Electrical complaints by model year
| Year | Complaints | Share of year's complaints | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 21% | 1,000 miles |
| 2025 | 23 | 22% | 4,000 miles |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% | — |
| 2023 | 14 | 13% | 33,000 miles |
| 2022 | 39 | 14% | 42,000 miles |
| 2021 | 47 | 11% | 23,000 miles |
| 2020 | 188 | 15% | 10,000 miles |
| 2019 | 20 | 7% | 46,000 miles |
| 2018 | 58 | 8% | 40,000 miles |
| 2017 | 94 | 6% | 47,000 miles |
| 2016 | 129 | 5% | 42,000 miles |
| 2015 | 93 | 5% | 55,000 miles |
| 2014 | 100 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2013 | 163 | 7% | 57,000 miles |
| 2012 | 63 | 8% | 40,000 miles |
| 2011 | 95 | 8% | 56,000 miles |
| 2010 | 12 | 10% | 60,000 miles |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% | 0 miles |
| 2008 | 38 | 26% | 72,000 miles |
| 2007 | 25 | 12% | 63,000 miles |
| 2006 | 39 | 6% | 60,000 miles |
| 2005 | 36 | 7% | 78,000 miles |
| 2004 | 55 | 4% | 52,000 miles |
| 2003 | 54 | 5% | 52,000 miles |
| 2002 | 148 | 4% | 94,000 miles |
| 2001 | 29 | 8% | 72,000 miles |
| 2000 | 78 | 8% | 92,000 miles |
| 1999 | 92 | 7% | 75,000 miles |
| 1998 | 114 | 6% | 105,000 miles |
| 1997 | 80 | 5% | 98,000 miles |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% | 143,000 miles |
| 1995 | 55 | 7% | 157,000 miles |
Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
What owners report
The contact owns a 2026 Ford Explorer. While the contact's wife was driving 60 MPH, the instrument cluster independently turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a software malfunction. The contact was informed that the unknown software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. In addition, the contact stated that only the fuel gauge and the speed odometer operated as needed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown software malfunction. The contact was informed that the software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the software update was completed, and the system was rebooted. The contact was not satisfied with the repair. …
I had my car in drive in a parking spot. I was ready to go, put the car in drive, DID NOT MOVE but needed to put it in park fast to assist to a child in the back seat. I put it in park pretty fast. Took my seatbelt off and assisted child. It must have not engaged. Car rolled into my office metal mailbox. I 100% put it in park. I took my seatbelt off after so I seen it. It was fast with the gear shift though. Should this have been an issue? I feel like if it was any other car you with a manual gear shifter , not electrical, it's fine. I feel this was not my fault at all and was a malfunction of the car. The car did not automatically stop either. It hit the mailbox at like 3-4mph. I have never been in an accident of my fault in 10 years of driving. I've never made a crazy mistake like that. It should've never happened. I drive all types of cars/ and trucks. …
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 owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started and the doors were unlocked and the contact walked over to the front passenger's side door to put her purse inside the vehicle; however, after the contact walked over to the rear driver's side door to place a child into the car seat, the doors inadvertently locked and the child was trapped and locked inside the vehicle. The key fob failed to operate as designed, and the contact was unable to unlock the doors. The contact broke the rear driver's side window to remove the child from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the dealer stated that the failure might be related to a software malfunction; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. …
The contact owned a 2023 Ford Explorer. When the contact's husband activated the air conditioning system after the vehicle had been parked for several hours, a fire started underneath the console inside the vehicle. The driver pulled over to the side of the road, where onlookers assisted with extinguishing the fire with a fire extinguisher. The contact's husband received burns on his fingers. Medical attention was not needed. The Fire Department was not contacted. The vehicle was towed to the dealer to be inspected; however, the cause of the failure was not determined. The vehicle was deemed a total loss. The contact was provided with photos of the vehicle and became aware that the wiring was burned. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 61,000.
The contact owns a 2023 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V442000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION). The contact received Customer Satisfaction Program (CSP): 24B47 in August 2024. However, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Most recently, the contact stated that when the vehicle was started, the navigational system displayed a black screen, compromising the functions on the screen. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the Ford App on the cellphone failed to sync with the vehicle as intended. The message "Unable to Connect" was displayed on the App. While attempting to remotely start the vehicle, the message "Temporarily Unavailable - Unable to Connect" was displayed. …
I was backing up at low speed (less than 1 mph) to park by gently letting my foot off the brake to back. I was using the rear backup camera to gauge how far I could go back without striking the vehicle behind me. The screen showed video that I was still several feet away from the vehicle behind me when I felt a sudden bump. I stepped on the brake hard to ensure I was no longer moving but the camera still showed several feet between my rear bumper and the vehicle behind me. I put the vehicle in park and got out to verify that I had struck the vehicle behind me. I had. I returned to the driver's seat, put the vehicle back in reverse to see what the camera showed and now it appeared on the screen that my bumper was touching the vehicle behind me. …
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was turned off, the contact was notified by the Ford App that the check engine warning light was illuminated and the message "Fuel Door Open" was displayed. The contact stated that the vehicle previously had a transmission software update due to the vehicle hesitating to accelerate while driving. Additionally, the speedometer intermittently failed to function as needed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that there was water intrusion into the body control module fuse panel. The contact was informed that the battery and body control module fuse panel needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 61,500.
Related recalls (6)
Electrical system › ADAS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. The Image Processing Module A (IPMA) may experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (ADAS) features,…
Remedy: The Image Processing Module A software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. This is a Phased campaign.
Electrical system › 12V/24V/48V battery › Cables
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit.
Remedy: Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
Electrical system › Propulsion system › Traction battery
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
Remedy: Dealers will perform a Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) diagnostic test and replace the high voltage battery pack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 8, 2024.
Electrical system › Wiring
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L or 3.3L engines. The wiring harness may not have been properly secured and may contact the air conditioner compressor (A/C) pulley, potentially damaging the harness or the A/C belt.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a tie strap to the wiring harness at the hand shock tower clip, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019.
Electrical system › Wiring › Fuses and circuit breakers
Vehicle description: multi-purpose vehicles equipped with 4.0l engines and all-time 4-wheel drive (a4wd) powertrains. The generic electronic module (gem) could experience a condition referred to as "lock-up" in which the gem controlled electronic functions (e.g., front windshield wipers, interior lights, 4x4 system, etc.) could…
Remedy: Dealers will install a resistor in the gem circuit.
Show 1 more recall
Electrical system › Ignition › Anti-theft › Control module
Vehicle description: multi-purpose passenger vehicles, eddie bauer and limited editions. The key-in-ignition/door open warning chime May not function when the door is opened. This does not fully comply with FMVSS no. 114, "theft protection."
Remedy: Dealers will install a jumper wire to provide the necessary ground circuit in these vehicles.
NHTSA investigations
Electrical fire in center console
This investigation revealed that console fires in the subject vehicles most often occurred while vehicles equipped with the lamp outage module (lom), which is part of the message center, were towing a trailer and which had been modified by adding an aftermarket trailer wiring harness into the vehicle's taillight circuits.the owner's manual states never and more than other trailer light bulb to one circuit however…
Engine compartment fires
Ea05-005 is closed with Ford?s actions in recalls 05v-017, 05v-388, and 06v-286, recalling approximately 6.7 million vehicles equipped with texas instruments speed control deactivation switches (scds).the brake systems in these recalled vehicles generate a vacuum that can potentially cause the scds to fail and, in certain switch installation orientations, catch fire.Ford is also including the entire population of…
Frequently asked questions
Which Ford Explorer years have electrical problems?
By NHTSA complaints, the 2020 (188), 2013 (163), 2002 (148), 2016 (129) and 1998 (114) model years. Electrical complaints make up 15% of all complaints for the 2020.
Is there a recall for Ford Explorer electrical problems?
Yes — 6 recalls, including 26V-165 (adas, Mar 18, 2026); 24V-685 (cables, Sep 13, 2024); 23V-626 (traction battery, Sep 8, 2023). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.
At what mileage do Ford Explorer electrical problems start?
Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 62,000 miles; 40% happened before 50,000 miles.
What part fails most often?
Owners most often name the ignition (70 mentions), followed by the wiring › interior/under dash (65).
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.