RoadVitals

2010 Ford Explorer Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints 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.
17
Latest Jul 4, 2018
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
15%
of 115 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
60

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2010 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 17 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

BrakesDriver assistanceSteering
Filed Jul 4, 2018

WHILE DRIVE THE RSC LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE ANTI SKID CAME ON LOCKING THE WHEELS. 4 WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON LOCKING THE WHEELS FURTHER AND THE BREAKS ENGAGED. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OR MOVE AND PUSHING THE GAS PETAL ONLY CAUSED BREAK SYSTEM TO LOCK UP FURTHER.

NHTSA ID
11109537
Incident
Jul 4, 2018
Mileage
125,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 13, 2015

I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT WHEN I AM ON THE HIGJWAY DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A INCREASE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I AM GOING SPEEDS OF 55 MPH - 60MPH. EVEN WHEN I HAVE TAPPED THE BRAKE, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE INCREASE OF SPEED. ON AUGUST 12, 2015 AT APPROXIAMTELY 5:30PM, WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I TURNED BUT MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AND IT ACTUALLY TRIED TO OVERRIDE MY BRAKING AND ACCELERATED TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER 2 JOLTS OF ACCELERATION (WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE), IT FINALLY STOPPED. I AM ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER RIGHT NOW TO GET THIS RESOLVED.

NHTSA ID
10748316
Incident
Aug 12, 2015
Mileage
36,500 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Sep 16, 2014

MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY TO GET TO WORK WHEN THE ABS LIGHT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE WRENCH LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK. WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10633739
Incident
Sep 16, 2014
Mileage
98,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jun 29, 2014
Crash reported10 injuries reported50 deaths reported

BOUGHT CAR FROM BATES FORD IN LEBANON, TN NEW. WITHIN THE FIRST 1500 MILE I EXPERIENCED AT LEAST ONE INCIDENT WHERE I TRIED TO STOP BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE CAR HAS ABOUT 36000 MILES NOW AND BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS OF THIS THE LAST RESULTED IN A TRAFFIC ACCIDENT IN PLANO, TEXAS. THERE WERE 3 VEHICLES INVOLVED.THE PLANO, TEXAS POLICE OFFICER WHO DROVE THE CAR TO A SAFE LOCATION FOUND NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. EARLY IN MY CAREER I WAS A POLICE OFFICER WHOSE SPECIALTY WAS TRAFFIC INVESTIGATION. I HEARD SIMILAR EXPLAINATIONS FOR ACCIDENT AND IN PERHAPS ONE FATAL ACCIDENT FOUND THAT A BRAKE LINE RUPUTURED CONTRIBUTING TO THE ACCIDENT CAUSE. THIS ACCELERATION WHEN BRAKING IN A SUDDEN STOP HAS HAPPENED TO BOTH MY WIFE AND I NUMEROUSE TIMES IN 36,000 MILES AND I HAVE CHECKED THE BRAKES MORE THAN ONCE FINDING NO PROBLEM WITH THE BRAKES. I LEARNED FROM A BODY SHOP EMPLOYEE AT SAM PACK WHO RELATED THAT HE HAD HEARD THIS SAME COMPLAINT BEFORE INCLUDINING FROM A FAMILY MEMBER. I BELIEVE THAT WHAT IS REALLY HAPPENING IS THAT DRIVERS WITH THIS FEATURE STEP ON BOTH THE GAS PEDAL AND THE BRAKE . IN A PANIC SITUATION I BELIEVE THAT DRIVERS ARE STEPPING ON BOTH PEDALS DUE TO SETTINGS THAT ALLOW THE GAS PEDAL TO OVERIDE THE BRAKE OR DIMINISH THE EFFECTIVENESS OF STOPPING DISTANCE. I CAN DUPLICATE THIS EFFECT AND THINK THAT IT IS A DESIGN FLAW THAT OCCURS THOUSANDS OF TIMES EACH DAY, HAS SURELY RESULTED IN MANY ACCIDENTS AND POSSIBLY DEATHS.I DO NOT BELIEVE THIS IS A BRAKE PROBLEM AND SERVICE DEPARTMENTS DISMISS THE COMPLAINTS WHEN THEY FIND NO PROBLEMS WITH THE BRAKES. THIS IS A DESIGN AND SAFETY ISSUE THAT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED BY FORD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10606873
Incident
Nov 30, 2010
Mileage
1,200 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jan 6, 2014

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ENGINE RPMS INCREASED WHEN DECELERATING AT LOW SPEEDS OR WHEN REVERSING DURING COLD WEATHER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE A DIAGNOSTIC WAS PERFORMED BUT TO NO AVAIL. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 52,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 62,000. THE CONSUMER HAS SINCE TRADED THE VEHICLE. UPDATED 02/18/114

NHTSA ID
10558644
Incident
Jan 19, 2012
Mileage
52,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Mar 10, 2013

THE CRUISE CONTROL INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGES WHEN IT IS TURNED OFF AND THE CAR SPEEDS UP, WHEN THE BRAKE IS PRESSED IT SHUTS OFF MOMENTARILY THEN RE-ENGAGES ITSELF. IT HAPPENS AT ANY SPEED AND THERE IS NO RHYME OR REASON FOR WHY IT HAPPENS. FORD HAS BEEN UNABLE TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE ON 4 DIFFERENT OCCASIONS OVER THE PAST MONTH. *TR

NHTSA ID
10502258
Incident
Feb 13, 2013
Mileage
22,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 25, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE ATTEMPTING TO STOP, THERE WAS AN INCREASE IN THE ENGINE RPMS AND THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER, WHO WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 35,700.

NHTSA ID
10467648
Incident
Sep 1, 2011
Mileage
26,000 mi
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Jan 25, 2012

MY WIFE AND I WERE LEAVING OUR LOCAL WALMART STORE AND WE WERE DRIVING IN THE PARKING LOT. WE WERE GOING DOWN A HILL AT APPROXIMATELY 10 MPH AND MY FOOT WAS COVERING THE BRAKE AND WAS NOT ON THE ACCELERATOR. SUDDENLY THE CAR ACCELERATED RAPIDLY WITH THE MOTOR RACING. I IMMEDIATELY PRESSED THE BRAKE WITH BOTH FEET AND STOPPED THE VEHICLE BUT THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION CAUSED THE CAR TO TRAVEL APPROXIMATELY 50 FEET. IN ANOTHER 30 FEET THE CAR WOULD HAVE GONE OFF A HIGH EMBANKMENT. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER OF 43 YEARS WITHOUT AN ACCIDENT AND A TRAINED AND EXPERIENCED DRIVER EDUCATION TEACHER, HOWEVER, I WAS FRIGHTENED BY THIS SUDDEN ACCELERATION AND MY WIFE REMARKED THAT SHE WOULD HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE AND WOULD HAVE BEEN DOWN THE EMBANKMENT. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AND NOTHING WAS FOUND. I AM CURRENTLY DRIVING THE CAR BUT ARE GREATLY CONCERNED ABOUT THE SAFETY OF THE VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10445241
Incident
Jan 21, 2012
Mileage
26,400 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Nov 15, 2011

INCIDENT HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES. CAR IS IN DRIVE AND MOVING FORWARD. WHEN MOVING FOOT TO APPLY BRAKE AND PUSHING DOWN ON BRAKE PEDAL THE GAS PEDAL IS ALSO ENGAGED CAUSING THE CAR TO HAVE THE BRAKE AND GAS APPLIED AT THE SAME TIME. THE HARDER I PUSH ON THE BRAKE THE MORE GAS IS GIVEN TO THE ENGINE. SINCE THE CAR IS ALREADY MOVING FORWARD, REMOVING MY FOOT FROM THE BRAKE WILL LET THE CAR MOVE FORWARD. THE FIRST TIME THIS HAPPENED I WAS APPROACHING A RED LIGHT. ONLY BY PUTTING THE CAR IN NEUTRAL WAS I ABLE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP AS I THOUGHT THERE WAS A MECHANICAL PROBLEM. THEY COULD FIND NOTHING WRONG. IT WAS ONLY AFTER THE 2ND TIME THIS HAPPENED I REALIZED I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKE AND GAS AT THE SAME TIME. EVEN THOUGH I AM AWARE THIS CAN HAPPEN, IT HAPPENED AGAIN IN MY DRIVEWAY AND AT THE LOCAL POST OFFICE. THE REAL PROBLEM IS GETTING YOUR FOOT OFF THE BRAKE WHILE THE CAR IS MOVING FORWARD AND THEN BACK ON THE BRAKE BEFORE YOU RAM INTO SOMETHING. SO FAR SO GOOD. OTHERS MAY NOT BE AS LUCKY. *TR

NHTSA ID
10435723
Incident
Nov 14, 2011
Driver assistancePowertrain (other)
Filed Aug 19, 2011

2010 FORD MOUNTAINEER STOPPING AT A RED LIGHT, PUTTING THE BRAKE ON AND THE CAR WOULD NOT STOP. THE ENGINE WAS REVVING AND HAD TO TAKE IT OUT OF GEAR TO STOP THE CAR. *TR

NHTSA ID
10420773
Incident
Aug 19, 2011
Driver assistance
Filed May 20, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. HE HAD TO QUICKLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WHEELS SPUN AS THE VEHICLE TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTACTS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,694. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11

NHTSA ID
10402174
Incident
Jun 20, 2010
Mileage
5,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistance
Filed Mar 31, 2011

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED DURING ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD MOMENTARILY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED MOMENTARILY BEFORE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE. AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AFTER THE FIRST VISIT TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200.

NHTSA ID
10393871
Incident
Mar 20, 2011
Mileage
800 mi
Driver assistanceOther / unspecified
Filed Dec 17, 2010

WE RENTED A 2011 4X4 EXPLORER FOR A SKI TRIP TO TAHOE. ONCE WE CAME OFF THE PASS, THE RSC LIGHTS CAME ON. THE ANTILOCK AND SLIP LIGHTS ALSO CAME ON. THE CAR LOST ALMOST ALL BRAKING ABILITY ON SNOWY ROADS. IT WAS UNDRIVABLE AND SCARY. THE RENTAL CAR COMPANY RESPONDED IMMEDIATELY AND SENT A NEW VEHICLE OUT TO US GIVEN THE GRAVITY OF THE SITUATION. WE HAD CHAINS ON THE REAR TIRES WHEN THIS HAPPENED. WE HAD 4 KIDS INTHE CAR. HAD THE PROBLEM HAPPENED ON THE PASS, WE COULD HAVE GONE OFF THE CLIFF. WE ALMOST RAN INTO PEOPLE AND A LIGHT POLE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10371120
Incident
Dec 17, 2010
Mileage
5,500 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Aug 30, 2010
Crash reported

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 5 MPH THE CONTACT APPLIED THE BRAKES. YET, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A BUILDING CAUSING FRONT END DAMAGE. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TOWED BECAUSE IT WAS STILL ABLE TO BE DRIVEN. THE DEALER HAD NOT BEEN CONTACTED AND THERE HAVE BEEN NO REPAIRS. A POLICE REPORT IS AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 12000.

NHTSA ID
10352760
Incident
Aug 28, 2010
Mileage
12,000 mi
Body & structureBrakesDriver assistance
Filed Aug 10, 2010

2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED WITH ADJUSTABLE PEDALS. THE BRAKE AND GAS PEDALS ARE TOO CLOSE TOGETHER. WHEN I STEPPED ON THE BRAKE MY FOOT CONTACTED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND THE ENGINE ACCELERATED. WHEN THE BRAKE IS FULLY DEPRESSED IT IS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. IF THE FOOT IS NOT FULLY ON THE BRAKE PEDAL, IT CONTACTS THE ACCELERATOR AND THE CAR JUMPS FORWARD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10348563
Incident
Aug 10, 2010
Mileage
6,900 mi
Driver assistance
Filed May 17, 2010

MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER JUMP FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT HAD HAPPEN TWICE. MAY 15,2010 AND MAY 17,2010. *TR

NHTSA ID
10330895
Incident
May 15, 2010
Mileage
1,290 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 22, 2010

INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE AFTER DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. PRESSING HARDER ACTIVATED THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED INTO THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. NEAR T-BONE ACCIDENT. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OVER REV UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING KEY INTO OFF POSITION. RESTARTED FINE, BUT HAD PULSING SPEED LIKE A SURGING FEELING. VIN: [XXX] - AVIS RENTAL*TR

NHTSA ID
10326985
Incident
Apr 21, 2010
Mileage
7,600 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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Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .