AI Damage2022 Ford Explorer: common problems
Owners of the 2022 Ford Explorer filed 271 complaints with NHTSA, most often about powertrain and electrical system. The maker issued 234 service bulletins for this year. We found 1 repair videos on YouTube. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 271
- involving a crash
- 17
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 234
- YouTube repair videos
- 1
What fails most often
- 1 Powertrain 23% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 14% of all complaints
- 3 Visibility 11% of all complaints
- 4 Engine 11% of all complaints
- 5 Backover prevention 8% of all complaints
- 6 Fuel/propulsion system 8% of all complaints
- 7 Fuel system 6% of all complaints
- 8 Suspension 5% of all complaints
- Powertrain: 61 complaints (23% of all), 2 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 72.
- Electrical system: 39 complaints (14% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 58.
- Visibility: 31 complaints (11% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Engine: 30 complaints (11% of all), 1 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 12.
- Backover prevention: 23 complaints (8% of all), 3 of them with a crash reported by the owner; manufacturer bulletins for this component: 4.
Engines and transmissions
US-market versions per EPA. On the right: how many NHTSA complaints name this engine or transmission type.
- 2.3 L · petrol · turbo · 4 cylnamed in 2 complaints
- 3 L · petrol · turbo · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 3.3 L · petrol · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- 3.3 L · hybrid · 6 cylnamed in 1 complaints
- automatic, 10-speed
Drive: 4WD, RWD
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 271 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Powertrain | 61 | 2 | 72 |
| Electrical system | 39 | 1 | 58 |
| Visibility | 31 | 0 | 6 |
| Engine | 30 | 1 | 12 |
| Backover prevention | 23 | 3 | 4 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 22 | 0 | 6 |
| Fuel system | 15 | 0 | 5 |
| Suspension | 13 | 1 | 5 |
| Forward collision avoidance | 12 | 1 | 1 |
| Structure | 11 | 0 | 13 |
| Service brakes | 11 | 2 | 3 |
| Steering | 9 | 1 | 1 |
| Air bags | 7 | 4 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 7 | 2 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
While traveling on I-26 east near North Carolina MM 51 in the left lane, the vehicle suddenly pulled uncontrollably to the left resulting in a sideswipe of the guardrail. The vehicle then swerved to the right stopping near the center of the interstate.
I was wearing my seat belt. There was no intrusion of any foreign object into the cabin of the vehicle. I was not hit on the driver's side of the vehicle. When the side impact airbag deployed it tore open the left side of the t-shirt I was wearing and deposited unreacted airbag propellants on my skin.
The contact stated that upon taking off after yielding to a stop sign, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of an intersection. As a result, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the rear driver's side door, sending the vehicle careening back through the inspection past the stop sign before…
The air bags did not deploy. There was no fire. A police report was filed. There was an abnormal beeping sound detected. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a body shop. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer but was not diagnosed or repaired.
The impact was so sudden that the driver of the vehicle I collided with thought I had been rear ended. While I had contacted my insurance company (Erie Insurance) regarding the collision, I had also reached out to my service center, Laurel Ford (Windber, PA), concerning the incident.
The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that she had had a crash in a parking lot after she had shifted to reverse (R). The contact stated that the vehicle lunged forward and the front end crashed into a concrete parking bollard.
Again the brakes failed to engage, but I was able to avoid the car in front of me by swerving into the lane to the left. Fortunately no car was approaching on that lane this happened November 2023. The final incident again was on the road.
There were no warning lights illuminated. The passenger-side front knee air bag was partially deployed. The passenger sustained bruising to her lower leg. There was a plastic substance released from the air bag which cut her ankle. The passenger was taken to the hospital where medical attention was provided.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 230 of 2,102 model years in the NHTSA data (top 11% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Explorer has 617 complaints (12 years in the data). This year has 271, below average.
What to check before buying
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Visibility. Wipers, mirrors, defrosters, cracked glass.
- Engine. Cold start, unusual noises, oil leaks and engine codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Reason for update
update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update theParts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator
- Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel)…
Some 2020-2026 Aviator/Explorer/F-150/Bronco/Ranger vehicles equipped with a 2.7L or 3.0L (non-diesel) engine may need the front engine cover removed and reinstalled for various reasons. The Workshop Manual (WSM)…
- Some 2020-2024 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with 3.0L EcoBoost/hybrid engine may exhibit blue or…
Some 2020-2024 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with 3.0L EcoBoost/hybrid engine may exhibit blue or black exhaust smoke on startup for the first 5 minutes after an overnight cold soak with no illuminated malfunction…
- Reason For Update
update the Model section to remove Aviator 10R80, update the Parts list to add 3.3L to W520514-S440, and add L1MZ-7Z490-G valve body separator plate for Aviator. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above…
- This article supersedes 26-2287. Reason for update
update the labor operation numbers to add MT to operations C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M, and correct the part number LIMZ-4A015-B to L1MZ-4A015-B. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at…
- For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion…
For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is…
- Some 2020-2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a power roof opening panel may exhibit a sunshield with…
Some 2020-2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a power roof opening panel may exhibit a sunshield with localized bunching or binding/inoperative. This may be due to a broken or missing sunshield fabric retainer/clip. A…
- Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped…
Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine, and 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost hybrid engine…
- NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang,…
NEW VEHICLE DELIVERY HOLD - Emissions Recall 26E04 Certain 2021-2025 Model Year F-150, Maverick, Mustang, Ranger, Expedition, Bronco Sport, Explorer, Bronco, Navigator, and Aviator Vehicles Powertrain Control Module…
- Reason For Update
update the parts list to correct the claim quantity of the part number JB3Z-4B496-B from 3 to 6. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh…
- This article supersedes 25-2302. Reason for update
update the labor time allowance for F-150 vehicles, update the Parts list to replace the part number W716979-S439 with W721084-S439, and add a note for LV fluids XT-10-QLVC and CXT-10-LV6 "Transfer Case Fluid". Some of…
- For 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test…
For 20202026 vehicles equipped with the 10R60 transmission, a new Transmission Clutch Circuit Leak Test has been introduced in the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS). This test utilizes the pressure and vacuum…
NHTSA lists 234 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Repair videos
We do not copy videos: these are YouTube links credited to their authors. Amounts are as stated by the author and not verified by us.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2022 Ford Explorer?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: powertrain, electrical system, visibility. Total complaints: 271. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: warning lights, check engine (18%), windows, sunroof (18%), infotainment or screen glitches (8%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2022 Ford Explorer?
NHTSA lists 234 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2022 Ford Explorer from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2022 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.