What 1,671 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

The trim of our windshield flew off and almost caused an accident. Water got in and caused damage shortly after.

NHTSA ODI 11552235

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 45 MPH, the contact heard a slapping sound coming from the vehicle and became aware that the front driver’s side windshield trim had detached and struck the vehicle behind. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 126,000.

NHTSA ODI 11552093

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the rubber on the window trim between the passenger’s side front door and windshield had started to separate. One day while driving at highway speeds, the window trim detached from the vehicle. The contact stated that the rubber on the driver side window trim had also started to separate. The contact believed that the panel would also detach. Neither the dealer nor the manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ODI 11550564

Driving down the highway last night and passenger side windshield pillar cover flew off. Don't know what effect it may have had on any vehicles behind us.

NHTSA ODI 11548344

Driver side windshield trim came off while driving on freeway at 70mph We saw something fly off and pulled over to check and the trim was gone Don’t know what happened to trim, praying it didn’t damage anyone else’s car or cause an accident

NHTSA ODI 11548034

Outer windshield guide/protector cracked in half and parts flew off while driving on highway around 60MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11547603

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 70 MPH, the front passenger’s side window trim detached from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the trim was replaced. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the front driver’s side trim detached. The failure caused the trunk button to open and close the trunk. The message trunk latch ajar was displayed on the instrument panel. The vehicle had not been taken to the dealer to be diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 75,000.

NHTSA ODI 11545684

Both of the A-pillar body panels between the windshield and front driver/passenger doors have blown off at different times while driving on the freeway. The second flew off today and the other was months ago.

NHTSA ODI 11544843

Front windshield side panel flew off on freeway. Other side very loose as well. Glue, rubber seal crumbling. I have talked to dealer and they said “It just happens sometimes. They just fall off” Happened within the first week of purchase. Luckily no one was close behind me on the freeway. No warning besides the loud noise of it flying off and now there is a noise of air coming through since it’s no longer sealed. I am worried my windshield is next. I have seen tons of cars with the exact same thing!

NHTSA ODI 11543924

My right side A pillar flew off of my car while driving on the highway. Luckily this did not cause an accident but very much could have. I have seen numerous other Ford Explorers with the same piece missing from their windshield. Very dangerous! I uploaded my car (the black explorer) and another car I seen on the highway with the same piece missing. I also have a friend who has an Explorer and her piece flew off as well.

NHTSA ODI 11543725

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 60 MPH, the passenger's side windshield trim panel separated and struck the front passenger's side door. The contact continued driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the passenger's side windshield trim panel was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The contact stated while driving 70-75 MPH, the passenger's side windshield trim panel separated and struck the front passenger's side door. The contact stated that he was startled and slightly swerved to the left. The part then flew to the rear of the vehicle, causing the vehicle behind to swerve to the left as well. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23001 (Structure). The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11543000

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 70 MPH, the passenger's side windshield panel separated. The contact continued driving. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and a case was opened. An unknown dealer was notified of the failure and provide the contact a cost for the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 117,000.

NHTSA ODI 11543011

The windshield plastic molding on the passenger side detached and flew off while driving 65 mph over a year ago. Ford dealer replaced the molding in September last year. The same windshield panel flew off again last week scratching the passenger door while startling me and the driver behind me. We both swerved but luckily avoided a collision. I had exactly the same problem with a company owned Ford Explorer I drove before.

NHTSA ODI 11543039

The windshield trim on the driver side ripped off. This piece could have flown off and hit another car or a pedestrian

NHTSA ODI 11542803

The passenger side pillar fell off while driving. This pillar is about four feet in length. This could have caused someone to have to swerve to avoid the pillar on the road like a motorcyclist. No warning lights or alerts in the car. I've not taken the car into the dealership yet.

NHTSA ODI 11542236

Windshield trim panels have come off vehicle while driving in normal conditions. This includes the factory installed drivers and passengers side moldings as well as numerous replacement pieces. Local dealership states there are no issues with components.

NHTSA ODI 11539540

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front passenger’s side windshield pillar fractured. The dealer was notified of the failure and the contact was given an estimate for the repair. The manufacturer was also notified of the failure and the contact was informed that the vehicle was not covered under recall or warranty. The contact also noticed that the front driver’s side pillar had also become loosened. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 76,000.

NHTSA ODI 11539138

The driver's side window trim blew off, striking the side of my car and hitting a car passing me. Also - the piece that holds the keypad on the driver's side has come off once, tried to come off a 2nd time and is currently being held in place by a binder clip.

NHTSA ODI 11538166

Passanger side pillar broke off while traveling about 60mph. Hit window and almost hit a motorcycle traveling in adjacent lane. Looking for a replacement online and found several forums requesting it to be reported for a possible recall.

NHTSA ODI 11537366

PASSENGER SIDE WINSHIELD TRIM FLEW OFF GOING DOWN THE ROAD

NHTSA ODI 11537448

The trim surrounding the windshield on the passenger side detached and flew off at high way speeds. While no vehicles were close enough to be impacted by this part of the vehicle detaching, it could create a hazard had there been a vehicle close by. I have seen evidence that this is prevalent on this year, make, and model and it should be remedied. There was no evidence that this would happen and it occurred randomly while driving ~70 MPH.

NHTSA ODI 11536866

The drivers side windshield trim molding A-pillar flew off of my 2017 Explorer on the highway, hitting my rear view mirror and startling me causing me to veer. The Ford dealer body shop has ordered a new one at $547 for the part, but it still has not come in I ordered both sides as the passenger side is very loose. They are sharp and present danger of injury and/or property damage when they fly off. I saw on-line that this is a common problem for this model. The consumer stated that the repair was completed, however promptly after the repair work, the same piece broke off again. The vehicle was returned to the dealer where they reinstalled the piece and added urethane.

NHTSA ODI 11535777

Heard a flapping noise from the upper drivers corner of the windshield at highway speed. Stopped before anything catastrophic occurred, but part of the drivers side windshield trim was loose and flapping in the wind. It was striking the drivers window and the windshield as it flapped back and forth. The stiffer cover piece was also loose, but removing the flapping piece of trim resolved the immediate concern. The trim apparently needs replacement.

NHTSA ODI 11535270

The passenger side of windshield trim flew off on highway when driving. There was no indication or evidence that it was loose or coming off.

NHTSA ODI 11534749

The black weather striping under the windshield trim molding is coming off / detaching while driving

NHTSA ODI 11533291