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Home›Ford›Ford Explorer› body and structure problems
Owner complaints · Structure · every model year

Ford Explorer body and structure problems, 2016–2027

1,738 of the 7,419 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer 2016–2027 name the body and structure (NHTSA’s “Structure” heading — body panels, frame, roof rails, trim and glass as fitted). The loudest years: 2017 (663), 2016 (597), 2018 (291). Filed under the same heading across these years: 2 manufacturer bulletins, 6 recall campaigns, 3 NHTSA investigations. Every figure is a linked federal record; none is a failure rate, none a repair cost, and none a verdict on one car.

1,738 complaints, 12 model years 23% of everything filed about the Explorer typically at 74k miles

Ford Explorer body and structure 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 body and structureShare of the year’sTypically atOn file under the heading
20270———the year →
20260——8 TSBsthe year →
20250——14 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
20240——9 TSBsthe year →
2023109%—14 TSBsthe year →
202210%—13 TSBs · 1 recallthe year →
2021256%—15 TSBsthe year →
20200—40k1 investigationthe year →
2019 in depth15151%63k12 TSBs · 3 recalls · 1 investigationthe record →
2018 in depth29140%60k18 TSBs · 3 recalls · 1 investigationthe record →
2017 in depth66339%75k21 TSBs · 4 recalls · 2 investigationsthe record →
2016 in depth59724%82k27 TSBs · 4 recalls · 2 investigationsthe 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 body and structure. Nothing here is a rate.

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When the body and structure complaints were filed, and at what mileage

Source: NHTSA complaint database
1,738complaints name the body and structure, all years

Filed per calendar year, every model year together: 2016: 8 · 2017: 26 · 2018: 15 · 2019: 36 · 2020: 30 · 2021: 70 · 2022: 56 · 2023: 254 · 2024: 338 · 2025: 692 · 2026: 213

74kmiles, typically

Across the model years, half of the 831 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the body and structure problem between 46,000 and 100,000 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 body and structure, 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.

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 plastic pieces on the "a" and "b" pillar, driver and passenger side are coming off
Structure at 38,944 miles Apr 12, 2019 NHTSA owner report
The vehicle has 12-15 ppm of co in the interior while in operation. The vehicle was placed out of service after testing
Structure Jul 31, 2017 NHTSA owner report
My 2018 Ford Explorer roof racks flew off (broke off) while driving on the freeway causing cars behind me to swerve to avoid impact this occurred in january 2019
Structure at 10,111 miles Aug 26, 2020 NHTSA owner report

What is on file about the body and structure, across the years

Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications

Recall campaigns filed under this heading, any model year

NHTSA investigations

2 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading, any model year

Every one filed under the heading is listed. 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 body and structure complaints?

2017, 663; 2016, 597; 2018, 291. Raw counts, and an older year has had longer to collect them; by share of each year's own complaints the loudest is the 2019 (51%).

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

Yes — 6 campaigns are filed under this heading across these model years: 26V448000 (2019), 25V347000 (2017), 25V316000 (2025), 24V031000 (2019). A recall is matched by VIN, and applies to specific years; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

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

Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 73,720 miles across the model years; half of them between 46,000 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.