2017 Ford Explorer: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2017 Ford Explorer: 13 recalls, 1697 owner complaints and up to 22 mpg combined.
Recalls
13 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer, plus 1 equipment/tire recall that can apply. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #16V925000 · 2016 · 1,163 vehicles
What's wrong: 5l gtdi engines. Improperly brazed turbocharger oil supply tubes May leak oil on engine components.
Why it matters: An oil leak, in the presence of an ignition source, increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect, and if necessary, replace the turbocharger oil supply tubes, free of charge. The recall began on January 31, 2017.
Seats, Seats Vehicle recall #17V332000 · 2017 · 2,204 vehicles
What's wrong: In the event of a crash, the seat back frame May not restrain the occupant due to having inadequate welds. As such, these vehicles May not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) numbers 202a, "head restraints" and 207, "seating systems."
Why it matters: If the occupant is not adequately restrained in the event of a crash, they have an increased risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the seat back frame, free of charge. The recall began on June 7, 2017.
Steering Vehicle recall #17V530000 · 2017 · 253 vehicles
What's wrong: The steering gear heat shield fasteners May corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
Why it matters: If the heat shield detaches, the steering gear May overheat, increasing the steering effort required by the driver, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers to inspect and replace the heat shield fasteners as needed, free of charge. The recall began on September 13, 2017.
Suspension Vehicle recall #19V435000 · 2019 · 1,194,173 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear suspension toe links May fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.
Why it matters: A fractured rear toe link will cause a sudden change in vehicle handling and increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019.
Seats Vehicle recall #19V651000 · 2019 · 311,907 vehicles
What's wrong: The seat frames May have sharp edges.
Why it matters: Occupants my contact the sharp edges when reaching between the power front seat and center console, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install protective tape on the exposed inside edge and tab of the power seat frames, free of charge. The recall began November 8, 2019.
Suspension Vehicle recall #20V675000 · 2021 · 454,941 vehicles
What's wrong: The outboard section of a rear suspension toe link May fracture.
Why it matters: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (cabj) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #21V316000 · 2021 · 616,967 vehicles
What's wrong: The retention pins could loosen and allow the roof rail covers to detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install push-pins and replace any damaged rail clips and roof rail covers, as necessary, free of charge. The interim owner notification letter was mailed on June 22, 2021. Owner notification letters (remedy available) were mailed on October 1, 2021.
Suspension Vehicle recall #21V537000 · 2021 · 631,176 vehicles
What's wrong: Exposure to road salt can cause the cross-axis ball joint to corrode and seize, resulting in a fracture of the outboard section of the rear suspension toe link.
Why it matters: A rear toe-link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (cabj) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16v-245, 19v-435, and 20v-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return…
Body & structure Vehicle recall #24V031000 · 2024 · 1,889,110 vehicles
What's wrong: The a-pillar trim retention clips May not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.
Why it matters: A detached trim piece can fall off the vehicle, becoming a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the a-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #25V347000 · 2025 · 492,145 vehicles
What's wrong: The driver and front passenger b-pillar door trim May detach while driving.
Why it matters: Door trim that detaches while driving can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will repair the b-pillar trim, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2025. A second notice will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026.
Equipment Vehicle recall #25V685000 · 2025 · 59,006 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine block heater May crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Why it matters: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
The fix: Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord.…
Suspension Vehicle recall #26V101000 · 2026 · 412,774 vehicles
What's wrong: The rear suspension toe links May fracture.
Why it matters: A rear toe link fracture can result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the toe links, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 16, 2026.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #26V448000 · 2026 · 288,314 vehicles
What's wrong: The roof rail covers May come loose and detach from the vehicle.
Why it matters: A detached roof rail cover can create a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the roof rail covers and as necessary, repair or replace the push-pins, rail clips, or roof rail covers, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed August 28, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated…
1 aftermarket equipment / tire recall replacement parts sold to fit this car, not the car itself
Wheels, Suspension Equipment recall #17E048000 · 2017 · 630 vehicles
What's wrong: These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.
Why it matters: A loss of the wheel or wheel end can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 11 mention a fire, 51 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (657): the most common themes are door / lock issues (103), noise or vibration (41).
- Other / unknown (372): the most common themes are leaks (44), noise or vibration (23).
- Engine (239): the most common themes are leaks (64), warning light on (53), overheating (25).
- Transmission & drivetrain (123): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (53), warning light on (34), noise or vibration (31).
The 2017 Ford Explorer has 1697 owner complaints, ranking #7 of 38 Explorer model years for complaints (1.9× the average Explorer year). Complaints peaked in 2025 (391 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 6 years old, at a median of 50,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2016 (2461 complaints, 14 recalls), 2018 (732 complaints, 7 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 19 | 27 | 22 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 16 | 22 | 18 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2017 Ford Explorer.
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FAQ
Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 13 vehicle recalls for the 2017 Ford Explorer, plus 1 equipment or tire recalls that can apply. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2017 Ford Explorer problems?
Owners have filed 1697 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (657), other / unknown (372), engine (239).
What gas mileage does the 2017 Ford Explorer get?
EPA ratings run up to 22 mpg combined (2.3 L, Automatic (S6)), across 7 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2017 Ford Explorer repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.