2017 Ford Explorer Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 94about this part
- Share
- 6%of 1,704 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 46,500miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 94 complaints about the electrical system of the 2017 Ford Explorer, 6% of the 1,704 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 46,500 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 6 a fire, according to the filers. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“My 3 yr old truck already has a leaking coolant line which come to find out is draining into the water line in the engine. I can't drive more than 5miles before I need to refill my coolant. In addition, the heating elements in both the driver and passenger seats has gone out. I thought it was a fuse and of course its something more.”
NHTSA complaint #11386195, filed 2021-01, 73,400 miles“On may 20th 2020, I drove the car from my house to the grocery store, an approximate 7 miles drive. I parked the car on the parking lot, a few seconds after leaving the car white smoke started to come from under the hood, as the seconds passed the white smoke converted into a fire in the engine, 5 minutes later the car was lost due to fire.”
NHTSA complaint #11328550, filed 2020-06, 45,000 miles“My locks on my doors will not lock with keyfob or when I push my lock button in the car. I am scared that if I can't lock them someone will fall out the car. Someone can steal my car because I cannot lock my doors.”
NHTSA complaint #11585890, filed 2024-04, 108,165 miles“Driving down a dirt trail from a mountain outlook the cars electrical shut off. We had no control of brakes, or anything but stearing. Not to mention we were picking up major speed down a mountain, and bouncing everywhere. We had to swerve back and forth, hitting bushes and semi driving up the side of the mountain to try and slow down. Our whole family was in the car, including a two month old and a three year old. …”
NHTSA complaint #11039479, filed 2017-10, 14,640 miles“Car pulled in my lane my car auto breaked, I also put on break then icon came on about airbag issue. Took to Ford run test. The pig tail that goes to airbags, need to sauter 21 pins that goes to connection of pigtail to airbag.”
NHTSA complaint #11384294, filed 2020-12, 56,573 milesRelated recalls
- 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair…Covers: Ford Explorer 2016–2018, 2020–2023, Ranger 2019–2024, Lincoln MKC 2016–2019 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 11037788Sep 30, 202625E10-S1 Owner letter
- 11035464Jul 2, 2026NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 25E10 - Supplement #1 Certain 2018-2020 Model Year F-150 Vehicles With 3.3L Engines and 2016-2019 Model Year Explorer, Taurus, and…
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing…
- 11025837Nov 26, 2025This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns…
- 11025611Nov 12, 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 10219060Aug 31, 2022Certain 2016-2018 Model Year Explorer Vehicles High-Speed Cooling Fan Motor Relay; Reason for supplement: Vehicles Covered by this Program: all open / unrepaired vehicles from…
- 10217028Jul 29, 2022Some 2017-2022 Ford/Lincoln customers may experience a notification in the FordPassÃÂÃÂÃÂî/LincolnWayÃÂÃÂÃÂî app indicating Vehicle Has Entered Deep Sleep Mode…
- 10212957May 24, 2022Some 2013-2023 Ford or Lincoln vehicles with modems activated through FordPass or LincolnWay may experience 12 volt battery drain symptoms when the customer uses non-Ford/Lincoln…
- 10205694Dec 23, 2021Some 2016-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may exhibit a condition where the navigation voice prompts are inoperative after a SYNC map update. This may be due…
- 10205725Dec 16, 2021Certain 2016-2018 Model Year Explorer Vehicles High-Speed Cooling Fan Motor Relay ; Reason for supplement: Vehicle Build Date: Ending build date for Chicago Assembly built…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 21% |
| 2025 | 23 | 22% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 14 | 13% |
| 2022 | 39 | 14% |
| 2021 | 48 | 11% |
| 2020 | 188 | 15% |
| 2019 | 20 | 7% |
| 2018 | 58 | 8% |
| 2017 | 94 | 6% |
| 2016 | 129 | 5% |
| 2015 | 93 | 5% |
| 2014 | 100 | 6% |
| 2013 | 163 | 7% |
| 2012 | 64 | 8% |
| 2011 | 95 | 8% |
| 2010 | 12 | 10% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 38 | 26% |
| 2007 | 25 | 12% |
| 2006 | 39 | 6% |
| 2005 | 36 | 7% |
| 2004 | 55 | 4% |
| 2003 | 54 | 5% |
| 2002 | 148 | 4% |
| 2001 | 29 | 8% |
| 2000 | 78 | 8% |
| 1999 | 92 | 7% |
| 1998 | 114 | 6% |
| 1997 | 80 | 5% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 55 | 7% |
| 1994 | 75 | 6% |
| 1993 | 45 | 5% |
| 1992 | 45 | 7% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2017 Ford Explorer
659 complaintsOther or unknown
374 complaintsEngine
241 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
125 complaintsEngine cooling
77 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
77 complaintsSteering
76 complaintsWheels
60 complaintsSuspension
58 complaintsFuel system
49 complaintsAir bags
34 complaintsSeat belts
23 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2017 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology