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#BS-2017-FOREXP-33C9

2017 Ford ExplorerProblems, Recalls & Reliability

Based on reports from 2,081 owners and 14 recalls for this exact model.

Data updated ·NHTSA complaints through October 28, 2026

Complaints
2,081
Crashes
56
Fires
16
Recalls
14
TSBs
201
🛑

Preliminary Verdict

Red Flag

Based on 2,081 complaints, 56 crashes, 16 fires, and 14 recalls. Complaint rate is 6.6x the class average.

See full verdict with buy/skip conditions

Top reported problems

1

premature tire wear

20 complaints • Severity 8.8/10

$X,XXX
2

exhaust fumes in cabin

19 complaints • Severity 8.1/10

$X,XXX
3

window spontaneously shattered

16 complaints • Severity 7.5/10

$X,XXX
4

window trim flew off

13 complaints • Severity 7.7/10

$X,XXX
5

paint bubbles

5 complaints • Severity 6.8/10

$X,XXX

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Mechanic Inspection Checklist

!Check the StructureHIGH

376 owners reported structure issues — failures commonly reported around 46K miles.

!Inspect the EngineMED
Look for symptoms of wear and premature failure
+ 6 more items in full checklistUnlock

Failure Timeline by Mileage

380
0–30K
215
30–60K
191
60–90K
124
90–120K
67
120–150K
36
150K+

Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (380 reports) • Median: 46K miles

Full report: which components fail at each mileageUnlock

30,000-Mile Cost Projection

Best Case

$X,XXX

Most Likely

$X,XXX

Worst Case

$X,XXX

Top cost driver: Structure (376 reports).

Includes fuel costs, common repairs, and recall riskUnlock

Also in your report

Owner Intelligence

AI-synthesized themes from real complaints

Buyer Lot Checklist

Questions, test drive checks, walk-away triggers

Negotiation Talking Points

Data-backed dollar deductions

Buy / Skip Verdict

Final recommendation with conditions

10 sections total in the full reportUnlock all

Where the complaints fall

Structure376 (18%)
Other374 (18%)
Engine295 (14%)
Structure:body262 (13%)
Drivetrain116 (6%)
Electrical88 (4%)
Steering75 (4%)
Wheels & Tires75 (4%)

2017 Ford Explorer: Known Issues & Problem Areas

Structure Issues

Structure complaints account for 18% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 376 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 46,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 46K-mile mark.

Engine Issues

Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 295 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to engine-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Structure:body Issues

Structure:body complaints account for 13% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 262 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Drivetrain Issues

Drivetrain complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 116 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to drivetrain-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.

Data sourced from NHTSA owner complaints and community reports. The full report analyzes severity, repair costs, and failure patterns for each category.

Complaint trend by year

12
16
168
17
158
18
162
19
92
20
123
21
126
22
307
23
278
24
435
25
220
26

Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Ford Explorer. Recent trend: decreasing.

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Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict

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Recall History (14 recalls)

16V925000Jan 2017

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2016 Ford Taurus, 2016-2017 Ford Flex, Lincoln MKT, 2017 Ford Explorer and Ford Explorer Police Interceptor Utility vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes may leak oil on engine components.

17E048000Jul 2017

WHEELS:HUB

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

17V332000Jun 2017

SEATS:FRONT ASSEMBLY:RECLINER

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Ford Explorer, F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450 and F-550 vehicles equipped with a manual driver's seat back recliner mechanism. In the event of a crash, the seat back frame may not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles may not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202a, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

17V530000Sep 2017

STEERING

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.

19V435000Jun 2019

SUSPENSION:REAR

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

+ 9 more recalls in the full report

Recall severity analysis & seller scripts

The full report rates each recall's severity and gives you scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.

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2017 Ford Explorer NHTSA Safety Ratings

Overall

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Frontal crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Side crash

★★★★★

5 of 5 stars

Rollover

★★★★★

4 of 5 stars

From NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings). Where NHTSA tested more than one version of this vehicle, the lowest rating is shown.

NHTSA Defect Investigations (2)

All closed. Investigations are how NHTSA decides whether a defect needs a recall.

EA17002ClosedOpened Jul 2017 · closed Jan 2023

Exhaust Odor in Passenger Cab

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

PE23001ClosedOpened Jan 2023 · closed Feb 2024

Windshield trim molding Item detachment

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

The worst model year for the Ford Explorer is the 2006 — worth knowing if you're cross-shopping years. The biggest problem area is transmission.

2017 Ford Explorer vs. Class Average (Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 2WD)

This vehicle

2,081

Class avg

316

6.6x the class average — significantly more complaints than typical standard sport utility vehicle 2wd vehicles.

Complaint counts correlate with sales volume — popular vehicles naturally generate more reports. The full report normalizes for this.

About this data

NHTSA Complaints

Federal database of owner-filed safety complaints. 2,081 records for this vehicle.

NHTSA Recalls

Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 14 recalls found for this vehicle.

Repair Cost Data

Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.

Last updated . NHTSA complaints received through October 28, 2026; safety ratings from NHTSA's 5-Star program.

Other Ford Explorer Model Years

20272026202520242023202220212020201920182017201620152014201320122011201020092008200720062005200420032002200120001999199819971996199519941993199219911990198819871986
View all Ford Explorer years →

2017 Ford Explorer: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported issue with the 2017 Ford Explorer is related to the structure, with 376 complaints filed with NHTSA.
Is the 2017 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2017 Ford Explorer has 2,081 complaints, 56 crash reports, and 16 fire reports filed with NHTSA. This is 6.6x the class average — higher than typical for its segment.
How safe is the 2017 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA rates the 2017 Ford Explorer 5 out of 5 stars overall, with 5 stars in frontal crash tests, 5 stars in side crash tests, 4 stars for rollover resistance. Where NHTSA tested more than one version, the lowest rating is shown.
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Ford Explorer problems?
Repair costs vary by issue. The full BumperScan report includes detailed repair cost estimates (low/median/high) for every major issue, plus a 30,000-mile total cost of ownership projection.
Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes, the 2017 Ford Explorer has 14 recalls on record. The full report includes recall severity analysis and scripts for asking the seller about recall completion.
What mileage do Ford Explorer problems start?
Based on 1013 complaints with mileage data, the median mileage at time of complaint is 46,000 miles. The highest concentration of reported issues occurs in the 0–30K mile range. The full report breaks down exactly which components fail at each mileage bracket.
When was the 2017 Ford Explorer data last updated?
BumperScan last checked this vehicle against NHTSA on October 30, 2026, covering owner complaints received through October 28, 2026 plus the latest recalls, investigations and technical service bulletins.
What’s in the full report?
10 sections of AI analysis: severity-ranked issues, component scores (0-100), 30K-mile cost projection, failure timeline by mileage, recall details with seller scripts, owner sentiment analysis, mechanic checklist, buyer lot checklist, negotiation ammo with dollar figures, and a buy/skip verdict.
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
NHTSA gives you raw complaint text. BumperScan cross-references 2.1M+ complaints with community repair cost data, EPA fuel data, and recall records — then uses AI to synthesize it into actionable advice with dollar figures.
How is this different from Carfax?
Carfax is VIN-specific history ($45/report). BumperScan is model-level reliability intelligence — what problems this car is known for, what they cost, and whether you should buy it. Complementary, not competing.
What if the report isn’t useful?
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10 sections of AI analysis based on 2,081 owner reports. Know before you buy.

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