The 2023 Ford Explorer's elevated safety profile includes 5 recall campaigns and 85 owner-reported complaints. Make recall verification part of your pre-purchase checklist.

Recalls

Complaints

Crashes

Fires

Recall Findings

23V5970002023-25-08

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

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L GTDI engines. The turbocharger oil supply line may be damaged, which can result in an oil leak inside the engine compartment.

An oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire. In addition, the loss of oil can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

23V6860002023-13-10

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles equipped with a standard rearview camera. Due to a manufacturing error in the wire harness, the rearview camera may display a blue image on the SYNC screen when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

A rearview camera that does not properly display an image can reduce the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

24V0910002024-08-02

SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles. The right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing.

A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Additionally, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulting in a brake fluid leak and a loss of braking ability. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

View all 5 recalls

26V1230002026-03-03

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."

An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

View at NHTSA

26V1590002026-17-03

SEAT BELTS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.

A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

View at NHTSA

Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Top Complaint Areas

The 2023 Ford Explorer has accumulated 85 NHTSA complaints over 1 years, with unknown or other leading the pack. Know what to look for before you buy.

01Unknown Or Other10

02Structure7

03Back Over Prevention4

04Steering,suspension4

05Electrical System4

85 total across 1 model years (2023–2023)Full data at NHTSA.gov

Ford Explorer Fuel Economy

20–27mpg combined

17-27city

21-28hwy

$1,600-$2,200/yr

With 17 configurations tested, the 2023 Ford Explorer ranges from 20 to 27 MPG combined. That's a 7 MPG gap that can add up to hundreds of dollars a year in fuel costs.

By Trim

Explorer HEV RWD - Automatic 10-spd

27mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

27 city28 hwy~$1,600/yr5/10 Average

Explorer Platinum HEV RWD - Automatic 10-spd

26mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Rear-Wheel Drive

25 city26 hwy~$1,700/yr5/10 Average

Explorer HEV AWD - Automatic 10-spd

25mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

23 city26 hwy~$1,750/yr5/10 Average

Explorer RWD - Automatic 10-spd

24mpg

2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive

21 city28 hwy~$1,800/yr5/10 Average

Explorer AWD - Automatic 10-spd

23mpg

2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

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

Explorer Platinum HEV AWD - Automatic 10-spd

23mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

23 city24 hwy~$1,900/yr5/10 Average

Explorer RWD - Automatic 10-spd

21mpg

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive

18 city26 hwy~$2,100/yr4/10 Average

Explorer AWD - Automatic (S10)

20mpg

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

18 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average

Explorer AWD - Automatic 10-spd

20mpg

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

18 city24 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average

Explorer FFV AWD - Automatic 10-spd

20mpg

3.3L 6-cyl · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

17 city25 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average

Explorer RWD - Automatic (S10)

20mpg

3.0L 6-cyl Turbo · Rear-Wheel Drive

18 city25 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average

Explorer Timberline AWD - Automatic (S10)

20mpg

2.3L 4-cyl Turbo · Part-time 4-Wheel Drive

19 city21 hwy~$2,200/yr4/10 Average

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

Where to Find 2023 Ford Explorer

37States

29%in top 3

If you're near Michigan, you're in luck: 12% of listings are there. But with 37 states represented, there's likely one near you too.

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 2023.

Buying a 2023 Ford Explorer?

Answers to common buyer questions

Is the 2023 Ford Explorer a good car to buy?

The 2023 Ford Explorer has 5 recalls on record. There are 5 recalls on record, so check that they've been completed before buying. The most commonly reported issue area is unknown or other, which is worth inspecting during a test drive. Review the safety data and pricing breakdown above.

Are there recalls on the 2023 Ford Explorer?

There are 5 documented recalls for the 2023 Ford Explorer. Don't let that scare you; most are routine. Just make sure they're all resolved before you sign. Details in the safety overview.

What's the gas mileage of the 2023 Ford Explorer?

Fuel economy ranges from 20 to 27 MPG combined. If you drive 15,000 miles a year, that gap is worth about $681 annually. See the fuel economy section for per-trim data.

What are common problems with the 2023 Ford Explorer?

UNKNOWN OR OTHER is the number-one complaint area for the 2023 Ford Explorer, based on 85 NHTSA filings. During a test drive, pay extra attention to this system. See the known issues section for the full breakdown.