2026 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

Seal around the panoramic sunroof is failing and has caused loud wind noises and lack of proper weather seal. Vehicle has 7000 miles and this has randomly started. Loud wind whistle noise occurs now 100% of the time when speed reaches 35mph and stays present at higher speeds.

On XXX around 6:30pm: Car would not go into reverse. Upon pressing the gas a 2nd time, a loud pop was heard from the back of the car. The car was then able to drive forward, however, when pressing on the brakes, the rear end of the car would wobble, and the brakes were rubbing and making a loud noise. I contacted Rich Ford, explained that my car is brand new (2 months), with less than 4,000 miles, and this should not happen. I was told that “someone would call me the following morning around 7am”. I drove to work the next morning, XXX, avoiding the use of the brakes as much as possible. I called Rich Ford again, at around 07:45, and spoke to “Toby”. Explained to him what had happened, and asked that they pick up the vehicle to see what’s wrong. I was told that they couldn’t look at it until Monday XXX. I told Toby that I did not feel comfortable or safe driving my car anywhere, and asked that they pick up the car and provide a loaner. Toby then told me I could drop the car off on Friday, XXXat 08:00. Around 3:48pm, Wednesday, I called Rich Ford again and asked them to pick it up because I didn’t feel safe to drive it. They said “No, just drop it off on Friday”. At around 5:35pm, I got to my car, which was parked on the side street of [XXX]. I pressed the brakes, pressed the start engine button, and then went to step out of the car to talk to a co-worker. The car was in “park”. Once I stepped out with my left leg, the car began rolling forward, knocked me face down onto the road, and then ran over both of my legs. My coworker ran after the car and it stopped on the side of the road. I was rushed to a Level 1 trauma center, UNMH, with severe injuries to both of my legs. I was unable to take my car to the dealership on Friday, XXX, because of my injuries. Rich Ford had NOT REACHED OUT TO ASK WHY THE CAR WAS NOT TAKEN IN. I plan on contacting my insurance company on XXX.I have very serious injuries as a result. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

I had my car in drive in a parking spot. I was ready to go, put the car in drive, DID NOT MOVE but needed to put it in park fast to assist to a child in the back seat. I put it in park pretty fast. Took my seatbelt off and assisted child. It must have not engaged. Car rolled into my office metal mailbox. I 100% put it in park. I took my seatbelt off after so I seen it. It was fast with the gear shift though. Should this have been an issue? I feel like if it was any other car you with a manual gear shifter , not electrical, it’s fine. I feel this was not my fault at all and was a malfunction of the car. The car did not automatically stop either. It hit the mailbox at like 3-4mph. I have never been in an accident of my fault in 10 years of driving. I’ve never made a crazy mistake like that. It should’ve never happened. I drive all types of cars/ and trucks. This is also a lease and I’m SO PISSED. Especially because my kids were in the car. Luckily no one was hurt and no property damage. Just the car.

I am reporting a potential safety defect involving the upper steering column shroud and the driver-facing Driver Status Monitor Camera on my 2026 Ford Explorer equipped with BlueCruise. The upper steering column shroud became extremely loose and will not remain securely attached. The driver-facing camera is mounted in this area. Ford states that BlueCruise uses the driver-facing camera to monitor the driver’s eyes and head position during hands-free operation. I personally observed the shroud and camera assembly loose while BlueCruise remained active. I cannot determine whether monitoring accuracy was affected, but I am concerned that a driver-monitoring camera used during hands-free Level 2 driving can physically move or become unsecured without BlueCruise immediately becoming unavailable. The loose assembly could also detach or distract the driver while the vehicle is moving. Before the repair was completed, the original authorized Ford dealer advised me to temporarily tape the loose shroud assembly back together while waiting for parts. I am reporting that recommendation because the affected area contains the driver-monitoring camera used by BlueCruise. The dealer later documented “SWAP STEERING COLUMN SHROUD WITH STOCK UNIT” and returned the vehicle to me as repaired. The same loose condition remained. The next day, a second authorized Ford dealer inspected the vehicle and documented loose steering-column-shroud fitment, stated the upper and lower halves appeared mismatched in size or tolerance, and recommended replacement of both pieces. The vehicle has now been returned to the original Ford dealer for another repair attempt. Ford Motor Company also has an open customer case. I am asking NHTSA to evaluate whether this physical mounting or retention condition could affect the BlueCruise driver-monitoring function and whether similar conditions exist in other BlueCruise-equipped Explorers.

When entering the vehicle with a key fob that is programmed for a saved seat setting for the driver, the chair back begins to recline all the way. This could crush a passenger seated behind them.

When using memory seat function and switching between driver profiles, the seat reclines too far back with no regard for the preset position. The height and forward adjustment is correct, but the recline function is not working correctly and it just keep reclining.

We were driving our new 2026 Ford Explorer on the highway around 7:45 am on 8/15/26 when suddenly we heard what sounded like an explosion. Fortunately, my husband did not wreck, roll the car or stop on the highway like I would have given the pure terror I felt. He pulled over, and we looked around and confirmed the sunroof was completely shattered. Fortunately, the shade was closed, or our daughter and dog would have been covered in glass. No object impact, collision, extreme temperature, or weather event was observed before the sunroof shattered. Fortunately traffic was light, and we feel lucky to be unharmed/alive.

Moonroof had a seal leak. Ford replaced entire moonroof assembly. 3 weeks later the moonroof spontaneously shattered while driving down 40 MPH road, no trees, no rocks, etc. Fortunately, the inner cloth canopy was closed or shattered glass would have fallen down and hit driver and passengers.

The driver's memory seat has a serious malfunction. Whenever I enter the vehicle or switch between memory presets, the driver's seat unexpectedly reclines completely backward. This also crushes anyone sitting in the rear driver's-side seat, making it essentially unusable until we can return the driver's seat to its upright position. Even more concerning, the seat can begin reclining while I am driving, creating an obvious safety hazard. I recently learned that Ford has issued a recall for this exact issue. However, my vehicle was somehow excluded from the recall despite exhibiting the very same defect. My local dealership acknowledged that my car does show the problem listed on the recall and attempted to repair it by replacing the seat back and seat motor. Unfortunately, the replacement parts Ford supplied had the exact same malfunction. The dealership now must order another set of parts and hope they function properly. What concerns me most is the safety aspect. I am continuing to drive a brand-new vehicle with a known defect that may cause the driver's seat to unexpectedly recline while the vehicle is in motion. That is not simply an inconvenience—it is a legitimate safety concern for me, my family, and others on the road.

Put vehicle in drive to pull out of driveway started moving when all of a sudden the explorer started rolling in reverse and the the D on the transmission knob blinked green the E brake did not work I ended up in my garage door and in the back of an ambulance for neck pain and whiplash.