Representative model. Photo: Ssu, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2021 Ford Explorer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2021 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns: 27
Park-it warnings: 0
Complaints: 453
Latest campaign: Jul 14, 2026

Recall summary by component27

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

Component	Campaigns	Latest	Campaign IDs
Back over prevention	7	Mar 3, 2026	26V123000 25V442000 25V159000 23V342000 23V305000 23V022000 21V735000
Power train	6	Jun 24, 2026	26V402000 25V166000 23V675000 23V199000 23V069000 22V255000
Seats	2	Jul 14, 2026	26V451000 25V393000
Seat belts	2	Mar 17, 2026	26V159000 25V093000
Equipment	2	Oct 10, 2025	25V685000 24V852000
Engine	2	Aug 10, 2024	24V598000 20V788000
Visibility	1	Mar 3, 2026	26V117000
Fuel system, gasoline	1	Jul 7, 2025	25V455000
Engine and engine cooling	1	Aug 23, 2024	24V635000
Electrical system	1	Sep 8, 2023	23V626000
Suspension	1	Nov 10, 2021	21V870000
Air bags	1	Aug 23, 2021	21V652000

Safety recalls27

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h

0Park-it warnings

0Fixable over the air

Jul 14, 2026Latest campaign


Jul 14, 202626V451000	Seats: mid/rear assembly A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V451000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly. Risk A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 26V451000 · Jul 14, 2026
Jun 24, 202626V402000	Power train: automatic transmission Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V402000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage. Risk Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 26V402000 · Jun 24, 2026
Mar 17, 202626V159000	Seat belts A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V159000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured. Risk A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Remedy Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 26V159000 · Mar 17, 2026
Mar 3, 202626V117000	Visibility: windshield wiper/washer motor Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V117000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly. Risk Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 26V117000 · Mar 3, 2026
Mar 3, 202626V123000	Back over prevention: software An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. DetailsHide details for campaign 26V123000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility." Risk An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash. Remedy Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 26V123000 · Mar 3, 2026
Oct 10, 202525V685000	Equipment: electrical engine block heater An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. DetailsHide details for campaign 25V685000 What's wrong Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in. Risk An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire. Remedy Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025. Filed under Explorer Campaign NHTSA 25V685000 · Oct 10, 2025

Merged from NHTSA model names: Explorer, Explorer Hybrid, Explorer Intercept Hybrid, Explorer Phev, Explorer Police Intercept. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Buying a used 2021 Ford Explorer? Recalls cover the model; a history report checks one car's title, odometer and accident records. VinAudit history report → Sponsored · disclosure

Owner complaints by component453

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h

453Complaints filed

17Involving a crash

5Involving a fire

20Injuries reported

Component	Complaints	%	Crashes	Fires	Injuries
Power train	128	28	4	0	2
Unknown or other	88	19	3	0	5
Engine	50	11	1	2	2
Electrical system	48	11	4	4	2
Back over prevention	36	8	0	0	0
Visibility/wiper	27	6	0	0	1
Structure	26	6	0	0	1
Service brakes	23	5	3	0	1
Visibility	20	4	0	0	1
Fuel/propulsion system	20	4	1	0	0
Forward collision avoidance	19	4	2	0	1
Seats	17	4	1	0	3
Vehicle speed control	15	3	1	0	0
Suspension	15	3	0	0	0
Engine and engine cooling	10	2	0	0	0

22 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Explorer, Explorer Hev, Explorer Police Intercept.

Latest reports

Structure
“The right rear passenger door of my 2021 Ford Explorer ST repeatedly becomes unlatched and physically opens while the vehicle is in motion, including at highway speeds of approximately 72 mph.”
Filed 10/15/2026 · ODI 11771352
Visibility/wiper
“Never really used sun roof , but accidentally hit button to open … then closed….. not realizing that the cover didn’t close it SAG down behind my head… blocking rear view completely.”
Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771261
Visibility
“The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving in rainy conditions, windshield visibility remained poor despite replacing the wiper blades multiple times.”
Filed 10/13/2026 · ODI 11770870

Other Ford Explorer model years

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Other Ford models

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2021 Ford Explorer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2021 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 27 safety recall campaigns for the 2021 Ford Explorer. The most recent, 26V451000 (reported July 14, 2026), concerns seats. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2021 Ford Explorer recalls for?

The largest group is back over prevention, with 7 campaigns. Others: power train (6), seats (2), seat belts (2). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2021 Ford Explorer?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 128 complaints out of 453 filed with NHTSA (28%). Across all complaints, owners reported 17 crashs and 5 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2021 Ford Explorer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

Check a specific Ford by VIN

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Recall summary by component27

Safety recalls27

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Power train: automatic transmission

Seat belts

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer motor

Back over prevention: software

Equipment: electrical engine block heater