Home · 2019 Ford Explorer Police Intercept · Complaints

What 286 owners told NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

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 (286)Crash / fire / injury (5)Body & structure (145)Transmission & drivetrain (34)Electrical system (19)Engine (18)Fuel system (17)Suspension (10)Steering (9)Visibility & wipers (7)Engine & cooling (6)Brakes (4)

Newest first · 286 complaints · page 12 of 12

Sep 24, 2019Body & structure1 injury

REAR HATCH ELECTRIC OPENING/CLOSING MECHANISM FAILED - HATCH CAME DOWN A STRUCK THE HEAD OF A PERSON CAUSING AN INJURY. ALSO BECAUSE THE HATCH WOULDN'T CLOSE PROPERLY EXHAUST ENTERED THE VEHICLE WHEN BEING DRIVEN.

NHTSA ODI 11257685

Sep 23, 2019Tires

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD EXPLORER EQUIPPED WITH HANKOOK VENTUS 105H TIRES, SIZE: 255/50/R20. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE ORIGINAL FRONT PASSENGER SIDE TIRE HAD TO BE REPLACED BECAUSE THE TIRE PRESSURE WAS CONSISTENTLY DUE TO A THREE INCH CUT APPROXIMATELY TWO INCHES FROM THE RIM. SUNSET FORD (11700 GRAVOIS RD, ST. LOUIS, MO 63127, (314) 843-4431) TRIED TO SELL THE CONTACT A NEW TIRE AFTER INFORMING HIM THAT THE TIRE WAS NOT COVERED BY THE WARRANTY. THE CONTACT WENT TO A TIRE SHOP FOR A SECOND OPINION AND WAS INFORMED THAT THERE WAS A DEFECT WITH THE TIRE. THE TIRE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. THE TIRE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ODI 11257281

Sep 13, 2019Brakes

THE BRAKE PEDAL IS NOT READILY ACCESSIBLE DUE TO CLEARANCE UNDER THE DASH. MY SIZE 12 FEET WILL NOT REACH THE PEDAL QUICKLY ENOUGH IN AN EMERGENCY.

NHTSA ODI 11255252

Sep 9, 2019Electrical system

2019 FORD EXPLORER. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO HORN NOT BEING LOUD ENOUGH TO BE HEARD AT ANY SAFE DISTANCE. *LD *JS

NHTSA ODI 11253853

Aug 29, 2019Suspension

VEHICLE WAS BEING DRIVEN STRAIGHT ON RESIDENTIAL 2 LANE STREET. HEARD A LOUD BREAK/ LOSS OF DRIVING CONTROL OF VEHICLE WHICH PULLED FORCEFULLY TO THE RIGHT. VEHICLE SCRAPED OFF CURB THEN BACK INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC AND COMING TO STOPPED. HAD LOST ALL POWER TO STEERING AND OPERABILITY OF VEHICLE. PUT HAZARDS ON TO AVOID ACCIDENT EXAMINED DAMAGE TO RIGHT FRONT PASS SIDE TIRE. APPEARED THAT STABILIZER ARM, SNAPPED, BALL JOINT DISCONNECTED. RIM WAS NOT BENT OR DAMAGED OTHER THAN SCRAPE TO CURB AND TIRE WAS FULLY INFLATED. PRIOR TO MALFUNCTION DRIVER DID NOT HIT ANY OBSTRUCTION, DEBRIS OR POTHOLES ON ROAD. NO DAMAGE TO BODY OF VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11252221

Jul 30, 2019EngineFuel system

BURNING SMELL (PRESUMABLY EXHAUST FUMES) ARE LEAKING INTO CABIN WHILE DRIVING. HAPPENS MORE OFTEN UPON HARD ACCELERATION AND WITH AIR CONDITIONING ON IN AIR RECYCLE MODE.

NHTSA ODI 11240611

Jul 18, 2019

THE 2019 FORD EXPLORER IS DELIVERED NEW WITH ONE INADEQUATE HORN. ALL OTHER MODEL YEARS HAVE TWO HORNS AND ARE WHAT YOU EXPECT FROM A HORN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS SITUATION, THE HORN IS SO LOW I COULD NOT SCARE A SQUIRREL. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SAID THEY CANNOT UPGRADE. THE FORD DEALER SAID THEY CANNOT UPGRADE WITHOUT EFFECTING THE WARRANTY.

NHTSA ODI 11233031

Jun 24, 2019Wheels

WHILE DRIVING FROM VIRGINIA TO FLORIDA, TOWING SMALL U-HAUL TRAILER, WHEEL LUGS SHEARED OFF, CAUSING WHEEL TO COME OFF BELT ROLLING THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE IS BRAND NEW, I AM THE ONE AND ONLY OWNER FROM THE DEALERSHIP AND NEVER BEEN WORKED ON.

NHTSA ODI 11222300

Jun 6, 2019Electrical systemEngine

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH, THE CONTACT SMELLED FUMES COMING FROM THE IGNITION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO LEE FORD LINCOLN (LOCATED AT 4170-C RALEIGH RD PKWY W, WILSON, NC 27896, (252) 291-6000) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 1,100. *TT SINCE THE INITIAL FAILURE REPORT TO NHTSA ON JUNE 6, 2019, THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO THE DEALER IN THREE SEPARATE OCCASIONS TO DATE, BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DUPLICATED. TO THIS DATE, THE VEHICLE HAS NOT BEEN REPAIRED AND THE PROBLEM PERSISTS. EXCESSIVE FUMES IN THE CABIN, MAINLY WHILE ACCELERATING AND/OR DRIVING LONG DISTANCES; THE SMELL IS SO STRONG THAT WE KEEP THE SUNROOF TILT OPEN TO ENSURE GOOD AIR FLOW & REMOVE FUMES FROM CABIN.*JB

NHTSA ODI 11218291

May 21, 2019SteeringEngineFuel system

ON MARCH 2ND 2019 FORD EXPLORER SPORT WITH 1,800 MILES WAS TOWED TO THOMASSEN FORD IN CHARLES TOWN WV LEAVING OWNER STRANDED. COMPLAINED OF STRONG FUEL/GASOLINE ODOR INSIDE THE VEHICLE. FUEL/GASOLINE WAS LEAKING BADLY OUT OF THE VEHICLE ONTO THE EXHAUST PIPE. ON MARCH 4TH NOTIFICATION WAS PROVIDED FROM SERVICE WRITER THAT NONE OF THE FUEL LINES OR CLAMPS WERE ATTACHED PROPERLY FROM THE FACTORY. VEHICLE SAT AT THOMASSEN FORD UNTIL MARCH 27TH WHEN REPAIRS WERE COMPLETE. APRIL 9TH 2019 SOME FORM OF FLUID LEAKED OUT OF THE PARKED VEHICLE FOR 8 HOURS AFTER A 7 MINUTE DRIVE. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO JERRY'S FORD IN LEESBURG VA "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THEREFORE NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. THERE ARE PHOTOS OF THIS ISSUE. APRIL 18TH 2019 A STRANGE NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN WHEN DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO JERRY'S FORD IN LEESBURG VA "UNABLE TO DUPLICATE" THEREFORE AGAIN NO ACTION WAS TAKEN. TO THIS DAY THE VEHICLE STILL MAKES THE NOISE WHICH HAS GOTTEN PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. THERE IS VIDEO OF THIS ISSUE

NHTSA ODI 11208940

Apr 2, 2019EngineFuel system

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING THE VEHICLE, THE CONTACT SMELLED EXHAUST FUMES AND FUEL INSIDE THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO ADVANTAGE FORD (4000 SE FEDERAL HWY, STUART, FL 34997, (772) 287-0955) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT THE TEST WAS NOT YET COMPLETED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,500.

NHTSA ODI 11193405

← Newer

Working with the data? Download all 286 complaints as CSV · fetched from NHTSA July 22, 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 2019 Ford Explorer Police Intercept verdict →