2019 Ford Explorer body and structure problems
151 of the 298 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2019 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: 12 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation. 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.
What owners filed about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA complaint database0 of the 151 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 12 · 2024: 37 · 2025: 59 · 2026: 24
Half of the 65 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 40,000 and 89,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
298 complaints in all about the 2019 Ford Explorer, 24 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 →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled 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.
Driving 70 mph on interstate the driver side windshield trim came off. Startled the driver and caused car behind us to hit it on their windshield and lost control for a short time. In looking at trim clips they are plastic and 3 of them were broken. I drove to a ford dealer and was told this is a problem but they have not recall on it.
NTHSA acknowledged there was an issue with 2019 Ford explorer roof rails being a danger and filed a warning which Ford supposedly issued a recall which never happened, had my SUV to Coggin Ford in Orange city Fl they made several repairs and the rails are still falling off SUV, Now the dealership is stating parts are on backorder, NTHSA…
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 21V316000 (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.
Roof rail covers are falling off. Ford dealer where purchased has repaired this trouble three times and the covers are now detached worse than ever. Dealer where purchased refuses to work on the vehicle and told me to take the vehicle elsewhere.
The contact owns a 2019 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number 21V316000 (Structure) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and it was confirmed that the part was not available.
What is on file about the body and structure
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 26V448000 HighJul 14, 2026 · 288,314 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
- 24V031000 HighJan 19, 2024 · 1,889,110 vehicles
- 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.
- 21V316000 HighMay 5, 2021 · 616,967 vehicles
- 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.
NHTSA investigation
- PE23001 Windshield trim molding Item detachmentopened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Feb 8, 2024
- On January 27, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened PE23-001 to investigate allegations of A-pillar trim panel detachment on model year (MY) 2011-2019 Ford Explorer vehicles. At the time of opening, the office had received 164 Vehicle Owner Questionnaires (VOQs) reporting this failure. ODI has received 671 VOQs regarding this failure, including 1 alleged crash and 2 alleged injur…
12 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.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre body and structure problems common on the 2019 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 151 owner complaints naming the body and structure on this model year (51% of everything owners filed about it), and 12 manufacturer bulletins, 3 recalls, 1 NHTSA investigation 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 2019 Ford Explorer?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 26V448000, 24V031000, 21V316000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do body and structure problems show up on the 2019 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 63,250 miles; half of them between 40,000 and 89,000. 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.