2015 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

225Engine complaints

12.9%Of all 1,748 complaints

#4Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

Unspecified / other394 · 22.5%

STEERING333 · 19.1%

STRUCTURE254 · 14.5%

ENGINE225 · 12.9%

STRUCTURE:BODY130 · 7.4%

Share of the 1,748 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2015 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2015 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AND ACCELERATING THE VEHICLE, AN EXHAUST ODOR ENTERED THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A…”NHTSA complaint 10899329 — filed 08/29/2016

“3.5L ECOBOOST, 24K MILES. UPON ATTEMPTED ACCELERATION, ENGINE DOES NOT PRODUCE FULL POWER. ENGINE LAGS SIGNIFICANTLY THEN SURGES IN BOTH RPM AND ACCELERATION. ISSUES HAS…”NHTSA complaint 10896012 — filed 08/15/2016

“MY 2015 FORD EXPLORER GIVES OFF EXHAUST GAS THAT ENTERS THE CABIN UNDER ACCELERATION TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS AND HAS MADE PASSENGERS IN MY CAR SICK…”NHTSA complaint 10894480 — filed 08/09/2016

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Ford Explorer have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2015 Ford Explorer: 225 of 1,748 complaints on file (12.9%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2015 Ford Explorer have in total?

1,748 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 36 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 95 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.