RoadVitals

2015 Ford Explorer Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility 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.
44
Latest Aug 7, 2026
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.
2%
of 1,768 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.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2015 Ford Explorer submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 44 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 visibility

The 25 most recent of 44, in the owner's own words

Visibility
Filed Aug 7, 2026

Backup camera does not work properly. Sometimes it’s showing objects behind me backwards (safety concern) like it’s showing I’m on the opposite side of where I’m trying to park/back up and sometimes it doesn’t work at all (flickering screen/black/gives notification to contact dealer). I have taken it to our local dealer for an approved inspection that it does not work & was told there’s no fix for it yet. No warning sign that this was coming- I had to look up the recall myself.

NHTSA ID
11755533
Incident
Jul 1, 2026
Driver assistanceElectricalVisibility
Filed Jul 22, 2026

Recall for faulty rearview camera. Still has no remedy. Mine is giving issues. Glitches, freezes, and displays error message to contact dealership. Has almost caused multiple accidents. Have spoken to dealership. With no remedy from ford they want to charge me a fortune to replace and reprogram the camera system.

NHTSA ID
11752238
Incident
Oct 15, 2025
Body & structureDriver assistanceVisibility
Filed May 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notice of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (Structure) and 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that while driving in the rain on several occasions, he observed water leaking from the left and top of the middle of the windshield. The contact stated that overtime water had leaked and puddling around the sunroof molder and rusted and shorted the sunroof motor. The contact stated that the sunroof did not work due to the shorted motor. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where the contact was informed about the two active recalls and that the rear view camera was inverted and it was diagnosed that the exterior a pillar clip attachments and sunroof and shade motor needed the replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the dealer not honoring the sunroof repairs. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ID
11738028
Incident
Oct 1, 2021
Mileage
117,000 mi
Driver assistanceVisibility
Filed Mar 23, 2026

Rear view camera and A-Pillar clips that were promised in the recalls are still not available, increasing the amount of time that it is unsafe to backup my 2015 Ford Explorer. As well as the A-Pillar clip the endangers other drivers if the trim were to come off.

NHTSA ID
11726447
Incident
Oct 12, 2025
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Feb 5, 2026

RECALL ID 25V695 rear camera. Camera does not work. Please issue a remedy!

NHTSA ID
11715767
Incident
Oct 15, 2025
Visibility
Filed Jul 3, 2025

My back up camera will work then it stops working as im backing up and says unavailable contact dealer

NHTSA ID
11671042
Incident
Apr 1, 2025
ElectricalVisibility
Filed Jun 9, 2025

Vehicle has parking lights illuminated and not daytime running lights (headlamps). Illegal in most states and ans very dangerous at low light conditions! Ford engineers claim they cannot reconfigure after 6 months of attempting to do so. Major safety issue and legal issue if there is ever an accident involving death.

NHTSA ID
11665805
Incident
Apr 21, 2021
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Apr 30, 2025

waiting for recall repair to be done, over 1yr and still nothing

NHTSA ID
11657743
Incident
Apr 1, 2024
Visibility
Filed Feb 5, 2025

Driving high speed across Alligator Alley FL molding on both sides of front window loosed and began "flapping" loudly. On checking later learned that problem related to recall 24V031, loose A pillar applique trim. Over a year now and repair is unavailable so has not been done. Fear problem will reoccur, perhaps more serious.

NHTSA ID
11640894
Incident
Dec 15, 2024
Visibility
Filed Dec 2, 2024

Recall 24V031 I received a notice in February about the recall. I have since received several notices and emails about it. Every time I call, they still don't have the part(s) to fix my vehicle and they have no estimated time for when they will get the part(s). When I looked up the recall, it was filed January 19, 2024. It is now December 2024 and still no part(s) to fix the recall. This is totally unacceptable. Ford should be held accountable for fixing the recall in a timely manner (10+ months is not timely).

NHTSA ID
11628280
Incident
Jan 19, 2024
Visibility
Filed May 14, 2024

The side trim pieces on the windshield have flown off my car and the gasket around the windshield has torn off. I've had to replace them three times on each side. I have a 2015 Ford Explorer.

NHTSA ID
11588651
Incident
Jul 15, 2023
Body & structureElectricalVisibility
Filed Mar 8, 2024

The Moonroof/Sunroof’s motor always breaks down in winter due to snow freezing and water entering the roof and engine, I've had it repaired twice at the dealership, but every winter the problem returns, I talked to owners of the same model of vehicle and the same thing happens to them.

NHTSA ID
11576197
Incident
Jan 1, 2024
Visibility
Filed Nov 6, 2023

While driving on interstate 10 at 70mph, the weatherstripping blew off hitting the car behind me. When it blew off, it was very loud and distracting causing me to swerve on the road

NHTSA ID
11553814
Incident
Sep 24, 2023
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Oct 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the front windshield molding became fractured and started striking the front passenger’s side door glass. The contact was able to safely drive the vehicle to the shoulder of the road. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The contact was informed that there was no recall. The dealer advised the contact to report the failure to the manufacturer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and advised the contact to report the failure to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 110,000.

NHTSA ID
11552640
Incident
Oct 28, 2023
Mileage
110,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Oct 25, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the sunroof was leaking during inclement weather. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the gaskets and internal sunroof rails needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 88,000.

NHTSA ID
11551781
Incident
Jan 15, 2022
Mileage
88,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Aug 27, 2023

Left side windshield trim molding flew off hitting car behind me. Causing car to then chase me down and run me off the road. Two months later the right side flew off while driving luckily not hitting another car on the road. Something needs done about this. Every Ford Explorer I see on the road is missing one or both of these trim pieces! Do better FORD!

NHTSA ID
11541040
Incident
Jun 4, 2022
Visibility
Filed Jul 21, 2023

HVAC system does not switch to defrost. It also does not switch temperatures on the passenger side.

NHTSA ID
11533752
Incident
Dec 31, 2021
Visibility
Filed Jun 30, 2023

The components that hold the windshield in started coming out going down the highway at 55 miles per hour terrifying me that the windshield was coming out. I understand that this is happening a lot in the ford explorers. I am having components replaced next week.

NHTSA ID
11529840
Incident
Jun 27, 2023
Body & structureVisibility
Filed Jun 6, 2023

The A-Pillar Windscreen TRIM on each side of the vehicle are a failed Ford design and require pending replacement to prevent them flying off whilst traveling and endangering other road users or pedestrians.

NHTSA ID
11525694
Incident
Jun 6, 2023
Visibility
Filed May 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that rainwater was entering the vehicle. There is water on the front floorboard. The contact stated that the sunroof motor became inoperable, and the sunroof could no longer be opened. There were no warning lights illuminated. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and provided the contact with a claim number, but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 127,021.

NHTSA ID
11522636
Incident
May 1, 2023
Mileage
127,021 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 30, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front windshield trim on the passenger’s side detached from the vehicle. The contact stated he heard an abnormal noise when the trim detached. The contact had taken the vehicle to a body shop to replace the missing trim. The vehicle had been repaired. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The contact researched online and related the failure to Ford Customer Satisfaction Program: 17N04 (Trim). The failure mileage was approximately 45,000.

NHTSA ID
11514613
Incident
Jan 10, 2022
Mileage
45,000 mi
Powertrain (other)SteeringVisibility
Filed Mar 28, 2023

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while starting the vehicle, the front windshield wipers activated independently. The contact removed the fuse to stop the windshield wipers. The vehicle was not diagnosed. On another occasion while starting the vehicle, the vehicle lost power steering functionality with the steering assist fault message displayed. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle and the message disappeared and the power steering functionality returned. The vehicle was not diagnosed. On another occasion while the contact shifted the vehicle into park(P), the vehicle delayed recognizing that the vehicle was in park(P) and failed to turn off as needed. The manufacturer was contacted but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 170,000.

NHTSA ID
11514301
Incident
Mar 28, 2022
Mileage
170,000 mi
Visibility
Filed Mar 9, 2023

The window trim on the passenger side flew off while I was driving on the freeway. Also, my backup camera has been malfunctioning, the camera works off and on. It will work, then black out. At times is does not work at all.

NHTSA ID
11511108
Incident
Mar 4, 2023
Visibility
Filed Feb 7, 2023

Driver side windshield trim unexpectedly and instantaneously detached while traveling approximately 65 mph on interstate during daylight hours under dry conditions. It flew off the vehicle creating cosmetic damage to driver door and mirror, landing in lane behind. Part was lost on road somewhere and have not had it replaced or repaired. It could have impacted a vehicle behind causing damage or dangerous condition for driver or other vehicles. It has not been inspected and is in original condition after incident. I became aware of similar complaints and felt need to register. Estimated repair approximately $500.

NHTSA ID
11506021
Incident
Nov 5, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 3, 2023

Having read in a newspaper about the side windshield trim flying off it got me thinking about the rubber seals that go under that trim. On my Ford Explorer i have had those rubber seals split and and start ripping in strips. I have had to glue them to keep them from ripping off and maybe hit a vehicle behind me. Also there is a plastic plate that is below the windshield and under the windshield wipers that is warping. Have talked to a person that owns a body shop he told me that that is a common problem on these models of Explorers. He told me if i go and complain Ford may fix it for free. I have one more thing to mention. Went put in the VIN# for my Explorer it states that i have a recall that has not been Fixed. It is for the rear toe link. Well it has been fixed and i don't know how to change it to fixed.

NHTSA ID
11505398
Incident
Jan 1, 2020

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .