The 2015 Ford Explorer has a elevated safety risk profile with 6 recall campaigns and 1,685 NHTSA complaints. Before buying, verify that all recalls have been completed. It's free at any dealer.

Recalls

1,685

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

19V4350002019-10-06

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.

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

View at NHTSA

17E0480002017-28-08

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.

A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

16V2450002016-26-04

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.

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

View at NHTSA

View all 6 recalls

21V5370002021-15-07

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.

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

View at NHTSA

20V6750002021-12-03

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.

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

View at NHTSA

24V0310002024-19-01

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.

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

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

Across 1 model years, 1,685 owners have filed complaints about the 2015 Ford Explorer. STRUCTURE issues top the list, so ask the seller about this area specifically during your inspection.

01Structure294

02Unknown Or Other284

03Steering275

04Engine133

05Air Bags57

1,685 total across 1 model years (2015–2015)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Explorer Fuel Economy

18–23mpg combined

16-20city

22-27hwy

$1,900-$2,450/yr

Across 6 configurations, the 2015 Ford Explorer returns 18–23 MPG combined. Choose the thriftier option if you're commuting; the sportier setup if you're not counting gallons.

By Trim

Explorer FWD - Automatic 6-spd

23mpg

2.0L 4-cyl Turbo · Front-Wheel Drive

20 city27 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Explorer 2WD FFV - Automatic (S6)

20mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr5/10 Average

Explorer FWD - Automatic (S6)

20mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · Front-Wheel Drive

17 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr5/10 Average

Explorer AWD - Automatic (S6)

19mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

17 city23 hwy~$2,300/yr4/10 Average

Explorer AWD FFV - Automatic (S6)

19mpg

3.5L 6-cyl · All-Wheel Drive

17 city23 hwy~$2,300/yr4/10 Average

Explorer AWD - Automatic (S6)

18mpg

3.5L 6-cyl Turbo · All-Wheel Drive

16 city22 hwy~$2,450/yr4/10 Average

Source: U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

Where to Find 2015 Ford Explorer

37States

29%in top 3

12% of the market sits in Michigan, though listings span 37 states. Expand your search and you'll find more options at better prices.

MIMichigan

4,68912%

TXTexas

4,16411%

FLFlorida

2,6097%

PAPennsylvania

2,1445%

CACalifornia

1,8735%

ILIllinois

1,4664%

DEDelaware

1,4424%

GAGeorgia

1,3964%

MOMissouri

1,3573%

NYNew York

1,3413%

NJNew Jersey

1,1703%

OHOhio

1,1383%

NCNorth Carolina

1,0723%

DCWashington DC

9382%

AZArizona

8462%

TNTennessee

8442%

MDMaryland

8122%

COColorado

7382%

MN730

OKOklahoma

6512%

NH546

IN507

WA471

AL443

KY413

WI399

IA376

UT370

OR346

MA311

RI307

VA291

ID287

NV282

NE279

AR256

CT251

Geographic distribution reflects all active listings for this model, not just 2015.

2015 Ford Explorer Buyer FAQ

What to know before you buy

Is the 2015 Ford Explorer a good car to buy?

Here's the short version on the 2015 Ford Explorer. There are 6 recalls to verify before purchase. Dig into the safety overview and pricing trends for recall-by-recall detail.

Are there recalls on the 2015 Ford Explorer?

NHTSA shows 6 recall campaigns for the 2015 Ford Explorer. Before buying, verify all recalls are complete. The dealer must fix them at no charge. See the safety section for the full list.

What's the gas mileage of the 2015 Ford Explorer?

You'll get between 18 and 23 MPG combined from the 2015 Ford Explorer, depending on engine and drivetrain. That's a meaningful difference over time. The fuel economy table shows exactly which configs get what.

What are common problems with the 2015 Ford Explorer?

STRUCTURE problems top the list with 1,685 total complaints filed. Not every car is affected, but it's worth asking about and inspecting. Full details in the known issues section.