2024 Ford Explorer Problems, Recalls & Reliability
Verdict
BestComplaint Index
0/100
#16 most-complained of 16 Explorer years
The 2024 Ford Explorer has a Complaint Index of 0 and ranks 16th of 16 model years, meaning it's the Best year for reported problems among Explorer years. It has 21 complaints, 10 recalls, and a median mileage at failure of 8,831.5 miles.
- Complaints
- 21
- Recalls
- 10
- Crashes / fires
- 2 / 1
- Injuries / deaths
- 4 / 0
- NHTSA overall rating
- 5 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 20.5
- 18 city / 24.5 hwy
Top 2024 Ford Explorer problems
NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Other4 (19%)
- Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (14%)
- Structure & Body3 (14%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires3 (14%)
- Visibility & Wipers3 (14%)
- Airbags2 (10%)
- Electrical System2 (10%)
- Steering2 (10%)
- Engine1 (5%)
- Lane Departure1 (5%)
What owners report
- Front struts fail or wear prematurely, causing clunking and rattling noises under the front end at speeds below 35 mph.
- Lane Keep Assist has malfunctioned at highway speeds, veering the vehicle out of its intended lane on multiple occasions.
- The hood has become unlatched while driving at low speed, popping up and striking and shattering the windshield.
- The transmission has been reported to jerk hard during acceleration and deceleration shortly after purchase.
- A windshield distortion has been reported that affects visibility of the front right corner and nearby headlights at night.
- The third-row headrest has been reported stuck in the upright position and unable to fold down.
2024 Ford Explorer recalls
10 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 26V371000Jun 9, 2026Transmission & Powertrain58 vehicles
Power train:automatic transmission
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.
Risk: A park system that is damaged may not shift into "PARK," resulting in a vehicle rollaway and increasing the risk of injury or crash.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect for park system damage and replace the park system components as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 24, 2026. Owners may contact customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S39. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will become searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 12, 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.
2024 Ford Explorer fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 18 MPG
- Highway
- 24.5 MPG
- Combined
- 20.5 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $3,175
- 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.
2024 compared with other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2024 Ford Explorer a good year to buy?
- Based on NHTSA complaints and recalls, the 2024 Explorer has a Complaint Index of 0 and ranks as the Best of the 16 model years covered, with 21 complaints and 10 recalls on file.
- What are the most common problems with the 2024 Ford Explorer?
- The top problem areas reported are Collision Avoidance & Cameras, Structure & Body, Suspension, Wheels & Tires, and Visibility & Wipers, each accounting for 14% of complaints.
- Does the 2024 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
- NHTSA lists 10 recalls for the 2024 Explorer, covering issues such as second-row seat switches, seat belt anchor bolts, a rearview camera display flip, trailer hitch bolts, and a PCM reset affecting the park system.
- How does the 2024 Explorer compare to other model years?
- The 2024 Explorer's Complaint Index of 0 is far lower than the worst years, such as 2016 (100) and 2013 (93), both rated Avoid, making 2024 one of the better years for reported problems.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2024 Ford Explorer?
- The 2024 Explorer is EPA-rated at 20.5 mpg combined (18 city / 24.5 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $3,175.