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Home›Ford›2017 Ford Explorer› body and structure problems
Owner complaints · Structure

2017 Ford Explorer body and structure problems

663 of the 1,703 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2017 Ford Explorer name the body and structure (NHTSA’s “Structure” heading — body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted). Filed under the same heading: 21 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.

663 complaints 39% of this model year’s 7 reports a crash 2 a fire typically at 75k miles

What owners filed about the body and structure

Source: NHTSA complaint database
663complaints name the body and structure

7 of the 663 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 7 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.

Filed per year: 2016: 1 · 2017: 9 · 2018: 7 · 2019: 14 · 2020: 15 · 2021: 29 · 2022: 28 · 2023: 101 · 2024: 112 · 2025: 262 · 2026: 85

75kmiles, typically

Half of the 317 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 50,000 and 100,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

39%of this model year’s complaints

1,703 complaints in all about the 2017 Ford Explorer, 85 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →

Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Structure” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.

Across model years: Ford Explorer body and structure problems, every year on file →

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In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the body and structure. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

The passenger side a pillar cover and driver's side b pillar cover are coming off
Structure at 50,146 miles Apr 13, 2019 NHTSA owner report
On 10/31/17 while out with my children trick-or-treating, the liftgate on my leased 2017 Ford Explorer became "stuck" in an upright position and would not close electronically or manually. My family and I had pulled over and parked in a residential area to get items out from the rear storage area.
Structure at 4,128 miles Nov 9, 2017 NHTSA owner report
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. While the vehicle was stationary and while driving various high speeds, exhaust fumes entered into the cabin of the vehicle. When the heater and air conditioner were activated, the odor of exhaust fumes entered through the ventilation system.
Structure at 9,000 miles Oct 18, 2017 NHTSA owner report
The right rear quarter panel window spontaneously shattered while the car was parked at the end of my driveway, obstructing visability
Structure at 12,000 miles Oct 5, 2017 NHTSA owner report
Carbon monoxide detected in passenger cabin - after reading stories about possible problems with carbon monoxide (co) in 2016 Ford explorers in mid july 2017 I purchased a kidde battery powered co detector and installed it in the rear area of the passenger compartment.
Structure at 10,100 miles Aug 16, 2017 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the body and structure

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recalls filed under this heading

NHTSA investigations

21 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading

The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

Other systems with a record on the 2017 Ford Explorer

Source: the same files
From here
Every 2027 model on file, by price Compare two vehicles, trim vs trim See what a VIN was priced at See what owners reported

Common questions

Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communications

Are body and structure problems common on the 2017 Ford Explorer?

They are documented: NHTSA holds 663 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (39% of everything owners filed about it), and 21 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recalls, 2 NHTSA investigations are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.

Is there a recall for the body and structure on the 2017 Ford Explorer?

Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V448000, 25V347000, 24V031000, 21V316000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do body and structure problems show up on the 2017 Ford Explorer?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 75,000 miles; half of them between 50,000 and 100,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Structure" heading cover?

Body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.