2010 Ford Explorer
Problems, recalls and owner-reported issues
Power train is the leading concern among 115 owner complaints filed for this model year. This is the 22nd highest complaint count among 26 Explorer model years with reports.
Of the 2010 reports, 8 involved a crash. 13 people were injured and 50 people died.
What owners report most often
Recalls and investigations
EquipmentSep 3, 2010
MARATHON IS RECALLING CERTAIN SEAT COVERS, BRAND SUPERHIDES WITH PART NUMBERS 593, 594, 578, 960, 228, 228-09, 267-08, 333, 625, AND 630, SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET EQUIPMENT FOR VARIOUS PASSENGER VEHICLES. THESE SEAT COVERS ARE MADE OF HEAVIER THREAD AND ARE NOT COMPATIBLE WITH SEATS CONTAINING SIDE AIRBAGS. THE HEAVIER SEAT COVER COULD INTERFERE WITH FULL DEPLOYMENT OF THE AIRBAG IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
AN IMPROPERLY DEPLOYED AIRBAG COULD RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY.
MARATHON WILL NOTIFY OWNERS OF RECORD AND REPLACE THE SEAT COVER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MARATHON AT 1-800-735-2769.
Campaign 10E043000 on NHTSA.gov
Seats, front assembly, reclinerApr 20, 2010
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Campaign 10V161000 on NHTSA.gov
Representative owner complaints
115 reports, newest first.
Seats, Jul 27, 2010
THE HEAD RESTS ON OUR 2010 FORD EXPLORER LIMITED HAVE SUCH A SEVERE FORWARD PITCH TO THEM THAT THEY MAKE IT VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO SIT FOR ANY LENGTH OF TIME. DEALER SAYS NOTHING CAN BE DONE. PRIOR TO PURCHASE WE TEST DROVE NUMEROUS OTHER COMPETITIVE VEHICLES AND DID NOT EXPERIENCE THIS SAME ISSUE. AFTER 11 MONTHS OF OWNERSHIP AND ALMOST 14,000 MILES IT IS BECOMING A SAFETY ISSUE FOR US. I AM SERIOUSLY CONSIDERING REMOVING THE HEAD RESTS AND DRIVING WITHOUT THEM. I HAVE TRIED OTHER WORK AROUNDS, RECLINING THE SEATS TO MAKE THE HEAD REST ANGLE MORE ACCEPTABLE, BUT THIS DEFEATS THE SAFETY OF THE SEAT BELT SYSTEM. I'VE ALSO TRIED RAISING THE HEAD REST TO IT'S MAXIMUM EXTENSION, BUT THAT DEFEATS THE VALUE OF THE HEAD REST. WHAT FORD NEEDS TO DO IS REPLACE THE 2010 HEAD RESTS WITH ONE FROM AN EARLIER MODEL. NHTSA SHOULD FORCE FORD TO RECALL THESE HEAD RESTS AS HAZARDOUS. *TR
Seats, Jul 14, 2010
THE HEADRESTS FOR THE DRIVER AND FRONT PASSENGER SEATS IN THE FORD EXPLORER 2010 PROTRUDE INTO THE BACK OF THE HEAD AT AN EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE ANGLE. I GET HEADACHES ALL THE TIME IF THEY ARE LEFT IN. THE HEADREST ANGLE IS NOT ADJUSTABLE. THIS IS AN AGENCY FLEET VEHICLE. I CAN'T AFFORD TO RISK A POSSIBLE SAFETY HAZARD BY DRIVING WITHOUT THE HEADRESTS IN PLACE. *TR
Seats, Jul 14, 2010
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THE FRONT DRIVER AND PASSENGER SIDE HEADRESTS WOULD PROTRUDE INTO THE REAR OF THE OCCUPANTS' HEAD AT A STEEP ANGLE. HE WAS UNABLE TO ADJUST THE HEADRESTS WHERE THEY WERE NOT UNCOMFORTABLE AND PROTRUDING INTO THE REAR OF HIS HEAD. THE DEALER WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REPAIR TO CORRECT THE DESIGN FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 154 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 3,232.
Seats, Jul 12, 2010
THE FORD 2010 EXPLORER FRONT SEAT HEADRESTS AGGRESSIVELY PUSH THE DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD WHEN SEATED IN A NORMAL UPRIGHT POSITION. NO SEAT OR HEADREST ADJUSTMENT IS AVAILABLE TO CHANGE THIS CONDITION. *TR
Power train, Jul 10, 2010
I HAVE A 2002 FORD EXPLORER W/APPROX. 120M MILES. MY O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND I GOT A "CK TRANSMISSION" MESSAGE. AFTER EXPLORING THE INTERNET I FOUND OVER 200 OTHER OWNERS COMPLAINING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEM. I TERRIFIED 2 TAKE 2 MY FORD DEALER AFTER READING COMPLAINTS FROM OTHERS. THE LIGHT STARTS FLASHING AFTER ABOUT 5 MILES FROM STARTING THE CAR. *TR
Air bags, Jun 20, 2010
MY 85 POUND, 55 YEAR OLD, 5 FOOT 3 INCH, GOOD HEALTH WIFE IS NOT PROTECTED BY AIR BAGS WHEN SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT. AIR BAGS IN MY FORD 2010 EXPLORER ARE DESIGNED TO GO INACTIVE WHEN A PERSON OF MY WIFE'S STATURE IS SITTING IN THE PASSENGER FRONT SEAT THE AUTO COMPANY TRIED SEVERAL DIFFERENT EXPLORERS TO DETERMINE IF THIS WAS THE SAME IN ALL OF THEIR EXPLORERS, ONLY ONE EXPLORER WORKED PROPERLY AND PROTECTED MY WIFE. FORD REFUSES TO OFFER ANY REMEDIES OR REPAIR THIS DEFECT, AND AS INDICATED ABOVE EXISTS IN MORE THAN THE VEHICLE I BOUGHT.. *TR
Seats, Jun 2, 2010
THE HEADREST IN MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER FORCES YOUR HEAD AND NECK FORWARD IN A VERY UNCOMFORTABLE POSTION. THERE IS NO ADJUSTMENT FOR THE POSITION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, May 17, 2010
MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER JUMP FORWARD WHILE SITTING STILL WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. IT HAD HAPPEN TWICE. MAY 15,2010 AND MAY 17,2010. *TR
Seats, May 16, 2010
THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR
Vehicle speed control, Apr 22, 2010
INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) STUCK ACCELERATOR PEDAL. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROX. 35 MPH ATTEMPTED TO STOP AT RED LIGHT. BRAKES WERE NOT HOLDING MUCH LIKE YOU WOULD EXPERIENCE AFTER DRIVING IN WET WEATHER. WEATHER CONDITIONS WERE DRY. PRESSING HARDER ACTIVATED THE ANTI-LOCK SYSTEM AND EVENTUALLY STOPPED INTO THE MIDDLE OF INTERSECTION. NEAR T-BONE ACCIDENT. ENGINE CONTINUED TO OVER REV UNTIL PLACED INTO NEUTRAL AND TURNING KEY INTO OFF POSITION. RESTARTED FINE, BUT HAD PULSING SPEED LIKE A SURGING FEELING. VIN: [XXX] - AVIS RENTAL*TR
Power train, Apr 16, 2010
ON MARCH 29 AT 9PM WHILE DRIVING AT 30 MPH AND PASSING A VEHICLE, MY TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. IF FELT LIKE IT DROPPED OUT OF THE BOTTOM OF MY FORD EXPLORER 2004 WITH 63,445 MILES. O/D LIGHT STARTED BLINKING AND CHECK TRANSMISSION WAS ON THE DASH DISPLAY. I IMMEDIATELY BROUGHT IT TO THE NEAREST FORD DEALERSHIP, UNABLE TO DRIVE FASTER THAN 20 MPH OR SHIFT GEARS. REVERSE WAS COMPLETELY NOT WORKING. I HAD REPORTED THAT I SUSPECTED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS A YEAR PRIOR, AND DEALERSHIP STATED THAT NOTHING WAS WRONG. IN OCTOBER 2009 AT 59,492 MILES I BROUGHT IT IN TO THE SAME DEALERSHIP AND STATED THAT WHILE GOING INTO REVERSE AND OUT OF REVERSE THE CAR MADE A CLUNKING SOUND. SOLENOID BODY WAS REPLACED UNDER WARRANTY. APPROXIMATELY 3,000 MILES LATER TRANSMISSION WAS FOUND TO HAVE A BROKEN DRUM AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED - WARRANTY HAD EXPIRED. *TR
Other or unspecified, Mar 22, 2010
2010 FORD EXPLORER RENTAL FROM HERTZ. APPROX 3500 MILES. AFTER 10 MILES DASHBOARD RED WARNING SAID "SERVICE RSC IMMEDIATELY" ALSO AUDIBLE ALARM REPEATED EVERY FEW MINUTES. TOOK IT TO FORD DEALER WHO SAID IT WAS A LOOSE WIRE. AFTER 10 MORE MILES, WARNING REPEATED THEN STOPPED. THEN CAR BEGAN TO PULSATE BRAKING PULL TO THE LEFT. HAD TO DRIVE THAT WAY 45 MILES TO AIRPORT TO EXCHANGE THE CAR WITH HERTZ.*DT
Seats, Mar 16, 2010
JUST BOUGHT A NEW 2010 EXPLORER, TRADING IN OUR 2006. SINCE THIS IS OUR SEVENTH EXPLORER, WE DIDN'T BOTHER WITH A TEST DRIVE. WHAT A MISTAKE!!! WHEN WE WERE DRIVING HOME, WE WERE BOTH VERY UNCOMFORTABLE - THE HEAD RESTRAINTS WERE ANGLED SO FAR FORWARD THAT WE COULD NOT GET COMFORTABLE. WE PRIMARILY USE THE VEHICLE FOR LONG TRIPS, SO THAT WILL BE A MAJOR PROBLEM. I JUST SPENT A FEW HOURS RESEARCHING THE PROBLEM, AND THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE A SOLUTION; AND IT'S NOT JUST A FORD PROBLEM. APPARENTLY THEY HAVE TO BE THAT WAY TO MINIMIZE WHIPLASH IN A REAR-END COLLISION. THE ONES ON THE 2006 WEREN'T LIKE THESE, SO THEY MUST HAVE BEEN DEFECTIVE OR DEFICIENT (NOTE TO ALL YOU 2006 OWNERS - MAYBE YOU CAN SUE FORD IF YOU GET A WHIPLASH INJURY) I'VE BEEN DRIVING FOR OVER 50 YEARS, AND NEVER HAD A REAR END COLLISION, SO I'M GOING TO CHOOSE COMFORT OVER THE UNLIKELY CHANCE THAT I'LL NEED THE HEAD RESTRAINT AND EITHER REVERSE IT (THEN IT WON'T WORK) OR TAKE IT OUT!! *TR
Seats, Dec 15, 2009
THE HEAD REST ON MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER LEANS SO FAR FORWARD THAT IT FORCES MY HEAD DOWN AND FORWARD. THE DEALER CANNOT ADJUST IT SO THAT YOU CAN SIT NORMALLY. THE ONLY RECOURSE IS TO REMOVE THE HEAD REST. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE BECAUSE YOU CAN'T DRIVE WITH IT AND REMOVING IT REMOVES ANY PROTECTION. *TR
Seats, Dec 3, 2009
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE HEADREST ON THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER EXTENDS OUTWARD WHICH FORCES THE PASSENGER AND DRIVERS HEAD FORWARD. THE CONTACT HAS EXPERIENCED DISCOMFORT WHILE DRIVING EVEN WHEN HE ATTEMPTED TO REST HIS SHOULDERS AGAINST THE BACK OF THE SEAT. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED SEVEN DAYS AGO WITHOUT HIM TEST DRIVING IT. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THEY WERE UNABLE TO MAKE ANY REPAIRS SINCE ALL OF 2010 FORD EXPLORERS WERE DESIGNED WITH THAT TYPE OF HEADREST. THE DEALER RECOMMENDED THAT THE CONTACT ROTATE THE HEADREST; HOWEVER, THE DRIVER STATED THAT THE HEADREST WOULD NOT SERVE IT?S PURPOSE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 100.