492,145 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 24V031000
Report Date: January 19, 2024

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.

~1,889,110 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 21V537000
Report Date: July 15, 2021

SUSPENSION:REAR

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

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.

~631,176 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 21V316000
Report Date: May 05, 2021

STRUCTURE:BODY

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.

~616,967 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 20V675000
Report Date: March 12, 2021

SUSPENSION:REAR

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

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.

~454,941 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 19V651000
Report Date: September 11, 2019

SEATS

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with power front seats. The seat frames may have sharp edges.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective tape on the exposed inside edge and tab of the power seat frames, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S29.

~311,907 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 19V435000
Report Date: June 10, 2019

SUSPENSION:REAR

Defect Description:

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.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

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.

~1,194,173 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 17V530000
Report Date: August 28, 2017

STEERING

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear may overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17S23.

~253 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 17V401000
Report Date: June 26, 2017

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles. The affected vehicles may be missing the two front inboard attachments for the second row seats. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating systems", and (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."

Safety Hazard / Risk:

Seats with missing inboard attachments may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles to verify that they have the second row seat attachment studs, installing them if not, free of charge. The recall began on August 14, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C10.

NHTSA: 17V332000
Report Date: May 22, 2017

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

Safety Hazard / Risk:

If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017. Owners may contact Ford at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 17C08.

~2,204 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 16V925000
Report Date: December 22, 2016

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

~1,163 vehicles impacted
NHTSA: 16V925000
Report Date: December 22, 2016

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Defect Description:

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

Safety Hazard / Risk:

An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.

Authorized Manufacturer Remedy:

Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S46.

~1,163 vehicles impacted

FORD EXPLORER Recalls by Model Year

13 Years Available

Select a production year to inspect official manufacturer defect notices and safety recall bulletins: