Ford · Known Issues
2021 Ford Explorer Problems: 9 Known Issues
2021 model year · 1,701+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
2021 model year · 1,701+ owner reports · Updated September 2026
2021 · All trims · All engines
Choose the year and equipment for your written issues and visual request.
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,701+ owner reports, the 2021 Ford Explorer has 9 documented known issues, with 3 rated critical. The most serious are Rear Axle Mounting Bolt Fracture ($0-$2,500 repair), Front Windshield Wiper Motor Failure (Recall 26V117 / 26S14) ($0-$500 repair) and Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchor / Buckle Bolts May Not Restrain Occupants in a Crash (Recall 25V093) ($0-$0 repair). The most commonly reported issue is Rear Axle Mounting Bolt Fracture with 678 owner reports. Across all issues with published estimates, repair costs range from $150 to $6,500. DIY maintenance guides at au7o.io.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, 2020-2024 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2018-2024 F-150, Expedition and Lincoln Navigator vehicles. The air bag warning label may be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."
SUSPENSION:FRONT:MACPHERSON STRUT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Explorer vehicles. The right-front lower fastener connecting the steering knuckle and strut may be loose or missing.
BACK OVER PREVENTION: SENSING SYSTEM: CAMERA
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with a 360-degree camera. The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2023 F-150, Mustang, Explorer, Bronco, and 2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with automatic transmissions. The transmission may contain a loose bolt which could prevent the transmission from engaging the park gear, although the gear shifter position may indicate that the vehicle has been shifted to "PARK."
+ 43 more recalls. Check all on NHTSA.gov
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According to Au7o's analysis of 1,701+ owner reports, the 2021 Ford Explorer has 9 documented issues. The most frequently reported are: Rear Axle Mounting Bolt Fracture, Front Windshield Wiper Motor Failure (Recall 26V117 / 26S14), Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchor / Buckle Bolts May Not Restrain Occupants in a Crash (Recall 25V093). Of these, 3 are rated critical and should be addressed promptly.
The 2021 Ford Explorer has 9 known issues documented across 1,701+ owner reports. 3 issues are rated critical: Rear Axle Mounting Bolt Fracture and Front Windshield Wiper Motor Failure (Recall 26V117 / 26S14) and Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchor / Buckle Bolts May Not Restrain Occupants in a Crash (Recall 25V093). Prospective buyers should inspect for these issues and factor potential repair costs into their purchase decision. Regular maintenance following the manufacturer's schedule helps prevent many common problems.
Repair costs for known Ford Explorer issues range from $0 to $6,500, depending on the specific problem and whether you choose DIY or professional repair. The most critical issue, Rear Axle Mounting Bolt Fracture, typically costs $0-$2,500 to repair. Au7o provides step-by-step DIY maintenance guides that can help reduce repair costs.
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture, causing the rear axle housing to move out of position. This can result in the driveshaft or half-shafts becoming disconnected, leading to loss of forward power and loss of transmission torque to the rear wheels, significantly i… Repairs typically run $0-$2,500. Severity: high.
The front windshield wiper motor can fail because the motor cover terminal is not properly aligned with the brush-card terminal, creating a poor internal electrical connection. This causes intermittent wiper operation or complete failure of the wipers, reducing visibility in rain… Repairs typically run $0-$500. Severity: high.
Certain 2020-2021 Explorers (and Lincoln Aviators) may have improperly secured seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions, and/or an improperly secured seat belt retractor anchor bolt or anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position. A loose seat belt… Repairs typically run $0-$0. Severity: high.
The 10R60 10-speed automatic transmission exhibits harsh shifting, delayed gear engagement, slipping between gears, and erratic behavior. Ford identified that actuators in the transmission are sometimes too tight, causing abnormal shifts. The transmission adaptive learning can al… Repairs typically run $150-$6,500. Severity: medium.
A software failure in the 360-degree camera system's image processing module can cause the rearview camera to display a blank/black image when the vehicle is placed in reverse, or the image may remain frozen on the display after the backing event has ended. This affects driver vi… Repairs typically run $0-$800. Severity: medium.
Explorers equipped with the dual-panel/panoramic moonroof are widely reported to leak water into the cabin and, less often, to have the tempered roof glass spontaneously shatter ('exploding sunroof'). Leaks typically present as water dripping from the overhead console / map-light… Repairs typically run $0-$1,500. Severity: medium.
Sixth-generation Explorers exhibit water intrusion into the rear of the vehicle, pooling in the spare-tire well and cargo floor. Ford addressed it with TSBs (e.g., 20-2425 / 23-2181) that trace leaks to missing or poorly seated seals behind the tail lamps, unsealed liftgate/body… Repairs typically run $150-$700. Severity: medium.
Early sixth-generation Explorers with SYNC 3 experience the center touchscreen freezing unresponsive or going fully black — frequently when Apple CarPlay/Android Auto connects — losing audio, climate, and backup-camera display until a reset. Ford traced many cases to outdated API… Repairs typically run $0-$300. Severity: low.
Sixth-generation Explorers commonly have the Auto Start-Stop feature stop functioning, showing 'Auto Start-Stop Not Ready.' The most common causes are a weak or degraded battery, a failed auxiliary/AGM battery that supports the restart function, or an inaccurate battery current (… Repairs typically run $250-$550. Severity: low.
Content on this page was compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, owner reports, and public automotive data. While we strive for accuracy, this information may contain errors. Always verify repair procedures and specifications with your vehicle's service manual or a qualified mechanic.