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Reliability report · 2021 Ford Explorer · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,600/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The second gen-6 year — much calmer than 2020, but the park-rollaway and EcoBoost-engine recalls still need checking.

The 2021 is the year the redesigned Explorer calmed down: complaints fall to about a third of the 2020's, and the powertrain-and-park story is now a set of known recalls rather than a flood of fresh failures. The driveshaft/rear-axle-bolt/park-system rollaway cluster carries over (23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675), and the ten-speed automatic's valve-body and torque-converter glitches are the same.

What's new for 2021 is an engine recall: on the 2.7L and 3.0L 'Nano' EcoBoost V6s, the intake valves can break while driving and destroy the engine — recall 24V-635, born of a federal investigation, replaces failing engines free after a dealer cycle test. There's also a side-airbag recall (21V-652) specific to this year. None of it is expensive if it was done. Buy a 2021 with the driveline, park-system, and (on a 2.7/3.0) intake-valve recalls all confirmed complete.

Evidence: 396 NHTSA complaints · 25 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 396 federal complaints — roughly a third of the 2020's total — as the sixth-generation Explorer settled after its rough launch. The ten-speed transmission and the driveshaft/park-system recalls carry over, and a new one appears: an intake-valve defect on the 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engines that can destroy the engine. Most of it is covered — the job is confirming the work was done.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

396

Federal complaints

25

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2021 Ford Explorer SUV RWD (NHTSA VehicleId 15380)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

EcoBoost intake-valve failure — recall 24V-635 on 2.7L and 3.0L V6s

major
  • 2.7L EcoBoost V6
  • 3.0L EcoBoost V6

New for 2021: on the 2.7L and 3.0L 'Nano' EcoBoost V6s, the engine intake valves can break while driving, which can cause engine failure and loss of drive power. Recall 24V-635 — the result of federal investigation EA23002 — has dealers run an engine cycle test and replace the engine free if it fails. This is the single most important thing to verify on a 2.7 or 3.0 car: confirm by VIN that 24V-635 was performed. Separately, the mechanic community notes the 3.0L twin-turbo (ST and Platinum) can show oil consumption and timing-chain stretch after 60,000 miles, so check the oil habit on those.

This is a 2.7L EcoBoost V6 and 3.0L EcoBoost V6 problem. The 3.5L Ti-VCT V6, 3.5L EcoBoost V6, and 2.3L EcoBoost I4 don’t share it.

Which engine is in the one you found? →

Under recall 24V-635 (engine replacement if it fails the test)

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2021 Ford Explorer

Driveline and park-system rollaway — the carryover recall clustermajor

The 2021 carries the same gen-6 driveline-and-park defects as the 2020: a rear-axle mounting bolt that can fracture and disconnect the driveshaft (23V-675), and control-module resets that can damage the park system so the truck won't hold 'Park' (23V-069, 23V-199). One 2021 owner in the file describes the rear wheels wobbling and the truck fishtailing into a tree, and ties it to the rear-bolt fracture Ford is recalling. Later re-remedies (25V-166) and a park-pawl recall (26V-402, 2020-2021) followed. All free — verify every one by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2021 Ford Explorer

$0

Recall repairs (23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675, 25V-166)

Ten-speed automatic — the gen-6 transmission charactermoderate

  • 10-speed automatic (10R60)

The ten-speed automatic behaves as it does across the generation: an independent mechanic cites valve-body and torque-converter glitches roughly between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, handled by Ford software updates. Complaint volume is lower on the 2021 than the 2020, but the tell is the same — a jerk on the downshift or hesitation. Get a diagnostic scan and feel for it on a test drive; a dealer reflash is inexpensive, a rebuild is not.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Explorer · Independent gen-6 Explorer mechanic transcript (ten-speed, 3.0L oil consumption/timing chain)

under $200

Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)

several thousand, directional

Out-of-warranty transmission repair

Side-airbag weld studs — recall 21V-652moderate

A 2021-specific safety recall: the side-airbag attachment weld studs could detach during deployment, causing an improper deployment (recall 21V-652, an FMVSS 214 non-compliance). The remedy is a free side-airbag-assembly replacement. It's an invisible defect you can only clear with the paperwork — confirm by VIN that 21V-652 was completed.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2021 Ford Explorer

$0

Under recall 21V-652

Low-pressure fuel pump and the camera chainminor

The 2021 falls under a multi-model low-pressure-fuel-pump recall (25V-455) where the pump can fail and stall the engine — remedied on Explorers with a PCM software update. It also carries the recurring rearview-camera recall chain (23V-022, 23V-342, and re-remedies) for cameras that blank or distort. Both free. Confirm the fuel-pump software and the latest camera remedy were applied.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2021 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2021 Ford Explorer

$0

Recall repairs (25V-455 fuel pump, camera chain)

The rear wheels began to wobble and the vehicle fishtailed into a tree — likely the rear-bolt fracture Ford is recalling.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Ford dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 24V-6352.7L/3.0L Nano EcoBoost intake valves may break while driving, causing engine failure. Free engine cycle test and engine replacement if needed (2021-2022; investigation EA23002). Ford number 24S55.open
  2. 23V-675Rear-axle mounting bolt may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft — loss of drive or rollaway. Free subframe-bushing/bolt replacement (2020-2022). Ford number 23S55.open
  3. 23V-069PCM reset (2.3L, 10R60) may damage the park system so it won't hold 'Park' — rollaway risk. Free inspection/repair (2020-2022). Ford number 23S05.open
  4. 23V-199PCM software update to restore the electronic parking brake at 'Park,' plus rear-axle-bolt concern. Free software update (2020-2022). Ford number 23S16.open
  5. 21V-652Side-airbag attachment weld studs could detach during deployment, causing improper deployment (FMVSS 214). Free side-airbag-assembly replacement (2021). Ford number 21C19.open
  6. 20V-788Right-hand motor-mount fasteners may loosen, letting the axle disconnect from the engine. Free fastener replacement (2020-2021). Ford number 20S72.open
  7. 25V-455Low-pressure fuel pump may fail and stall the engine. Free PCM software update on Explorers (2021-2023). Ford number 25S75.open
  8. 23V-342360-degree camera video output may fail, blanking the rearview image. Free camera replacement (2020-2023). Ford number 23S23.open
  9. 26V-402Transmission park pawl may engage while in motion, damaging the park system — rollaway risk. Free PCM update and component inspection (2020-2021). Ford number 26S48.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2021 Explorer

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

24 MPG combined (21 city / 28 highway) for the RWD, 2.3L turbo on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 43283 (Explorer RWD).
Other builds EPA lists: 4WD, 2.3L turbo 21 MPG · 4WD, 3.3L 19 MPG · 4WD, 3.0L turbo 20 MPG · RWD, 3.0L turbo 21 MPG.

$2,600/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Collision losses run about average here. Neither a red flag nor a discount at the insurer.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Explorer 4dr 87 · Ford Explorer hybrid 4dr 4WD 109 · Ford Explorer hybrid 4dr 135, where 100 = average.

87 vs 100

13% below average

Theft

Stolen about 62% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Explorer 4dr 47, where 100 = average.

38 vs 100

62% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Under recall 24V-635 (engine replacement if it fails the test)$0
Recall repairs (23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675, 25V-166)$0
Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)under $200
Out-of-warranty transmission repairseveral thousand, directional
Under recall 21V-652$0
Recall repairs (25V-455 fuel pump, camera chain)$0
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On a 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost car, verify recall 24V-635 (intake-valve engine cycle test) was performed — this is the make-or-break check for 2021.
  2. 02Verify the driveline/park recalls by VIN — 23V-675 (rear-axle bolt), 23V-069 and 23V-199 (park system), 26V-402 (park pawl) — and confirm completion.
  3. 03Confirm the 2021-specific side-airbag recall 21V-652 was done.
  4. 04Get a transmission diagnostic scan and feel for a downshift jerk on the drive.
  5. 05On a 3.0L twin-turbo (ST/Platinum), check the oil-consumption habit and service records (timing-chain stretch after 60k).
  6. 06Confirm the low-pressure-fuel-pump recall 25V-455 and the latest rearview-camera remedy were applied.

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