2022 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
GoodComplaint Index
33/100
#11 most-complained of 16 Explorer years
The 2022 Ford Explorer has a Complaint Index of 33, ranking 11th out of 16 model years, with a verdict of Good relative to other Explorer years. NHTSA lists 267 complaints, 24 recalls, and 17 crashes, with Transmission & Powertrain the top problem area at 23% of complaints.
- Complaints
- 267
- Recalls
- 24
- Crashes / fires
- 17 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 23 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 22
- 20 city / 26 hwy
Top 2022 Ford Explorer problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Transmission & Powertrain61 (23%)
- Other56 (21%)
- Electrical System42 (16%)
- Engine38 (14%)
- Fuel System36 (13%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras33 (12%)
- Visibility & Wipers29 (11%)
- Structure & Body17 (6%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires16 (6%)
- Brakes13 (5%)
What owners report
- Owners report unintended acceleration while auto-hold was engaged at a stop, leading to low-speed crashes into vehicles ahead.
- Some describe a delay of 15 to 20 seconds when shifting into reverse, causing the vehicle to roll forward before engaging.
- Rear backup camera and alert system reportedly failed to warn of nearby objects during low-speed reversing, resulting in collisions.
- One owner described smoke and a burst of flame from the passenger compartment while driving at low speed.
- Owners report brakes failing to engage immediately on multiple occasions at low speeds, including while backing out of a garage.
- Airbags reportedly failed to deploy or deployed only partially during moderate-speed collisions.
2022 Ford Explorer recalls
24 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 26V451000Jul 14, 2026Structure & Body387,911 vehicles
Seats:mid/rear assembly
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V159000Mar 17, 2026Seat Belts561 vehicles
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.
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
- NHTSA 26V123000Mar 3, 2026Collision Avoidance & Cameras889,950 vehicles
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 fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
2022 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 20 MPG
- Highway
- 26 MPG
- Combined
- 22 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,950
- 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.
2022 compared with other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2022 Ford Explorer reliable?
- Relative to other Explorer model years, the 2022 is rated Good, with a Complaint Index of 33 and rank of 11th out of 16 years tracked.
- What are the most common problems with the 2022 Ford Explorer?
- Transmission & Powertrain issues make up 23% of complaints, followed by Electrical System at 16% and Engine problems at 14%.
- Does the 2022 Ford Explorer have recalls?
- NHTSA lists 24 recalls for the 2022 Explorer, covering areas including seat belts, structure and body, collision avoidance cameras, fuel system, and visibility and wipers.
- What year Ford Explorer should I avoid?
- Based on NHTSA data, 2013, 2015, 2016, and 2020 carry Avoid verdicts with Complaint Index values of 93, 87, 100, and 80 respectively, all higher than the 2022's index of 33.
- What is the median mileage at failure for the 2022 Ford Explorer?
- Across all reported problems, the median mileage at failure is 37,000 miles, though transmission complaints show a lower median of 22,000 miles.