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Reliability report · 2022 Ford Explorer · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,700/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

A settling gen-6 year with mostly fuel-and-park recalls — a solid buy once the driveline and EcoBoost recalls are confirmed.

The 2022 continues the gen-6 Explorer's recovery: complaint volume keeps falling, and the story is again about verifying recalls rather than bracing for a known expensive failure. The driveline-and-park cluster (23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675) and the 2.7L/3.0L EcoBoost intake-valve recall (24V-635) carry over from 2021.

What's specific to 2022 is a run of fuel-system and structural recalls: a fuel-filler tube that can detach in a crash (22V-088), engine rails that may have been improperly heat-treated — serious enough that Ford offered a buyback option (22V-454) — and a loose 2.3L fuel line (22V-685). There's also a transmission recall for a loose bolt that can prevent 'Park' (23V-070). All free. With those confirmed and a clean transmission scan, the 2022 is a sound used Explorer.

Evidence: 241 NHTSA complaints · 23 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Chirping

What that means: 241 federal complaints — the sixth-generation Explorer continuing to settle. The park-system and rear-axle-bolt recalls carry over, the EcoBoost intake-valve recall still applies to 2.7L/3.0L cars, and this year adds a cluster of fuel-system and structural recalls. No expensive out-of-warranty pattern stands out — the work is verifying the recalls.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

241

Federal complaints

23

Recalls

Known issues

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

EcoBoost intake-valve failure — recall 24V-635 carries into 2022

major
  • 2.7L EcoBoost V6
  • 3.0L EcoBoost V6

On 2.7L and 3.0L 'Nano' EcoBoost V6s, the intake valves can break while driving and destroy the engine — recall 24V-635 (from federal investigation EA23002) has dealers run a cycle test and replace the engine free if it fails. This still applies to 2022 cars, and it is the first thing to confirm on any 2.7 or 3.0. As on the 2021, the 3.0L twin-turbo can also show oil consumption and timing-chain stretch after 60,000 miles, so check the oil habit.

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, 2022 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2022 Ford Explorer

Driveline and park-system rollaway — still on the listmajor

The rear-axle-bolt fracture (23V-675) and park-system PCM recalls (23V-069, 23V-199) that defined the 2020-2021 cars extend to 2022, joined by a transmission recall for a loose internal bolt that could prevent the transmission from engaging 'Park' even when the shifter says it has (23V-070). One 2022 owner reports a 'transmission with known defects' failing at 72,000 miles. All are free recall repairs — verify each by VIN, and confirm any earlier repair wasn't superseded by a later remedy.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2022 Ford Explorer

$0

Recall repairs (23V-069, 23V-070, 23V-199, 23V-675)

Fuel-system and engine-rail recalls specific to 2022moderate

  • 2.3L EcoBoost I4

The 2022 drew a cluster of structural and fuel recalls. The fuel-filler tube can detach in a crash and leak fuel (22V-088). The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated, reducing crash protection and — in the worst case — letting a rail detach while driving; the concern was serious enough that Ford offered affected owners a vehicle replacement or buyback (22V-454). And a 2.3L fuel line may be loose from improper tightening (22V-685). All are free repairs, but 22V-454 is the one to be sure was resolved — confirm by VIN.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2022 Ford Explorer

$0

Recall repairs (22V-088, 22V-454, 22V-685)

Ten-speed automatic — the gen-6 transmission charactermoderate

  • 10-speed automatic (10R60)

The ten-speed automatic behaves as across the generation — valve-body and torque-converter glitches roughly 40,000-80,000 miles, per an independent mechanic, plus the occasional out-of-warranty failure in the complaint file. Volume is low on the 2022, but the check is the same: a diagnostic scan and a drive to feel for a downshift jerk or hesitation.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Explorer · Independent gen-6 Explorer mechanic transcript (ten-speed, 3.0L oil consumption)

under $200

Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)

several thousand, directional

Out-of-warranty transmission repair

Low-pressure fuel pump and the camera chainminor

As on the 2021, the 2022 falls under the low-pressure-fuel-pump recall (25V-455) — pump failure can stall the engine, remedied by a PCM software update — and the recurring rearview-camera recall chain (23V-022, 23V-342, and re-remedies). Both free. Confirm the fuel-pump software and the latest camera remedy were applied.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2022 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2022 Ford Explorer

$0

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

Transmission with known defects failed at 72,000 miles under normal driving — a vehicle only six years old.
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, causing engine failure. Free cycle test and engine replacement if needed (2021-2022; EA23002). Ford number 24S55.open
  2. 22V-454Engine rails may be improperly heat-treated, reducing crash protection or detaching while driving (FMVSS 208/301). Free strength test; vehicle replacement or buyback if rails need replacing. Ford number 22C13.open
  3. 22V-088Fuel-filler tube may detach in a crash and leak fuel (FMVSS 301). Free vapor-line redundant locking clip. Ford number 22C02.open
  4. 22V-6852.3L fuel line may be loose from improper tightening — leak and fire risk. Free inspection/replacement (2022 Explorer/Ranger). Ford number 22S60.open
  5. 23V-070Transmission loose bolt could prevent engaging 'Park' even when the shifter indicates Park — rollaway risk. Free inspection/replacement (2022-2023). Ford number 23S06.open
  6. 23V-675Rear-axle mounting bolt may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft. Free subframe-bushing/bolt replacement (2020-2022). Ford number 23S55.open
  7. 23V-069PCM reset (2.3L, 10R60) may damage the park system so it won't hold 'Park.' Free inspection/repair (2020-2022). Ford number 23S05.open
  8. 25V-455Low-pressure fuel pump may fail and stall the engine. Free PCM software update on Explorers (2021-2023). Ford number 25S75.open
  9. 23V-342360-degree camera video output may fail, blanking the rearview image. Free camera replacement (2020-2023). Ford number 23S23.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 — 2022 Explorer

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

23 MPG combined (20 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 44964 (Explorer RWD).
Other builds EPA lists: 4WD, 2.3L turbo 20 MPG · 4WD, 3.3L 19 MPG · RWD, 3.0L turbo 20 MPG · 4WD, 3.0L turbo 20 MPG.

$2,700/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 41% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2022–24 models, published May 2025 (report WT-24). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Explorer 4dr 10, where 100 = average.

59 vs 100

41% 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-070, 23V-199, 23V-675)$0
Recall repairs (22V-088, 22V-454, 22V-685)$0
Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)under $200
Out-of-warranty transmission repairseveral thousand, directional
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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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01On a 2.7L or 3.0L EcoBoost car, verify recall 24V-635 (intake-valve cycle test) was performed.
  2. 02Confirm the 2022 fuel/structural recalls by VIN — especially 22V-454 (engine rails, buyback-eligible), plus 22V-088 and 22V-685.
  3. 03Verify the driveline/park recalls — 23V-675 (rear-axle bolt), 23V-069/23V-199 (park system), 23V-070 (transmission park bolt).
  4. 04Get a transmission diagnostic scan and feel for a downshift jerk on the drive.
  5. 05On a 3.0L twin-turbo, check the oil-consumption habit and service records.
  6. 06Confirm the low-pressure-fuel-pump recall 25V-455 and the latest rearview-camera remedy were applied.

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