Home · 2015 Ford Explorer · Complaints

What 1,747 owners told NHTSA about the 2015 Ford Explorer

These are the actual owner complaints behind this car’s reliability verdict, filed with the federal government, unedited. They’re unverified reports, not confirmed defects: read them as leads for your pre-purchase inspection, not a diagnosis.

All (1,747)Crash / fire / injury (73)Body & structure (401)Steering (342)Engine (225)Backup camera & sensors (113)Fuel system (94)Electrical system (88)Airbags (84)Transmission & drivetrain (83)Suspension (82)Engine & cooling (65)

88 of 1,747 complaints match · Electrical system · clear filters · page 1 of 4

Jul 6, 2026Electrical system

Ford has had this recall open since October of last year. My car has a faulty backup camera that is not working. It’s been 9 months since it came out and there still no forward motion except for mustangs for this recall to be fixed.

NHTSA ODI 11748659

Feb 6, 2026Electrical system

Power lift gate working sporadically

NHTSA ODI 11716137

Feb 5, 2026Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

RECALL ID 25V695 rear camera. Camera does not work. Please issue a remedy!

NHTSA ODI 11715767

Dec 26, 2025Electrical systemBody & structure

The recall campaign from Jan 19,2024 Manufacturer Recall Number24S02 NHTSA Recall Number24V031 has been open since 2024 and has not had a remedy become available. In the meantime, my passenger side pillar has become detached, as warned in the recall. Rain leaks into my car and causes visibility issues. This is worrisome because I do have three young children, one in a car seat right behind the passenger side. In addition, the second recall,Oct 13,2025 Manufacturer Recall Number25SA9 NHTSA Recall Number25v695 is also an extreme issue with my vehicle. The backup camera has malfunctioned several times, almost daily at this point. It also will not notify me of something behind me as it's intended to at times. FORD has yet to remedy either of these.

NHTSA ODI 11707058

Dec 1, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

The backup camera is not working which is already a known defect. The sensors in the back of the vehicle also intermittently sound an alert when nothing is behind the vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11702300

Nov 21, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rear-view camera had started to flicker and eventually had stopped functioning. The contact called a dealer and was informed that parts were not available to repair the vehicle. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention). The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. Additionally, the contact stated that the instrument cluster had started to fail and was intermittently displaying one or two gauges at a time. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.

NHTSA ODI 11700759

Oct 16, 2025Electrical system

Vehicle shuts off at random various speeds. Takes about 3 minutes to get it to restart.

NHTSA ODI 11693809

Oct 14, 2025Electrical systemLightsSeats

Parking lights are illuminated and not head lamps for daytime running lights. Was sold by Ford Certified Dealership. Also has no interior lighting for security. BCM replaced, and still has same issue, along with the 3rd row seats not functioning, interior overhead lights not functioning, trailer socket not functioning.

NHTSA ODI 11693317

Oct 9, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

Rear view camera displays a blank or distorted images when vehicle is in reverse. Rear view camera will display a message that the rear view camera is unavailable. A faulty rear view camera can increase the risk of a crash

NHTSA ODI 11692260

Oct 4, 2025Electrical system

My backup camera keeps going out and now it’s gone completely out. If it does come up it’s backwards with no assist line and constantly beeping. There are recalls for this same situation with almost all other fords 2015-2019 I think and immune is doing the same exact thing and no recalls???

NHTSA ODI 11691375

Sep 12, 2025Electrical system

Back up camera stopped working due to loss of connection with apim, checked camera module works and wiring in rear gate is good. Issue is in chassis wiring.

NHTSA ODI 11686997

Sep 9, 2025Electrical system

The current recall of ford backup cameras including this year but not this vehicle type almost exactly matches what happens with this rear view camera. Either is blacks out completely or when it is on it shows the lines curving when In fact you are going straight and the picture can be extremely blurry as well.

NHTSA ODI 11686149

Jul 8, 2025Electrical system

My back up camera tends to go blank when I reverse. It’ll take some time for it to come back on or sometimes it says to contact ford.

NHTSA ODI 11671860

Jul 3, 2025Electrical system

This has happened multiple dates. I can't enter that on the next screen. Probably started 9+ months ago. My backup camera goes blank and then back on sporadically. Sometimes, when I put in reverse and sometimes when I'm in the middle of reversing. Sometimes for a couple of seconds (or more) and sometimes until I change gears and go back to reverse. I see there is a recall for some Ford explorer years and was wondering why the 2015 wasn't included. My issues sound similar to the recalled years. Putting in notice in case there are more 2015s like me experiencing likewise issues. Thank you for taking the time to review my issue. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11671024

Jun 20, 2025Electrical system

Own a 2015 explorer having problems with the rear back up system. The display does not always work, which is a real problem when backing up. The safety of persons and vehicles is greatly put at a higher risk. There are other reports of this happing to other year models, only with recalls for the newer models.

NHTSA ODI 11668198

Jun 17, 2025Electrical system

Backup camera went black with words to contact dealership for latest software. The dealership is charging me for a repair that is currently a recall for the exact same issue for new models Not 2015 models. There’s been quite a few customers having same issue as I did my research online. I’ve got my elderly parents to care , I can’t afford the repairs.

NHTSA ODI 11667494

Jun 11, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

Backup camera doesn’t come on when in reverse. Works maybe 20% of the time. Other maybe 80%, the screen doesn’t do anything or says error.

NHTSA ODI 11666212

Jun 9, 2025Electrical systemVisibility & wipers

Vehicle has parking lights illuminated and not daytime running lights (headlamps). Illegal in most states and ans very dangerous at low light conditions! Ford engineers claim they cannot reconfigure after 6 months of attempting to do so. Major safety issue and legal issue if there is ever an accident involving death.

NHTSA ODI 11665805

May 31, 2025Electrical system

The rear backup camera is either a blank black screen, or has distorted display. The directional guides do not display combined with a reverse presentation. Sometimes displays, system is malfunctioning, contact your manufacturer.

NHTSA ODI 11664109

May 27, 2025Electrical systemBackup camera & sensors

The reverse backup camera gives a mirror view so the left side of the car appears on the right side of the screen. Making it unsafe to backup because you turn the wrong way if you go by what the camera shows you.

NHTSA ODI 11663088

May 8, 2025Electrical system

The Backup Camera and dashboard screen are malfunctioning. The dashboard screen is completely black/blank when car is put in reverse. There are no warning lamps on dash or any other messages showing any errors/failures, etc. This is a safety issue, due to blind spots on vehicle. I took car to mechanic and they said this is an "on going issue with Ford, multiple people are having issues. The backup up camera needs to be replaced but that also means the dash board screen and everything else needs to replaced also since all tied together, this is very costly, keep looking for the recall". No need to involve insurance or police as there has not been an accident. I saw the most recent recalls but it did not include the 2015 Explorer it included other 2015 models. This has been happening for a while now probably started happening at 70,000 miles and now I have 115,000 miles. Bought the car when it had 35,000 miles on it.

NHTSA ODI 11659742

Apr 30, 2025Electrical system

Recall number 25S42 should include 2015 Ford Explorers. The rearview camera goes blank or is distorted. It causes the driver the inability to see anything behind the vehicle if the object cannot be seen using the mirrors.

NHTSA ODI 11657938

Mar 31, 2025Electrical systemBody & structure

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the controls on the infotainment center failed to operate as intended. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was unknown. VIN tool confirms parts not available.

NHTSA ODI 11651678

Oct 16, 2024Electrical systemBody & structure

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact noticed that there was water leaking into the interior of the vehicle through the windshield exterior A-pillar trims. The contact then became aware that both A-pillar trims had detached. The contact stated that the water entry had caused extensive damage to the vehicle. The contact stated that the sunroof and the infotainment system were no longer operable. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who did not provide the contact with a diagnosis. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact also stated that he had received medical treatment for symptoms related to mold exposure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 118,000.

NHTSA ODI 11620055

Sep 23, 2024Electrical system

The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The vehicle was restarted on the third attempt; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was driven to the dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the body control module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure persisted. The contact stated that vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11616047

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Working with the data? Download all 1,747 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 10, 2026

How to use these: a complaint is one owner’s report, filed voluntarily and published unverified. Patterns matter more than any single story. If several owners describe the same failure at similar mileage, put that system at the top of your pre-purchase inspection list. Back to the full 2015 Ford Explorer verdict →