Best and worst Ford Explorer years to buy
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
Every model year, judged against the others.
Gathering every model year from NHTSA. The first look at a model can take a little while.
For 2026, NHTSA answered only in part, so some counts say “No answer”. The verdicts may change once NHTSA answers. Try again in a minute.
Look for 2018, 2019, 2021 to 2024, the newest Worthy years. Skip 2002. Careful with 2013, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2025 and some older years.
Of the newer years to look for, the ones with the fewest owner complaints for their age. A year few people bought can look the same.
From owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Only years old enough to judge. Still have any car inspected.
The most recent judged years that came out Worthy.
Other Worthy years with the fewest owner complaints against a typical year at the same age. A year with few sales can look the same.
Education, not financial or mechanical advice. Have any used car checked by a mechanic you trust before you buy.
Each year’s owner complaints, held up against a typical year of the Explorer at the same age. Popular cars collect more complaints just by selling more, so a year is never compared with another model.
Tap a year to open it. Bars are owner complaints filed with NHTSA: unverified, and not adjusted for how many were sold. The three small marks by a year show how sure its verdict is: three for high, one for low. How sure is the verdict? The 2026 to 2027 models are too new to judge.
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Oct 28, 2026.
0.0× a typical year
17 vs 353 typical
Most named: Cruise and speed control
Judged years with enough more complaints than a typical year to reach Maybe or Pass.
“Do not drive” and “park outside” are NHTSA’s own warnings on a recall, until it is fixed.
Scroll the table sideways to see more.
| Year | Verdict | Owner complaints | Recalls | Top problem area |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2027 | Not judged | 0 | 1 | None on file |
| 2026 | Not judged | No answer | 14 | No answer |
| 2025 | Maybe | 107 | 20 | Electrical |
| 2024 | Worthy | 21 | 10 | Driver assist and cameras |
| 2023 | Worthy | 113 | 15 | Driver assist and cameras |
| 2022 | Worthy | 271 | 24 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2021 | Worthy | 452 | 26 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2020 | Maybe | 1,247 | 33 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2019 | Worthy | 300 | 6 | Body and frame |
| 2018 | Worthy | 733 | 7 | Body and frame |
| 2017 | Maybe | 1,713 | 14 | Body and frame |
| 2016 | Maybe | 2,464 | 15 | Body and frame |
| 2015 | Worthy | 1,814 | 9 | Body and frame |
| 2014 | Worthy | 1,684 | 7 | Steering |
| 2013 | Maybe | 2,237 | 12 | Steering |
| 2012 | Worthy | 830 | 7 | Steering |
| 2011 | Maybe | 1,197 | 8 | Steering |
| 2010 | Worthy | 115 | 2 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2009 | Worthy | 33 | 1 | Cruise and speed control |
| 2008 | Worthy | 148 | 3 | Electrical |
| 2007 | Worthy | 208 | 3 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2006 | Maybe | 635 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2005 | Worthy | 568 | 3 | Body and frame |
| 2004 | Maybe | 1,408 | 4 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2003 | Worthy | 1,313 | 7 | Body and frame |
| 2002 | Pass | 3,622 | 10 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2001 | Worthy | 765 | 12 | Transmission and drivetrain |
| 2000 | Worthy | 1,133 | 15 | Wheels and tires |
| 1999 | Worthy | 1,568 | 15 | Wheels and tires |
| 1998 | Maybe | 2,248 | 14 | Wheels and tires |
| 1997 | Maybe | 1,981 | 12 | Wheels and tires |
| 1996 | Worthy | 1,640 | 11 | Wheels and tires |
| 1995 | Worthy | 950 | 12 | Wheels and tires |
SourceNHTSA’s complaint and recall datasets. Each year’s page links its own NHTSA record. NHTSA, checked Oct 28, 2026.