Reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers, shown in full
Data refreshed
Complaints on fileComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
115
Latest Feb 23, 2026
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
8
Filed in the last 12 monthsReports filed with NHTSA in the trailing 365 days. Recent volume reflects attention and vehicle age as much as anything else.
5
Reports on file since Dec 3, 2009
What this page shows
Our database holds 115 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2010 Ford Explorer. Each one is a report filed by an owner or driver and published by NHTSA without most of them being verified. A complaint is not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. Narratives are shown exactly as filed.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaints, most recent first
Showing 1–25 of 115 · page 1 of 5
Electrical
Filed Feb 23, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after the purchase. The vehicle was a private sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was 135,902. The contact stated that while the vehicle was being serviced, it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was 224,283. The information was from a Carfax Report.
NHTSA ID
11719863
Incident
Feb 21, 2026
Mileage
224,283 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jan 28, 2026
Thing accelerate by itself while on highway od light blinking at high speeds and then when you come to a complete stop and try to takeoff it goes really slow with the RPMs high then it will kick into gear, unsafe on the road. Truck willjump in gear then out on takeoff.
NHTSA ID
11713879
Incident
Jan 23, 2026
Electrical
Filed Jan 22, 2026
Odometer Fraud. The contact purchased a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact discovered a mileage discrepancy after purchasing the vehicle. The vehicle was a dealer sale. At the time of purchase, the mileage was approximately 150,000. Most recently, the contact downloaded the Ford App, and when the maintenance history was checked, it was later discovered that the mileage on the Title was approximately 243,000. The contact stated that the date listed on the Ford App was June 2025.
NHTSA ID
11712675
Incident
Nov 22, 2025
Mileage
243,000 mi
BrakesFuel system
Filed Sep 26, 2025
Crash reported
3 times this has happened. I brake and it seems like I'm pressing the gas pedal and the brakes feel like they aren't stopping the vehicle. The third time put me in incoming traffic and the vehicle was totaled as it already had a rebuilt salvage title when we bought it.
NHTSA ID
11689973
Incident
Aug 29, 2025
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Aug 28, 2025
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 45 MPH, the anti-theft, roll stability, and fuel filler messages were displayed with an audible alarm before the vehicle suddenly shut off. The contact was able to restart the vehicle and drove to the residence. However, the failure reoccurred, and the vehicle was towed to the local mechanic who diagnosed that the PCM and ECM had short circuited and failed. The contact was informed that the short circuit was caused by water drainage from the moonroof onto the PCM and ECM computers. The contact stated that the moonroof had previously failed and failed to properly close. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The local dealer and manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The contact was informed that the ECM and PCM computers were no longer available. The failure mileage was 48,000.
NHTSA ID
11683569
Incident
Aug 11, 2025
Mileage
48,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSeat beltsSuspension
Filed Jul 9, 2024
Transmission , Wheel Hub
NHTSA ID
11600447
Incident
Jul 9, 2024
Engine
Filed Apr 4, 2023
Runs for about 25 minutes then just dies while driving. Starts back after sits for about an hr and does same thing.
NHTSA ID
11515481
Incident
Apr 7, 2020
Engine
Filed Dec 30, 2022
Oil leak in both valve gasket covers oil on the crossmember it started slow then it was traced by Ford to the gaskets(fire hazard) 120 k on odometer
NHTSA ID
11499554
Incident
Dec 27, 2022
Airbags
Filed Dec 5, 2022
The air bag light will not go off. I have checked the the wiring, cleared the area, and checked all fuses. All checked out okay. I'm a new buyer and can't register the car until it passes inspection. My only conclusion is that it possibly has a defect or has been previously been deployed. There is no record of a previous collision as of yet, although that may not be factual as the car has had a drivers door panel replaced. Can you help with the air bag information? Also, Is there a financial aid grant or some help in obtaining/repairing the problem for low or no income families? Thank you for your time in this matter. Sincerely, Kelly F. [email protected]
NHTSA ID
11496120
Incident
Nov 7, 2022
Brakes
Filed Jun 28, 2022
Crash reported
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to stop, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a guard rail. During the crash, no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,600
NHTSA ID
11471376
Incident
Jun 23, 2022
Mileage
92,600 mi
BrakesElectricalSuspension
Filed Mar 26, 2022
Rsc alarm keeps going sounding alarm and the abs alarm keeps sounding as well. Seen a ton of owners having this same error
NHTSA ID
11458431
Incident
Sep 20, 2021
EngineFuel systemPowertrain (other)
Filed Sep 6, 2021
Driving 65 mph on I95 and it just shut off. The yellow wrench on dash came on. I somehow was able to Pull over to the shoulder without being killed. I cranked once then tried it again and it started. Drove all the way home and it’s running fine now. This is a common problem and Ford should be contacting me to warn me and fix it. By the way I had a baby in the car. Thanks Ford for the warning.
NHTSA ID
11431861
Incident
Sep 6, 2021
ElectricalEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jul 20, 2021
While driving on the highway, my Explorer did a sudden jolt and I had no control over the vehicle. It acted as though it was no in gear. I almost crashed going 60 mph on a 4 lane highway. It then did another large jolt and revved high into the red line. I took it to Firestone and they recommended that I take it to the dealership to check the transmission. I called the dealership and they advised me to drive it over. They told me it was "probably the transmission as Explorers are notarious for transmission issues." The dealership inspected the Explorer and confirmed that it was a known transmission issue involving codes P0798 and P098. The dealership advised that there were MULTIPLE pressure code errors [that never did a warning] and that the transmission required replacement. I asked if it was covered under warranty and the dealership advised me that Ford had no issued a recall yet, even though it was a known and serious transmission issue. The dealership recommended that I call Ford Customer Care at 1-800-392-3673 and request that Ford cover the replacement. I called Ford Customer Care and spoke with Bruno who advised me that it was indeed a known issue and that I "was not the only one with this issue" and that "there will be a recall soon so [I] can get reimbursed." Bruno was to have a supervisor call me within 24 hours. It has been almost 2 weeks and there has been no response from Ford. This is a well known issue that Ford knows of. There has been recalls of other Explorers for the same problem but my VIN is not included for some reason. If you go online, there are thousands of complaints. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEONE DIES OR IS SERIOUSLY INJURED. I have the telephone recordings of Ford but I am unable to upload them here.
NHTSA ID
11425615
Incident
Mar 8, 2021
Filed Feb 27, 2021
BACK HATCH WINDOW INTERMITTENTLY OPENS WITHOUT USING REMOTE HAD THE ACTUATOR REPLACED DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM LEAVES MY VEHICLE VULNERABLE TO THIEVES!
NHTSA ID
11398177
Incident
Oct 10, 2020
ElectricalPowertrain (other)Suspension
Filed Feb 16, 2021
SERVICE RSC LIGHT COMES ON WITH THE WRENCH LIGHT WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE. REPLACED THE TCM AND THE PROBLEM DID NOT GO AWAY. CODES U0101 AND U1900 ARE POPPING UP. VEHICLE GOES INTO LIMP MODE. REPLACED IGNITION COILS ON THE LEFT BANK AND IT DID NOT GO AWAY.
NHTSA ID
11396431
Incident
Jan 1, 2021
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 24, 2020
MY VEHICLE HAS BEEN SUFFERING A RADEK TRANSMISSION AND POWER TRAIN ISSUES AND I AM I AM TOLD THAT I WILL NEED TO REPLACE IT. AS WELL WHEN I LOOKED UP THE RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE UNDER GENERAL YEAR AND MODEL IT DOES COME UP THAT THE TRANSMISSION IS UP FOR RECALL HOWEVER WHEN I TYPED THE PARTICULAR VAN AND AT STATED ON YOUR WEBSITE THERE ARE NO OUTSTANDING RECALLS AGAIN CONFLICTING WITH THE FACT THAT THE RECALLS ON TRANSMISSIONS HAVE BEEN NOTED AND NOTEWORTHY IN PREVIOUS C 2011 EXPLORERS SUCH AS MY OWN. PLEASE ADVISE AND LET ME KNOW IF IT IS COVERED BEFORE MY TRANSMISSION GIVES UP COMPLETELY THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR ATTENTION. MY VEHICLE BOTH HAS A TENDENCY TO JUMP YOURS AS WELL AS IDLE HIGH AND TRANSMISSION FLUID IS PROPER AND IN GOOD CONDITION PLEASE HELP ME.
NHTSA ID
11361009
Incident
Sep 22, 2020
Mileage
145,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Jun 19, 2020
WHEN I DRIVE THE ABS LIGHT COMES ON, THE BREAK SYSTEM LIGHT, ENGINE LIGHT, AND AIR BAG LIGHT ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME AND THE RADIO WILL SHUT OFF ALONG WITH ALL THE DASHBOARD LIGHTS. WHEN I DRIVE SOMETIMES THE CAR WILL STOP CATCHING GEAR AND STOP ACCELERATING RANDOMLY. THE VEHICLE FAILS TO ACCELERATE AT ALL SPEEDS. THE TRANSMISSION HAS BEEN REPLACED AND WE WERE TOLD THE PCM WAS BURNT OUT AND UNREPAIRABLE AND FORD HAS THE PRODUCT ON BACK ORDER AND DOESN'T KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE AVAILABLE. *TR
NHTSA ID
11329688
Incident
Jun 18, 2020
Mileage
189,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Sep 3, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS ENGAGED IN PARK, THE KEY BECAME STUCK INSIDE THE IGNITION. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE MANUALLY PUSHED A PIN IN THE SHIFTER TO REMOVE THE KEY. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE GEAR WAS ABLE TO BE REMOVED OUT OF PARK WITHOUT THE KEY BEING IN THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SHULTS FORD LINCOLN (10401 PERRY HWY, WEXFORD, PA 15090, (724) 934-2388) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE SHIFTER NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 127,000.
NHTSA ID
11252871
Incident
Aug 1, 2016
Mileage
127,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Feb 4, 2019
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS UNDERGOING AN OIL CHANGE AT CHUCK COLVIN AUTO CENTER (1925 OR-99W, MCMINNVILLE, OR 97128, (800) 223-5099), THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE REAR DIFFERENTIAL WAS LEAKING AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS CURRENTLY AT THE SAME DEALER AWAITING REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,200.
NHTSA ID
11174256
Incident
Feb 4, 2019
Mileage
38,200 mi
BrakesEnginePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 25, 2019
Crash reported
AUGUST 16, 2018 I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATING WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD SO FAST. THE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. MY DAUGHTER HAD UNBUCKLED HER SEAT BELT SINCE WE WERE ALL BUT STOPPED AND HIT HER HEAD ON IMPACT. MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND HIT THE REAR END OF A LARGE YUKON TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. THE YUKON THEN WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND BROAD SIDED AN OLDER TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. THIS WAS ALL A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON THE SIDE PARKING LOT OF A STORE. MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO ALMOST STAND ON THE BRAKES WITH BRAKES NOT RESPONDING. *TR
NHTSA ID
11172172
Incident
Aug 16, 2018
Mileage
120,000 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Dec 20, 2018
TRUCK RECENTLY START HAVING PROBLEMS, HAS CORRECT AMOUNT OF TRANSMISSION FLUID, EVERYTHING. TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON CAR STALLED, RESTARTED THE CAR TGE CAR DROVE BUT ACTED LIKE IT WAS SLIPPING, LIGHT STILL ON, TOOK IT TO MECHANIC... THE LIGHT DID NOT GIVE ANY CODES OF ANY SORT ON ANY OF THEIR SCAN TOOLS CAR DRIVES FINE TODAY KIND OF, IT "FALLS" OUT OF GEAR WHEN I COME TO A STOP AND KINDA STUTTERS WHEN I BEGIN TO DRIVE. AGAIN THERE SHOULD BE NO REASON FOR THIS UNLESS A MANUFACTURER DEFECT IS THE CAUSE. CORRECT FLUID LEVELS, CLEAN FLUID, REGULARLY CHANGED AS SCHEDULED IN THE MANUAL. VEHICLE ONLY HAS 119,XXX MILES. RIDICULOUS. NOTE THE LIGHT DOES NOT EVEN COME ON ANYMORE.
NHTSA ID
11162771
Incident
Nov 25, 2018
Mileage
118,839 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Nov 29, 2018
"TAKATA RECALL"-DIAGNOSIS/ENGINE LIGHT(WRENCH COMING UP ON SCREEN)-CODE PO741 TRANSMISSION TORQUE CONVERTER SYSTEM STUCK OFF. PCM WON'T COMMAND TRANSMISSION TO SHIFT AND WHEN DOES COMMAND TRANSMISSION WILL SLIP. TAKEN TO FORD DEALER-SHEEHY FORD MERCURY LINCOLN MERCURY-10601 MIDLOTHIAN TURNPIKE, RICHMOND, VA 804-794-0500-AFTER MECHANIC WAS NOT ABLE TO OBTAIN PARTS 9L2A-12A650-FD & 9L2A-AA. ADVISED COST TO REPAIR WILL BE $5,600 OR MORE. HAD TO PUT 20% DEPOSIT OR $3,400.00 DOWN BEFORE WORK COULD BEGIN. AS I SPEAK TO OTHER FORD OWNERS, ADVISED THAT THEY HAD TO MAKE SAME REPAIR. WRENCH LIGHT WARNING APPEARS WHILE DRIVING.
NHTSA ID
11154734
Incident
Nov 15, 2018
Mileage
133,000 mi
Airbags
Filed Oct 26, 2018
HERE IN THE LAST FEW WEEKS THE AIR BAG LIGHT COME ON AIR BAG . LIGHT COME ON AS I WAS DRIVING O ROAD. IT DOSE THIS SOME TIMES AND DON'T AT OTHER TIMES.
NHTSA ID
11142914
Incident
Oct 4, 2018
Mileage
68,560 mi
Powertrain (other)
Filed Oct 22, 2018
Crash reported1 injury reported
COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE, THE ENGINE ALL OF A SUDDEN SURGED FORWARD. I WAS NOT ABLE TO STOP IT WITH THE BRAKES. IT SURGED SO FAST AND HARD THAT IT REAR ENDED A YUKON WHICH WAS PARKED ABOUT 10 FEET IN FRONT OF ME , WHICH FORCED THE YUKON FORWARD APPROXIMATELY 7 FEET WHICH THEN BROADSIDED A PARKED PICKUP. THIS ACCIDENT HAPPENED IN A PARKING AREA, ADJACENT TO A GAS STATION. MY DAUGHTER WAS UNBUCKLING FROM HER SEATBELT WHEN THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD AND CAUSED HER HEAD TO HIT THE WINDSHIELD. TURNING THE BILL INTO INSURANCE, OUR VEHICLE WAS TOTALED. WE HAD BEEN WITHOUT A CAR FOR 2 MONTHS WHILE INSURANCE TOOK ITS TIME TOTALLING IT. WE NOW HAVE TO PURCHASE A NEW VEHICLE, START A NEW CAR LOAN WHEN OUR EXPLORER WAS HALF PAID OFF. AFTER THE ACCIDENT WE RESEARCHED OUR VEHICLE AND LEARNED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO MANY OTHERS WITH FORD EXPLORERS YEARS 2002 THRU 2010. FORD HAS REFUSED TO DEAL WITH ANY OF THIS, ALTHOUGH WE READ HALF WAY THRU 2010 THEY DID START CORRECTING THIS PROBLEM.
NHTSA ID
11141963
Incident
Aug 16, 2018
Mileage
104,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Aug 1, 2018
WHEN I HOT A BUMP IN THE ROAD OR STEP ON THE BREAKS THE DOME LIGHTS COME ON, MY DRIVER EAT MOVES BAKE AND THE LIGHTS ON THE RADIO TURNS OFF.
NHTSA ID
11115060
Incident
Jul 31, 2018
Mileage
20 mi
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
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