2017 Ford Explorer Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 11/01/2026

241Engine complaints

14.1%Of all 1,704 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

STRUCTURE376 · 22.1%

Unspecified / other373 · 21.9%

STRUCTURE:BODY262 · 15.4%

ENGINE241 · 14.1%

POWER TRAIN116 · 6.8%

Share of the 1,704 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“SMELL OF EGG/SULFUR IN THE CABIN OF THE CAR AFTER RAPID ACCELERATION. I HAD NOTIFIED THE DEALERSHIP AT MY LAST OIL CHANGE. THEY DIDN'T SEEM…”NHTSA complaint 11035999 — filed 10/23/2017

“MY 2017 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH BASE 3.5 V6 HAS BEEN HARD TO START FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. IT HAS LESS THAN 5000…”NHTSA complaint 11035816 — filed 10/23/2017

“THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE DRIVING AT AN UNKNOWN SPEED, CARBON MONOXIDE EMITTED THROUGH THE VENTS IN THE VEHICLE. THE DRIVER BECAME…”NHTSA complaint 11035162 — filed 10/20/2017

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

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have engine problems?

Engine is the #4 most-reported problem area on the 2017 Ford Explorer: 241 of 1,704 complaints on file (14.1%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Ford Explorer have in total?

1,704 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 11/01/2026. Across all categories, 34 involved a crash, 11 involved a fire, 51 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 11/01/2026.