2010 Ford Explorer Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe unexpected engine revving or a surge of power while braking or at low speed, and a separate group of complaints covers front seat headrests that pitch the head forward. Transmission and shifter complaints appear too, usually on higher-mileage vehicles, and several complaints describe stalling or engine noise. Reported mileages for the acceleration-related complaints range from a few hundred miles to well over 100,000.

1. 1
   Vehicle speed control

   Engine revs or vehicle surges while braking

   • 24 complaints (21%)
   • median 27,586 mi at 2.2 yrs old (22 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe the engine speeding up or the vehicle lurching forward while the driver is holding the brake, sometimes at very low speed in parking lots and sometimes at highway speed. In several accounts the brake felt like it could not hold the vehicle and drivers shifted into neutral and shut off the engine to regain control. Owners report that dealers were often unable to duplicate the concern and the vehicle went unrepaired; a few note a service bulletin was mentioned about sticking linkage or the brake-over-accelerator feature. Reported across a wide mileage range, with many complaints filed under 30,000 miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: During a test drive, sit with the vehicle in gear and your foot firmly on the brake and note any rise in engine rpm. Ask the seller whether the throttle body or pedal linkage has been inspected or replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My wife and I were leaving our local walmart store and we were driving in the parking lot. We were going down a hill at approximately 10 MPH and my foot was covering the brake and was not on the accelerator. Suddenly the car accelerated rapidly with the motor racing. I immediately pressed the brake with both feet and stopped the vehicle but this sudden acceleration caused the car to travel approximately 50 feet. In another 30 feet the car would have gone off a high embankment. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10445241, filed 2012-01, 26,400 miles

   “I was approaching a red light and pressed the brake. There was a truck infront of me, the harder I pushes the break the more the engine tried to accelerate. The tires were screeching but the engine was still trying to go. Me and my kids could have been seriously injured and I would have been held responsible for hitting another vehicle in the rear end. I have an appointment to take it to the dealership tomorrow. Hoping they can find a fix before it seriously injures my family or someone else's loved ones.”

   NHTSA complaint #10438028, filed 2011-12, 40,707 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Transmission slipping, shifter stuck in park, key stuck

   • 23 complaints (20%)
   • median 84,000 mi at 6.6 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2026

   Complaints describe the transmission slipping or dropping out of gear, a wrench or transmission light coming on, and occasional stalling. A second recurring theme is the shifter not moving out of park, the key not releasing from the ignition, and in some cases the gear being moved out of park without the brake or key. Dealers according to the complaints often replaced the shifter assembly or valve body, and some owners were told parts were on back order. Mostly reported on vehicles over 60,000 miles.

   4 related service bulletins

   What to check: Cycle the shifter through all positions and confirm the key releases in park, and check for a delay or flare when shifting from a stop. Ask whether the transmission fluid and valve body have been serviced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When I drive the ABS light comes on, the break system light, engine light, and air bag light all came on at the same time and the radio will shut off along with all the dashboard lights. When I drive sometimes the car will stop catching gear and stop accelerating randomly. The vehicle fails to accelerate at all speeds. The transmission has been replaced and we were told the PCM was burnt out and unrepairable and Ford has the product on back order and doesn't know when it will be available.”

   NHTSA complaint #11329688, filed 2020-06, 189,000 miles

   “Truck recently start having problems, has correct amount of transmission fluid, everything. Transmission light came on car stalled, restarted the car tge car drove but acted like it was slipping, light still on, took it to mechanic... The light did not give any codes of any sort on any of their scan tools car drives fine today kind of, it falls out of gear when I come to a stop and kinda stutters when I begin to drive. Again there should be no reason for this unless a manufacturer defect is the cause. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11162771, filed 2018-12, 118,839 miles
3. 3
   Seats

   Front headrests push the head forward

   • 17 complaints (15%)
   • median 577 mi at 0.8 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2009–2013

   Owners describe the driver and front passenger headrests as angled so far forward that they press on the back of the head, causing neck strain, headaches, and discomfort on longer drives. Some say the angle is not adjustable and that reclining the seat or reversing the headrest was the only workaround. According to the complaints, dealers said nothing could be done or agreed the angle was unusual but had no replacement. Almost all reported at very low mileage, many within the first few thousand miles or on newly delivered vehicles.

   Recall 10V161000

   What to check: Adjust the headrest and sit in both front seats for several minutes before buying, and ask whether the head restraints were replaced or the recliner repair from the seat recall was performed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The headrests for the driver and front passenger seats in the Ford Explorer 2010 protrude into the back of the head at an extremely uncomfortable angle. I get headaches all the time if they are left in. The headrest angle is not adjustable. This is an agency fleet vehicle. I can't afford to risk a possible safety hazard by driving without the headrests in place.”

   NHTSA complaint #10343264, filed 2010-07, 154 miles

   “I rented a 2010 Ford Explorer yesterday (1-sept-2010) while my car was being repaired--I immediately noticed that the front headrests are designed so they lean forward way too far, hitting the back of my head and preventing me from sitting in a comfortable driving position. Totally ridiculous! Glad I only will have it for a day or two; I would never buy such a vehicle, it hurts my back and neck.”

   NHTSA complaint #10353596, filed 2010-09, 9,860 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling, rough running, and broken valvetrain parts

   • 13 complaints (11%)
   • median 80,000 mi at 4.9 yrs old (11 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2011–2022

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off without warning while driving, sometimes with a check engine light afterward, and in other cases upper engine noise, rough running, or a fractured valve spring or crankshaft pulley. Owners report that dealers replaced the throttle body, diagnosed a failed engine, or could not reproduce the problem. Several note plastic tubing or hoses that had cracked and crumbled. Mostly reported above 40,000 miles, though a few owners describe a shutdown in the teens of thousands of miles.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Look for a stored or pending check engine code and listen for upper engine ticking or rattle on a cold start. Ask about throttle body and spark plug service history.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The engine shut down at only 14,000 miles.there was no warning it just shut down. The dealership that replaced the engine told me there was a safety notice sent to dealerships but they did not have to tell consumers. Ford knows specific engines that could be affected because they were manufactured at specific plants but have not contacted anyone. I was very lucky that day and did not take the highway but a side road instead. I had my 2 toddlers in the car with me and could have caused a major deadly accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #10379922, filed 2011-02, 14,000 miles

   “The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle stalled and failed to restart. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the serpentine belt needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 130,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10631043, filed 2014-09, 130,000 miles
5. 5
   Brakes

   Brake pedal going to the floor and warning lamps

   • 16 complaints (14%)
   • median 38,603 mi at 4.1 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2022

   Owners describe the brake pedal sinking toward the floor with reduced stopping power, and in some accounts the vehicle rolled after being shifted into park. Others report combinations of ABS, traction control, brake, and stability lights illuminating together, sometimes followed by the vehicle refusing to move. Complaints note dealers could not identify a cause or replaced wheel bearing and sensor components without resolving it. Reported from a few thousand miles up to about 100,000 miles, with no single clear mileage pattern.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Check the brake fluid level and pedal feel with the engine running, and ask whether the wheel speed sensor harness routing and brake warning lamp concerns have been addressed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I have been noticing that when I am on the higjway driving it feels like there is a increase of acceleration when I am going speeds of 55 MPH - 60mph. Even when I have tapped the brake, there is still a little increase of speed. On august 12, 2015 at approxiamtely 5:30pm, was driving at speeds of 10mph while turning a corner. I had my foot on the brake when I turned but my truck would not stop and it actually tried to override my braking and accelerated to the point where I felt like I was no longer in control of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10748316, filed 2015-08, 36,500 miles

   “2010 Ford Explorer rental from hertz. Approx 3500 miles. After 10 miles dashboard red warning said service rsc immediately also audible alarm repeated every few minutes. Took it to Ford dealer who said it was a loose wire. After 10 more miles, warning repeated then stopped. Then car began to pulsate braking pull to the left. Had to drive that way 45 miles to airport to exchange the car with hertz.”

   NHTSA complaint #10321460, filed 2010-03, 3,500 miles

Buying note. Test-drive deliberately: hold the brake in gear and watch for any rise in rpm, cycle the shifter to check it moves and releases the key, and sit in the front seats long enough to judge the headrest angle. A pre-purchase inspection that pulls stored codes and checks the brakes is worthwhile given the mix of reported concerns.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.