YearToAvoid

2010 Ford Explorer Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Good The 2010 Ford Explorer has a complaint index of 45, ranked 12th out of 21 model years, and earns a Good verdict relative to other Explorer years. NHTSA lists 115 complaints, one recall, and 50 reported deaths, with Engine issues the top problem area at 27% of complaints.

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
45/100
#12 of 21 Explorer years
Verdict
Good
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
115
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
1
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
8
reported in complaints
Fires
0
Injuries
13
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2009
rated Good
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
16
14 city / 19.5 hwy
Injuries / deaths
13 / 50

Top 2010 Ford Explorer problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine31 (27%)
  2. Transmission & Powertrain28 (24%)
  3. Structure & Body21 (18%)
  4. Brakes16 (14%)
  5. Electrical System14 (12%)
  6. Fuel System9 (8%)
  7. Other8 (7%)
  8. Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (7%)
  9. Airbags6 (5%)
  10. Steering4 (3%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Owners report the vehicle surging forward unexpectedly while braking at low speeds, sometimes causing a crash into a building or another vehicle.
  • Some describe brake pedals that failed to respond or extended to the floorboard, leading to loss of control.
  • Others say the vehicle continued to roll after being shifted into park, with brakes not stopping it in time.
  • Multiple owners describe the driver-side headrest angling too far forward, forcing the head down and making it hard to sit comfortably.
  • One owner reported the same sudden-acceleration-like braking failure occurring three separate times before the vehicle was totaled.
2010 Ford Explorer complaints: complaints filed per quarter102009 Q42011 Q22012 Q42014 Q32016 Q12017 Q32019 Q32022 Q2
115 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2009 Q4 to 2026 Q1; peak 2010 Q3 (10).

2010 Ford Explorer recalls

1 NHTSA recall campaign list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 10V161000Apr 20, 2010Structure & Body33,256 vehicles

    Seats:front assembly:recliner

    Ford is recalling certain model year 2010 fusion, explorer, explorer sport trac, and mercury milan and mountaineer vehicles manufactured between december 15, 2009 through february 3, 2010 equipped with front seat manual recliners. These vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 202, "head restraint." the recliner gear plate teeth may be out of dimension specification which could result in limited pawl to gear plate tooth engagement.

    Risk: In the event of a crash, the seatback and head restraint may move rearward, increasing the risk of injury.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the manual recliners for both power and manual seats free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin on or before april 30, 2010. Owners may contact ford at 1-866-436-7332.

2010 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost

City
14 MPG
Highway
19.5 MPG
Combined
16 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$4,050
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2010 compared with other Explorer years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)0255075100’05’06’07’08’09’10’11’12’13’14’15’16’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2008Good10148115.5
2009Good033016
2010Good45115116
2011Caution701,197619.5
2012Caution55827520

All Ford Explorer years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2010 Ford Explorer reliable?
Relative to other Explorer model years, the 2010 rates Good, with a complaint index of 45 and a rank of 12th out of 21 years. It has fewer complaints (115) and only one recall compared with later years like 2013-2017.
What are the most common problems with the 2010 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 27% of all reports, followed by Transmission & Powertrain at 24% and Structure & Body at 18%. Engine-related median mileage at failure was 28,773 miles.
Does the 2010 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes, one recall, campaign 10V161000, covering front seat manual recliners on certain 2010 Explorer, Explorer Sport Trac, Fusion, and Mercury models. It is not a do-not-drive recall.
How does the 2010 Explorer compare to the 2011 and later years?
The 2010 model has a much lower complaint index (45) than 2011 (70), 2013 (85), and 2016 (100), all of which carry Caution or Avoid verdicts. The 2010 remains one of the better years in the Explorer lineup.
Were there any deaths reported for the 2010 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA complaint data lists 50 reported deaths associated with the 2010 Explorer, along with 8 crashes and 13 injuries.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.