There are 9 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2010 Ford Explorerin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
Oil leak in both valve gasket covers oil on the crossmember it started slow then it was traced by Ford to the gaskets(fire hazard) 120 k on odometer
Runs for about 25 minutes then just dies while driving. Starts back after sits for about an hr and does same thing.
CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CODE WAS P0106 AND P0401. I DISCOVERED PLASTIC TUBING FAILED BY BREAKING (DISINTEGRATING REALLY), ALL IN THE VICINITY OF A PART THAT I SUSPECT CONTROLS THOSE FUNCTIONS. THE PART IS A HARNESS WITH 4 OF THESE PLASTIC TUBES THAT CONNECT TO VARIOUS PLACES. THE FACT THAT THEY ARE DISINTEGRATING INDICATES THE WRONG MATERIALS ARE USED. FORD MOTOR COMPANY SHOULD HAVE THIS ISSUE ADDRESSED AS A RECALL FOR DEFECTIVE MATERIALS. I HAVE SAMPLES OF THE TUBING THAT SURVIVED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. WHEN STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT AND ATTEMPTING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE, THE FRONT END MADE AN UNUSUAL NOISE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A CERTIFIED MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE VALVE SPRING FRACTURED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE ENGINE FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE; HOWEVER, THE MANUFACTURER WAS WILLING TO PAY A PORTION OF THE REPAIR AND BUILD THE ENGINE. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 50 MPH AND DISENGAGING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS ABLE TO RESTART AND THE CHECK ENGINE WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 40,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 70 MPH, THE VEHICLE STALLED AND FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE SERPENTINE BELT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000.
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT 35 MPH, THE ENTIRE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, WHERE THE ENGINE WAS TURNED OFF FAILED TO RESTART. THE VEHICLE HAD TO BE JUMP STARTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE TECHNICIAN DIAGNOSED THAT THE ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.
THE ENGINE SHUT DOWN AT ONLY 14,000 MILES.THERE WAS NO WARNING IT JUST SHUT DOWN. THE DEALERSHIP THAT REPLACED THE ENGINE TOLD ME THERE WAS A SAFETY NOTICE SENT TO DEALERSHIPS BUT THEY DID NOT HAVE TO TELL CONSUMERS. FORD KNOWS SPECIFIC ENGINES THAT COULD BE AFFECTED BECAUSE THEY WERE MANUFACTURED AT SPECIFIC PLANTS BUT HAVE NOT CONTACTED ANYONE. I WAS VERY LUCKY THAT DAY AND DID NOT TAKE THE HIGHWAY BUT A SIDE ROAD INSTEAD. I HAD MY 2 TODDLERS IN THE CAR WITH ME AND COULD HAVE CAUSED A MAJOR DEADLY ACCIDENT. *TR
PULLING OUT OF DRIVEWAY APPLIED BRAKES AND CAR KEPT ACCELERATING. APPLIED MORE BRAKE PUT CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RPM SHOT UP OVER 7000. TURNED OFF ENGINE, AND RE-STARTED ENGINE AND CALLED FORD. CAR WAS TOOLED TO FORD, CHECKED AND NO PROBLEMS FOUND. WAS GIVEN FORD SERVICE BULLITEN ABOUT STICKING LINKAGE ON NEW VEHICLES. 03/07/2011 12000 MILES ONCE AGAIN WHILE DRIVING THRU PARKING LOT AT 3 TO 5 MPH APPLIED BRAKES FOR PEDESTRIAN AND ONCE ENGINE ACCELERATED AND HAD TO APPLY HEAVY BRAKING AND PUT IN NEUTRAL TURN OFF BUT THIS TIME WOULD NOT RESTART FOR ABOUT 5 MIN. CALLED FORD DEALER AND WAS TO CALL FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 25, 2026