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Home›Ford›Ford Explorer› electrical problems
Owner complaints · Electrical System · every model year

Ford Explorer electrical problems, 2016–2027

623 of the 7,419 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer 2016–2027 name the electrical system (NHTSA’s “Electrical System” heading — wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading). The loudest years: 2020 (186), 2016 (131), 2017 (94). Filed under the same heading across these years: 13 manufacturer bulletins, 4 recall campaigns, 1 NHTSA investigation. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

623 complaints, 12 model years 8% of everything filed about the Explorer typically at 35k miles

Ford Explorer electrical problems by model year

Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

One row per model year on file, newest first. A year marked in depth has its own page: the complaints, the owners’ words and every document under this heading for that year.

Model yearComplaints naming the electrical systemShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20270———the year →
2026924%—28 TSBsthe year →
20252323%—68 TSBsthe year →
2024210%—21 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20231312%—40 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20223914%—79 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigationthe year →
20214510%—118 TSBs · 1 recall · 1 investigationthe year →
2020 in depth18615%12k161 TSBs · 2 recalls · 1 investigationthe record →
2019217%—75 TSBsthe year →
2018 in depth608%40k100 TSBsthe record →
2017 in depth946%46k78 TSBsthe record →
2016 in depth1315%38k70 TSBsthe record →

Two things the counts carry that are not the car: how many of each year were sold, and how long each has been on the road — an older year out-counts a newer one before anything is wrong with it. The share column is the honest comparison across years: what part of that year’s complaints named the electrical system. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the electrical complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
623complaints name the electrical system, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2015: 1 · 2016: 20 · 2017: 17 · 2018: 19 · 2019: 32 · 2020: 53 · 2021: 38 · 2022: 38 · 2023: 98 · 2024: 93 · 2025: 128 · 2026: 86

35kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 239 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the electrical problem between 8,000 and 65,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.

In owners’ own words

Source: NHTSA complaint database

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the electrical system, from the model years with the most to say. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

Vehicle was parked. Vehicle locked into park and would not shift out of park or start, brake pedal was depressed fully. Dashboard message: drive mode not available plus scrolled through every other mode or feature and indicated 'not available.' but lcd screen showed message 'turn off ignition.' ignition was off.
Electrical System at 15,000 miles Jul 23, 2020 NHTSA owner report
I just pulled out from a parking lot into traffic and there was a loud clunk and warning lights appeared on the dash. One said "service advancetrac" and the other said "4WD fault service required." the vehicle would not shift out of low gear and would not accelerate over 25mph.
Electrical System at 832 miles Jul 10, 2020 NHTSA owner report
I started my vehicle and put in drive my steering wheel was locked in one position I was unable to turn the wheel left or right I started getting several lights on my dash from hill start assist, service advancetrac, steering assist fault.
Electrical System at 26,406 miles Jan 12, 2019 NHTSA owner report
Fuel pump assembly, sending unit. Fuel gauge stopped working. Vehicle had 38,000 miles on it. Dealer charged 600.00 plus to fix, not covered under recall or warranty
Electrical System at 38,297 miles Aug 21, 2018 NHTSA owner report
I purchased my Ford Explorer 2017, in september of 2016, I have returned back to the dealer more than 10 times less than a 2 year period. My first problem was the truck would not get enough speed, unless I hit the gas 2 oir 3 times, the dealer came it wasn't a problem until the engine light came on, and than I was told it was a recall on…
Electrical System at 57,653 miles Sep 24, 2018 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the electrical system, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

NHTSA investigation

13 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

The 8 newest are listed; each model year’s page lists every one filed on that year. 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 Ford Explorer

Source: the same files

Every system, every model year: Ford Explorer problems by year →

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

Which Ford Explorer years have the most electrical complaints?

2020, 186; 2016, 131; 2017, 94. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2026 (24%).

Is there a recall for the electrical system on the Ford Explorer?

Yes — 4 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 24V685000 (2024), 23V686000 (2023), 23V626000 (2022), 19V687000 (2020). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

When do electrical problems show up on the Ford Explorer?

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 35,000 miles across the model years; half of them between 8,000 and 65,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.

What does NHTSA's "Electrical System" heading cover?

Wiring, modules, batteries, charging, infotainment and driver displays — NHTSA's broadest heading. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.