Free Preview
#BS-2017-FOREXP-33C92017 Ford Explorer
Based on reports from 1,000 owners and 12 recalls for this exact model.
Preliminary Verdict
Red Flag
Based on 1,000 complaints, 40 crashes, 10 fires, and 12 recalls. Complaint rate is 3.2x the class average.
Top reported problems
premature tire wear
20 complaints • Severity 8.8/10
exhaust fumes in cabin
19 complaints • Severity 8.1/10
water pump failure
5 complaints • Severity 8.8/10
Preview: What's in your full report
Each card shows a real sample from your report — unlock all 10 sections from $1.20
Mechanic Inspection Checklist
144 owners reported engine issues — failures commonly reported around 22K miles.
Failure Timeline by Mileage
Peak failure range: 0–30K miles (368 reports) • Median: 22K miles
30,000-Mile Cost Projection
Best Case
Most Likely
Worst Case
Top cost driver: Engine (144 reports).
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
Where the complaints fall
2017 Ford Explorer: Known Issues & Problem Areas
Engine Issues
Engine complaints account for 14% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 144 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. The median mileage at time of complaint is 22,000 miles, suggesting issues tend to surface around the 22K-mile mark.
Structure:body Issues
Structure:body complaints account for 12% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 123 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure:body-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Wheels & Tires Issues
Wheels & Tires complaints account for 7% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 67 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to wheels & tires-related symptoms during test drives and pre-purchase inspections.
Structure Issues
Structure complaints account for 6% of all reports filed for the 2017 Ford Explorer, with 61 owners filing complaints with NHTSA. Owners should pay attention to structure-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
Complaints filed with NHTSA by year for the 2017 Ford Explorer. Recent trend: decreasing.
Don't negotiate blind — know what this car costs to own
Repair costs • Negotiation scripts • Mechanic checklist • Buy/skip verdict
Recall History (12 recalls)
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
+ 7 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.
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
1,000
Class avg
309
3.2x 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. 1,000 records for this vehicle.
NHTSA Recalls
Manufacturer-issued safety recalls. 12 recalls found for this vehicle.
Repair Cost Data
Real-world repair costs from owner reports and independent databases.
Other Ford Explorer Model Years
2017 Ford Explorer: Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most common problem with the 2017 Ford Explorer?
Is the 2017 Ford Explorer reliable?
How much does it cost to fix 2017 Ford Explorer problems?
Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
What mileage do Ford Explorer problems start?
What’s in the full report?
How is this different from free NHTSA data?
How is this different from Carfax?
What if the report isn’t useful?
Get the Full 2017 Ford Explorer Report
10 sections of AI analysis based on 1,000 owner reports. Know before you buy.