2019 Ford Explorer

298 complaints on file, page 1 of 15.

1. Filed Sep 28, 2026Failure Feb 1, 2026Fairdale, KYUnknown or other

   The cowl grille/top trim has become extremely brittle and deteriorated. The material is breaking apart simply from being touched, and pieces are coming loose and flying off while I’m driving. the entire edge of the cowl is crumbling and separating from the vehicle. This appears to be material deterioration rather than normal wear. I’m concerned that additional pieces could detach while driving and that the cowl may no longer properly protect/seal the area beneath the windshield.

   NHTSA complaint 11767541
2. Filed Sep 28, 2026Failure Jul 1, 2025Goldsboro, NCUnknown or other, Visibility/wiper

   We have contacted Ford Motor Company previously about this issue. The leather dash pad on our Explorer is detached near the windshield and is rolling up back towards the interior of the vehicle. The dealer has inspected (Deacon Jones, Goldsboro, NC) and has confirmed the issue. Original quote to fix was approximately $15,000.00, reduced later by FMCO to $6000.00. We have attempted to find local upholstery shop to repair, but they will not touch it. The pad underneath the leather is all white and causes a debilitating glare/reflection on the windshield when driving towards the sun. Please review my previous filing with FMCO and help us with this issue. I note that online, several others are experiencing this same issue. This is developing into a severe safety issue.

   NHTSA complaint 11767437
3. Filed Sep 23, 2026Failure Sep 19, 202673,000 milesHanover, PAStructure

   The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, upon taking the vehicle to a local dealer, no failures were found, and the VIN was removed from the recall. Upon further inspection, the contact became aware that the front driver’s side and passenger’s side A-pillar trims were loose. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 73,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11766443
4. Filed Sep 21, 2026Failure Apr 12, 2026Charles City, IABody

   Driver side roof rack cover blew off while driving on the highway. Dealer says they previously repaired this under an existing recall and is not going to fix it again. I understand a new recall was issued in July 2026, but our vin is not covered even though ours blew off

   NHTSA complaint 11766005
5. Filed Sep 8, 2026Failure Sep 3, 2026Baker, MTLatches/locks/linkages

   The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the message "Right Rear Door Ajar" was displayed. The contact moved the rear passenger’s side door latch several times and was able to fix the failure. However, the failure recurred. The contact was concerned that the failure would drain the battery.

   NHTSA complaint 11762686
6. Filed Sep 4, 2026Failure Feb 15, 202450,000 milesGrant-Valkaria, FLStructure

   The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the front A-pillar trims detached. The contact was able to replace both A-pillar trims; however, the failure reoccurred. The local dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.

   NHTSA complaint 11762218
7. Filed Sep 3, 2026Failure Jul 27, 2026Summerville, SCEngine

   The internal timing-chain-driven water pump on my 2019 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5L EcoBoost is failing. I began experiencing coolant loss and the cabin heat would turn cold while the vehicle was stopped or idling. The vehicle was professionally inspected by an independent repair facility. After diagnostic testing, the mechanic confirmed coolant leaking from the water pump weep hole and diagnosed a failing internal water pump. The water pump is located inside the engine and is driven by the timing chain. Continued failure can result in significant coolant loss, overheating, coolant entering the engine oil, and potentially severe engine damage or engine failure while driving. I am concerned about the safety risk of an unexpected loss of engine operation. The vehicle did not initially display an overheating warning despite the coolant loss and heating symptoms. The failure has been confirmed by a professional mechanic and documentation/photos of the leak and diagnosis are available upon request. Replacement requires extensive engine/timing-system disassembly and I was quoted several thousand dollars for the repair. I am requesting that NHTSA investigate internal water pump failures involving the 3.5L engine used in these Ford Explorer vehicles.

   NHTSA complaint 11761961
8. Filed Aug 22, 2026Failure Aug 13, 2026Haughton, LAWarnings, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

   I was driving down the road when the warning lights suddenly came on, and the vehicle would not allow me to accelerate. As a result, my vehicle slowed unexpectedly, and another vehicle nearly struck me from behind.

   NHTSA complaint 11758806
9. Filed Aug 13, 2026Failure Nov 1, 2025Scranton, KSPower train

   In November 2025 vehicle began experiencing intermittent instances of rough shifting when the engine was under strain due to mountain driving. Since we do not live in the mountains, we returned home and waited to see if it would replicate. Vehicle began intermittently, replicating, hard shifting when coming out of Park. At that time an appointment was made with a local transmission shop in June 2026 to have an evaluation done. No error codes have been thrown at any point in time but the shop was able to highlight that there are metal flakes in the transmission fluid indicating the beginnings of mechanical malfunction of the transmission prior to 150,000 miles. At the time this started the vehicle was at approximately 137,000 miles. It is now at approximately 154,000 approximately one year later. It is my daily driver and only motive transportation. Shop has recommend a transmission rebuild due to metal flakes in the engine. It is a well-known fact, two Ford that they installed faulty, transmissions that prematurely go out however, they have not completed a recall to this date still. This puts unnecessary financial hardship on the consumer when the vehicle starts to fail prematurely.

   NHTSA complaint 11756722
10. Filed Aug 12, 2026Failure Aug 9, 2026Wisconsin Rapids, WISuspension

    Both the rear toe links were replaced under NHTSA # 26V101 on March 26th, 2026. On August 8th, 2026, the vehicle experience significant handling issues at highway speeds. Was found the toe links shifted post recall. Significant cambered tire wear located on both rear tires. The axel shaft seal developed a leak from the suspension system strain caused from toe links failing. My families safety was at risk due to the tires and suspension failing causing significant handling issues at highway speeds. The vehicle was parked immediately after inspecting the rear end. Approximately 4,500 miles driven since recall service. Vehicle is now back with FORD dealership as of August 11th, 2026 for inspection. FORD dealership is expected to invoice repair costs for failed axel shaft seal. FORD is covering the rear tire replacement along with re-alignment. No warning lamps or messages observed.

    NHTSA complaint 11756501
11. Filed Aug 11, 2026Failure Jan 15, 202690,000 milesPalisade, COStructure

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the recall repair was not performed because the A-pillar trim had not completely detached. While driving the vehicle at an undisclosed speed, the A-pillar trim detached. The dealer was contacted after the trim had fully detached, but recall repair was not performed. The contact stated that the dealer cleared the recall from the VIN and refused to perform any repairs associated with the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11756251
12. Filed Jul 22, 2026Failure Jul 3, 2026Gillett, ARBody

    Passenger side exterior B pillar trim came off while driving on highway on July 3, 2026. Trim was on vehicle when it left home. It was not on it when it arrived at destination. Possible danger to other drivers from flying trim component. No inspection or any symptoms of the problem prior to failure. Same problem as recall on 2016-2017 models.

    NHTSA complaint 11751972
13. Filed Jul 16, 2026Failure Nov 1, 202544,000 milesCasa Grande, AZStructure

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (Structure); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the exterior A-pillar trim had detached from the vehicle. The dealer was made aware of the failure but confirmed that parts were not yet available. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11750801
14. Filed Jul 15, 2026Failure Jul 1, 2013San Diego, CABody

    Component/System: Aluminum hood panel (front edge seam). The hood is available for inspection upon request. The front edge of the aluminum hood on my 2019 Ford Explorer has developed bubbling, lifting paint, and corrosion originating from inside the folded seam. The defect has progressively worsened over time and continues to spread outward. Safety Risk: The corrosion is occurring at the front hood seam, which is part of the structure that supports the hood latch area. Progressive corrosion in this region may weaken the hood panel over time, potentially affecting hood retention at highway speeds. Paint loss and metal degradation also reduce visibility of the defect until it becomes severe. Reproduction/Confirmation: The problem is visible and reproducible at any time. The bubbling and corrosion are present continuously and worsen with normal vehicle use. Inspection History: The issue has been visually inspected by me. The vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer, dealer, police, or insurance representatives. Warning Lamps or Messages: No warning lamps or messages appeared. There were no electronic symptoms prior to the failure. The first visible symptom was small paint bubbles along the front hood edge, which appeared approximately when the corrosion began. Assessment: Based on widespread reports for this model year and Ford’s own Technical Service Bulletins for aluminum panel corrosion, the cause appears to be corrosion originating inside the aluminum hood seam, likely due to manufacturing contamination.

    NHTSA complaint 11750641
15. Filed Jul 14, 2026Failure Jul 2, 2026147,419 milesPrescott, AZSteering, Suspension

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 80 MPH, the steering wheel was abnormally loose, and the vehicle became uncontrollable. The contact stated that the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle was driven to the shoulder of the road, and the brake pedal was depressed to the floorboard. The brake pedal was depressed several times, and the vehicle stopped. No warning lights were illuminated. A driver nearby assisted with stopping traffic to allow the contact to drive the vehicle off to the shoulder of the roadway. The vehicle was inspected, and the other driver became aware that the rear tires were completely bald. The vehicle was taken to Discount Tires, and the contact was informed that the failure was because of the rear suspension. The contact was advised to take the vehicle to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was informed that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V101000 (Suspension) in March 24, 2026. In addition, the contact was informed that an alignment was not performed because the alignment machine was unavailable. The contact had not been informed that the recall repair was completed. The dealer informed the contact that an alignment had been completed. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 147,419.

    NHTSA complaint 11750269
16. Filed Jul 14, 2026Failure May 3, 2026100,000 milesHaughton, LADashboard

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the leather on the dashboard was peeling and had detached. No warning lights were illuminated. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11750268
17. Filed Jul 10, 2026Failure Jul 8, 2026South lebanon, OHFuel/propulsion system

    Fuel pump and module failure. Driving on the highway at 70 miles an hour and the fuel pump failed. Causing me to have zero acceleration. Thus losing speed rapidly in the center lane. No warning lights were present before or after. One previous symptom of a crank no start. Dealership was able to replicate the crank no start situation. Resulting in the problem being a fuel pump failure and module needing replaced, at 83,000 miles on the vehicle. Though I know normal wear and tear can and does happen, there was no warning. And losing engine power at high speeds on a highway is unsafe.

    NHTSA complaint 11749645
18. Filed Jun 6, 2026Failure May 28, 2026Victoria, TXBody

    This recall has been unresolved for approximately two years. Recently, while traveling at highway speeds, the A-pillar trim detached from my vehicle and flew off, striking a vehicle behind me. Fortunately, no accident occurred, but the situation was extremely dangerous and could have resulted in serious injuries or property damage. This is precisely the type of incident the recall was intended to prevent. I have reached out to my local dealership numerous times and am told that Ford has no parts available. This is not acceptable and Ford is not handling this recall in a timely fashion.

    NHTSA complaint 11742448
19. Filed Jun 2, 2026Failure Apr 25, 202647,000 milesLouisville, KYStructure

    The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving, Panel on the driver side door, keyless pad became completely detached. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed as not being fully secured and was replaced. The panel blew the fuses and affected the liftgate on the vehicle and additional repairs, latch replacement on the liftgate had to be completed. The manufacturer was notified of the issue. The approximate failure mileage 47,000.

    NHTSA complaint 11741521
20. Filed May 27, 2026Failure May 27, 2026Owatonna, MNSteering

    While my granddaughter was driving our 2019 Ford Explorer, the steering effort suddenly increased without warning, as if the electric power steering assist stopped functioning. She was traveling at approximately 45 mph on a public road and was unable to steer normally. The sudden loss of assist caused her to nearly leave her lane and almost resulted in a collision. This vehicle uses an electric‑assist rack‑and‑pinion steering system. There were no warning lights or messages before or during the event. Road conditions were dry. After the incident, steering remained abnormally heavy/intermittent. It isn't as though it mimics an old school vehicle without power steering, where it simply requires a good deal of strength. With this situation, if you work hard to make a correction, the car suddenly pulls further quickly in that direction, or in the opposite direction in a very jerky manner. The failure occurred without any prior symptoms and created an immediate loss‑of‑control hazard, especially for younger or smaller drivers who cannot overcome the sudden increase in steering force. It basically feels like it is locked up. I am reporting this because the failure was sudden, unannounced, and nearly caused an accident. This appears to be a malfunction of the electric power steering assist system, and it presents an unreasonable safety risk. On a related note, I am the Director of Quality for a manufacturing facility and have conducted hundreds of formal risk assessments during product design. A sudden, unannounced loss of steering assist represents a high‑severity, low‑tolerance safety hazard. In my professional opinion, this failure mode warrants an accelerated investigation.

    NHTSA complaint 11740477