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2019 Ford Explorer problems, recalls and owner complaints
What the 2019 Ford Explorer has been recalled for and what owners report, from official government data. Updated November 2, 2026.
- 6safety recalls
- 299owner complaints
- 2crash reports
- 0fire reports
- 6injuries reported
299 complaints, against an average of 983 for the other 14 Ford Explorer model years.
Every Ford Explorer model year with its number of owner complaints. Pick a year to compare.
Buying a 2019 Ford Explorer? Get the pre-purchase checklist →
What goes wrong with the 2019 Ford Explorer?
The components named most often in the 299 owner complaints. One complaint can name several, so the shares can add up to more than 100%.
What symptoms do 2019 Ford Explorer owners describe?
Found by reading the text of all 299 owner complaints. Tap a symptom for the answer, a real owner quote and any related recall.
Fault codes 2019 Ford Explorer owners mention
Diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote in their complaints. Open a code to see what it meant on other cars and whether a recall names it.
Has the 2019 Ford Explorer been recalled?
6 U.S. safety recalls. Repairs are free at a franchised dealer; some are done over the air.
Structure: Body Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Suspension: Rear Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture.
Risk: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.
Equipment: Electrical: Engine Block Heater Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer 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.
Fix: 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 February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in December 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 January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Structure: Body: Roof And Pillars Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Risk: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
Structure: Body Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Risk: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
Risk: A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
Is the 2019 Ford Explorer recalled in the UK or Europe?
Recalls issued by the UK's DVSA and through the EU's Safety Gate system that cover this model and build period. European models can differ from U.S. ones, and "years estimated" means the recall gave no build dates, so confirm your own car with your registration or VIN.
UK DVSACrossCar: Sync3 Rear-View Camera Software Update
Risk: On affected vehicles a software problem may result in issues with the rear-view camera that reduce the driver’s view or with it remaining on after a reversing event.
Fix: Update the vehicle software to the latest level.
UK DVSAExplorer - Rear axle bolt potential fracture
Risk: Vehicles may have been produced with bolts on the rear axle that do not meet the specification and could potentially fracture.
Fix: Replace affected parts
UK DVSAPlug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – High Voltage Battery Diagnostic Inspection23S53 – Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle – High Voltage Battery Diagnostic Inspection
Risk: The affected vehicles may have a manufacturing defect in one or more of the vehicles. High Voltage battery cells which may result in a cell with a lower than expected capacity. In certain cases the low-capacity cell may develop an internal short circuit.
Fix: On affected vehicles the battery will be replaced.
UK DVSAThe rear axle bolts may fracture during vehicle acceleration.
Risk: In some of the affected vehicles the rear axle bolts may fracture during vehicle acceleration and may prevent the vehicle from being held stationary if the parking brake is not applied.
Fix: A software update will engage the electronic parking brake every time the vehicle is shifted into Park preventing vehicles from rolling.
UK DVSAVehicles may have an issue with the current software that contols the funtionality of the ecall system
Risk: Vehicles may have an issue with the current software that controls the functionality of the eCall system.
Fix: Carry out a software update.
EU Safety GateA bent anode plate on the high-voltage battery cells could lead to a short circuit, consequently leading to engine failure and the…A bent anode plate on the high-voltage battery cells could lead to a short circuit, consequently leading to engine failure and the shutdown of the battery, increasing the risk of fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe seat belt's retraction mechanism does not work properly.This may result in a loose roll and insufficient tension of the seatbelt, increasing the risk of an injury in the event of an accident.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateThe A-pillar trim may not be fastened correctly.it may come loose and fall onto the road, posing a risk to the following traffic.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA faulty part within the high-voltage battery cells could cause the battery to short-circuit and cause a fire.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
EU Safety GateA problem may occur with the current Telematic control unit (TCU) software, which could affect the functionality of the eCall system.As a result, emergency service may not be contacted in case of need.
Measures: Type of economic operator taking notified measure(s): Manufacturer; Category of measure(s): Recall of the product from end users; Date of entry into force: Unknown
What do 2019 Ford Explorer owners report?
12 of the 299 complaints, the most recent for the most-reported components, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the radio displayed the rear-view camera image or rebooted. The dealer was notified of the failure by phone and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in a recall associated with the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 115,000.
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.
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
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…
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…
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…
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…
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.
I had my transmission replaced in California on Feb 2025. Had failure issues and took it to ford, they found an issue with the torque converter and replaced 7 months after the new transmission, it was cleaned out for debris and contamination. Early this May took it in again for the vehicle violently shaking, the ford Mechanic before inspecting immediately knew what transmission I had and knew what issue was, said all the 6F35 transmissions are failing. Took it to my local ford dealership who confirmed that the whole transmissions needs to be replaced again. Less than 20k miles on it. Of course…
While driving at highway speeds on the interstate, the B-pillar exterior trim suddenly detached from the vehicle. The trim remained tethered only by the keypad wiring, causing it to flail in the wind and create an immediate road hazard. Simultaneously, the vehicle’s instrument cluster triggered a "Liftgate Open" warning, despite the liftgate being secure. I was forced to make an emergency pull-over onto the shoulder of the interstate—a dangerous situation—to prevent the trim from completely detaching and striking other vehicles. Upon reaching my destination, the vehicle suffered a significant…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V101000 (Suspension). While retrieving the vehicle, the vehicle failed to start. The contact heard the mechanic revving the engine of the vehicle. The dealer determined that the fuel pump and fuel pump module needed to be replaced, and that the failure was not related to the recall repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and determined that the failure was not related to the recall. The failure mileage was approximately 50,000.
The contact called on behalf of the owner of a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE) and 26V101000 (SUSPENSION). The contact stated that after the vehicle was stopped at a traffic light, the vehicle stalled. The battery warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to restart the vehicle. The contact stated that the failure was occurring every other day. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic. The independent mechanic replaced the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor and an unknown sensor; however, the failure…
2019 Ford Explorer: questions owners ask
Is the 2019 Ford Explorer reliable?
NHTSA data alone cannot rate reliability, but it shows what owners reported. Owners filed 299 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Ford Explorer; the most common categories were structure (150, 50.2%), power train (35, 11.7%), electrical system (20, 6.7%). There are 6 safety recalls. 2 complaints mention a crash, 6 injuries were reported.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Ford Explorer?
Across 299 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the categories mentioned most often are structure (50.2% of complaints), power train (11.7% of complaints), electrical system (6.7% of complaints), engine (6.4% of complaints), fuel/propulsion system (4.7% of complaints). One complaint can name several components.
Does the 2019 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 2019 Ford Explorer; the most recent (campaign 26V448000, 2026-07-14) concerns Structure: Body. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Why does my 2019 Ford Explorer idle rough, misfire or hesitate?
9 of the 299 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Ford Explorer (3%) describe rough idling, misfires or hesitation when accelerating. One owner wrote: "The vehicle vibrates excessively when shifting into Drive or Reverse (rough idle). Additionally, the vehicle lacks acceleration/power when driving in slightly uphill roads, creating a hazard for nearby drivers." (NHTSA complaint 11603907, July 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Why does my 2019 Ford Explorer transmission jerk, shudder or shift hard?
9 of the 299 owner complaints NHTSA has on file for the 2019 Ford Explorer (3%) describe harsh, jerky or delayed transmission shifting or shuddering. One owner wrote: "Vehicle lost acceleration while driving down highway and shuttered severally when depressing gas pedal. I had to cut across lanes of highway traffic with no power and nearly caused an accident. Engine revs up be vehicle wont accelerate, just shakes badly." (NHTSA complaint 11614350, September 2024). If it happens to your car, check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls and report the problem to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations.
Check your own Explorer
Counts are a starting point, not a verdict: popular models collect more complaints because more of them are on the road, and NHTSA does not verify individual reports. To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls (U.S.) or your registration at check-vehicle-recalls.service.gov.uk (UK). Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA; complaints are what trigger investigations and recalls.
Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation recall and complaint databases (public domain), DVSA vehicle recalls (Open Government Licence v3.0), EU Safety Gate alerts (© European Union), retrieved November 2, 2026. Model year 2019 only. How these reports are made.