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What 1,665 owners told NHTSA about the 2017 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 (1,665)Crash / fire / injury (61)Body & structure (642)Engine (234)Transmission & drivetrain (121)Electrical system (90)Engine & cooling (76)Steering (74)Visibility & wipers (73)Wheels (60)Suspension (55)Fuel system (49)

3 of 1,665 complaints match · Fuel system · crash/fire/injury only · clear filters

Jul 18, 2022Fuel system4 injuries

Exhaust Fumes entering the passenger cabin through the heat/ac vents and causing carbon monoxide poisoning to passengers! Having medical issues due to this issue and it has been found twice and it’s been doing this since day 3 of owning it! Purchased new on February 21, 2018 with only 2 miles and 6 miles when paperwork was signed! On day 5, 02-26-2018, called dealer was told by the salesman Tommy, it was the new smell and it would go away, Never has and never will! I’ve been sick for over 2 years and 90% of my medical issues has came from purchasing this vehicle and it’s still releasing exhaust fumes and causing me problems. I would like to know WHY a recall has never been done and FORD to be made response for their actions and deceit for this major problem!

NHTSA ODI 11474481

Oct 1, 2018Fuel system1 injury

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN, AN ODOR OF FUEL EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS OF THE VEHICLE. THE ODOR CAUSED THE DRIVER TO HAVE A SEVERE HEADACHE THAT REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRANDON FORD (LOCATED AT 9090 E ADAMO DR, TAMPA, FL 33619, (813) 246-3673) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED, BUT A FAILURE CODE COULD NOT BE LOCATED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 21,000.

NHTSA ODI 11132796

Jun 15, 2018Fuel system1 injury

THERE WAS A COOLANT LEAK INTO THE HEATER BOX WHICH CAUSE THE HEATER CORE TO FAIL AND THEN IT BEGAN FILLING THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE CABIN WITH COOLANT FUMES FOR TWO MONTHS. THE VEHICLE SHOULD HAVE NEVER LEFT COURTESY FORD HERE IN PORTLAND OR. IT WENT BACK THREE TIMES FOR THIS ISSUE. IF THEY WOULD HAVE CONTACTED FORD MOTORS THEY COULD AND HAD THE KNOWLEDGE OF THIS MAJOR FAILURE HAPPENING. BREATHING IN COOLANT AND BEING TOLD IT'S OKAY. IT ISN'T IS IT? PLEASE HELP.

NHTSA ODI 11102206

Working with the data? Download all 1,665 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 2017 Ford Explorer verdict →