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Visibility & wipers

Ford Explorer Visibility problems by year

749 complaints filed with NHTSA about the Ford Explorer's visibility & wipers. Windshields, wipers, defrosters, mirrors, backup cameras and glare.

Visibility complaints by model year

YearVisibility complaintsCrashesInjuriesRecalls
20260003
202513001
20243000
20220001
20210001
202071341
20198000
201827000
201777100
201668000
201545000
201453000
201123000
20103000
20093000
20080001
20070001
20060002
20050001
2004115091
200381151
20021590232
19940001
19930001
19920001
19910001

Visibility recalls

Latest Explorer visibility complaints

2020 Ford ExplorerLightsVisibility & wipers

Passenger headlight went out on the vehicle after 6 years. This seems to be a common issue with the explorer. The issue is, Ford requires the entire headlight unit to be replaced and this requires taking the entire bumper off to do so. The cost of this is over $2,000 for ONE headlight. absolutely unacceptable. Very much a safety issue as the cost is unaffordable for most drivers. This results in drivers driving this vehicle with one headlight. This should be considered a recall with the amount of complaints before something dangerous happens.

Filed Incident Exterior lighting · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11777630
2020 Ford ExplorerAirbagsBody, doors & structureVisibility & wipers

This is the platinum model, with the leather Dash. The dash is separating in two pieces, and the leather is curling up. This is all the way across the dash from the driver side, to the passenger side. It is in my line of vision, to where it is not safe to see the road. I believe this is from the sun.

Filed Incident Air bags · Structure · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11773607
2020 Ford ExplorerSteeringTransmission & drivetrainVisibility & wipers

on the highway it was raining heavily, and my [[redacted]] old was in car back seat. Suddenly wipers stopped working, Steering wheel wasn't working, indicator was not working, I was getting multiple warnings on my screen. We would have ended up in a major accident. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Incident Steering · Power train · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11769834
2015 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

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.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11769799
2017 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

1. Rubber is falling off the windshield and hood. This is a ford issue and they refuse to repair this. It appears to be heat related and the car was sold in an area with high summer temperatures. It is cracked and peeling at the bottom of the windshield causing rain and leaves to seep into the engine area. This could start a fire hazard if it's not repaired. Quoted me 12k to fix (more than the cost of getting another car that is less dangerous). 2. Inside auto same issue is happening with the ford installed...

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dashcover. It is peeling back and in order to repair, they must take EVERYTHING out of the inside to repair and yes $$$$ close to 20k. Again this is a ford issue not a user issue. The dash cover is black and underneath it is white. Driver is unable to fix on own. Both of these are Ford defects that Ford should step up and repair.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11768736
2019 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

We have contacted Ford Motor Company previously about this issue. The leather dash pad on our Explorer is detached near the windshield and is rolling up back towards the interior of the vehicle. The dealer has inspected (Deacon Jones, Goldsboro, NC) and has confirmed the issue. Original quote to fix was approximately $15,000.00, reduced later by FMCO to $6000.00. We have attempted to find local upholstery shop to repair, but they will not touch it. The pad underneath the leather is all white and causes a...

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debilitating glare/reflection on the windshield when driving towards the sun. Please review my previous filing with FMCO and help us with this issue. I note that online, several others are experiencing this same issue. This is developing into a severe safety issue.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11767437
2025 Ford ExplorerElectrical systemVisibility & wipers

A recent over-the-air (OTA) software update deployed by Ford Motor Company to my 2025 Ford Explorer ST introduced a primary safety hazard and severe system latency. PASSENGER MIRROR FAILURE: Approximately 10% of the time upon vehicle startup, the passenger-side power-folding exterior mirror fails to unfold. This leaves the driver with no right-side mirror visibility, creating an immediate blind-spot hazard and violating FMVSS 111 visibility standards. APIM / NAVIGATION LATENCY: The software update severely...

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degraded processing in the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). Navigation display systems lag behind the actual vehicle location by approximately 0.1 miles, causing delayed routing information and significant driver distraction. System resets (soft reboots and full master resets) fail to fix the issues. Upon contacting Ford In-Vehicle Technology support, representatives acknowledged the issue but refused to log or escalate the side-mirror failure as a safety defect.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11765202
2017 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipersBody, doors & structure

The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that there was a crack in the front windshield and water was leaking into the vehicle. The contact was concerned about the electrical system failing from becoming wet. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V347000 (Structure) and 26V448000 (Structure). The local was contacted in person, and the contact was advised that the parts were on back order. The vehicle was inspected, and the contact was informed that the vehicle was qualified for the repair. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and informed the contact that parts were not available.

Filed Incident Visibility · StructureNHTSA 11761670
2015 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

Backup camera does not work properly. Sometimes it's showing objects behind me backwards (safety concern) like it's showing I'm on the opposite side of where I'm trying to park/back up and sometimes it doesn't work at all (flickering screen/black/gives notification to contact dealer). I have taken it to our local dealer for an approved inspection that it does not work & was told there's no fix for it yet. No warning sign that this was coming- I had to look up the recall myself.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11755533
2016 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

25V347 and 24V031 I recieved a notice of the first recall in February 2024. Over the Summer of 2024 and 2025 both the A-pillar and B-pillar trim has melted and become detached from the vehicle during high heat warnings and during my commute to work on the interstate 60 miles each day. Parts from the vehicle flew off at high rates of speed and were at risk to others on the road. For 2.5 years now I have driven a duct taped windshield on both drivers and on the passenger sides windows and on the tops of the door...

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frames. The windshield rattles on the interstate--I feel this is dangerous. I have now recieved my 3rd factory recall: 25N17 Every day I drive this duct taped FORD, it is cemented in my mind that I will never purchase another Ford or Ford related product.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11753159
2020 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

The edges of the fabric sunroof cover have come off the tracks, causing the sunroof cover to not roll up properly and block the rear window when open.

Filed Incident Unknown or other · Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11752661
2017 Ford ExplorerVisibility & wipers

There are 2 recalls that have not been acted on by Homer Skelton Ford of Millington, LLC. It has been almost two years and the dealership continues to state they do not have the parts to fix the recalls. The two recalls are not indicated as active, so I'm not sure if they claimed they already fixed them in their system. The recalls are for the rubber around the windshield and the panels near the windshield.

Filed Incident Visibility / wiperNHTSA 11752498
2015 Ford ExplorerElectrical systemVisibility & wipersDriver assistance

Recall for faulty rearview camera. Still has no remedy. Mine is giving issues. Glitches, freezes, and displays error message to contact dealership. Has almost caused multiple accidents. Have spoken to dealership. With no remedy from ford they want to charge me a fortune to replace and reprogram the camera system.

Filed Incident Electrical system · Visibility / wiper · Back over preventionNHTSA 11752238
2020 Ford ExplorerTransmission & drivetrainVisibility & wipersEquipment & accessories

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notifications of NHTSA Campaign Numbers: 25V685000 (Equipment), 26V117000 (Visibility), and 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the parts to do the recall repairs were not yet available. The contact was concerned that the incomplete recalls presented significant safety risks, specifically because the contact resided in Alaska, where it rained constantly with low temperatures. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts were not yet available. The...

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contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repairs. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.

Filed Incident Power train · Visibility · EquipmentNHTSA 11752205

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked daily. Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data

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