2021 Ford Explorer: Problems & Reliability
YEAR TO AVOIDThe 2021 Ford Explorer has 453 NHTSA owner complaints, 285 manufacturer service bulletins, and 26 recall campaigns on federal record, led by power train and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Ford Explorer model years with federal records, it ranks 3rd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid.
Sources: NHTSA complaints (ODI), manufacturer service bulletins, recall campaigns, CarWhere verified buyer prices · Updated 2026-11-05 · By CarWhere Research · Methodology
453
NHTSA complaints
285
Service bulletins
26
Recall campaigns
—
Avg. buyer-paid
Most-reported problem areas on the 2021 Ford Explorer
Power Train — 128 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Unknown Or Other — 86 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
Engine — 51 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for this model year.
How the 2021 compares to adjacent years
| Model year | Complaints | Bulletins | Recalls | Avg. buyer-paid |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 1,250 | 354 | 33 | — |
| 2021 (this page) | 453 | 285 | 26 | — |
| 2022 | 272 | 223 | 24 | — |
Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume. Prices are averages of CarWhere verified buyer transactions (shown when 3+ deals exist for the year). Full year-by-year table: Ford Explorer years to avoid.
Know what to pay for the right 2021 Ford Explorer — then negotiate it
Years-to-avoid tells you which year. Search live listings to see the target price and what verified buyers actually paid for it.
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FAQ
Is the 2021 Ford Explorer reliable?
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 453 NHTSA owner complaints, 285 manufacturer service bulletins, and 26 recall campaigns on federal record, led by power train and unknown or other issues. Among the 12 Ford Explorer model years with federal records, it ranks 3rd by combined complaint and bulletin volume — one of the years to avoid. Counts are raw federal filings, not adjusted for sales volume.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 Ford Explorer?
The most-reported problem areas for the 2021 Ford Explorer in NHTSA owner complaints are power train, unknown or other, engine. Service bulletins (285 on file) show what the manufacturer issued repair guidance for.
Does the 2021 Ford Explorer have recalls?
Yes — 26 recall campaigns on federal record for the 2021 Ford Explorer. Recall completion is VIN-specific: run the exact VIN to see whether the work was actually done on the car you're considering.
Is the 2021 Ford Explorer a good year to buy?
The 2021 is one of the Ford Explorer years to avoid by complaint and bulletin volume — the 2015 and 2024 model years show cleaner records. If the price reflects the risk and the specific car checks out by VIN, informed buyers still do fine; just don't pay clean-year money for it.
How do I check a specific 2021 Ford Explorer before buying?
Decode the VIN free at carwhere.com/tools/vin-decoder to confirm the build, then run the $9.99 CarWhere Full VIN Report for the exact VIN — recall, complaint, and service-bulletin record for this model year, the original window sticker where the manufacturer publishes one, and a market price check from verified buyers. One-time purchase, no subscription.