Brake complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2 | 5% | — |
| 2025 | 19 | 18% | 20,000 miles |
| 2023 | 6 | 5% | 20,000 miles |
| 2022 | 13 | 5% | 46,000 miles |
| 2021 | 24 | 5% | 37,000 miles |
| 2020 | 87 | 7% | 7,000 miles |
| 2019 | 4 | 1% | 36,000 miles |
| 2018 | 11 | 1% | 1,000 miles |
| 2017 | 22 | 1% | 29,000 miles |
| 2016 | 19 | 1% | 20,000 miles |
| 2015 | 34 | 2% | 57,000 miles |
| 2014 | 27 | 2% | 54,000 miles |
| 2013 | 40 | 2% | 45,000 miles |
| 2012 | 21 | 3% | 51,000 miles |
| 2011 | 28 | 2% | 39,000 miles |
| 2010 | 15 | 13% | 41,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% | 184,000 miles |
| 2008 | 8 | 5% | 98,000 miles |
| 2007 | 12 | 6% | 38,000 miles |
| 2006 | 41 | 7% | 67,000 miles |
| 2005 | 18 | 4% | 62,000 miles |
| 2004 | 53 | 4% | 81,000 miles |
| 2003 | 45 | 4% | 72,000 miles |
| 2002 | 132 | 4% | 59,000 miles |
| 2001 | 33 | 9% | 35,000 miles |
| 2000 | 64 | 7% | 64,000 miles |
| 1999 | 69 | 5% | 67,000 miles |
| 1998 | 94 | 5% | 71,000 miles |
| 1997 | 96 | 6% | 90,000 miles |
| 1996 | 132 | 9% | 97,000 miles |
| 1995 | 80 | 9% | 120,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (service brakes, ABS, rotors and pads, parking brake).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while at an intersection at a stop light attempting to make a turn at 5 MPH, the brake pedal was hard when depressed, and the vehicle continued to move. As a result, the vehicle crashed into the rear of another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy. The front camera was not operational. There were no warning lights illuminated. There were no reported injuries, fire, or police reports filed. The contact was able to continue to drive. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who test-drove the vehicle and was unable to determine the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact called another dealer, J. O. Williams Motors419 E Broadway Ave, Gladewater, TX 75647, and reported the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, who referred him to another local dealer. …
The contact owned a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was making a right turn into a resident carport, the vehicle surged forward and crashed into the house at approximately 10-15 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed during the failure. The contact was following his wife at the time and became aware that the brake pedal was being depressed. The air bags deployed on the driver's and passenger's sides, steering, curtain, and footwell. The driver sustained bruises from the air bag and seat belt. The vehicle was towed. The EMT provided medical attention at the scene. A Police report was filed but the police report number was not available. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and opened a case. The vehicle was inspected and totaled by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 27,954.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 27 MPH, a vehicle abruptly exited a parking lot without adhering to oncoming traffic. While attempting to avoid striking the vehicle, the contact activated the parking brake. The contact stated that after releasing the parking brake, the contact became aware that the parking brake handle became loosened and appeared to have disconnected from the socket. The contact later became aware that the parking brake had become inoperable. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and it was confirmed that the parking brake was inoperable and needed to be repaired. The contact was informed that the repair was not covered under warranty and the contact was provided an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was provided a case number. …
On 11-21-24, I was traveling down the interstate going at 60mph when a car began to urgently brake, I proceeded to hit the brakes as well and my car would not stop, at the time of the impact no air bag deployed, driver seat belt did not lock, my driver seat moved, no pre-collision assist came up for this accident. No prior issues or lights on dash.
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at 20-25 MPH, the brakes were applied, and the brake pedal fell off. The brake pedal was not responding. The vehicle increased in speed to 43 MPH. The contact maneuvered around an unknown vehicle to avoid an accident, but the unknown vehicle turned and crashed into the passenger-side quarter panel. The vehicle traveled off a curb and landed in a ditch. The contact and two passengers occupying the second-row seats and one child passenger occupying the third row in a car seat sustained bruises and cuts and were transported to the hospital. The air bags did not deploy. There was no fire. A police report was filed. There was an abnormal beeping sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. …
On 4 separate occasions the brakes on this Explorer failed to engage. The first incident happened as I was backing out of my garage and the brakes did not engage immediately. This resulted in my damaging our trellis. I was traveling at about 5 mph This happened Sept. 2023. The second incident happened as I was coming out of the car wash and applied the brake, but it did not engage and this resulted in a small fender bender with the car in front of me.- Again very slow speed, about 2 MPH Happened in November 2023. The third incident was on the road as I approached a car stopped for a red light. Again the brakes failed to engage, but I was able to avoid the car in front of me by swerving into the lane to the left. Fortunately no car was approaching on that lane this happened November 2023. The final incident again was on the road. …
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that he recently had a manufacturer recall performed on the vehicle for Ford Customer Satisfaction Program Number 22N06 (Rear Axle Bolt Replacement). The contact stated that the dealer re-programed the E-brake to engage automatically when the vehicle was placed in park(P). The contact stated while reversing out of his driveway the vehicle would not move. The contact had been instructed to tap on the accelerator to release the E-brake. The contact stated that the RPM was raised to approximately 2,000 RPM, and only then would the high RPM release the E-brake; however, the vehicle would lurch into motion at approximately 10 MPH. The contact stated that the E-brake warning light was illuminated and then switched off once the E-brake was disengaged. The contact stated that the failure was more pronounced while reversing on a slope. …
On July 1, 2023, I had the vehicle parked on an incline with a trailer attached to the vehicle. The vehicle was in Park and the Parking Brake was set. As I attempted to unload the trailer, the vehicle started to move and rolled down the incline. I was on the trailer and was moving with the vehicle, I could have been injured but fortunately the vehicle rolled into a pile of topsoil before it could pick up too much speed. However, both the vehicle and trailer were damaged My safety was put at risk as the vehicle was moving without anyone in it. This occurred in my driveway but could have happened on a busy street. I still own the vehicle and it is available for inspection. There were no indications, warning lamps, etc. that would have notified me of the impending failure. I contacted Ford and they have been of little help. …
Related recalls (6)
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Disc › Caliper
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer vehicles. The bolts securing the front brake caliper may not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of front brake function and possible wheel damage.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary. If bolts are missing, the brake caliper and pads will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2025.
Parking brake › Electrical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park,…
Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S16.
Parking brake
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. In addition, the vehicles may be in Factory Mode, which disables warning alerts and does not display the transmission gear selected.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge.
Parking brake
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015.
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Vehicle description: sport utility vehicles. The right front brake line to the hydraulic control unit (hcu) connection could separate causing the line to leak when the brake pedal is applied.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the flare nut on the brake line.
Show 1 more recall
Service brakes, hydraulic › Foundation components › Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
In some of the vehicles, brake tubes were misrouted between the master cylinder and the hydraulic control unit and results in exceeding the allowable stopping distances as required by FMVSS no.
Remedy: Dealers will reroute the brake tubes.
NHTSA investigations
Front brake hose failure
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE14-027 based on a report of 13 front brake hose (jounce hose) failures in 11 vehicles in the District of Columbia Metropolitan Police Department (DCMPD) fleet of 46 model year (MY) 2013 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor (PI) vehicles (VOQ 10621634).The DCMPD fleet provided Ford with 71 jounce hoses for analysis, including 4 of the 13 failed hoses.Inspection of each…
Front Brake Hose Failure
On April 29, 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE15-017 to investigate a report alleging incidents of front brake hose failure in model year (MY) 2015 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles used by the Sacramento Police Department in its pursuit driving training program (VOQ 10705832).On September 28, 2015, ODI upgraded the investigation to an Engineering Analysis (EA15-005) to assess maximum…
Front brake hose failure
On April 29, 2015, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE15-017 to investigate reports of low-mileage failures of front brake jounce hoses in model year (MY) 2015 Ford Explorer Police Interceptor vehicles operated as training vehicles by the City of Sacramento, California (ODI VOQ No. 10705832).
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer years have brake problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 1996 (132), 2002 (132), 1997 (96), 1998 (94) and 2020 (87) model years. Brake complaints make up 9% of all complaints for the 1996.
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer brake problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 25V-371 (caliper, Jun 3, 2025); 23V-199 (electrical, Mar 24, 2023); 19V-575 (parking brake, Aug 5, 2019). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Explorer brake problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 57,000 miles; 47% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the antilock/traction control/electronic limited slip (354 mentions), followed by the foundation components › disc › rotor (56).
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.