2017 Ford Explorer Electrical System Problems
Owners filed 99 Electrical System complaints for the 2017 Ford Explorer, about 6% of all 1,691 complaints that year, with a median failure mileage of 46,500. Six complaints mention fire and there are no related recalls listed for this component.
- Electrical System complaints
- 99
- 6% of 1,691
- Crashes reported
- 3
- Fires reported
- 6
- Injuries reported
- 0
- Median mileage
- 46,500 mi
- Related recalls
- 0
Typical electrical symptoms owners report
- Owners report a burning odor coming through the vents while driving, sometimes strong enough to cause headaches, with no dashboard warning lights on.
- Some describe smoke or fire originating under the hood shortly after parking or while driving, occasionally leading to a total loss of the vehicle.
- Several complaints involve battery or wiring failures, including a battery cell rupture spraying acid on engine components and a power cable bursting through its casing.
- Some owners had fuse and wiring harness problems (e.g., Fuse 34) that disabled dashboard warnings, safety sensors, and front/rear cameras.
- A few report software or electronics glitches with the Sync 3 infotainment system, including incorrect navigation and lost phone connectivity while driving.
- One complaint describes an inability to start the vehicle after a stop, showing a 'full accessory power active' error before the car would restart.
When 2017 Ford Explorer electrical complaints were filed
First complaint Oct 17, 2016, latest Sep 5, 2026.
Electrical System recalls for the 2017 Ford Explorer
No safety recalls on record for this model year.
Electrical System complaints by Explorer model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many 2017 Ford Explorer owners reported electrical problems?
- NHTSA lists 99 Electrical System complaints for the 2017 Ford Explorer, which is about 6% of the 1,691 total complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a recall for the 2017 Ford Explorer electrical system?
- No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for the Electrical System component on the 2017 Ford Explorer.
- At what mileage do electrical problems tend to occur on the 2017 Ford Explorer?
- The median mileage at failure for Electrical System complaints on the 2017 Ford Explorer is 46,500 miles.
- Do electrical problems on the 2017 Ford Explorer involve fires?
- Yes, NHTSA data shows 6 fire-related complaints and 3 crash-related complaints among the reports involving this vehicle's electrical system.