Best Ford Explorer Years to Buy
Based on federal NHTSA complaint and recall records, the best Ford Explorer years to buy are 2008, 2009 and 2010 — the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates among years with enough road time to judge, while 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 are the years to skip.
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall campaigns · Data as of October 2026 · How we rate model years
Buy these years
Every Ford Explorer year, ranked by federal record
| Model year | NHTSA complaints | Recalls | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 87 | 18 | OK |
| 2024 | 19 | 9 | OK |
| 2023 | 99 | 14 | OK |
| 2022 | 242 | 23 | OK |
| 2021 | 393 | 25 | OK |
| 2020 | 1,153 | 32 | AVOID |
| 2019 | 281 | 5 | OK |
| 2018 | 705 | 6 | OK |
| 2017 | 1,666 | 13 | AVOID |
| 2016 | 2,424 | 14 | AVOID |
| 2015 | 1,748 | 9 | AVOID |
| 2014 | 1,669 | 7 | AVOID |
| 2013 | 2,222 | 12 | AVOID |
| 2012 | 820 | 7 | OK |
| 2011 | 1,191 | 8 | AVOID |
| 2010 | 115 | 2 | BEST |
| 2009 | 33 | 1 | BEST |
| 2008 | 147 | 3 | BEST |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume; verdicts are severity-weighted rates per year on the road, compared within the model’s own history.
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Frequently asked questions
What is the best year for the Ford Explorer?
2008, 2009 and 2010 — based on federal NHTSA records, they show the lowest severity-weighted complaint rates of any Ford Explorer model year with meaningful time on the road. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
Which Ford Explorer years should I avoid?
2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2020 — they carry the model's highest severity-weighted complaint rates, led by steering issues. The full breakdown is on our Ford Explorer years-to-avoid page.
Is a used Ford Explorer a good buy?
Year-dependent. Across 15,014 NHTSA owner complaints on record, the spread between the cleanest and worst Ford Explorer years is significant — pick from the best-year list, confirm the specific car's history by VIN, and negotiate from what buyers actually paid rather than asking prices.
How do I buy the best Ford Explorer year for the right price?
Two steps: verify the exact car (free VIN decode, then the recall/complaint record for that VIN), and negotiate the out-the-door price in writing. CarWhere's AI car-buying agent does the second part for you — it contacts dealers about the exact Ford Explorer you pick, requests written itemized out-the-door quotes, and negotiates them down while you approve every message ($34.99/month, includes Pro pricing data).