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

Wind pulled the ‘A’ pillar trim off the vehicle, breaking g the plastic trim and rubber gasket. This is a know problem that FORD has not issued a recall on, but should.

NHTSA ODI 11506515

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 65 MPH, the driver’s side windshield trim panel suddenly dislodged from the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who replaced the trim panel. The contact stated that while driving on another occasion, the failure occurred with the passenger’s side windshield trim panel. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer who replaced the trim panel. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 3,000.

NHTSA ODI 11506173

While we were driving the door trim on the front passenger side of our 2017 Ford Explorer blew off. We had it replaced by the Ford dealer in Anderson, IN on December 9, 2020. It has again blown off while we were driving in June of 2022. We were on the freeway both times and it could have hit another car.

NHTSA ODI 11505515

While driving, the driver side windshield trim flew off almost hitting a car behind me. While inspecting the vehicle, the other side is also starting to coming off, and the panel near the code to enter the drive side door is also starting to come off. The auto body shop has confirmed that this was a recognized problem by Ford and they have seen many Explorers come in with this issue and the body problem was tweaked in upgrades on 2020 explorers and later. Luckily the car behind me was not damaged and it didn't cause an accident but this is not safe & when calling the auto body shop, it would be over $1000 to repair both side windshield trim; not including the door panel that is also starting to dislodge. For this to be a known problem, this should be covered by Ford.

NHTSA ODI 11505527

The driver side windshield panel thing flew off while I was driving.

NHTSA ODI 11505171

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that she discovered that the side panel trim for the front passenger’s side window was missing from her vehicle upon exiting the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where they diagnosed that the adhesive had deteriorated causing the panel to detach from the vehicle. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that she had read an article regarding the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.

NHTSA ODI 11505203

I bought the 2017 Ford Explorer on 8/29/2020. The next month I drove to Nags Head, N.C. from Nashville, Tn. Sometime within an hour of arrival, the a piece of trim on the passenger side panel between the doors fell off while going over the bridges. We never saw it and did not know where it landed. I ordered a replacement from Ford Parts to replace it.

NHTSA ODI 11505117

Left windshield trim suddenly detached while driving on freeway, which presents the risk of flying debris striking other cars; since I was in the left lane during the incident in the middle of Nebraska and it landed in the median, no others were known to be struck. Since the problem was a known issue within a Ford Explorer owner's group on Facebook, I simply ordered a replacement part soon after it happened and did not notify anybody. However, keep in mind that since I had a windshield crack and it was replaced with a new trim panel in December 2022, the replacement part is not available anymore as well.

NHTSA ODI 11504834

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 65 MPH, the driver's side front window trim detached. The contact pulled over but was unable to locate the window trim. The dealer was made aware of the failure and confirmed that the driver's side front window trim needed to be replaced; however, the replacement part was on backorder. The contact was able to purchase the replacement part online; however, he had to glue it to the front driver's side window due to fractured clips used to secure the window trim in place. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 12,000.

NHTSA ODI 11504883

The cowl needs to be repaired. It makes an annoying buzzing sound inside of the car on the dashboard. It distracts the drive and the driver, I can't go over 40mph. I did my research and put masking type over it and it stopped the noise. I've only had the vehicle since 2019

NHTSA ODI 11504918

Front drivers side trim piece for windshield flew off going 75mph on interstate. Had it replace and did it again a few months later. Passenger side is loose but has not come off yet.

NHTSA ODI 11505055

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the driver's side front door trim panel detached. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the dealer replaced the driver's side front door trim panel. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Action Number: PE23001 (Structure). The failure mileage was approximately 58,800.

NHTSA ODI 11504957

Windshield trim panel flew off my car while traveling at highway speeds. I was traveling on the highway when suddenly the trim and seal under the trim flew off my car and got caught on my side mirror. I was in the middle of a trip nowhere near a ford dealer and had to tape up my car so that it was protected from the elements. I had to pay hundreds of dollars to fix this problem on my own.

NHTSA ODI 11504685

At the end of December 2022, my entire right side of my windshield trim piece flew off on the highway. In addition, my right side passenger applique has come off twice on the highway since summer of 2021. The second one was a replacement and it only lasted less than a year before flying off while on the highway again in the fall of 2022. Pictures attached show the windshield piece completely cracked and flew off taking the seal with it.

NHTSA ODI 11504732

Driving from Lubbock Texas home to Carlsbad New Mexico on January 18. Very windy out. At approximately 6:00 pm my wife and I heard a noise like something light hit our windshield. It was dark when we got home and we went to bed. Got up to go to the office in the am and same the drivers side A pillar windshield trim piece missing. Saw that there was a recall for this issued in Dec 2022. Went to the Ford Dealer and they said this vehicle was not in the recall list. Why?

NHTSA ODI 11504775

The right side trim piece on the windshield came off while driving and was dangerous for me and my passenger. The whole side is exposed and will most likely leak. The rubber gasket tore after the trim piece came off and was hitting the side window.

NHTSA ODI 11503099

Front hood top coat issue. I bought the vehicle in Oct ‘22, and it had a pre-existing issue on the front hood.

NHTSA ODI 11500712

My husband was driving on the highway on a windy day and the Apillar Trim blew off the car. It got stuck in one of the side mirrors and was bashing against the window until my husband could pull over and get it. When I called the dealership and told them what happened, they shared that it happens frequently. I brought it into the dealership to be repaired and was told by 3 people that it happens frequently. The repair will cost $685. We are going to see if a different repair shop can fix it for less. Either way, our car should not blow apart on a windy day. -Had the part blown into traffic, it could have seriously injured a car behind them or coming toward them -In addition, it was surprising to my husband who said he nearly drove off the road because this part was banging against the car -There was no warning -The dealership has inspected it

NHTSA ODI 11500523

The side pillars on both the driver side and front passenger side became loose. There was a definite rattle sound inside the car. Thankfully I noticed it before they flew off and hit another person/car on the highway. This could have led to multiple injuries. When I brought the car back to the dealership they mentioned that this has happened to other cars. Perhaps there needs to be a recall. This only compounds the situation I had in April of 2022. While driving on a highway I suddenly had a rattle in the front window. I discovered that the moulding had rotted and the window was separating. When replaced by the dealership, they told me that they have dealt with this problem numerous times. Is it time to recall and have Ford pay back these expenses?

NHTSA ODI 11499333

I WAS DRIVING ON I95 ON FRIDAY AND THE DRIVER LEFT SIDE WINSHIELD OUTER PILLAR OUTER TRIM MOLDING FLEW OFF IN THE WIND VERY HARD. ON SATURDAY I WAS DRIVING ON THE BELTWAY WHEN THE PASSENGER SIDE RIGHT SIDE WINDSHIELD OUTER PILLAR OUTER TRIM MOLDING FEW OFF I WAS SO SCARED BECAUSE I DONT KNOW IF HIT THE WINDSHILED OF THE CAR BEHIND ME. THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS. NOW BOTH ARE GONE.

NHTSA ODI 11498368

I purchased 2 2017 ford explorers and they both developed the same problem . The plastic windshield pillar facia trim breaks off at highway speed. Not only is this a dangerous distraction to the driver, the part flying off at 65 mph becomes a projectile that is a hazard to vehicles following behind. Based on forums, you tube videos, and the availability of aftermarket replacement trim, this would appear to be a wide scale problem.

NHTSA ODI 11497927

While driving on the highway the driver side windshield flew off the car into the roadway.

NHTSA ODI 11497490

- The weather stripping around my front windshield failed and caused the molding around the windshield to also fail. - This failure occurred while driving at highway speeds. The flying debris alarmed me and could have obstructed my view. It could also have hit another vehicle and caused an accident. - There are instances online of this happening to Ford Explorers. Unknown if it has been inspected by dealers. - My vehicle has not yet been inspected for this defect. - There were no warning lamps or messages/symptoms before this failure. It first appeared on 12/1/2022. My vehicle is a 2017 and at 56000 miles.

NHTSA ODI 11497214

I was driving in the highway and one of the roof racks went off flying and almost hit the car behind me. After I stopped I checked the other rack and it is also lose and coming off.

NHTSA ODI 11496653

IN JANUARY 2021 I had a recall for the roof rails on my 2017 Ford Explorer - it took them a year to get the parts due to covid but they finally fixed the roof rails. About one month ago the roof rails started to pop back up - I made appointment at local Ford Dealership in Fuquay Varina, NC. The told me the recall was closed and they were not responsible for them coming up again as they repaired them for the recall. Once recall is closed out that is it .. nothing can be done. Is this correct? They finally agreed to cover 60 percent and I would have to pay 40 percent. Is this correct. Why should I have to pay out of pocked when the repair did not fix the problem. I contacted Ford at [XXX],[XXX] and they told me the same thing and said I only had until December 21 to make a decision. How can this be fair. Please help. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ODI 11495755