Total Complaints
3 filings
FORD EXPLORER HYBRID · model year
2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID
3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crash reports for this specific cohort.
NHTSA overall rating
Not crash-tested
New Car Assessment Program
The 2023FORDEXPLORER HYBRID carries 3 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.
Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2023 EXPLORER HYBRID is forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control with 1 filings, followed by forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking (1) and back over prevention: warnings (1). 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.
NHTSA currently has 177 investigation files overlapping the 2023 EXPLORER HYBRID, and 8 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.
3
Complaints
3
Crashes
0
Fires
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
Crashes Reported
3 reports
Source
NHTSA ODI
Federal complaints database
Complaints vs. fleet median (215)
At or below the fleet median complaint volume.
Complaints by Component
| Component | Count |
|---|---|
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL | 1 |
| FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING | 1 |
| BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS | 1 |
Recent Complaints
20240227CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
Vehicle was within 3 feet of curb in our parking space at home. Vehicle suddenly surged forward and crashed into our building. This happened October 20,2023. the Vehicle has been in the shop since October 21,2013. Statefarm Insurance paid for investigation in the the black box. Investigation yielded no conclusive results. Upon further investigation the vehicle surged for the investigator as well. Which led to the problem with the wire harness and the accelerator being identified.
20240227CrashFORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
Vehicle was within 3 feet of curb in our parking space at home. Vehicle suddenly surged forward and crashed into our building. This happened October 20,2023. the Vehicle has been in the shop since October 21,2013. Statefarm Insurance paid for investigation in the the black box. Investigation yielded no conclusive results. Upon further investigation the vehicle surged for the investigator as well. Which led to the problem with the wire harness and the accelerator being identified.
20240227CrashBACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS
Vehicle was within 3 feet of curb in our parking space at home. Vehicle suddenly surged forward and crashed into our building. This happened October 20,2023. the Vehicle has been in the shop since October 21,2013. Statefarm Insurance paid for investigation in the the black box. Investigation yielded no conclusive results. Upon further investigation the vehicle surged for the investigator as well. Which led to the problem with the wire harness and the accelerator being identified.
Compare 2023FORDEXPLORER HYBRID to Similar Vehicles
NHTSA Investigations 8 Open
EA26001Engineering AnalysisOpen
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
PE25020Preliminary EvaluationOpen
Timing Belt Failure
DP25001Defect PetitionOpen
Underbody shields detachment
PE25007Preliminary EvaluationOpen
B-Pillar Trim Detachment
PE25002Preliminary EvaluationClosed
Unintended Transmission Downshift and Rear Wheel Lock-up
Frequently Asked Questions
How many complaints does the 2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID have?▼
The 2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID has 3 NHTSA complaints, 3 crashes, 0 fires, 0 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID?▼
The most-complained component for the 2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID is FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL with 1 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING and BACK OVER PREVENTION: WARNINGS.
Is the 2023 FORD EXPLORER HYBRID safe to buy?▼
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. 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.
Read our methodology — how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.