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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.

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When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

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

What owners actually said

115 reports
19,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Steering

WHEN MAKING A FORWARD 90 DEGREE TURN EITHER TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL NOT RETURN SO THAT THE VEHICLE STRAIGHTENS OUT. THE VEHICLE CONTINUES TO TURN UNTIL THE STEERING WHEEL IS STRAIGHTENED OUT MANUALLY. IN REVERSE, THE STEERING WHEEL WILL RETURN AND STRAIGHTEN OUT THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI #10403276

5,000 miles · May 20, 2011
Vehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. HE HAD TO QUICKLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WHEELS SPUN AS THE VEHICLE TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTACTS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. HE HAD TO QUICKLY DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL AND SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL GEAR IN ORDER TO GAIN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. ON ONE OCCASION, THE WHEELS SPUN AS THE VEHICLE TRIED TO MOVE FORWARD WITH THE CONTACTS FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE FAILURE OCCURRED APPROXIMATELY TEN TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER SEVERAL TIMES WHO COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN REPAIRED. THE CONTACT CALLED THE MANUFACTURER WHO STATED THAT THEY WOULD SEND SOMEONE TO INSPECT THE VEHICLE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 16,694. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 5,000. UPDATED 06/24/11 *BF UPDATED 06/30/11

NHTSA ODI #10402174

13,500 miles · May 12, 2011
Electrical System

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE TURN SIGNALS WERE OPERABLE, HOWEVER THE SOUND INDICATOR THAT ADVISED THE DRIVER THAT THE SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED DID NOT ENGAGE. THE SOUND INDICA…

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TIRE PRESSURE MONITORING SYSTEM WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE BRAKE WARNING LIGHT FLASHED INTERMITTENTLY. THE TURN SIGNALS WERE OPERABLE, HOWEVER THE SOUND INDICATOR THAT ADVISED THE DRIVER THAT THE SIGNAL WAS ACTIVATED DID NOT ENGAGE. THE SOUND INDICATOR THAT ADVISED THE DRIVER THAT THE KEYS WERE NOT REMOVED FROM THE VEHICLE HAD ALSO FAILED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND THE CONTACT WAS AWAITING A SERVICE APPOINTMENT. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 13,800 AND THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 13,500.

NHTSA ODI #10400683

20,150 miles · Apr 6, 2011
Seats

THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE 2010 FORD EXPLORER PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHEN I SIT STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT. I CANNOT FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHERE THE "ACTIVE RESTRAINT" IS NOT ACTIVELY PUSHING MY HEAD FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY OF MINIMIZING SPACE BETWEEN THE HEAD AND RESTRAINT WHEN IN A REAR-END COLLISION, …

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THE ACTIVE HEAD RESTRAINT SYSTEM IN THE 2010 FORD EXPLORER PUSHES MY HEAD FORWARD WHEN I SIT STRAIGHT IN THE SEAT. I CANNOT FIND A COMFORTABLE POSITION WHERE THE "ACTIVE RESTRAINT" IS NOT ACTIVELY PUSHING MY HEAD FORWARD. I UNDERSTAND THE NECESSITY OF MINIMIZING SPACE BETWEEN THE HEAD AND RESTRAINT WHEN IN A REAR-END COLLISION, BUT CAR MANUFACTURERS HAVE OVERCOMPENSATED, CAUSING SEVERE NECK PAIN FOR THOSE WHO SIT STRAIGHT IN THEIR SEATS. THIS IS A PROBLEM NOT ONLY BECAUSE IT'S UNCOMFORTABLE AND POTENTIALLY CAUSES NECK PAIN BUT ALSO BECAUSE DRIVERS HAVE NO OTHER SAFE OPTION. THE OPTIONS ARE: 1) REMOVE THE HEAD RESTRAINT, 2) TURN THE HEAD RESTRAINT BACKWARDS, OR 3) BEND THE BARS SO THE RESTRAINT IS NOT ANGLED FORWARD AS DRAMATICALLY. PLEASE OFFER A SOLUTION TO THIS PROBLEM. OTHERWISE, THE RESTRAINT GUIDELINES WILL CREATE MORE SAFETY ISSUES THAN THEY WERE MEANT TO REMEDY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10394450

800 miles · Mar 31, 2011
Service Brakes, HydraulicVehicle Speed Control

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED DURING ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD MOMENTARILY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED MOMENTARILY BEFORE EXPERIENCING AN INCRE…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE WHILE BRAKING AT LOW SPEEDS. THE CONTACT ALSO STATED DURING ONE OF THE FAILURES, THE VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD MOMENTARILY WHEN THE BRAKES WERE APPLIED. THE VEHICLE SURGED MOMENTARILY BEFORE EXPERIENCING AN INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TWICE. AN UNKNOWN REPAIR WAS PERFORMED AFTER THE FIRST VISIT TO THE AUTHORIZED DEALER BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 800 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,200.

NHTSA ODI #10393871

300 miles · Mar 14, 2011
Engine And Engine Cooling

PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. APPLIED MORE BRAKE PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RPM SHOT UP OVER 7000. TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND RE-STARTED ENGINE AND CALLED FORD. CAR WAS TOOLED TO FORD, CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WAS GIVEN FORD SERVICE BULLITEN ABOUT STICKING LINKAGE ON NEW VEHICLES. 03/07/2011 120…

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PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. APPLIED MORE BRAKE PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RPM SHOT UP OVER 7000. TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND RE-STARTED ENGINE AND CALLED FORD. CAR WAS TOOLED TO FORD, CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WAS GIVEN FORD SERVICE BULLITEN ABOUT STICKING LINKAGE ON NEW VEHICLES. 03/07/2011 12000 MILES ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THRU PARKING LOT AT 3 TO 5 MPH APPLIED BRAKES FOR PEDESTRIAN AND ONCE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND HAD TO APPLY HEAVY BRAKING AND PUT IN NEUTRAL TURN OFF BUT THIS TIME WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. CALLED FORD DEALER AND WAS TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE.

NHTSA ODI #10391668

3,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Service Brakes, Hydraulic

WE HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS HAVING BRAKE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN NORMALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES SOFT AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. ONLY AFTER DEPRESSING THE PEDAL AT FULL FORCE WILL THE TRUCK FULLY STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. THERE IS NO TELLING ON WHEN IT COULD HAPPEN. IT IS TOTA…

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WE HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER THAT IS HAVING BRAKE ISSUES. THE PROBLEM OCCURS WHEN NORMALLY DEPRESSING THE BRAKES. THE BRAKE PEDAL BECOMES SOFT AND THE TRUCK WILL NOT STOP. ONLY AFTER DEPRESSING THE PEDAL AT FULL FORCE WILL THE TRUCK FULLY STOP. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES NOW. THERE IS NO TELLING ON WHEN IT COULD HAPPEN. IT IS TOTALLY RANDOM. I WAS ALMOST IN A VIOLENT ACCIDENT TODAY. WE ARE BRINGING IT BACK FOR SERVICE IN THE MORNING. IF YOU OWN A 2010 EXPLORER, PLEASE HAVE IT CHECKED OUT. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384829

4,000 miles · Feb 28, 2011
Seats

I HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADRESTS ARE PITCHED EXCESSIVELY FORWARD CAUSING EXTREME HEAD AND NECK DISCOMFORT. THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS STRESS IS TO RECLINE THE SEAT TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR HEAD DOESN'T CONTACT THE HEADREST. THIS PUTS STRESS ON YOUR NECK MUSCLES CAUSING STIFFNESS AND HEADACHES…

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I HAVE A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT HEADRESTS ARE PITCHED EXCESSIVELY FORWARD CAUSING EXTREME HEAD AND NECK DISCOMFORT. THE ONLY WAY TO ALLEVIATE THIS STRESS IS TO RECLINE THE SEAT TO THE POINT WHERE YOUR HEAD DOESN'T CONTACT THE HEADREST. THIS PUTS STRESS ON YOUR NECK MUSCLES CAUSING STIFFNESS AND HEADACHES. THIS IS A DEFECTIVE DESIGN THAT MUST BE CORRECTED. WHEN I BROUGHT THE VEHICLE IN FOR SERVICING AT 4000 MILES I INFORMED THE SERVICE MANAGER WHO TOLD ME HE GETS LOTS OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND THERE WAS NOTHING HE COULD DO ABOUT IT. PERHAPS FORD CAN PROACTIVELY CITE A REPLACEMENT HEADREST FROM ONE OF ITS OTHER MODELS. I AM NOW TAKING MUSCLE RELAXANTS EVERY NIGHT TO RELIEVE THE STRESS ON MY NECK. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10384714

6,500 miles · Feb 13, 2011
Air Bags

AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES BUT AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, IT WENT OUT AFTER 3-4 SECONDS. 2 INCIDENTS: ONE DAY LOW WAS -7 2ND LOW WAS -12 TEMP AT TIME OF ENGINE START AND OCCURRENCE WAS 1ST DAY + 7 2ND + 15 DOES THIS MEAN WHEN BELOW ZERO AIR BAG PRESSURE CHARGE FALLS BELOW A LEVEL …

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AIR BAG LIGHT STAYED ON AFTER BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES BUT AFTER SHUTTING OFF ENGINE AND RESTARTING, IT WENT OUT AFTER 3-4 SECONDS. 2 INCIDENTS: ONE DAY LOW WAS -7 2ND LOW WAS -12 TEMP AT TIME OF ENGINE START AND OCCURRENCE WAS 1ST DAY + 7 2ND + 15 DOES THIS MEAN WHEN BELOW ZERO AIR BAG PRESSURE CHARGE FALLS BELOW A LEVEL THAT CAN OPERATE THE AIR BAG? *TR

NHTSA ODI #10381747

4,400 miles · Feb 4, 2011
Seats

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSED HIM EXTREME BACK PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. HE STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED WITH THE CONCERN AND WAS TRYING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR THE HEAD REST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS…

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TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE HEAD REST ON THE DRIVERS SIDE CAUSED HIM EXTREME BACK PAIN AND DISCOMFORT. HE STATED THAT IT WAS A SAFETY ISSUE. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND AGREED WITH THE CONCERN AND WAS TRYING TO FIND A REPLACEMENT FOR THE HEAD REST. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND WAS ALSO LOOKING FOR A RESOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 4,400. UPDATED 3/11/11 *CN UPDATED 04/29/11

NHTSA ODI #10380238

Official recalls

1

10V161000 · 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

1

AQ10001 · 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.

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