Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (fuel pump, injectors, fuel tank, hybrid and EV propulsion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2015 Ford Explorer owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
When driving the vehicle, I can smell gas fumes which caused nausea. I didn't know it was worse in the back of the cabin where my children sit until I sat back there for a 3 hour trip. The smell was stronger there which led to headache, nausea and fatigue. It doesn't seem to come from the vent, it seems from the entire body of the vehicle. This puts my children's health at risk. And all of our lives because if we travel far enough breathing this in, it can lead to exhaustion which can cause a crash and put others' safety at risk. I'm surprised to see there is no recall, yet, it's been reported that there have been 1.5 million complaints. We are having the issue fixed next Wednesday, but we will be without a car (ford is not providing a loan vehicle) and the bill is extremely expensive. …
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the contact noticed fuel leaking from near the fuel tank. The contact was unsure which warning light was illuminated, but stated that a yellow warning light was illuminated, and there was a strong fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic, where it was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle was unsafe to drive and that the failure could potentially result in a fire. The vehicle was then towed to the residence, where the failure continued. The dealer was contacted; however, the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 152,000.
Upon driving, my vehicle just started randomly cutting out. I was told that it had to do with the throttle body. I did further research, and I noticed that I haven't been the only Explorer owner that has had this issue, so I'm not sure why there isn't a recall already established. Not only does it put me and my kids at risk, but it also puts drivers around me at risk. My car shuts down, which could cause the drivers behind me to rear end my vehicle. There has been some sort of warning light that comes on, that looks like a wrench, but only after my car shuts off, which is followed by the check engine light coming on. There were no warning signs prior to this happening.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the vehicle lost power on several occasions. The vehicle was restarted and operated as designed. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and diagnosed with a faulty throttle body. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the but no further assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 96,000.
EXHAUST FUMES INSIDE INTERIOR-This seems to only occur on road trips where fast and hard acceleration is needed for highway driving which is not something we normally due. Since we have owned the vehicle, on every occasion of strong hard acceleration there is a strong exhaust / spent fuel smell being brought into the cars interior. We have reached out to the local Ford Dealer several times but without satisfactory results. The exhaust fumes continue to exist in the cars interior upon hard and fast acceleration. My wife just returned from a interstate road trip with signs of exhaust fume poisoning with an extreme headache and very lethargic.What is it going to take for Ford to fix this problem or for a recall to be issued. Will it take fatalities or long term respiratory issues before anything is done to solace this issue. …
Throttle Body --- I have ask the dealer to provide the defective part for my inspection. Driving on the 15 Freeway in Southern California. My wife was driving and had just picked up speed and merged into the fast land. There was a sudden pop or clunk and the SUV immediately lost power and would not accelerate. She had to exit to the right of the freeway while losing power and no acceleration. She was traveling at less than 5 miles an hour in 60 plus traffic. There was only a narrow strip of shoulder with a "K" rail that was on the shoulder above a deep drop off on the side of the freeway. She was able to avoid getting hit and make it to the exit with enough of a shoulder for her to pullover safely. The SUV was taken to the Ford dealer where the Throttle Body was diagnosed as being defective. There was no warning lamps, messages or other symptoms before the issue on the freeway.
On [redacted] while driving to work my car just shut off and the brakes locked up. This scenario happened again several other times even after being worked on at a Ford dealership. Please see attachment for specific dates & details. Fuel pump driver module was replaced first time then the fuel pump the last time. Explorer was inspected by the Sandy Sansing Ford Dealership in Daphne, Alabama. Only time warnings/codes appeared was when it shut off. I attached a screen shot of what the dash showed.
While driving with the ac on you can smell exhaust fumes in the cabin and it's worse towards the rear carbin of the vehicle. I've gotten nauseated and sleepy from the fumes and have had several headaches in addition to the other symptoms. Ford needs to recall this issue. Also I have an active recall for the window pillars and the dealership says they still dont have the parts to fix it, and it's been over a year, what's the hold up Ford??!!
Upon excellerated take off the exhaust fumes fill the cabin. There has been a prior recall for such issues. This has happened multiple times over the entire time that I have owned it. It is getting increasingly worse and I worry for myself, my family and others. My local Ford dealership dismissed me every time I brought it up.
The car would not accelerate after leaving a light. I had just exited the freeway and the gas pedal would not respond and I was stuck in the middle of a 4 lane highway. A yellow warning wrench appeared on the dash and then a check engine light. The error code is P2111 stating the throttle body stuck open.
Fuel System complaints in other Explorer years
Frequently asked questions
How common are fuel system problems on the 2015 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA has 94 complaints about the fuel & propulsion system of the 2015 Ford Explorer, 5% of the model year's 1,809 complaints. The component named most often is fuel injection system › injectors (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2015 Ford Explorer fuel system problems?
No. NHTSA lists no fuel & propulsion system recall for the 2015 Ford Explorer, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2015 Ford Explorer fuel system problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 30,000 miles, and 46% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 11 injuries to fuel & propulsion system problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.