YearToAvoid

2015 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA lists 299 engine complaints for the 2015 Ford Explorer, 17% of all complaints filed for that year, with a median failure mileage of 37,700. No related engine recall is on file. The dominant pattern owners describe is exhaust or carbon monoxide fumes entering the cabin.

Engine complaints
299
17% of 1,791
Crashes reported
3
Fires reported
1
Injuries reported
19
Median mileage
37,700 mi
Related recalls
0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

  • Owners report exhaust or carbon monoxide odor entering the cabin during acceleration, sometimes at highway speed.
  • Some owners describe dizziness, nausea, or fatigue during long trips that they linked to carbon monoxide detected inside the vehicle.
  • A case of sudden unintended acceleration while slowing to park was reported, resulting in a collision.
  • One owner reported the vehicle accelerated and would not stop while driving on a wet road, leading to a crash.
  • A check engine light came on along with a burning smell and smoke, followed by a fire in one case.
  • One owner reported losing consciousness from carbon monoxide entering the vehicle, causing a crash with injuries.

When 2015 Ford Explorer engine complaints were filed

First complaint Jan 9, 2015, latest Jul 31, 2026.

2015 Ford Explorer engine complaints: complaints filed per quarter272015 Q12017 Q12018 Q32020 Q12021 Q32023 Q12024 Q32026 Q1
299 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2015 Q1 to 2026 Q3; peak 2016 Q3 (27).

Engine recalls for the 2015 Ford Explorer

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Explorer model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

  1. 201031 (27%)
  2. 2011113 (9%)
  3. 2012103 (12%)
  4. 2013316 (14%)
  5. 2014272 (16%)
  6. 2015299 (17%)
  7. 2016530 (22%)
  8. 2017317 (19%)
  9. 2018129 (18%)
  10. 201926 (9%)
  11. 2020162 (13%)
  12. 202169 (16%)
  13. 202238 (14%)
  14. 202313 (12%)
  15. 20241 (5%)
  16. 202514 (14%)

Frequently asked questions

How many engine complaints does the 2015 Ford Explorer have?
NHTSA lists 299 engine complaints for the 2015 Explorer, which is 17% of the 1,791 total complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2015 Ford Explorer engine or exhaust fumes issue?
No related recall is listed in the data provided for this engine complaint category.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up on the 2015 Explorer?
The median mileage at failure for engine-related complaints is 37,700 miles.
What is the most common engine complaint for the 2015 Ford Explorer?
The largest cluster of sample complaints describes exhaust or carbon monoxide fumes entering the cabin, sometimes accompanied by dizziness or nausea.
Have engine problems caused crashes or injuries in the 2015 Explorer?
NHTSA data tied to this engine complaint category shows 3 crashes, 1 fire, and 19 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.