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Ford Explorer
2021 · gas, suv
7 measured figures
7 of the 9 figures this market publishes for a car like this one are measured for this car. This market publishes no overall score, so there is no share of a composite weight to measure confidence against; figures_measured says how many of this market's figures the row carries, and contributing_publishers says who measured them

Measured figures

Fuel economy24 mpg (US gallons)Measured by EPA · configuration: Explorer RWD
Tailpipe CO₂232 g/kmMeasured by EPA · CO₂ basis: tailpipe_rated · configuration: Explorer RWD · also 373 g/mile
HorsepowerFree with an accountMeasured for this car, with its publisher and basis
WarrantyFree with an accountMeasured for this car, with its publisher and basis
Recall campaignsFree with an accountMeasured for this car, with its publisher and basis
NHTSA overall ratingFree with an accountMeasured for this car, with its publisher and basis
Complaints per 10,000 builtFree with an accountMeasured for this car, with its publisher and basis

5 more measured figures for this car — Horsepower, Warranty, Recall campaigns, NHTSA overall rating, Complaints per 10,000 built — each with the publisher that measured it and the basis it is on. Free to read with an account.

Figures this car does not carry

Fuel economy (MPGe)Not published for this carFuel economy (MPGe) is published for electric and hydrogen cars, whose economy is published as MPGe: energy converted at 33.7 kWh per gallon, not fuel burned; this car is not one of them, so the figure is not the same quantity for it
Tailpipe CO₂ (charge-weighted)Not published for this carthis car's CO₂ is published as the tailpipe rating for the car driven as rated on the test cycle (232 g/km), not as a composite weighted across electric and fuel-burning miles, so it is not the quantity this list orders. It is published as Tailpipe CO₂
Engine horsepowerNot published for this carNot published for this car. The record's own reason is free to read with an account.
Kerb weightNot published for this carNot published for this car. The record's own reason is free to read with an account.
EPA test weightNot published for this carNot published for this car. The record's own reason is free to read with an account.
PriceNot published for this carNot published for this car. The record's own reason is free to read with an account.

5-Year Running Costs

Fuel$12,417
Insurance$10,250 (modelled)
Maintenance$5,200 (class estimate)
Repairs$8,000 (modelled)
Depreciationnot estimated — we hold no purchase price for this car, and it is not assumed.
Totalnot estimated — a component above is unknown or modelled

Running costs only — the purchase price is not included. The five-year running cost is an ESTIMATE, not a measurement of this car: only its fuel half is computed from the car's own measured consumption and a dated pump price (see fuel_price_source and fuel_price_as_of in the market's own figures); insurance, maintenance and repairs are class models. It orders no list and is not one of this market's published figures. Fuel is this car's own combined consumption over 13,800 miles a year at $4.319 a US gallon of petrol (U.S. Energy Information Administration, Gasoline and Diesel Fuel Update: U.S. regular gasoline retail price, all formulations, weekly, 2026-09-14). Insurance, maintenance and repairs are models, not figures for this car: insurance from its power, weight and crash rating, maintenance from its make's class, repairs from its complaint and recall counts. They are shown for scale and are not used to rank it. Confidence is low: several components are modelled from class averages.

Known Issues

POWER TRAIN
104 complaint(s) · 2 report a crash, fire, injury or death
I NOTICED TRANSMISSION FLUID ON THE GARAGE FLOOR. MARCH 27,2021. DROPPED THE CAR OF AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE I BOUGHT THE CAR. 2021 FORD EXPLORER ST WITH 2120 MILES I PURCHASED ON JANUARY 30, 2021. PRO…
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
79 complaint(s) · 5 report a crash, fire, injury or death
When vehicle is up to temperature, there is an overpowering burning smell coming through the vents into the cab. It only occurs at idle and dissipates when the vehicle is in motion. With the hood open…
ENGINE
45 complaint(s) · 5 report a crash, fire, injury or death
A police officer complained of a strong odor of exhaust coming through the hvac vents. Officer complained of a light dizziness feeling. Suv was grounded from service. Complaint was verified. Upon ope…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
39 complaint(s) · 8 report a crash, fire, injury or death
The contact owned a 2021 Ford Explorer which was used to haul a 2002 Opus OP. The contact stated that while the vehicle was at the RV dealer for installations to be performed the vehicle caught on fir…
VISIBILITY/WIPER
22 complaint(s) · 1 reports a crash, fire, injury or death
Backup camera “blue screens” during critical times it is required. Software updates were updated but no resolution until Ford replaced the backup camera.
BACK OVER PREVENTION
18 complaint(s)
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V022000 (Back Over Prevention) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The…
SERVICE BRAKES
18 complaint(s) · 3 report a crash, fire, injury or death
I had a reputable after market brake system installed on my 2021 Ford Explorer ST at Holman Ford in Turnersville,NJ a couple years back. Since this time I have taken back the vehicle for my brakes be…
STRUCTURE:BODY
17 complaint(s) · 1 reports a crash, fire, injury or death
I'm writing to you to relay a serious safety issue that started with the 2021 Explorer ST manufacturing processes. When Ford designed the new Explorer ST, the rear subframe was engineered to allow the…
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
16 complaint(s) · 1 reports a crash, fire, injury or death
Strong egg odor from exhaust when temperature is below 0 degrees C or 32F. This is especially the case then the car is started and left to warm up for 5-10 min. The smell goes away after 15-20min.
SUSPENSION
15 complaint(s)
The contact owns a 2021 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear end of the vehicle became very unstable, and the vehicle fishtailed. The vehicle was taken to t…

The 10 components named in the most complaints are shown, of 65 named in all.

These complaints are filed under EXPLORER, a name NHTSA also uses for other versions of this car, so some may concern those versions.

Data sources