- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
- The risk
- A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional letters will be mailed once the final remedy is available on each phase. Mustang owner notification letters were mailed January 2, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA9. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 14, 2025.
Vehicle safety record
2015 Ford Explorer Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1,821 complaints about the 2015 Ford Explorer with NHTSA, most often about the body, doors & structure (413) and the steering (348). Those complaints describe 37 crashes, 1 fire and 98 injuries. It is covered by 9 recalls, the latest in October 2025 for the camera. For comparison, the 2014 has 1,684 and the 2016 has 2,466.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Explorer year, for its age
#2 most complained-about 2015 vehicle
- Complaints
- 1,821
- Recalls
- 9
- Crashes
- 37
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 98
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2015 Ford Explorer problems
Share of all 1,821 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2015 Ford Explorer recalls 9
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
- The risk
- A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S02.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
- The risk
- A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return for the new remedy. An interim notification letter notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on September 10, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2022. Owners may contact Ford's customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S32.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired under a prior recall numbers 16V-245 or 19V-435. The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link may fracture.
- The risk
- A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S62.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.
- The risk
- The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began February 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S63.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
- The risk
- A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S17.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
- The risk
- A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture.
- The risk
- A fracture of the rear suspension toe link may result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S18.
- The problem
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 135, "Light Vehicle Brake Systems."
- The risk
- If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'Park' while on a slope, the vehicle may roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15C07.
What owners say
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1,821 complaints about the 2015 Ford Explorer
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners. Page 1 of 73.
NHTSA Recall Number 25v695 is over a year old and parts are still not available.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the rearview camera image was intermittently functional. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a...
Read the full complaint
reasonable amount of time for the recall. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the dealer for additional assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 100,000.
See attached document for complaint.
See attached document for complaint.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera failed to operate and displayed a blank screen. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts to complete the recall repair were not yet available. The dealer informed the contact that Mustang models were prioritized for parts. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera became inoperable. The contact stated that the image was intermittently displayed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The dealer confirmed that parts were not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 56,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera intermittently displayed a blank or distorted image. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts were not yet available for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
Ford officially announced Safety Recall 25SA9 in October 2025 regarding a defective rearview camera affecting my 2015 Ford Explorer. I have actively inquired about getting this safety defect fixed at my local dealership, Century Ford in Mt. Airy, MD, for at least two years. However, Ford has continuously failed to provide a remedy due to a persistent "parts unavailability" delay. Under federal law, manufacturers are required to remedy safety defects within a reasonable timeframe. It has now been a full year since...
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the recall became official, and two years since the issue was first raised, with no resolution or timeline in sight. This extended delay is completely unacceptable, compromises vehicle safety, and constitutes a failure to remedy the defect in a timely manner. I am filing this official complaint to request NHTSA intervention regarding Ford's failure to supply necessary repair parts to consumers.
Out of nowhere the steering assist quit when i turned on the car in question on to go work in the morning. Luckily for everybody it did not happen while on the road like many of the cases i have read about. Now i'm facing a $3,000 bill to repair a very common problem Ford refuses to recall.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera display flickered on and off. Additionally, the rear-view camera message was displayed. The dealer was contacted and made aware of the failure, and the contact was informed that parts were unavailable for the repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that the message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The lights on the instrument panel failed to automatically illuminate or dim unless the lights were manually activated. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The failure mileage was approximately 101,000.
The contact's son owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the A-pillar trim had become loose and unsecured. The cause of the failure was not yet determined, and the vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V031000 (STRUCTURE).
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera displayed a distorted image. The failure was persistent. The contact received a recall notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part for the recall repair was unavailable. The failure mileage was approximately 85,000.
The water pump failed at 117,000 miles. The water pump is internal in the engine causing a extremely high repair bill and weeks of time without the vehicle. If we had not caught it soon enough we could have been looking at replacing the motor. Unfortunately for us this is a repair we have to make in a vehicle we are still making payments on and need for work.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification for NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to complete the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that while in reverse (R), the rearview camera displayed a blank or distorted image, followed by the message "Camera Unavailable - Please Contact Your Dealer." The dealer provided multiple estimated time of availability for the parts; however, the parts remained unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 202,000.
I had no idea there was a fix for the recall on my a-pillar on my 2015 Ford Explorer. I can't get into most certified dealers for a fix and one has appointments for next year. And yet again, Ford has not sent a letter for the fix which means, my priority was pushed to somewhere at ther end of the line. Unacceptable. I've tried to contact them but to no avail. Even the online chat help box just loads. I left it open for over 5 hours and yet no one was there to help. It was a weekday late morning when I...
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clicked the chat box to open it. This is EXTREMELY unacceptable. I have to drive around in this ugly car that looks like it belongs in a junkyard because its falling apart. Its embarrassing. I've sent demand letters to them. This is the last step. I'm calling ym lawyer on Monday 10/11/2026. Its unacceptable that I've no one to actually talk to on the phone or chat. And its unacceptable I haven't been sent a letter about the fix. And its stated in the recall notice letter that a letter will be sent once a fix is found. They didn't follow through with their promise to send the letter when the fix was found. Their website states there's a fix and to make anb appointment with the dealer or, which I find highly likely, they're lying about it.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was in reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a blank or distorted screen. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing at an undisclosed speed, the rear-view camera was intermittently inverted or inoperative. The contact stated that the message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted and confirmed that the part was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 90,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the rear-view camera was inoperable or displayed a brief image. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, where the contact was provided with an estimate for the repair. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The dealer was contacted and informed the contact that parts were available for Mustang models. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was 68,659.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact stated that while in reverse, the back over prevention camera displayed a black screen. The failure was first intermittent and then became a constant failure. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were only available for Mustang vehicles. The failure mileage was approximately 107,000.
Nothing has happened yet. Have been waiting 2.5 years for this recall to be fixed and I am afraid to drive my car without it being fixed so basically I am stuck at home and paying car insurance and maintenance on a car I can't drive far.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the message that the rear-view camera was inoperable was displayed, and the rear-view camera displayed a blank image. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the rear-view camera display had failed. The contact was informed that the rear-view camera display needed to be replaced. The contact was informed that the parts were unavailable. The contact received a notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the part to be available. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the camera intermittently displayed a blank or distorted image on the screen. The message "Camera Unavailable - Please Contact Your Dealer" was displayed. The dealer was contacted but could not confirm when parts would be available.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that while in reverse(R), the rear-view camera failed to display a clear view image. Two local dealers were contacted, and the failure was confirmed. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
The contact owns a 2015 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to reverse, the rear-view camera displayed a blank screen, glitched with the message "Rear-view Camera Unavailable" was displayed with the message displayed upside down. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V695000 (BACK OVER PREVENTION); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure had been occurring over four years. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue.
Ford Explorer: every year compared
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 303 | 6 | F |
| 2018 | 735 | 7 | F |
| 2017 | 1,716 | 14 | F |
| 2016 | 2,466 | 15 | F |
| 2015 | 1,821 | 9 | F |
| 2014 | 1,684 | 7 | F |
| 2013 | 0 | 12 | B |
| 2012 | 0 | 7 | A |
| 2011 | 1,198 | 8 | F |
2015 Ford Explorer vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 Ford Explorer | 1,821 | 9 | F | |
| 2015 Jeep Grand Cherokee | 1,372 | 10 | D | Compare |
| 2015 Kia Sorento | 755 | 3 | F | Compare |
| 2015 Ford Edge | 732 | 7 | C | Compare |
| 2015 Subaru Outback | 509 | 5 | D | Compare |
| 2015 Dodge Durango | 505 | 4 | D | Compare |
| 2015 GMC Acadia | 261 | 4 | C | Compare |
| 2015 Hyundai Santa FE | 255 | 2 | C | Compare |
| 2015 Nissan Murano | 205 | 5 | D | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2015 Ford Explorer
Does the 2015 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 9 recalls for the 2015 Ford Explorer: camera (October 2025); roof and pillars (January 2024); rear (July 2021); rear (March 2021) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ford Explorer?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the body, doors & structure (413), steering (348), engine & cooling (289).
How many complaints has the 2015 Ford Explorer had?
1,821 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on October 27, 2014 and the latest on November 11, 2026. Of these, 37 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 98 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2015 Ford Explorer a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 0 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Ford Explorer year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Ford Explorer years have the most complaints?
2002 (3,613), 2016 (2,466), 2015 (1,821). See every Ford Explorer year compared.
What should I do if my 2015 Ford Explorer has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data