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2022 Ford Explorer: engine and transmission complaints

ELEVATED COMPLAINT SIGNAL
39%
97 of 250 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2022 Ford Explorer are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.

Better than 56% of the 1,230 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 14 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 37%).

NHTSA data checked September 13, 2026
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Drivetrain complaints
97
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
264
this model year
Fires reported
1
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
24
17 crashes · 23 injuries

Complaints by component

POWER TRAIN60 · 23%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER54 · 20%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39 · 15%
ENGINE30 · 11%
BACK OVER PREVENTION23 · 9%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM22 · 8%

The years either side

2010
44%
59 of 145
2011
16%
182 of 1,196
2012
19%
149 of 827
2013
22%
471 of 2,232
2014
23%
364 of 1,674
2015
25%
413 of 1,783
2016
31%
716 of 2,468
2017
25%
413 of 1,697
2018
24%
170 of 730
2019
23%
67 of 294
2020
52%
598 of 1,210
2021
44%
178 of 424
2022
39%
97 of 264
2023
19%
19 of 108

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

Cleaner alternatives

Same car, a better year

Other midsize SUVs with no elevated signal in 2022

The percentage is each model year's drivetrain complaint share. No elevated signal describes the model year, not any one car; a well-kept example of a flagged model can still be the right buy, and any of these still needs an inspection.

What owners reported

ENGINE05/14/2025CRASH4 INJURED
The contact owned a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that upon taking off after yielding to a stop sign, the vehicle inadvertently lost motive power in the middle of an intersection. As a result, the vehicle was struck by another vehicle on the rear driver's side door, sending the vehicle careening back through t…
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM06/29/20261 INJURED
On [XXX], at approximately [XXX] PM, my 2022 Ford Explorer suddenly lost power while driving in the left lane of [XXX] in Emporia, VA, at 70 MPH (the posted speed limit), with my [XXX] daughter. My vehicle shuddered and started to decrease in speed. I was able to maneuver safely to the shoulder, and my Explorer became …
POWER TRAIN11/21/2024CRASH1 INJURED
The contact owns a 2022 Ford Explorer. The contact stated when she was shifting the vehicle into reverse (R), and as she depressed the brake pedal, the vehicle was lunging forward. The contact stated that the failure had occurred following a routine service appointment with a local dealer. The contact stated that the f…

Three of 97 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on this model year (24)

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:FILLER PIPE AND CAP
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The fuel filler tube may detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail …
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles. The engine rails may have been improperly heat-treated. As such, these v…
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Ranger vehicles equipped with 2.3L engines. The fuel line may be loose due to improper tightening of the…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2022 Ford Explorer

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Combined across 3 body styles NHTSA files separately.