The Ford Explorer is a sport utility vehicle that seats five, and it’s one of Ford’s smallest SUV offerings. That makes it an attractive choice for city drivers who need the maneuverability of a small car, but want the size and versatility of an SUV.Though it’s popular, some owners of the Explorer have experienced a variety of issues in the last few model years, especially in 2016.
Yearly Complaints, Investigations, and Recall
If you purchased a new Ford Explorer in the last few years, here’s what you should know:
2015 Ford Explorer
- Hub unit bearing may allow wheel detachment. A detached wheel could quickly cause an accident.
- Rear suspension toe may be improperly welded. This could directly cause a loss of steering control.
- Parking brake may not fully engage. If the brake doesn’t engage, the car could roll away.
2016 Ford Explorer
- Front seat adjuster pivot bolts may loosen. Front seat adjuster pivot bolts may loosen.
- Hub unit bearing may allow wheel detachment. A detached wheel could quickly cause an accident.
- Driver seat back frame may fail. The back of the seat may not properly restrain passengers.
- Engine block heater may overheat. This increases the risk of a fire.
- Fuel tank mounting bolts may be loose. A loose fuel tank increases the risk of a fire.
- Parking brake may not fully engage. If the brake doesn’t engage, the car could roll away.
2017 Ford Explorer
- Loss of power assisted steering. Lack of control could cause an accident.
- Hub unit bearing may allow wheel detachment. A detached wheel could quickly cause an accident.
- Second row seats may be missing attachment studs. In a crash, the seats may not properly restrained passengers.
- Driver seat back frame may fail. The back of the seat may not properly restrain passengers.
- Oil leak from turbocharger. This increases the risk of a fire.
2018 Ford Explorer
Seek Legal Assistance for Your Ford Explorer
If you’ve experienced one of the problems above, or something similar, you can report it directly to the NHTSA so they can compile your complaint in their database. If they receive enough complaints on your same topic, they may launch an investigation into the matter.
As long as the original manufacturer’s warranty hasn’t expired, you may still have the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act working in your favor. This federal law was designed to protect consumers from unethical warranty practices. If a dealership failed to fix a warrantable defect within three or more attempts or/and your vehicle has been out of service for 20 or more days, you may have a viable suit against the manufacturer for breach of warranty.
You may also have state lemon laws on your side. Like the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act, these laws exist to extend extra protection to you, the consumer.
Don’t keep driving your Ford Explorer back to the garage for repairs. Robison Lemon Law Group LLC can help you navigate both the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act and state lemon laws to ensure you receive the justice you deserve.