2017 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems

The windshield wipers activate by themselves, even when it is not raining and there is no water.

NHTSA ID

11712264

Incident

Jan 20, 2026

The inside rear brake pads sustained a 66% loss of material in 9260 miles of normal driving. The vehicle was serviced on 10-03-23, 53,446 miles, the fronts pads had 7mm and the rears had 6mm. The vehicle was again service on 09-11-24, 62,706 miles, the front pads had 6mm and the rear had 2mm. I had the dealer take the rear brakes apart and check everything for why the pads wore down so fast. The findings were that all components were in good working order and the outside rear pads actually had 5mm and the inside rear pads had 2mm.The dealer told me they couldn't find a problem as to the extreme wear. I contacted Ford and they couldn't or wouldn't help due to no problem found and brakes being a wear related part. All work was performed at Lithia Ford of Boise.

NHTSA ID

11616624

Incident

Sep 11, 2024

While going up a steep hill or mountain the car starts to over heat when you stop pressing the gas the car will start to go back down in to cooler numbers and you can start driving again with no issues until you hit another hill.. car breaks wear out excessively also the car jerks when going into gear to shift

NHTSA ID

11604366

Incident

Jul 20, 2024

This is the second time again 15 minutes that I've had to continue to put in these complaints about the recalls it is you know everything else about not being notified about all the recalls which I think there are between 10 and 12 all the way from the rear towing to the a pillars to the headlight all the way down to the Cadillac converter cam trimming assembly etc not been notified one time bye anyone nothing George Coleman Ford dealership. Very unprofessional and I'm very [XXX] right now I've spoke LOL let the message for James Farley CEO of Ford and I will be letting him know everything that has been going on because of the a pillars of water has been able to get inside the vehicle because that is the rubber around the front windshield which is supposed to have been you know done accurately and which it wasn't because if it was there wouldn't be a recall but I'm getting [XXX] to have to find out all these recalls on my own and for the Ford dealership where I bought the vehicle has not tried to reach out whatsoever even about the roof rack recall they have the parts in but they had not notified me so therefore if anything happens during the for the headlight if I get a ticket y'all will be held responsible if I get into a bad car wreck y'all will be held responsible because of the rear toe link that's a very important part because it will make you crash into a ditch and die and yeah I'm just I'm [XXX] right now I can't wait for James Farley to call me back because he's going to he's going to find out how [XXX] I am and I'll go above the CEO and talk to the Ford family about these issues along with leaving bad reviews and y'all get deducted for every complaint. There's one person at George Coleman Ford that I would like to extend my gratitude towards and I don't know his first name his name is Mr Shockley that is a great man he's been the most helpful and he has went above and beyond to help me and my wife when I did ask him about the INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U

NHTSA ID

11595945

Incident

Jun 22, 2024

Car wouldn't stop or slow down until I put all my pressure on the pedal. No previous warning about brake issues. No lights or sounds regarding brake problems.

NHTSA ID

11546497

Incident

Sep 25, 2023

I bought the car from modern Corp s in Fort Myers Florida and the brakes are bad the catalytic converters are melted the steering makes noise sounds like it's just going to break in half we have a warranty and they will not honor any of it after they said they would we had to put it in the shop not even a week of having it because of the AC and the only thing the warranty covered was the sway bars ball joints and a couple other things I drive this car every single day I just feel like this car is not going to make it nobody wants to honor the word about anything and I see there is a recall for the roof rack one side of it is missing if anybody can help me that would be great because I would love to get my vehicle repaired the right way

NHTSA ID

11496699

Incident

Oct 11, 2022

On freeway, pushed brakes but vehicle did not stop or slow down resulting in multi car rear end collision. Auto braking and ABS features did not engage. Vehicle was towed and our insurance agent claim adjuster recommended we reach out to you. No warning lamps, messages, etc. went off at the time or had gone off previously.

NHTSA ID

11479574

Incident

Aug 11, 2022

While backing out of our driveway the car started speeding up and the brakes failed. Even with repeated pumping of brakes the car wouldn’t stop. We finally jammed the shift lever into park and even then it continue moving for a short distance. We wiped out our neighbors mailbox. It did the same thing yesterday but we thought my husband accidentally hit the gas instead of the brake. Today we know it was the car.

NHTSA ID

11473179

Incident

Jul 10, 2022

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the brakes would squeak upon depression of the brake pedal without warning. The contact took her vehicle to an independent mechanic where it was discovered that the rear brake calipers needed replacement. The contact called the dealer where she was given the number to the company that handle vehicle warranty. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and stated that they would not cover the cost of the repair. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was 33,038.

NHTSA ID

11458953

Incident

Mar 25, 2022

Mileage

33,038 mi

This vehicle is equipped with an Anti-lock brakes. On Sunday, while driving slowly through a slippery parking lot, due to ice, my brakes locked in the downward position. I was not able to get the brakes to function. This resulted in a low impact auto accident.

NHTSA ID

11447168

Incident

Jan 9, 2022

When vehicle is cold the brake pedal is normal 2inches movement. After 10 miles or so the pedal moves 4or 5 inches. After the vehicle cools down again the pedal returns to 2 inches again. The ford dealer does not know what the problem is.

NHTSA ID

11437827

Incident

Sep 1, 2021

WHEN BRAKING THE REAR SOUNDS LIKE IT IS DRAGGING AND NOT WORKING PROPERLY. THE PROBLEM HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED BY A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT SERVICE.CENTER. THE COMPONENT HAS NOT BEEN INSPECTED BY THE MANUFACTURER. THERE ARE NO WARNING LAMPS, MESSAGES OR OTHER SYMPTOMS OF THE PROBLEM PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. IT FIRST APPEARED IN JUNE 2021

NHTSA ID

11425321

Incident

Jun 27, 2021

REAR BRAKE CALIPERS SEIZED AND WORE BRAKE PADS ALL THE WAY DOWN. SLIGHT INTERMITTENT SOUND WAS NOTICED WHEN CAR WAS IN MOTION BUT THOUGHT IT MAY BE RELATED TO THE ROOF RACK DETACHMENT THAT WAS PENDING REPAIR. SQUEALING BECAME PERSISTENT AND STOPPED UPON BREAKING, AND STARTED AGAIN AFTER BRAKE RELEASED. UPON IDENTIFYING THIS CORRELATION TOOK THE EXPLORER TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THIS ISSUE IDENTIFIED WAS SEIZED CALIPERS.

NHTSA ID

11407773

Incident

Apr 8, 2021

WHEN BACKING UP AND THE WHEEL IS TURNED THERE'S A HESITATION THEN WHAT FEELS LIKE I HIT SOMETHING. (A CLUNK W/O THE NOISE ) THEN WHEN BREAK PEDDLE IS PRESSED THE CAR SHIMMIES BAD . I ALSO SMELL ANTIFREEZE COMING FROM THE HEATER VENTS .BROUGHT IT BACK TO DEALERSHIP FOR THEM TO FIX IT SINCE IT WAS JUST PURCHASED THERE .. THEY HAD IT FOR 5 DAYS .. NOTHING GOT FIXED. THEY TURNED FRONT ROTORS AND TOPPED OFF FLUIDS. I DO BELIEVE THAT I HAVE A BAD REAR TOW BEARING OR A U-JOINT. BREAKS NOT SURE BUT THE CAR IS WORSE THAN BEFORE. STILL SMELL ANTIFREEZE AND THERE'S A DARK FILM ON THE WINDSHIELD WHICH INDICATES A BAD HEATER CORE. I'VE BROUGHT THIS TO THE ATTENTION OF THE DEALERSHIP BIT THEY WON'T RETURN MY CALLS OR EMAILS OR TEXTS. I BELIEVE I WAS SOLD A LEMON. THERE'S AN OXIDATION ON THE ENGINE AND A BLACK STAIN ON BOTTOM OF ENGINE. ALSO THE EXHAUST MANIFOLDS HAVE BEEN REPLACED. THIS IS A 2017 AND SHOULDN'T HAVE THIS MANY ISSUES .

NHTSA ID

11364774

Incident

Aug 20, 2020

Mileage

29,000 mi

WHEN BACKING UP THE VEHICLE WILL HESITATE THEN IT FEELS LIKE I HIT SOMETHING. THEN THERE'S A CLUNK .. (REAR TOW BEARING/U-JOINT) #2 HAVE TO ALWAYS HAVE DEFROST ON OR WINDOWS FOG UP.. THEN THERE'S A SMELL OF ANTIFREEZE COMING THROUGH THE VENTS. BREAKS GRIND WHEN STOPPING. REAR BRAKES AND ROTORS WERE REPLACED BY DEALERSHIP.. BREAK FLUID LOW, ALONG WITH A BUNCH OF OTHER ISSUES TRANSMISSION SLIPS WHEN TAKING OFF FROM A STOP. ALWAYS HAVE TO RESET AVERAGE GAS MILEAGE TO GET A READING. I BELIEVE I WAS SOLD A LEMON AS THE FINANCE GUY TOOK MY DOWN PAYMENT AND PURCHASED A EXTENDED WARRANTY WHICH I NEVER AGREED TO.

NHTSA ID

11354741

Incident

Aug 18, 2020

Mileage

29,350 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO STOP WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE BATTERY SPONTANEOUSLY EXPLODED AND WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ANGELA KRAUSE FORD (1575 MANSELL RD, ALPHARETTA, GA 30009, (770) 649-5100) WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE BATTERY ACID WAS NOT CLEANED UP PROPERLY AND CORRODED EVERYTHING UNDER THE HOOD, INCLUDING THE BRAKE LINE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE INSURANCE COMPANY STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS A TOTAL LOSS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.

NHTSA ID

11280392

Incident

Sep 12, 2019

Mileage

40,000 mi

WHILE DRIVING TO WORK, WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS IN MOTION, I HEARD A LOUD POP SOUND, ENGINE BEGAN TO SMOKE. HAD VEHICLE TOWED IN TO LOCAL FORD DEALERSHIP WHICH INDICATED BAD CELL IN MANUFACTURERS BATTERY CAUSING IT TO BLOW AND SPRAY BATTERY ACID ALL OVER ENGINE COMPONENTS AT 26,127 MILES. DEALERSHIP DID NOT FOLLOW PROPER PROCEDURE WHEN REPLACING BATTERY AND LEFT ACID ON ENGINE AND COMPONENTS. BATTERY ACID HAD EATEN THROUGH BRAKE SYSTEM COMPONENTS, WIRING AND CAUSED SEVERE CORROSION UNDER HOOD. BY NOT ADDRESSING THE SAFETY CONCERN WHEN CONFRONTED AND DURING MULTIPLE VISITS AND PHONE E CALLS, BRAKE SYSTEM ABS FAILED CAUSING A FRONT END COLLISION BY SLAMMING INTO ANOTHER CAR IN THE INTERSTATE RESULTING FROM BRAKE SYSTEM FAILURE.

NHTSA ID

11229919

Incident

Sep 25, 2018

Mileage

40,210 mi

WHEN GEAR IS ENGAGED IN 'D' WITH ENGINE ON, VEHICLE MOVES WITHOUT FOOT ON THROTTLE. WHEN BRAKE IS APPLIED TO STOP IT, THERE COMES A LOUD VIBRATION FROM THE ENGINE WHICH BECOMES NERVOUS AND TRIES TO DRAG VEHICLE FORWARD UNLESS GEAR IS PUT IN 'N' OR 'P'. IT HAPPENS ANYTIME VEHICLE IS STATIONARY WITH ENGINE RUNNING INCLUDING STOP SIGNS AND TRAFFIC LIGHTS. NO CHECK LIGHT ON DASHBOARD. PHENOMENON OBSERVED IN EARLY FEBRUARY 2019.

NHTSA ID

11182217

Incident

Feb 2, 2019

Mileage

59,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 40-50MPH ON THE HIGHWAY, TRAFFIC STOPPED ABRUPTLY, COLLISION WARNING SYSTEM WITH BRAKE SUPPORT DID NOT ACTIVATE, DRIVER ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A HARD STOP, BRAKES ENGAGED AT INITIAL PUSH OF THE PEDAL THEN BECAME UNRESPONSIVE REGARDLESS OF FORCE APPLIED TO THE PEDAL, VEHICLE REAR-END ANOTHER VEHICLE, AIR-BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, SOS POST-CRASH ALERT SYSTEM DID NOT ACTIVATE, 911 ASSIST DID NOT ACTIVATE.

NHTSA ID

11110171

Incident

Jul 7, 2018

Mileage

17,000 mi

DRIVING DOWN A DIRT TRAIL FROM A MOUNTAIN OUTLOOK THE CARS ELECTRICAL SHUT OFF. WE HAD NO CONTROL OF BRAKES, OR ANYTHING BUT STEARING. NOT TO MENTION WE WERE PICKING UP MAJOR SPEED DOWN A MOUNTAIN, AND BOUNCING EVERYWHERE. WE HAD TO SWERVE BACK AND FORTH, HITTING BUSHES AND SEMI DRIVING UP THE SIDE OF THE MOUNTAIN TO TRY AND SLOW DOWN. OUR WHOLE FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR, INCLUDING A TWO MONTH OLD AND A THREE YEAR OLD. THE ONLY WAY WE GOT IT TO WORK AGAIN WAS SLAMMING THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL AND THEN PUSHING THE RESTART BUTTON, BUT IT WAS PROBABLY JUST OUR PRAYERS THAT GOT THE CAR TO TURN BACK ON AND GIVE US BRAKE CONTROL AGAIN. I'M AFRAID TO DRIVE MY CAR IN FEAR OF IT HAPPENING AGAIN.

NHTSA ID

11039479

Incident

Oct 22, 2017

Mileage

14,640 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, THE CONTACT WAS INVOLVED IN A FRONT END COLLISION WITH A WALL DUE TO BRAKE FAILURE. THE CONTACT STRUCK THE STEERING COLUMN BECAUSE THE SEAT BELT FAILED TO PROPERLY RESTRAIN HER. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE CONTACT'S RESIDENCE AND THEN TO THE GORNO FORD DEALER, WHERE IT WAS DEEMED DESTROYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND STATED THAT THERE WERE NO RECALLS ON THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT SUFFERED FROM MODERATE CHEST PAIN FROM STRIKING THE STEERING COLUMN AND REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,694.

NHTSA ID

11003582

Incident

Jun 30, 2017

Mileage

3,694 mi

BRAKES ARE VERY SENSITIVE. WHEN APPLYING THEM YOU HAVE TO THINK A LOT ABOUT FOOT PRESSURE. UNLESS YOU WANT TO COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AT 60 MPH. LOCAL FORD SERVICE MANAGER TOLD ME HE KNOWS ABOUT THE SENSITIVITY AND NO FIX FOR IT AT THIS TIME. SO WE WILL WAIT TILL WE HAVE A POSSIBLE ACCIDENT OR SELL THE CARE AS IS.

NHTSA ID

10949724

Incident

Dec 28, 2016