2017 Ford Explorer Fuel system Problems
- Complaints
- 49about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,704 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 22,175miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 49 complaints about the fuel system of the 2017 Ford Explorer, 3% of the 1,704 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 22,175 miles.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Car off. When filling tank, when it's full and the pump clicks off that your tank is full and you pull the gas pump out the car it spills out fuel there's no safety or stop every time I fill my gas tank gas comes out down the car onto the ground since I have had the vehicle since new.”
NHTSA complaint #11388945, filed 2021-01, 36,000 miles“When putting vehicle in gear it doesn't engage! It feels like it is always in neutral and it has a high pitch whining noise. This has happened 3 times to me. I had to have it towed to dealership and now they can't find a problem. I am scared to drive this vehicle until the problem has been fixed”
NHTSA complaint #11321669, filed 2020-04, 900 miles“Last nights as I drove my new 2017 Explorer off the lot with only 11 miles on it, I drove on surface streets and then onto the highway. After I got up to 65 MPH the Explorer started to lose acceleration on the highway. I had to get off at the next exit and then had great difficulty getting the car to move from 0 to 30 miles per hour to get back to the dealership using the side streets. …”
NHTSA complaint #10967562, filed 2017-03, 20 miles“After a scary long drive from indiana to north carolina I took my vehicle to the local Ford dealer service department letting them know that I could smell exhaust while driving and I felt overly tired, way more tired then need be. After testing it was determined that co was coming into the cabin of my vehicle. They still have my vehicle now after 2 weeks and the parts that were ordered were body filler and electrical tape. …”
NHTSA complaint #11021074, filed 2017-09, 10,000 miles“Re: 2017 Ford Explorer. Car dying out on acceleration from a stop. A scary thing happened on rt #619 today in hartville. That is, the car died out halfway out onto the roadway, it pauses for some seconds where the accelerator does nothing. Then it picks up by itself. The throttle does nothing. None of these actions are desirable. These behaviors put us in great danger. So let's see, this happened twice in the morning I brought it to the dealership (monday 01-06-2020). And, it happened once the 2nd day back to me on friday 01-31-2019. …”
NHTSA complaint #11306450, filed 2020-02, 15,000 milesFuel system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 3 | 7% |
| 2025 | 3 | 3% |
| 2023 | 3 | 3% |
| 2022 | 37 | 14% |
| 2021 | 28 | 6% |
| 2020 | 42 | 3% |
| 2019 | 17 | 6% |
| 2018 | 23 | 3% |
| 2017 | 49 | 3% |
| 2016 | 112 | 5% |
| 2015 | 94 | 5% |
| 2014 | 72 | 4% |
| 2013 | 153 | 7% |
| 2012 | 34 | 4% |
| 2011 | 40 | 3% |
| 2010 | 9 | 8% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 2 | 1% |
| 2007 | 4 | 2% |
| 2006 | 27 | 4% |
| 2005 | 66 | 13% |
| 2004 | 33 | 3% |
| 2003 | 11 | 1% |
| 2002 | 72 | 2% |
| 2001 | 11 | 3% |
| 2000 | 19 | 2% |
| 1999 | 34 | 3% |
| 1998 | 63 | 3% |
| 1997 | 56 | 3% |
| 1996 | 23 | 2% |
| 1995 | 16 | 2% |
| 1994 | 33 | 3% |
| 1993 | 12 | 1% |
| 1992 | 18 | 3% |
| 1991 | 26 | 4% |
| 1990 | 2 | 17% |
Other parts of the 2017 Ford Explorer
659 complaintsOther or unknown
374 complaintsEngine
241 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
125 complaintsElectrical system
94 complaintsEngine cooling
77 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
77 complaintsSteering
76 complaintsWheels
60 complaintsSuspension
58 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 28, 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