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Fuel systemPart report

2021 Ford Explorer Fuel system Problems

Complaints
27about this part
Share
6%of 448 total for the year
Median mileage
55,000miles
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.

NHTSA recorded 27 complaints about the fuel system of the 2021 Ford Explorer, 6% of the 448 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 55,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, 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.

“When i go to accelerate i lost power and then 2 seconds later car would finally go, this has happened several times getting onto freeway or just trying to pass and have almost been rear ended, i took car to dealer and no remedy available still 1 year later, my specific car has had several recalls which is ridiculos, i am not getting any help with my situation”

NHTSA complaint #11751556, filed 2026-07

“I was driving down the road and the vehicle started to cut out like it was running out of fuel. Maybe 1 minute later it died in the middle of heavy traffic and would not re-start. I had to have it towed and I called Ford and they told me to wait until the repair remedy was available to have it fixed. I have been without this vehicle for 6 weeks now and still no remedy.”

NHTSA complaint #11769389, filed 2026-10

“I parked my car and when I returned to it the car would not start. Diagnosed as a faulty fuel pump. Had this problem occurred while I was driving it could have caused serious injury or death. There is an active recall on fuel pumps for the 2021 Ford Explorer that does not apply to my VIN number so Ford will do nothing to remedy the situation and parts are impossible to find as dealers scramble to fix the vehicles included in the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11751268, filed 2026-07

“While driving at highway speeds, the vehicle experienced a sudden and total loss of engine power and stalled in active traffic. I lost motive power and had to safely coast through traffic to the shoulder. The vehicle would not restart and had to be towed to a repair facility. The failure matches the exact symptoms of Ford Recall 25S75 / NHTSA Campaign 25V455000 for low-pressure fuel pump failure, but my VIN is currently excluded from the recall.”

NHTSA complaint #11745753, filed 2026-06

“In the last 2 months I have had a total of 3 back up cameras and the equipment is still turning blue on random. I have had the wiring replaced to “fix” the Bluetooth echo, and it is still doing it. The gas take also shakes enough to move the car when you come to a stop depending on amount of gas in the tank.”

NHTSA complaint #11468627, filed 2022-06

Related recalls

Related service bulletins

Fuel system: other model years

YearComplaintsShare of year
202637%
202533%
202333%
20223714%
2021276%
2020423%
2019176%
2018233%
2017493%
20161125%
2015945%
2014724%
20131537%
2012344%
2011403%
201098%
200926%
200821%
200742%
2006274%
20056613%
2004333%
2003111%
2002722%
2001113%
2000192%
1999343%
1998633%
1997563%
1996232%
1995162%
1994333%
1993121%
1992183%
1991264%
1990217%

Other parts of the 2021 Ford Explorer

Transmission and drivetrain
127 complaintsOther or unknown
90 complaintsEngine
50 complaintsElectrical system
48 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
48 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
36 complaintsBody and structure
25 complaintsBrakes
24 complaintsForward collision avoidance
19 complaintsSeats
17 complaintsSuspension
15 complaintsVehicle speed control
15 complaints

← All problems reported for the 2021 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