Head-to-head reliability
FORD Explorer vs FORD Expedition
How the FORD Explorer and FORD Expedition compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
FORD Explorer vs FORD Expedition: The Explorer has 4,758 complaints over 10 years (avg 476/yr) vs Expedition's 2,079 (avg 208/yr). Explorer owners report structural and powertrain issues, while Expedition has engine fires and brake failures. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the FORD Explorer or FORD Expedition more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
FORD Explorer
The Ford Explorer, with 4,758 complaints over ten years (about 476 per year), shows a pattern of structural and powertrain issues. Owners report cracked stabilizer arms, windshield moldings blowing off, and transmission/engine problems that persist even after replacements. This suggests a vehicle that may require frequent repairs, especially in the suspension and drivetrain.
FORD Expedition
The Ford Expedition, with 2,079 complaints over ten years (about 208 per year), has fewer complaints but still shows significant powertrain and engine issues. Owners report vibrations at highway speeds, sudden loss of acceleration, and even a fire. Electrical system problems, such as trailer module failures and brake system warnings, also appear. This indicates a vehicle with potential safety and reliability concerns, particularly in the drivetrain and electronics.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | FORD Explorer | FORD Expedition |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 4,758 | 2,079 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 165 | 92 Better |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 129 | 62 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 475.8 | 207.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 160 | 138 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
FORD Explorer
- 01STRUCTURE1,169
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER956
- 03POWER TRAIN868
- 04ENGINE552
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM465
Owners report cracked stabilizer arms and windshield moldings blowing off, which can cause rattling, wind noise, and even windshield cracks, posing a hazard to occupants and other drivers.
Transmission and engine defects are common, with some owners experiencing complete engine and transmission replacements. Symptoms include hesitation, misfiring, and the vehicle stopping unexpectedly, especially in snow.
Some owners report the vehicle rolling while parked on slopes despite being in Park with the parking brake engaged, which is a serious safety concern. Others mention transmission behavior and water leaks.
“Around 20,000 miles, I took my vehicle to the dealer due to rattling and knocking in the front right wheel well and it was discovered the stabilizer arm was cracked. Received the vehicle back, and approximately 1000 miles later, there is rattling at the front…”
“The A piller molding on BOTH sides of the windshield has been blown off. When blown off it cracked the windshield. This resulting in a hazard to drivers around but also the fuel economy of the car.”
FORD Expedition
- 01POWER TRAIN781
- 02ENGINE367
- 03ELECTRICAL SYSTEM252
- 04UNKNOWN OR OTHER245
- 05SERVICE BRAKES135
Owners report strong vibrations at highway speeds and sudden loss of acceleration, where the vehicle acts like it's in neutral. This can make highway driving challenging and potentially dangerous.
There are reports of engine fires, with smoke coming through the vents, and incomplete recalls for connecting rod and cup plug inspections. These issues can lead to catastrophic failures.
The trailer module may lose communication, causing trailer lights to malfunction, and some owners report brake failure with all warning lights going off, which is a critical safety issue.
“I purchased a new 2025 Ford Expedition Max. Since I left the dealer’s lot, the vehicle has had a strong vibration at any speed over 60 miles per hour, which makes highway driving and longer distance trips very challenging or impossible. Since I bought the veh…”
“Driving on highway, tried to accelerate, the car was acting like it was in neutral and would not accelerate. Checked to ensure I was not. the car began decelerating and I started to pull over. As I entered the brake down lane - the car automatically switched…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
FORD Explorer — 165 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
The risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the image processing module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters informing owners of the safety risk were mailed April 25, 2023. Owner notification letters were mailed February 13, 2023. O…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement…
The risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles. The right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing.
The risk: A loose or missing connection between the knuckle and strut can cause improper tire alignment, resulting in a steering pull or require increased steering effort. Additionally, the brake hose may contact the tire and become damaged, resulti…
The fix: Dealers will inspect the fasteners, and tighten or install them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 08, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
The risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 360-degree camera, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S23. This recall expands a…
FORD Expedition — 92 recalls
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2026 F-150, 2022-2026 F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, Maverick, 2024-2026 Ranger, 2023-2026 F-600 SD, 2022-2027 Lincoln Navigator, Expedition, and 2026 E-Transit vehicles. When towing a trailer, the integrated trailer module (ITRM) may los…
The risk: Trailer lights or brakes that do not function can reduce the driver’s ability to control the trailer and decrease the trailers visibility to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The integrated trailer module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2025 F-150, Expedition, and 2024 Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 3.5L GTDI engines. The engine may have a misaligned engine cup plug, which can result in a rapid oil leak.
The risk: A rapid oil leak can result in an engine stall, increasing the risk of a crash. In addition, an oil leak in the presence of an ignition source such as hot engine or exhaust components, can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the engine cup plug alignment, and replace the plug if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this…
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Navigator and Expedition vehicles. The passenger side air bag may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause the air bag to deploy with excessive force during a crash.
The risk: An air bag that deploys with excessive force can increase the risk of injury during a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the passenger side air bags, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 8, 2025. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S51.
The defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Lincoln Navigator, F-150, Expedition, Bronco, and Ranger vehicles. The Electronic Brake Booster (EBB) module may malfunction while driving or when the driver is utilizing an Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) feature, resulting in a loss of…
The risk: An unexpected loss of power brake assist while driving can extend stopping distance and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a loss of power brake assist while ADAS features are engaged can result in the vehicle not braking as expec…
The fix: The EBB module software will be updated over-the-air (OTA) or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on August 22, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall…
Buyer analysis
FORD Explorer or FORD Expedition: which should you buy?
The Ford Expedition has fewer complaints per year (about 208) compared to the Explorer (about 476), but both have serious issues. The Expedition's lower complaint rate may suggest slightly better reliability, but the nature of its problems, such as engine fires and brake failures, is more severe. In practice, the Explorer may require more frequent repairs, while the Expedition may have more dangerous failures.
Key differences
- The Explorer has more than double the complaints per year (476 vs 208), indicating a higher rate of reported issues.
- Explorer owners frequently report structural problems like cracked stabilizer arms and windshield moldings, while Expedition owners report more powertrain and engine issues.
- Expedition has reports of engine fires and brake failures, which are more safety-critical than the Explorer's rolling-while-parked issue.
- Both have transmission problems, but the Explorer's issues often require complete replacements, while the Expedition's include loss of acceleration.
- Inspect the front suspension for cracked stabilizer arms and check the windshield moldings for signs of lifting or damage.
- Test the transmission for hesitation or slipping, and ask about any prior engine or transmission replacements.
- Check for any open recalls, especially those related to engine components (connecting rod, cup plug) and trailer brake module.
- Test the brakes and electrical system, and look for any warning lights or signs of previous brake failure.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report and check for open recalls on both models.
- Have a trusted mechanic perform a pre-purchase inspection, focusing on the suspension, transmission, and engine.
- Test drive at highway speeds to check for vibrations or acceleration issues.
- Ask for maintenance records, especially for transmission and engine repairs.
- Check the NHTSA website for the latest complaints and recall information for the specific model year.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | FORD Explorer | FORD Expedition |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 22 | 7 |
| 2025 | 89 | 27 |
| 2024 | 19 | 71 |
| 2023 | 102 | 64 |
| 2022 | 255 | 108 |
| 2021 | 407 | 226 |
| 2020 | 1184 | 383 |
| 2019 | 287 | 471 |
| 2018 | 715 | 368 |
| 2017 | 1678 | 354 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific FORD Explorer or FORD Expedition in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- FORD Explorer vs FORD Expedition
- FORD Explorer total complaints
- 4,758
- FORD Expedition total complaints
- 2,079
- FORD Explorer total recalls
- 165
- FORD Expedition total recalls
- 92
- FORD Explorer avg complaints/year
- 475.8
- FORD Expedition avg complaints/year
- 207.9
- More reliable overall
- FORD Expedition
- FORD Explorer top complaint area
- STRUCTURE
- FORD Expedition top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN