UsedScore

2019 Ford Explorer: Best bet

Owners filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 44 for every 100,000 sold: 0.2× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year.

The biggest problem area, counting serious complaints more, is the body and structure (33% of complaints, median 28,000 miles).

Complaint index
0.2×
per vehicle sold, vs. a typical Explorer year
Rank
2nd of 14
1st = fewest complaints
Complaints
90
first five years; 44 per 100,000 sold
Recalls
6
campaigns
5th generation, 2011–2019 · Updated September 24, 2026 · How we rate
2017 Ford Explorer XLT (facelift)

Photo: 2017 Ford Explorer XLT (facelift) · Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Problem areas

Ranked by severity-weighted complaints · share · median miles
  1. Body and structure33% · 30 complaints · median 28,000 miles
  2. Electrical13% · 12 complaints · median 31,000 miles
  3. Steering6% · 5 complaints
  4. Engine10% · 9 complaints · median 5,000 miles
  5. Powertrain9% · 8 complaints
  6. Fuel and propulsion7% · 6 complaints
  7. Seats and belts3% · 3 complaints
  8. Wheels and tires4% · 4 complaints
  9. Visibility3% · 3 complaints
  10. Brakes2% · 2 complaints

Bars rank problem areas by complaints weighted for severity (crashes, fires, injuries and deaths count more). A complaint can name more than one area. Mileage is reported on about half of complaints.

What owners describe

Body and structure

Owners describe exterior A-pillar, B-pillar, and roof rail trim pieces coming loose or detaching, sometimes at highway speed, often preceded by rattling or wind noise. Many say dealers linked this to a recall but lacked parts to fix it, leaving the trim unrepaired for extended periods.

Warning signs:
Many report rattling, buzzing, or wind noise, an abnormal sound like something bouncing on the roof, or visible looseness/shaking of trim before it separated.
What shops did:
Dealers often confirmed the trim needed replacement but reported recall repair parts were unavailable, leaving vehicles unrepaired; a few pieces were temporarily taped or glued, and some repairs recurred.
Mileage:
most between 40,000 and 90,000 miles, among 66 complaints that give it

“the right and left roof rails, had separated in several areas”

“the windshield cowl panel had partially separated from the vehicle”

Electrical

Owners of this Explorer report a range of electrical issues, most often a horn that stops working without warning, alongside some cases of trim panels detaching, battery or wiring problems, and screen glitches. Dealers sometimes replace parts like the battery or wiring harness, but several owners say the horn problem couldn't be found or fixed.

Warning signs:
Many describe the horn simply going silent with no warning light, while others notice burning odors, battery swelling or leaking, dash warning lights, or trim visibly loosening before detaching.
What shops did:
Some dealers replaced a wiring harness or battery, but many say the horn issue could not be diagnosed, duplicated, or repaired despite multiple visits.
Mileage:
most between 15,000 and 55,000 miles, among 8 complaints that give it

“The horn/horns stopped working. There just was no more sound. No wreck or jolts. Just no sound.”

Summaries are written with AI from the owner complaints shown on NHTSA's site and checked against them; quotes are word for word.

Recalls (6)

Check a VIN on NHTSA ›
  • NHTSA 26V448000July 2026288,314 vehicles

    Structure: body

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 26V101000February 2026412,774 vehicles

    Suspension: rear

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.

    Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 26V012000January 20262,403 vehicles

    Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.

    Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

    Fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied.

  • NHTSA 24V031000January 20241,889,110 vehicles

    Structure: body: roof and pillars

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

    Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 21V316000May 2021616,967 vehicles

    Structure: body

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.

    Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

    Fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge.

  • NHTSA 19V633000August 2019639,137 vehicles

    Seats: mid/rear assembly · Seats: front assembly: recliner

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."

    Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

    Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge.

A recall only helps if the repair was done. Enter the vehicle's 17-character VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup before you buy.

Service bulletins

Ford sent NHTSA 134 service bulletins and other notices to dealers covering the 2019 Explorer. These are repair instructions, not recalls. Warranty extensions and bulletins about its top problem areas:

  • 25E10-S1 · July 2026NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and Flex Vehicles With 3.5L…
  • SSM 54601 · February 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code.
  • TSB 25-2570 · November 2025This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure.
  • SSM 54366 · November 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025.
  • SSM 51838 · August 2023In various 2017-2023 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, customers may receive a message in the FordPass or LincolnWay App stating Feature Unavailable.
  • SSM 51536 · April 2023For 2000-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles, swapping a module from a vehicle for diagnosis purposes is likely to cause errors and is not recommended.
  • SSM 51306 · January 2023Some 2018-2023 F-150, Expedition, Navigator, Transit, Aviator and Explorer vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0627, P025A, P025B, P00C6, P008A and/or U0109…
  • SSM 50975 · July 2022Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPass®/LincolnWay® app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode.

All 2019 Explorer bulletins on NHTSA ›

Questions owners ask

Is the 2019 Ford Explorer reliable?
Owners filed 90 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer in its first five years on the road, about 44 for every 100,000 sold: 0.2× the rate of a typical Explorer year. That's among the fewest of any Explorer year. Ratings compare Explorer years with each other using complaints filed with NHTSA; they don't measure every problem owners have.
What are the most common 2019 Explorer problems?
Owners' complaints most often involve the body and structure (33%), the electrical system (13%) and the steering (6%). A complaint can name more than one area.
Has the 2019 Ford Explorer been recalled?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2019 Ford Explorer, the most recent in July 2026 (structure). Enter the vehicle's VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup to see whether the repairs were done.

Sources

Owner complaints, recalls and manufacturer communications from NHTSA's public data files, as of September 24, 2026. Complaints are counted once each, over the model year's first 60 months on the road. UsedScore is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. The 2019 Ford Explorer on NHTSA.gov · How we rate