2010 Ford Explorer

Owner complaints, recalls, fuel economy and safety ratings from public NHTSA and EPA data, updated Oct 17, 2026.

Fuel economy
15–17 mpgcombined; city 13–15, highway 19–21; every version of this model year
Five years of fuel
$19,110–$21,660U.S. average; Ohio $17,070–$19,350 at local prices; every version of this model year; fuel only, not other costs of owning it; 15,000 miles a year, at EIA fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026
NHTSA overall safety rating
Not ratedlowest across the versions NHTSA tested
Recall campaigns
1over its history; check a VIN for open ones
Owner complaints
146filed with NHTSA; not adjusted for sales

Trims

NHTSA's VIN data lists these trims for the 2010 Explorer. A trim's engine and numbers are shown as its own only where EPA names versions after the trim and no other version could be it; "seen with" means a source shows that engine on the trim, not that it was the only one. Recalls and complaints cover the whole model year: whether a recall applies to a car depends on its VIN, on NHTSA's recall lookup.

Problems owners report

Owners have filed 146 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Explorer. These are unverified owner reports, counted by the part of the car they name; one complaint can name several parts. Counts aren't adjusted for how many were sold, so they don't show how reliable a car is.

Complaints by part of the car
PartComplaintsCrashesFiresInjuries
Power train35301
Seats24000
Engine16100
Vehicle speed control162010
Electrical system14010
Service brakes11603
Air bags10101
Fuel/propulsion system9110
Unknown or other9101
Service brakes, hydraulic8000
Wheels8100
Engine and engine cooling7010
9 more parts
Steering5000
Suspension5000
Electronic stability control (ESC)4000
Structure4101
Visibility3000
Exterior lighting2000
Fuel system, gasoline1000
Seat belts1000
Traction control system1000

Complaints by model year

Newer years have had less time to collect complaints, and counts aren't adjusted for sales, so a shorter bar doesn't mean a more reliable year.

  1. 2006635
  2. 2007308
  3. 2008171
  4. 200939
  5. 2010146
  6. 20111,197
  7. 2012829
  8. 20132,237
  9. 20141,680
  10. 20151,814
  11. 20162,482
  12. 20171,710
  13. 2018736
  14. 2019299
  15. 20201,240
  16. 2021453
  17. 2022271
  18. 2023113
  19. 202421
  20. 2025106
  21. 202642

Every Explorer year side by side

Recalls

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2010 Explorer over its history. Campaigns are matched by model and year, so each one may apply to a given car, and its repair may already be done: check a VIN on NHTSA's recall lookup for the open recalls on that exact car.

Seats: front assembly

NHTSA campaign 10V161000 · reported Apr 20, 2010 · 33,256 vehicles potentially affected

FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.

NHTSA's record and documents

Service bulletins and investigations

Carmakers sent NHTSA 25 service bulletins and notices that cover the 2010 Explorer, the latest on Feb 24, 2026. They tell dealers how to fix known issues.

The parts they mention most: equipment (8), power train (6), electrical system (4), service brakes (4), engine and engine cooling (3).

NHTSA defect investigations

Opening an investigation isn't a finding of a defect. Outcomes are as NHTSA's summary states them. A recall is shown as an investigation's outcome only where NHTSA's summary names it; other recalls NHTSA's file lists with it are marked as listed, not caused.

InvestigationPartOpenedStatus
Audit query AQ10001
Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit · covers 10 makes		Unknown or otherNov 18, 2010Closed Dec 28, 2015
NHTSA's record and documents

Maintenance

Oil

The owner's manual gives the oil and how often to change it. We show oil facts only once we've checked them against the manual, and we haven't yet for the 2010 Explorer.

Oil change near you: Jiffy Lube · Take 5

Used ones for sale

See used 2010 Ford Explorers for sale on: Autotrader · CarMax

These are searches on those sites; we don't copy or check their listings. Your ZIP is used for these links and never kept.

Specs

EPA class: standard pickup trucks. Each version EPA tested:

VersionEngineTransmissionFuelCity / hwy / comb
Explorer
Rear-Wheel Drive		4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 21 / 17
Explorer
Rear-Wheel Drive		4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 20 / 16
Explorer
4-Wheel Drive		4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 19 / 16
Explorer
4-Wheel Drive		4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 19 / 15
Explorer Sport Trac
Rear-Wheel Drive		4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline15 / 21 / 17
Explorer Sport Trac
Rear-Wheel Drive		4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 20 / 16
Explorer Sport Trac
4-Wheel Drive		4.6 L, 8 cylAutomatic 6-spdRegular Gasoline14 / 19 / 16
Explorer Sport Trac
4-Wheel Drive		4.0 L, 6 cylAutomatic 5-spdRegular Gasoline13 / 19 / 15

Sources and dates

Fuel cost: EPA mpg with fuel prices for the week of Oct 12, 2026 and electricity prices for Jul 2026. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration (Oct 2026). Complaints are unverified reports owners filed with NHTSA. About the data