2015 Ford Explorer: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2015 Ford Explorer: 8 recalls, 1801 owner complaints and up to 23 mpg combined.
Recalls
8 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.
Parking brake Vehicle recall #15V464000 · 2015 · 7,165 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles have a parking brake that May not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (fmvss) number 135, "light vehicle brake systems."
Why it matters: If the parking brake does not fully engage and the transmission is left in a gear other than 'park' while on a slope, the vehicle May roll away, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015.
Suspension Vehicle recall #16V245000 · 2016 · 75,364 vehicles
What's wrong: The affected vehicles May have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that May fracture.
Why it matters: A fracture of the rear suspension toe link May result in a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016.
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.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #20V692000 · 2020 · 15,587 vehicles
What's wrong: 0l or 2.3l engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft May fail.
Why it matters: The failed bracket could result in a loss of park function which can cause unintended vehicle movement, and loss of motive power while driving which increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall began…
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.
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.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #25V695000 · 2025 · 1,448,655 vehicles
What's wrong: The rearview camera May display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.
Why it matters: A rearview camera that fails to properly display an image can reduce the driverâs view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional…
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. 1 mention a fire, 98 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Body & structure (410): the most common themes are door / lock issues (36), noise or vibration (19).
- Other / unknown (403): the most common themes are leaks (36), stalls / loses power (17).
- Steering (347): the most common themes are steering problems (321), warning light on (68), noise or vibration (66).
- Engine (226): the most common themes are warning light on (40), leaks (39), stalls / loses power (32).
The 2015 Ford Explorer has 1801 owner complaints, ranking #5 of 38 Explorer model years for complaints (2.0× the average Explorer year). Complaints peaked in 2017 (270 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 5 years old, at a median of 57,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2014 (1679 complaints, 6 recalls), 2016 (2461 complaints, 14 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.0 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 6-spd | Front-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | Front-Wheel Drive | 17 | 24 | 20 | Regular |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Gasoline or E85 |
| 3.5 L 6-cyl | Automatic (S6) | All-Wheel Drive | 17 | 23 | 19 | Regular |
| 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 2015 Ford Explorer.
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FAQ
Does the 2015 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 8 vehicle recalls for the 2015 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 2015 Ford Explorer problems?
Owners have filed 1801 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are body & structure (410), other / unknown (403), steering (347).
What gas mileage does the 2015 Ford Explorer get?
EPA ratings run up to 23 mpg combined (2.0 L, Automatic 6-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2015 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.