2021 Ford Explorer Reliability: What To Know Before Investing In Your Purchase

Published February 7, 2024 by David Goldberg
Updated September 11, 2024 in Reliability

Black 2021 Ford Explorer parked in a brick lot

First hitting the streets over three decades ago, the Ford Explorer is one of America’s most popular SUVs. With seating for up to seven and spacious cargo capacity, this vehicle is a regular in school pickup lines and shopping mall parking lots. The 2021 Explorer marks the second year of the sixth generation but still has some of the issues that afflicted the 2020 debut year. Wondering about 2021 Ford Explorer reliability is reasonable, given the model’s history and that this example isn’t brand new.

To find the answers, we’ll look at reviews from outfits like Consumer Reports and J.D. Power. We’ll also see how maintenance and repair costs add up for this family hauler. To complete this analysis, we’ll examine data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) to highlight trouble areas and recalls.

2021 Ford Explorer Reliability: Ratings

Consumer Reports (CR) isn’t kind to the 2021 Explorer. Its reviewers gave this Ford a 2 out of 5 for reliability, citing poor build quality and a troublesome climate control system as the primary reasons. However, unlike the 2020 Explorer, CR didn’t mention the powertrain as the greatest worry area.

On the other hand, J.D. Power was more optimistic about the 2021 Explorer. “Quality & Reliability” ranked an 81 out of 100, a “great” score by the company’s standards. Keep in mind that J.D. Power tends to have a more positive outlook, while CR is less generous.

While RepairPal gives the Ford Explorer 3.5 out of 5.0 for reliability, the car ranks 19th out of 26 midsized SUVs. This means “above average” still falls short of other vehicles in the category.

Owner rankings give the 2021 Explorer a 3.5 (out of 5.0), according to Kelley Blue Book (KBB). In comparison, the 2021 Toyota Highlander scored a 4.2, and the 2021 Honda Pilot received a 3.7.

These inconsistent reliability ratings for the 2021 Ford Explorer lead to one conclusion: proceed cautiously. There’s insufficient evidence to knock the 2021 Explorer out of contention. Instead, approach buying this Ford with vigilance, like you should all used vehicles. Always obtain a pre-purchase inspection from a professional mechanic and review the car’s service records if available.

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2020 Ford Explorer Reliability: Maintenance & Repair

RepairPal forecasts that the typical Ford Explorer incurs $732 in annual maintenance and repair expenses. That’s 28% higher than the $532 the average midsized SUV owner spends.

There’s good news regarding repair frequency: RepairPal reports that Explorer owners only have to make an unscheduled repair shop visit 0.2 times per year. In contrast, the average midsized SUV requires an unplanned repair 0.4 times annually. However, Explorer repairs tend to be more severe than similar vehicles. Service work for the Explorer involves major issues 14% of the time, compared to 13% among all midsized SUVs.

2021 Ford Explorer Reliability: Trouble Areas

154 owner-reported complaints submitted to NHTSA about the 2021 Explorer may sound like a lot. However, the amount is far less than some other model years; there are over 500 complaints on file for the 2020 Explorer. The most common trouble areas for the 2021 Explorer are:

Engine and/or powertrain (63)
Electrical system (21)
Back-over prevention (26)
Forward collision avoidance (11)
Service brakes (9)

It’s understandable to be concerned about reliability because the most frequent problems for the 2021 Explorer involve the engine, powertrain, or electrical system.

2021 Ford Explorer Reliability: Recalls

Modern automobiles are highly complex machines, so recalls are almost inevitable. The 2021 Ford Explorer isn’t immune from these issues either, with 11 recalls. Many of these problems carry over the troubles plaguing the 2020 Explorer (the first year of the sixth generation). This suggests that build quality is still an issue for the 2021 model year.

Learn the recall status of any car by visiting the NHTSA website. Explorer recall details are also available at any Ford dealer or the Ford owner website.

FORD EXPLORER PROS & CONS

If you’re interested in the Explorer, it’s critical to look at all aspects before buying. You might wonder - what are some prominent Ford Explorer pros and cons?

Here’s a summary of the recalls applicable to the 2021 Ford Explorer.

Vehicle Rollaway from Driveshaft Disconnect (October 6, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V675000): This recall is due to a risk of vehicle rollaway or loss of drive power from a disconnected driveshaft, increasing the chance of a crash.
High Voltage Battery May Short Circuit (September 8, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V626000): Ford recalled certain vehicles due to a risk of battery failure causing loss of drive power or increasing the risk of a fire, stemming from a manufacturing defect in the high voltage battery cells.
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display (May 12, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V342000): This recall involves a failure in the video output of the 360-degree camera, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying and reducing rear visibility.
Rearview Image May Not Display (April 28, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V305000): The recall was issued because the rearview camera image may not display when the display is turned off before reversing, failing to comply with federal safety standards.
Incomplete PCM Update May Result in Rollaway (March 24, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V199000): This recall addresses an incomplete PCM (powertrain control module) update that could lead to the vehicle rollaway or loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Unintended PCM Reset May Cause Vehicle Rollaway (February 10, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V069000): Ford recalled vehicles due to the risk of vehicle rollaway from an unintentional PCM reset, potentially leading to park system damage.
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display (January 23, 2023, NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V022000): This recall concerns the failure of the rearview camera image display, increasing the risk of a crash due to reduced rear visibility.
Incorrect Components in Rear Suspension Module (November 10, 2021, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V870000): The recall was issued due to incorrect components in the rear suspension module, potentially affecting vehicle handling and increasing crash risk.
Rearview Camera Image May Not Display (September 22, 2021, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V735000): This recall involves a failure in the 360-degree camera’s video output, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying and increasing the risk of a crash.
Side Air Bag Weld Stud May Fail (August 23, 2021, NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V652000): Ford recalled vehicles due to the risk of improper deployment of a side airbag from failing weld studs, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Motor Mount Fasteners May Loosen Over Time (December 17, 2020, NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V788000): This recall addresses the risk of motor mount fasteners loosening over time, potentially causing the axle to disconnect from the engine and increasing the risk of a crash.

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