FORD EXPLORER · model year

2023 FORD EXPLORER

123 NHTSA complaints, 11 crash reports, and 14 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

5 / 5 ★

New Car Assessment Program

The 2023FORDEXPLORER carries 123 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 11 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 fatalities. For crash performance, NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gave this cohort an overall 5/5 rating, with 5/5 front crash, 5/5 side crash, and 4/5 rollover scores derived from standardized barrier and dynamic tests.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2023 EXPLORER is unknown or other with 18 filings, followed by electrical system (11) and power train (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 14 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 13 investigation files overlapping the 2023 EXPLORER, and 1 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

123
Complaints
11
Crashes
3
Fires
9
Injuries
0
Deaths
2023 FORD EXPLORER — NHTSA crash-test profile NHTSA NCAP crash-test star ratings for the 2023 FORD EXPLORER. Overall composite: 5.0 of 5 stars across 3 safety dimensions. Front CrashSide CrashRollover 5.0 NHTSA NCAP of 5 stars
  • Front Crash 5.0 ★
  • Side Crash 5.0 ★
  • Rollover 4.0 ★
NHTSA overall 5.0/5 stars, with front-crash, side-crash and rollover ratings from standardized NCAP barrier and dynamic tests.

Total Complaints

123 filings

Crashes Reported

11 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

NHTSA NCAP overall: 5/5 — Top NCAP rating · Front: 5/5 · Side: 5/5 · Rollover: 4/5

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
UNKNOWN OR OTHER18
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM11
POWER TRAIN10
STEERING10
SUSPENSION9
ENGINE8
BACK OVER PREVENTION5
SEAT BELTS5
STRUCTURE:BODY5
SERVICE BRAKES4
LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST3
VISIBILITY/WIPER3
AIR BAGS3
VISIBILITY:SUN/MOON ROOF ASSEMBLY2
STRUCTURE2

Recalls (14)

25V44200027/06/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2

23V59700025/08/2023

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.

23V02200023/01/2023

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

26V15900017/03/2026

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.

25V15900014/03/2025

BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 23V-342. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

23V68600013/10/2023

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 c

25V39300013/06/2025

SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.

23V34200012/05/2023

BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.

25V68500010/10/2025

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it t

23V07000010/02/2023

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter p

24V85200008/11/2024

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requiremen

24V09100008/02/2024

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.

25V45500007/07/2025

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.

26V12300003/03/2026

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

Recent Complaints

20260210SUSPENSION

Struts rattle and shake aggressively while driving

20260204UNKNOWN OR OTHER

While out shopping yesterday, [XXX], after turning off the car it would not start again. Everything completely shut down. Locks on doors did not work, hatch wouldn't open, fobs did not work (mine or my husband's) and my ford app even went blank. I called AAA and they sent someone out to get the car started. He thought it might be the battery. So my husband took the car this morning to the ford dealer. They said the battery is good and everything checked out. So we still don't know what caused this. The service department said if it happens again to let them know. I'm just afraid this might happen when we are out in traffic. I'm not sure if anyone else has reported the same issue. I would appreciate if someone could look into this issue. The person from AAA told us that he just came from starting an Explorer that shut down at a traffic light in traffic and would not start. This is very scary especially since I take my special needs granddaughter with me most of the time. Thank you in a

20260121SERVICE BRAKES

My 2023 Ford Explorer ST has rolled while parked, turned off, and in Park, with the electronic parking brake engaged. This has occurred multiple times on my residential driveway, which has an approximate 20-degree slope, during light snow conditions. On one occasion, the vehicle rolled backward down the driveway and into the street after being parked and shut off. On another occasion, it rolled forward while parked in the same location. In both cases, the vehicle stopped on its own without driver input. The dashboard indicated the vehicle was in Park, and the electronic parking brake had automatically engaged. This behavior is inconsistent and occurred in both directions, which raises concern that the parking pawl and/or electronic parking brake is not reliably holding the vehicle. Snow may reduce traction, but a properly functioning parking system should prevent a parked vehicle from rolling, especially into the street. After the December 14, 2025 incident, the dealer was contacted

20260121UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My 2023 Ford Explorer ST has rolled while parked, turned off, and in Park, with the electronic parking brake engaged. This has occurred multiple times on my residential driveway, which has an approximate 20-degree slope, during light snow conditions. On one occasion, the vehicle rolled backward down the driveway and into the street after being parked and shut off. On another occasion, it rolled forward while parked in the same location. In both cases, the vehicle stopped on its own without driver input. The dashboard indicated the vehicle was in Park, and the electronic parking brake had automatically engaged. This behavior is inconsistent and occurred in both directions, which raises concern that the parking pawl and/or electronic parking brake is not reliably holding the vehicle. Snow may reduce traction, but a properly functioning parking system should prevent a parked vehicle from rolling, especially into the street. After the December 14, 2025 incident, the dealer was contacted

20260109UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Manufacturer Recall Number25S72 NHTSA Recall Number25V442 Vehicle had been taken to and left at the local Ford dealership all day (opening to closing on 11/28 and 12/23/25) twice now with no resolution to this recall ticket. Technician and service manager advised both times that the required update from Ford is not working and they believe the APIM needs to be released, but Ford Service (corporate) must authorize this. Almost two months since the initial appointment and I still have no answers as to when this recall will be addressed. As this is a safety related recall and my vehicle often replicates the problems which are listed in the recall, I would like this matter addressed with a little more urgency by Ford.

20260109BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS

Manufacturer Recall Number25S72 NHTSA Recall Number25V442 Vehicle had been taken to and left at the local Ford dealership all day (opening to closing on 11/28 and 12/23/25) twice now with no resolution to this recall ticket. Technician and service manager advised both times that the required update from Ford is not working and they believe the APIM needs to be released, but Ford Service (corporate) must authorize this. Almost two months since the initial appointment and I still have no answers as to when this recall will be addressed. As this is a safety related recall and my vehicle often replicates the problems which are listed in the recall, I would like this matter addressed with a little more urgency by Ford.

20260109BACK OVER PREVENTION: REARVIEW SYSTEM BRAKING

Manufacturer Recall Number25S72 NHTSA Recall Number25V442 Vehicle had been taken to and left at the local Ford dealership all day (opening to closing on 11/28 and 12/23/25) twice now with no resolution to this recall ticket. Technician and service manager advised both times that the required update from Ford is not working and they believe the APIM needs to be released, but Ford Service (corporate) must authorize this. Almost two months since the initial appointment and I still have no answers as to when this recall will be addressed. As this is a safety related recall and my vehicle often replicates the problems which are listed in the recall, I would like this matter addressed with a little more urgency by Ford.

20260108UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The sunroof headliner is sagging when opened.

20260103ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

While in moderate snow attempted to go from backing up to drive and the vehicle stopped, parking brake auto engaged, powertrain (wrench) trouble light illuminated. The trouble light did not shut off after sitting overnight.

20260103POWER TRAIN

While in moderate snow attempted to go from backing up to drive and the vehicle stopped, parking brake auto engaged, powertrain (wrench) trouble light illuminated. The trouble light did not shut off after sitting overnight.

20260101UNKNOWN OR OTHER

The moon roof cover was being opened backward, small plastic piece popped off. As that piece popped off the rollaway cover disengaged from the track and angled downward. When the moonroof cover was falling the metal piece that holds it straight slid out directly at my babies head! Barely missed him! This has since been repaired at the dealership.

20251112ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the engine was misfiring, and the vehicle hesitated while accelerating. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who replaced the spark plug,s but the failure persisted. Later, while driving, the vehicle went into LIMP Mode and was towed to the dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the coolant hose had failed, and the hose was replaced. Shortly after retrieving the vehicle the misfire continued with the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, and the head gaskets were replaced. The vehicle continued to experience failures, and the fuel injector and the crankshaft position sensor were replaced. The contact stated that later, while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle stalled in the middle of the road. The vehicle was towed back to the dealer, who diagnosed that the engine rod bearings had failed, and the engine needed to be repla

Mileage: 35,682

20251111UNKNOWN OR OTHER

There was a recall on my 2023 Ford Explorer. I took it in to have the recall fixed on 09/15/2025 and was told it was repaired on 9/19/2025. The recall was supposedly fixed and i was given an invoice from Al Piemonte Ford in Melrose Park IL 60160. It still shows on the NHTSA website as "not repaired" and it is going on a month since i was told it was repaired. Can someone please look into this and have this recall cleared since it was repaired back on 9/19/2025? I look forward to hearing a response. Thank you,

20251110UNKNOWN OR OTHER

My vehicle automatically shuts off after 30 minutes of inactivity. This poses a safety hazard as when I 1st received this vehicle from my fleet company I left my 1 year old in there to nap and had no idea that it was going to automatically shut off. Thankfully, it was not a hot day and nothing happened to her. Today I read a story about a 2 year old that died after being left in a vehicle that has an automatic shutoff after 30 minutes. This feature needs to be removed from vehicles as people have been napping their children in cars for many years and many people do not know about this feature and think that their car will stay on and stay cool with the air conditioner. Please do everything you can to get this feature removed from all vehicles.

20251027VISIBILITY/WIPER

I have a 2023 Ford Explorer with a sun room/moon roof and the fabric is sagging causing visibility issues due to not being able to properly see out of my rear view mirror. I have not taken it to the dealership to get it checked out but I’m going to as my vehicle already has an open recall on it.

20251023FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Recall 25V442 was not completed on this VIN but was completed on VIN [XXX] . This service was reported on the incorrect VIN. I have spoken to the dealership service manager and to Ford customer service and they will not correct this incorrect reporting. Attached files are for the service and recall work performed on VIN [XXX] but recorded as completed on VIN [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

20251020UNKNOWN OR OTHER

They are selling and won't fix/recall their broken cup holder design. This causes the driver to look down and the awkward cant of the cup in the center console in traffic. The cup actually falls into the center console. It is a known defect to Ford and causes a distraction to driver looking down and something that shouldn't break like that. Should be repaired at no cost to owner but instead Ford wants $500-$800 to fix a defective plastic part. Causes distraction and discomfort to drivers of vehicle. Furthermore, Ford won't cover under warranty nor extended warranty. Horrendous!

20250919STRUCTURE:BODY

The sunroof leaks water when fully closed. Especially noticeable when going through car wash.

20250901STEERING

The system that warns the driver that you do not have both hands on the steering wheel. It turns on while I have both hands on the wheel and sometimes I can not get it to acknowledge that and the car begins to stop on the interstate, in traffic and in a dark tunnel wiht no shoulder. The dealer can not reproduce the proble,. I have had it to them now for the third time.It has been inspected by the dealer and they have only reinstalled the software and can not fix the problem nore can they disable the system.This has been occuring with this care since I purchased it and have had it into the dealer but no fix. During a recent trip it acted very dangerously and I began to slo in a dark tunnel and even after banging ther steering wheel in frustration it continued to activeae and slow the car from 70 MPH to 30 MPG. I tryed to take a video of the problem but that became to dangerous. I stopped during my trip and installed a zip tie on the steering wheel and that seemed to help a bit with but

20250821BACK OVER PREVENTION

The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact received Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP): 24B47 in August 2024. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Most recently, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the navigational system displayed a black screen, compromising the functions on the screen. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the Ford App on the cellphone failed to sync with the vehicle as intended. The message "Unable to Connect" was displayed on the App. While attempting to remotely start the vehicle, the message "Temporarily Unavailable – Unable to Connect" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the software and screen had failed. The vehicl

Mileage: 3,000

Compare 2023FORDEXPLORER to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 1 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2023 FORD EXPLORER have?
The 2023 FORD EXPLORER has 123 NHTSA complaints, 11 crashes, 3 fires, 9 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2023 FORD EXPLORER?
The 2023 FORD EXPLORER received an overall NHTSA safety rating of 5/5, front crash rating of 5/5, side crash rating of 5/5, and rollover rating of 4/5.
Are there any recalls for the 2023 FORD EXPLORER?
Yes, the 2023 FORD EXPLORER has 14 recall(s). The most common affected component is BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 FORD EXPLORER?
The most-complained component for the 2023 FORD EXPLORER is UNKNOWN OR OTHER with 18 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include ELECTRICAL SYSTEM and POWER TRAIN.
Is the 2023 FORD EXPLORER safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. The 2023 FORD EXPLORER has an NHTSA safety rating of 5/5. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.