Illustration3 times this has happened. I brake and it seems like I'm pressing the gas pedal and the brakes feel like they aren't stopping the vehicle. The third time put me in incoming traffic and the vehicle was totaled as it already had a rebuilt salvage title when we bought it.
2010 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
1525–50K
1650–75K
1275–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
95 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Fuel/propulsion System complaints
8 reportsDriving 65 mph on I95 and it just shut off. The yellow wrench on dash came on. I somehow was able to Pull over to the shoulder without being killed. I cranked once then tried it again and it started. Drove all the way home and it’s running fine now. This is a common problem and Ford should be contacting me to warn me and fi…
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Driving 65 mph on I95 and it just shut off. The yellow wrench on dash came on. I somehow was able to Pull over to the shoulder without being killed. I cranked once then tried it again and it started. Drove all the way home and it’s running fine now. This is a common problem and Ford should be contacting me to warn me and fix it. By the way I had a baby in the car. Thanks Ford for the warning.
KEEP GETTING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT DIE TO CAPLESS GAS SYSTEM
FUEL GAUGE IS SWEEPING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE RESTING ON EMPTY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT NOW THE GAUGE REMAINS ON EMPTY WITH THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ON AND THE MILES TO EMPTY READING AS "---" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER TOLD ME ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE REASON FOR T…
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FUEL GAUGE IS SWEEPING BACK AND FORTH BEFORE RESTING ON EMPTY WHEN THE CAR WAS STARTED. WAS AN INTERMITTENT PROBLEM BUT NOW THE GAUGE REMAINS ON EMPTY WITH THE LOW FUEL LIGHT ON AND THE MILES TO EMPTY READING AS "---" AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. DEALER TOLD ME ALMOST ONE YEAR AGO THAT THE FUEL PUMP WAS THE REASON FOR THE GAUGE ACTING LIKE THIS.
EXHAUST FUMES LEAK INSIDE CAR WHILE DRIVING
VEHICLE FLOAT SENSOR HAS WENT BAD AT 143,000 AND NOW THE EGR IS FAULTY AT 146,000
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS LEAKING FUEL CONTINUOUSLY. THE CONTACT WAS A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AND REPLACED THE FUEL FUME NECK AND RUBBER HOSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 85,000.
CAPLESS FUEL FILLER ADAPTER BROKEN OFF WHEN GAS PUMP NOZZLE INSERTED DUE TO POOR FORD DESIGN WHICH CAUSES IT TO BREAK OFF VERY EASILY . THERE WAS A PSEUDO RECALL THAT REQUIRES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BE ON WHICH IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY CAR . MANY FORD OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE . FORD SHOULD PROVIDE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AS THIS C…
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CAPLESS FUEL FILLER ADAPTER BROKEN OFF WHEN GAS PUMP NOZZLE INSERTED DUE TO POOR FORD DESIGN WHICH CAUSES IT TO BREAK OFF VERY EASILY . THERE WAS A PSEUDO RECALL THAT REQUIRES THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT BE ON WHICH IS NOT THE CASE WITH MY CAR . MANY FORD OWNERS HAVE THE SAME ISSUE . FORD SHOULD PROVIDE COMPLETE REPLACEMENT AS THIS CAPLESS FUEL FILL ASSEMBLY/SYSTEM WAS NOT DESIGNED AND BUILT PROPERLY. THIS CONDITION MAKES MUCH MORE DIFFICULT TO INSERT PUMP NOZZLE INTO CAR. NOT SURE IF THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE. THANK YOU *TR
Official recalls
110V161000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Apr 20, 2010
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.