Home · 2017 Ford Explorer Hev · Complaints

What 1,668 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Explorer Hev

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 (1,668)Crash / fire / injury (61)Body & structure (643)Engine (234)Transmission & drivetrain (122)Electrical system (90)Engine & cooling (76)Steering (74)Visibility & wipers (73)Wheels (60)Suspension (55)Fuel system (49)

10 of 1,668 complaints match · Body & structure · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Aug 6, 2025Body & structureVisibility & wipersCrash

So for starters the visibility wipers should have a auto wiper function as in when it detects rain they will automatically come on. Well they do but they also come on at random intervals even when it’s not raining. Secondly the glove box design is horribly engineered and it falls apart by its self. My glove box flew open while driving down the road and caused me to run off the roadway with my kids in the car. Luckily my kids and I are safe and no one was hurt but something should be done about this. The tension cord that hooks to the glove box just snapped from the looks of it.

NHTSA ODI 11678875

Aug 2, 2020Transmission & drivetrainBody & structureCrash1 injury

ABOUT A WEEK AGO MY VEHICLE WAS IDLING, BACKED STRAIGHT INTO THE TURNAROUND IN MY DRIVEWAY WITH THE CAR IN PARK. THE TWO PASSENGER SIDE DOORS WERE OPEN. MY DAUGHTERS AND I (UNBUCKLED) SAT THERE ABOUT TEN MINUTES WHILE THE ENGINE WAS CRANKED BUT IN PARK, WAITING ON MY HUSBAND TO FINISH UP GRABBING THINGS FOR THE VACATION WE WERE GETTING READY TO LEAVE ON. MY TWO YEAR OLD HAD MOVED TO THE DRIVER'S SEAT, AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. MY DAUGHTER REACHED OVER AND PRESSED THE PUSH TO START BUTTON AS SHE HAS A HUNDRED TIMES AND KILLED THE ENGINE, BUT THIS TIME, WHEN THE ENGINE TURNED OFF, SOMETHING OBVIOUSLY CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO DISENGAGE AND WE WERE SENT ROLLING DOWN THE HILL BEHIND MY TURN AROUND. I TRIED TO CLIMB OVER AND HIT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE BUT WAS UNSUCCESSFUL. WE WERE FINALLY STOPPED WHEN OUR BACK END SMASHED INTO THE SECOND TREE WE HIT. FORTUNATELY NO ONE WAS INJURED BESIDES ME, AND IT WAS RELATIVELY MINOR WITH JUST BRUISING, PARTICULARLY SINCE I'M 7 MONTHS PREGNANT. MY CAR IS NOW COMPLETELY TOTALED AS A RESULT.

NHTSA ODI 11342868

Jun 12, 2020Electrical systemLightsBody & structureFire

ON MAY 20TH 2020, I DROVE THE CAR FROM MY HOUSE TO THE GROCERY STORE, AN APPROXIMATE 7 MILES DRIVE. I PARKED THE CAR ON THE PARKING LOT, A FEW SECONDS AFTER LEAVING THE CAR WHITE SMOKE STARTED TO COME FROM UNDER THE HOOD, AS THE SECONDS PASSED THE WHITE SMOKE CONVERTED INTO A FIRE IN THE ENGINE, 5 MINUTES LATER THE CAR WAS LOST DUE TO FIRE. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11328550

Dec 15, 2019Body & structureCrash

WHILE MY VEHICLE WAS PARKED ON MY FLAT DRIVEWAY MY DAUGHTER BACKED HER FORD EDGE INTO THE REAR OF THE EXPLORER AT A LOW RATE OF SPEED. THE EXPLORER WHICH WAS NOT RUNNING AND WAS TURNED OFF AND IN PARK AT THE TIME ROLLED OFF THE DRIVEWAY. ROLLED THROUGH AN OPEN LOT BEHIND OUR HOUSE. THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL THROUGH THE OPEN LOT AND CROSSED THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREET BEHIND OUR HOUSE. THE VEHICLE THEN ROLLED THROUGH ANOTHER VACANT LOT, AND ROLLED DOWN AN EMBANKMENT THROUGH ANOTHER LOT. THE VEHICLE STOPPED ONLY AFTER STRIKING A TREE AND COMING TO REST. IN ALL THE VEHICLE TRAVELED APPROX 300 YARDS AND HAD IT NOT STRUCK THE TREE IT WOULD HAVE CROSSED A BUSY TWO LANE ROAD. I GOT TO THE VEHICLE IT WAS LOCKED AND IN PARK. THERE WAS A GOOD AMOUNT OF FRONT END DAMAGE AND THERE WAS NO AIRBAG DEPLOYMENT. I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE VEHICLE BACK TO OUR HOUSE BUT IT COULD NOT BE DRIVEN ANY FURTHER.

NHTSA ODI 11289179

Sep 13, 2019Body & structureSeatsCrash2 injuries

ON 09/11/2019, AT APPROXIMATELY 6PM, WE WERE TRAVELING NORTH ON WV SR2 NORTH APPROXIMATELY 2.5 TO 3.0 MILES NORTH OF THE SR2 I-77 INTERCHANGE. 2017 FORD EXPLORER WAS STOPPED, WAITING ON OPPOSING TRAFFIC TO CLEAR, IN ORDER TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN INTO THE PARKING LOT OF CHURCH. VEHICLE WAS REAR-ENDED BY A DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK IMPACTING SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TOWARDS THE DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THERE WERE 4 OCCUPANTS OF THE EXPLORER. THE DRIVER WAS A 39 YEAR OLD MALE. THE FRONT PASSENGER WAS A 36 YEAR OLD FEMALE. IN THE SECOND ROW WERE THE OTHER 2 PASSENGERS. ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WAS A 4 YEAR OLD FEMALE, FORWARD FACING IN A GRACO EXTEND2FIT CAR SEAT. THE PASSENGER SIDE WAS OCCUPIED BY A 7 YEAR OLD MALE IN AN EVENFLO BOOSTER SEAT. ALL PASSENGERS WERE WEARING APPROPRIATE RESTRAINING DEVICES. ALL PASSENGERS WERE SHAKEN UP, WITH EXTERNAL INJURIES TO BOTH DRIVERS SIDE OCCUPANTS. THE PROXIMATE CAUSE OF THE INJURIES WAS DUE TO FAILURE OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THE SEAT BASE EXPERIENCED A FAILURE CAUSING THE SEAT BACK TO FALL BACK ONTO THE 2ND ROW PASSENGER, STRIKING THE PASSENGER, AND THE HEADREST BENT AND PARTIALLY DETACHED. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT, THE SEAT BACK WAS FULLY UPRIGHT AND THE SEAT WAS RESTING UPON THE LEGS OF THE JUVENILE FEMALE AFTER IMPACT. SHE SUFFERED CONTUSIONS TO HER LEGS FROM THE SEAT IMPACTING HER AND SHE SUFFERED A CONCUSSION AND LACERATION (REQUIRING 9 EXTERNAL SUTURES AS WELL AS SOME INTERNAL ONES) ABOVE HER RIGHT EYE, CAUSED BY EITHER THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER OR POSSIBLY THE HEADREST. THE DRIVER OF THE VEHICLE SUFFERED A LACERATION TO THE CROWN OF HIS HEAD REQUIRING 9 STAPLES TO CLOSE. THE DRIVER AND THE JUVENILE FEMALE WERE TRANSPORTED TO MARIETTA MEMORIAL HOSPITAL IN MARIETTA OH WHERE THEY RECEIVED TREATMENT AND WERE RELEASED. RESPONDING TO THE SCENE WAS THE WAVERLY VFD AS WELL AS THE WOOD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND ST. JOSEPH'S AMBULANCE SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11255262

Sep 12, 2019Body & structureSeatsCrash2 injuries

VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A 2 VEHICLE ACCIDENT. EXPLORER WAS REAR ENDED BY A VEHICLE (DODGE DAKOTA PICKUP TRUCK) TRAVELING APPROXIMATELY 55 MPH WHILE EXPLORER WAS AT A STOP, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT HAND TURN. THE IMPACT WAS SLIGHTLY OFF CENTER TO THE DRIVER SIDE. THE DRIVER SEAT BACK COLLAPSED BACKWARDS CAUSING DRIVER AND REAR PASSENGER TO COLLIDE RESULTING IN LACERATIONS AND HEAD INJURIES TO BOTH.

NHTSA ODI 11255143

Apr 24, 2018Body & structureFire

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE PILLARS ON THE VEHICLE WERE MELTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSIS THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE PILLARS WERE REPAIRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO FUTURE FORD LINCOLN (650 AUTOMALL DR., ROSEVILLE, CA 95661). THE DEALER INFORMED THE CONTACT THAT THE VEHICLE WAS UNTOUCHABLE AND THE FAILURE OCCURRED DUE TO THE EXTREME HEAT FROM THE SUN. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURES. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 28,000. *TT

NHTSA ODI 11089868

Jan 11, 2018Body & structureEngineCrash1 injury

MY WIFE WAS INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT ON ICY ROADS ON DECEMBER 5. SHE WAS DRIVING OUR 2017 FORD EXPLORER WHICH WE HAD PURCHASED ON MAY 31, 2017. SHE WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT ON A COUNTRY HIGHWAY AND HEADED NORTH. THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN AND SHE HAD JUST GOTTEN THROUGH THE INTERSECTION WHEN A VEHICLE THAT WAS HEADING SOUTH, LOST CONTROL AND HIT HER HEAD-ON. THE ATTACHED PICTURE SHOWS THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE SUSTAINED ON THE FRONT END OF THE VEHICLE. BEYOND THIS DAMAGE, THE IMPACT WAS STRONG ENOUGH THAT A MOTOR MOUNT MOUNTING PIN WAS SHEARED CLEAN OFF THE MOTOR AS WAS THE COVER ON THE TIMING BELT. THE REBAR IN FRONT OF THE RADIATOR WAS SNAPPED COMPLETELY IN HALF. ALL THIS DAMAGE...AND THE AND AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. THERE WAS SUFFICIENT DAMAGE THAT THIS $50,000+ VEHICLE WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS. I'VE CONTACTED THE FORD DEALERSHIP IN SIOUX FALLS, SD WHERE WE BOUGHT THE VEHICLE. AS SOON AS I MENTIONED AIRBAGS, THEY SAID THEY WOULD NOT ADDRESS OR COMMENT ON ANY ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS I RAISED ABOUT THE VEHICLE SAFETY FEATURES. I'VE CONTACTED FORD MOTOR COMPANY DIRECT. SAME STORY. AS SOON AS THE SUBJECT OF AIRBAGS WAS LOCKED FIRMLY IN THE MIND OF THE LADY I WAS TALKING WITH, SHE PROCEEDED WITH ABOUT TEN MINUTES OF QUESTIONS. AFTER SPENDING PROBABLY 20 MINUTES ON THE PHONE WITH THIS LADY, ALL I GOT WAS, "YOU NOW HAVE A CASE NUMBER IN OUR SYSTEM." WHEN I ASKED ABOUT GETTING ANY FOLLOWUP CORRESPONDENCE, I WAS TOLD, "ALL FUTURE CORRESPONDENCE WILL BE BETWEEN THE INSURANCE COMPANY AND FORD MOTOR COMPANY." AND, I'VE HEARD NOTHING SINCE. BECAUSE MY WIFE WAS NOT AT FAULT IN THIS ACCIDENT, WE ARE DEALING WITH THE OTHER DRIVER'S INSURANCE COMPANY (FARM BUREAU) AND GETTING TREATED LIKE WE WERE THE PERPETRATORS INSTEAD OF THE VICTIMS.

NHTSA ODI 11062222

Aug 4, 2017Body & structureEngineCrash

OCCASIONALLY WHEN I DROVE THE CAR I FELT LIGHT HEADEDNESS AND DIZINIESS. ON 8/3/2017 I FELT THE DIZZINESS AGAIN AND ENDED UP IN A CAR ACCIDENT. I FELT AS THOUGH I WAS GOING TO PASS OUT AND IN A FLASH I CRASHED INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME.

NHTSA ODI 11012916

Aug 3, 2017Body & structureEngine1 injury

I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MY 2017 FORD EXPLORER AND A CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK. I HAVE OVERALL FEELING BAD SINCE WE GOT OUR NEW 2017 FORD EXPLORER, WHICH IS VERY OUT OF CHARACTER FOR ME. I AM A PRIOR SPECIAL OPERATION VETERAN, OVERALL IN GOOD HEALTH, AND ONLY 30Y/O. LIKE MANY, WHO HAVE COMPLAINED ABOUT THIS VEHICLE I AM GETTING NAUSEA, WEAKNESS, AND TENSION HEADACHES FROM DRIVING THIS VEHICLE. I HAVE BEEN VERY WEAK AND HAVING HEADACHES, AS OF LATE. THIS HAS HAD A MAJOR IMPACT ON MY DAY-TO-DAY LIFE. I COULDN'T EXPLAIN WHY OR WHAT WAS GOING ON WITH ME IT SEEMED AS IF IT CAME OUT OF NOWHERE. I AM STARTING TO THINK MAYBE I HAVE LONG TERM EXPOSURE TO CARBON MONOXIDE OVER THE LAST 3 WEEKS. I GOT THE FORD EXPLORE 3 WEEKS AGO AND THIS SUDDEN SICKNESS HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THEN. I GOT SO WORRIED WITH MY HEALTH"I WENT TO THE DOCTOR. I EXPLAINED TO THE DOCTOR "I HAVE NO CLUE WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME BUT I FEEL ABSOLUTELY HORRIBLE. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE HAD A FLU FOR ALMOST A MONTH". I WAS DESPERATE AND I KNOW I SOUNDED CRAZY BUT I HAVE BEEN HAVING SOME SERIOUS BOUTS WITH WEAKNESS, FATIGUE, AND HEADACHES. I WENT TO THE DOCTOR ON JULY 31ST 2017 AND I REALLY HAVE BEEN BAFFLED BY THE SUDDEN ONSET OF SYMPTOMS. THIS WAS BEFORE I KNEW ABOUT THE NHTSA INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2017 FORD EXPLORER. I SAW THE STORY RUN TODAY (8-3-17) ON GOOD MORNING AMERICA AND I STARTED TO PUT TWO AND TWO TOGETHER. AT THE DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENT ON (7-31-17) THEY PULLED BLOOD, AND ARE CONDUCTING A BUNCH OF TEST BUT NOTHING HAS COME BACK. I AM CONCERNED, I AM HOPING IT'S NOT RELATED TO THE CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK THAT OTHERS ARE REPORTING. MY BIGGEST CONCERN IS FOR MY PREGNANT WIFE AND UNBORN CHILD. AS A PURPLE HEART VET I HAVE PUT MY HEART AND SOUL INTO OUR GREAT COUNTRY AND I NEED THIS AGENCY TO PLEASE FIND ANSWERS TO IF THESE SUVS ARE SAFE. MY FAMILIES COULD DEPEND ON IT THANK YOU FOR YOUR SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI 11012683

Working with the data? Download all 1,668 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 14, 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 2017 Ford Explorer Hev verdict →