2021 Ford Explorer engine problems
60 of the 438 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Ford Explorer name the engine (NHTSA’s “Engine” heading — the engine and its cooling system). Filed under the same heading: 57 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 engine
Source: NHTSA complaint database1 of the 60 reports a crash · 2 a fire · 2 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2022: 6 · 2023: 9 · 2024: 13 · 2025: 20 · 2026: 12
Half of the 17 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the engine problem between 53,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
438 complaints in all about the 2021 Ford Explorer, 12 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 “Engine” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Explorer engine problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the engine. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
Catalytic converter and it was confirmed by independent service center my car only has 88k miles There is a catalytic converter recall on year 2020 but Ford refuses to do a recall for the year 2021 and I have another car that have the same catalytic converter problem with only 84k miles and it’s also 2021 and Ford refuses to do any work…
I have a catastrophic engine failure. The dealership (Doherty Ford) in Forest Grove Or acknowledges it. They are working with me. However, Ford has not responded to the dealers request for warranty work. It will be two weeks since I took the car to the dealer with a loud ticking noise. Dealer found a BUNCH of metal in the oil.
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 70–75 MPH, the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 54,500
My vehicle started to put up messages regarding going into power saver mode. The vehicle then said all wheel drive not available. After that electrical components started going unavailable such as power steering, brake assist, blind spot monitoring, cameras, and traction control.
The oil crank case is getting fuel inside. In approximately 1000 to 1500 miles there is a 1 quart and a half of fuel in the oil making the oil level overfill. This oil diluting the fuel issue. Seems like it could be a safety issue if it continues to pour gasoline into the oil crank case.
What is on file about the engine
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecalls filed under this heading
- 24V635000 HighAug 23, 2024 · 90,736 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Bronco, F-150, Edge, Explorer, Lincoln Nautilus, and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with either a 2.7L or 3.0L Nano EcoBoost engine. The engine intake valves may break while driving, which can result in engine failure and a loss of drive power.
- 24V598000 CriticalAug 9, 2024 · 85,238 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with the Police Interceptor Utility Package. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
- 20V788000 HighDec 17, 2020 · 1,405 vehicles
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened, and may loosen over time.
NHTSA investigation
- EA23002 Loss of Motive Poweropened Sep 29, 2023 · closed Oct 31, 2024
- On July 22, 2022, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) granted a Defect Petition (DP22001) and opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE22007) to investigate allegations of loss of motive power in model year (MY) 2021 Ford Bronco vehicles equipped with 2.7L EcoBoost engines. Complainants were reporting sudden engine failure while driving resulting in a loss of motive power, often without the abilit…
57 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.
Trouble codes named on this system
Codes a bulletin or an owner’s complaint about the 2021 Ford Explorer names on this model year; a code with a record of its own links it.
Other systems with a record on the 2021 Ford Explorer
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 125 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre engine problems common on the 2021 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 60 owner complaints naming the engine on this model year (14% of everything owners filed about it), and 57 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 engine on the 2021 Ford Explorer?
Yes — 3 campaigns are filed under this heading: 24V635000, 24V598000, 20V788000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do engine problems show up on the 2021 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 60,000 miles; half of them between 53,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Engine" heading cover?
The engine and its cooling system. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.