2019 Ford Explorer problems owners report most
2019 Ford Explorer problems are documented in public: owners have filed 300 complaints with NHTSA, the earliest in 2019 and the most recent in 2026. Sorting those by the component the filer named puts the body structure clearly first, at 150 of the 300 complaints, close to half of everything filed.
A complaint is not a repair bill and not a defect finding. It is one owner telling the regulator something went wrong. What makes the count useful is the concentration: when one component takes 50 per cent of everything filed on a car, the pattern is doing more than chance.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 150 | 50% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 48 | 16% |
| POWER TRAIN | 35 | 12% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 20 | 7% |
| ENGINE | 19 | 6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 14 | 5% |
Against the 2018 car, this model year has drawn 59 per cent fewer complaints (300 against 736). Both years are led by the body structure, so this is a fault that carried over rather than one introduced with the 2019 car.
Of those complaints, 2 describe a crash and 0 describe a fire. Filers reported 6 injuries.
Recalls on the 2019 Ford Explorer
A recall means the manufacturer or the regulator found a safety defect, and the repair is free at a franchised dealer however old the car is. There are 6 recalls on this model year. Your own car may be covered by some, all or none of them, so check the VIN rather than the model.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
The risk. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 21S22.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford Explorer, 2019-2020 Expedition, and 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with driver and/or passenger's manual front seat back recliner mechanisms. Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms. The recliner mechanisms may be missing the third pawl required for seat back strength, resulting in a loose seat back. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 202, "Head Restraints" and 207, "Seating Systems."
The risk. A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix. Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C07.
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.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Focus, 2019 Explorer, and 2024 Explorer vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The risk. An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix. Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed February 13, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on January 16, 2026. This recall expands previous recall number 25V685.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links 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. Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026. Owners may contact Ford Customer Service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S08. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall number 21V537. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning February 25, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles. The roof rail covers may come loose and detach from the vehicle.
The risk. A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix. Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S54. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 21V316. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
In owners own words
These are complaints filed about the body structure, quoted as written. They are one persons account rather than a diagnosis, and they are here because a symptom described by a driver is easier to recognise than a component name.
I saw an article about the a pillars coming off while driving and wanted to report my story/experience with this problem vehicle! I pay wayyyy too much for this vehicle to be a 2019 and still have low miles (46,700) for it to be such a safety hazard for my family, I definitely expected more for such a big first Ford purchase. Very very disappointed. I don’t have all the receipts together right now to take pictures at this time but they are at my house if needed. -the a pillars have flown off the vehicle while driving down the freeway even after being fixed, even most recent fixes will not co
Component/System: Aluminum hood panel (front edge seam). The hood is available for inspection upon request. The front edge of the aluminum hood on my 2019 Ford Explorer has developed bubbling, lifting paint, and corrosion originating from inside the folded seam. The defect has progressively worsened over time and continues to spread outward. Safety Risk: The corrosion is occurring at the front hood seam, which is part of the structure that supports the hood latch area. Progressive corrosion in this region may weaken the hood panel over time, potentially affecting hood retention at highway sp
While driving at highway speeds on the interstate, the B-pillar exterior trim suddenly detached from the vehicle. The trim remained tethered only by the keypad wiring, causing it to flail in the wind and create an immediate road hazard. Simultaneously, the vehicle’s instrument cluster triggered a "Liftgate Open" warning, despite the liftgate being secure. I was forced to make an emergency pull-over onto the shoulder of the interstate—a dangerous situation—to prevent the trim from completely detaching and striking other vehicles. Upon reaching my destination, the vehicle suffered a significant
Ford had a recall on a Explorer's roof rack covers...In 2021 the dealer glued down the covers. Over time the glue has gone bad and both roof racks are loose causing concern. I recently found out that there was a fix for this. It was installing Christmas tree push clips into cover to secure them. I recently went to the dealer (Sayville Ford, [XXX] ) and inquired about this and adviser stated not recall on file since it was done in 2021. Both roof rack covers are defective. Structure: Body Recall date 2021-05-04 Recall no. 21V316000 Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019
Every component, by complaint count
The full breakdown of what owners named when they filed. Components below the top ten are grouped out of this table.
| Component | Complaints | Share of all complaints |
|---|---|---|
| STRUCTURE | 150 | 50% |
| UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 48 | 16% |
| POWER TRAIN | 35 | 12% |
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | 20 | 7% |
| ENGINE | 19 | 6% |
| FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | 14 | 5% |
| SUSPENSION | 11 | 4% |
| STEERING | 9 | 3% |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING | 6 | 2% |
| VISIBILITY/WIPER | 4 | 1% |
How other model years compare
The same nameplate across the years we hold. Complaint counts fall naturally for newer cars because fewer of them have been on the road for long, so read the column as a rough signal rather than a ranking. In this set the 2016 Ford Explorer has drawn the most complaints and the 2019 Ford Explorer the fewest.
How to use this before you buy or repair
The reports do not gather around one obvious symptom, so read a handful of the complaints above and see which descriptions match what your car is doing.
Buying a used 2019 Explorer
Bring the complaint list to the inspection and ask the mechanic to check the components named most, rather than running a general once over.
If you already own one
Check your VIN for open recalls first. A recall repair costs nothing whatever the age or mileage of the car.
- Check the VIN for open recalls, not the model year.
- Ask the inspecting mechanic about the components named above.
- Get the part number before comparing retailer prices.
- Keep parts and labour as separate lines in any quote.
Where the 2019 Ford Explorer problem data comes from
Every figure on this page is counted from complaints and recalls published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, read November 1, 2026. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by the agency before publication. We count each complaint once per component it names, so a complaint naming two components appears in both rows.
- NHTSA recalls and complaintsRead November 1, 2026
- NHTSA record for the 2019 Ford ExplorerRead November 1, 2026
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