50 complaints reported

2021 Ford Explorer UNKNOWN OR OTHER

Owner-reported problems and safety issues filed with NHTSA. Review common failures, severity levels, and complaint trends over time.

Reports
50
Crashes
1
Fires
0
Injuries
0

Complaint Timeline

Chronological view of owner reports

Jul 2026

The sunroof shade cover has become unattached to the rollers on the sunroof track. This causes sagging of the sunroof sunshade, and limits visibility while driving.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2025
Feb 2026

The drivers side door latch mechanism malfunctions and causes the door to unlatch or does not allow the door to latch. This is a safety hazard. I know two other ford owners with vehicles after 2021 that is having this same issue. This calls for a recall!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2026
Jan 2026

Sun roof fabric/covering came off tracks and is now sagging. Many forums on this issue. When driving if windows are down, the fabric flaps in the wind and sounds like it will fly off. I no longer drive with the windows down. If it continues to sag, could obstruct rear view.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2026
Dec 2025

The sliding roof mechanism for the sunroof failed and droops into the backseat impairing vision. This can be triggered accidentally while driving causing zero rear visibility. This is part of the sun roof that is the shade keeping the sun out of the car. With extremely little use on my 2021 ford explorer this mechanism has failed causing this dangerous malfunction. I found may posts in Facebook describing this same issue. [XXX] There’s just one example of many people having this issue. There’s component was taken to the Ford dealership where I was provided a verbal quote of more than $4,000 to fix, which is not feasible. There were no warning signs. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2025
Dec 2025

The sunroof shade is sagging. It broke from one day to the next, and it’s blocking my rear view.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2025
Dec 2025

I bought the car brand new in 2021. It handled great, no issues, not even on extremely icy roads. The temporary fix for Recall 22S27 was done in July 2023 which was just a computer flash to set the park brake each time the car was put into park. Each time I put it in gear the car would make a loud noise as the park brake released. I immediately felt a difference when driving, it felt like the front end was "floating" and the car wasn't holding to the road. On dry roads it would be unstable if the road wasn't perfectly smooth. Driving in the winter on icy roads was scary, no control, it would fish back and forth. They performed the actual fix recall 23S55 in May 2024. They did not remove the temporary fix that sets the park brake. In January 2025 I was in a flat parking lot, icy and raining, I had NO control. There were 5 mornings with those road conditions that I couldn't make it 1/8 of a mile. Absolutely no control, it pushed me all over the road and when I braked, it continued to push me all over the road. It never showed warning lights on my dash. My local dealership pulled codes, told me it was a park brake module code but they couldn't do anything until they could duplicate it. I have spent the last 9 months arguing with the dealership and winter is almost here with no help, they treat me like I'm crazy and told me that I'm the only person in the world with this problem. I just traded it off yesterday, lost a bunch of money, but I couldn't go through another winter with it. It's way too dangerous!

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2025
Nov 2025

SUNROOF SHADE HAS FALLEN OFF TRACKS WHILE DRIVING

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jan 2025
Oct 2025

When operating the sunshade a plastic clip sprung from the assembly mechanism that retracts the shade towards my face. Now the shade is obstructing my vision of the road and I am concerned that I am going to run over someone and/or something.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2025
Oct 2025

Sunshade cover for sunroof malfunctioned and it hangs down causing a visibility issue as it obstructs the view from the rear view mirror. After doing a search on Reddit and the Ford forum, it seems to be a common issue. My vehicle only has 35,000 miles on it and this should not be happening.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Oct 2025
Sep 2025

I bought my 2021 ford explorer limited brand new. I have never used the sunroof for my personal pleasure. I have opened it less than a handful of times, only to appease my grandson. The other day, I had my grandaon and I closed the sunroof, for maybe like the 4th time ever, and the sunshade liner started to sag. If this falls while I am driving I am afraid it may blind my driving. Should FORD have to pay for this defect? I am seeing forums all over the internet where this is happening to a lot of owners. Thanks for your time and help.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2025
Sep 2025

Sun roof clips broke causing sunroof shade to sag

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Sep 2025
Aug 2025

Sunroof shade won't open and bind down covering the rear mirror view

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2025
Aug 2025

FOR THE PAST YEAR AND A HALD I HAVE TAKEN MY VEHICLE TO FORD IN ONTARIO BECAUSE IT HAS HAD NUMEROUS INCIDENTS THAT I AM AT A LIGHT AND THE VEHICLE COMPLETY SHUTS OFF. WHEN I HAVE TAKEN IT IN THEY RETURN IT STATING THAT NOTHING ID WRONG WITH THE CAR. THIS MONTH ALONE IT HAS HAPPENNED ATLEATT 5 TIMES. LATEST ONE BEING THIS MORNING ON MY WAY TO WORK. IT SHUT OFF LUCKYLY I AM GETTING FASTER AT 1ST PRESSING ON MY HAZARDS AND THEN RESUMING THE ENGINE AND TAKING OFF THE PARKING BRAKE I AM IN FEAR OF BEING IN A COLLISION. I CALLED DEALER TODAY THEY SAID ALL THEY CAN DO IS KEEP THE CAR AGAIN FOR SEVERAL DAYS BUT IF NOTHING IS FOUND AGAIN I HAVE TO PAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR OUT OF POCKET. THIS IS CRAZY AS MY SELF AND MY FAMILY ARE AT RISK EVERY TIME THE CAR SHUTS OFF WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED NOT TO HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED. THERE ARE NO WARNING LAMPS THAT TURN ON.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2025
Aug 2025

The auto/stop start system is malfunctioning. When I stop at a stop sign, or to turn left, the vehicle stops, but then does not turn on again when I press the gas pedal. Instead, I have to place the car in park and manually restart the engine. This has happened four times over a 2-month period. Sometimes it takes me 30 seconds to turn the car back on. This is harrowing when I am suddenly stuck in the middle of the road. I took my vehicle to the Ford Dealership after it happened three times. They had my vehicle for 3 weeks but could not find anything wrong, and the incident did not happen again. I’ve had my vehicle back for 6 days, and it happened again today at a stop sign. Suddenly, there was a message on my screen to place my car in park and restart the engine. There were many other cars waiting for me to turn.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Aug 2025
Aug 2025

I was driving and pressed the button to open my sunroof (which has a powered sunshade) but the sunshade dropped down on top of the 2nd row seats, blocking my view through my rear view mirror and rear window completely. I made an appointment with my Ford dealer the next day. The dealer had my vehicle for over 30 days waiting for parts to fix the tensioner system that pulls the powered sunshade back in order for the sunroof to open. I've seen in multiple forums online that this has happened to a lot of other people that has this option on their Ford Explorers (2020-2024) models. This was definitely a safety hazard as I was unable to see anything behind me while I was moving and luckily I didn't panic. I pulled over slowly to the soft shoulder in order to try and get the sunshade to at least go back to it's "closed" state which it finally did after trying for a few minutes. I think Ford needs to make this a recall because of the safety issues of this blocking the view of the driver.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Apr 2025
Jul 2025

Panoramic sunroof fail for 2nd time repair is close to 2000$ I’m not going to paid again this is a ford design issue not a owner fault Panoramic roof have some plastic click that hold the shade and they got brake or damage by itself causing the shade felt, ford rapair is close to 1.8k$ I paid one when I first bought the car now after the Texas freeze when I was closing the system I heard the clicks braking and then we have the same issue with the panoramic shade got weak and there is no way to fixed just the deal and the price is close to 2000$ for a internal design there is several people with this same issue this is a internal fault design not a owner fault

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jul 2025
Jul 2025

Sunshade is sagging. For the 2nd time.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Dec 1969
May 2025

The rear axle bolt snapped. Causing the differential to fall out and rear wheel axles and driveshaft to break out of position.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2025
May 2025

Center console cup holder base failure causing items to fall through and into the interior of the console. My key fob fell through the bottom and required nearly an hour to be retrieved. The problem is persistent with anything placed into the cup holder. This issue is common and well documented on forums and social media.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2024
Apr 2025

The electronic sunshade that covers the panoramic sunroof has malfunctioned and cannot be retracted fully. The sagging sun shade covers the rear window and blocks the view. I have taken it to the dealership for repair, but it is not covered under my extended warranty and is around $2000.00 to repair out of pocket. The dealership charged a $199.99 diagnostic fee to ascertain that it was the sunroof shade that had broken. There were no symptoms or warnings before this happened.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: May 2025
Mar 2025

Car has a delay when going into reverse & will move forward while in reverse then jerks into reverse. Also has a delay in going into drive from reverse. Not safe to back out into the road or doing a 3 point turn because of the delays. It happens all the time so the incident happens every day for me.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2025
Mar 2025

When vehicle is in reverse, the car still moves forward. Dealership said there is no fix. I was almost hit the other day because I couldn’t reverse quick enough.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Nov 2025
Mar 2025

Panaromic sunroof blind became lose and is sagging, causing an unsafe driving experience, making it difficult to see out rear view mirrors.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Mar 2025
Feb 2025

I purchased my Explorer used last March. The window switches, on driver and passenger sides (front seats and rear seats) have the black metal pieces peeling off the switch. Metal pieces are sharp and I continue to cut my fingers on them. The dealer shows the recall did not affect my car, yet they are all in need of replacement. My vehicle has faulty window switches and I am asking Ford to replace them under recall or warranty.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Feb 2025
Feb 2025

Backup camera has failed again aftyer being programmed twice and replaced once under recall's. But now it's out completely. It has worked off and on since new.

Type: Vehicle, Vehicle: 2021 FORD EXPLORER, Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company
Incident: Jun 2025

Trend Over Time

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Quick Summary

The 2021 Ford Explorer has 50 UNKNOWN OR OTHER complaints on file. 1 crashes have been reported. Review the timeline above for detailed owner experiences.