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CarComplaints.com Notes: After a half-decade of major transmission problems, Ford seems to have solved all the major defects with the Explorer.

We are happy to say that both the CarComplaints.com & the NHTSA data indicate no problems whatsoever with the 2010 Ford Explorer.

10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
2 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
10 / 50
Average Mileage:
14,121 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.

So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.

2010 Ford Explorer engine problems

engine problem

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2010 Ford Explorer Owner Comments

problem #14

Aug 122015

Explorer

  • 36,500 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

I have been noticing that when I am on the higjway driving it feels like there is a increase of acceleration when I am going speeds of 55 mph - 60mph. Even when I have tapped the brake, there is still a little increase of speed. On August 12, 2015 at approxiamtely 5:30pm, was driving at speeds of 10mph while turning a corner. I had my foot on the brake when I turned but my truck would not stop and it actually tried to override my braking and accelerated to the point where I felt like I was no longer in control of the vehicle. After 2 jolts of acceleration (while my foot was on the brake), it finally stopped. I am on my way to the dealer right now to get this resolved.

- Capitol Heights, MD, USA

problem #13

Nov 302010

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 1,200 miles
Bought car from bates Ford in lebanon, tn new. Within the first 1500 mile I experienced at least one incident where I tried to stop but the vehicle continued to accelerate. The car has about 36000 miles now and both my wife and I have had numerous incidents of this the last resulted in a traffic accident in plano, Texas. There were 3 vehicles involved.the plano, Texas police officer who drove the car to a safe location found no problem with the brakes. Early in my career I was a police officer whose specialty was traffic investigation. I heard similar explainations for accident and in perhaps one fatal accident found that a brake line ruputured contributing to the accident cause. This acceleration when braking in a sudden stop has happened to both my wife and I numerouse times in 36,000 miles and I have checked the brakes more than once finding no problem with the brakes. I learned from a body shop employee at sam pack who related that he had heard this same complaint before includining from a family member. I believe that what is really happening is that drivers with this feature step on both the gas pedal and the brake. In a panic situation I believe that drivers are stepping on both pedals due to settings that allow the gas pedal to overide the brake or diminish the effectiveness of stopping distance. I can duplicate this effect and think that it is a design flaw that occurs thousands of times each day, has surely resulted in many accidents and possibly deaths.I do not believe this is a brake problem and service departments dismiss the complaints when they find no problems with the brakes. This is a design and safety issue that needs to be addressed by Ford.

- Lewisville, TX, USA

problem #12

Jan 192012

Explorer 4WD 8-cyl

  • 52,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the engine rpms increased when decelerating at low speeds or when reversing during cold weather. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where a diagnostic was performed but to no avail. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 52,000 and the current mileage was 62,000. The consumer has since traded the vehicle. Updated 02/18/114

- Factoryville , PA, USA

problem #11

Feb 132013

Explorer 6-cyl Diesel

  • 22,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The cruise control intermittently engages when it is turned off and the car speeds up, when the brake is pressed it shuts off momentarily then re-engages itself. It happens at any speed and there is no rhyme or reason for why it happens. Ford has been unable to resolve the issue on 4 different occasions over the past month.

- Voorhees, NJ, USA

problem #10

Sep 012011

Explorer

  • 26,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while attempting to stop, there was an increase in the engine rpms and the vehicle lunged forward. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 26,000 and the current mileage was 35,700.

- Danvers, MA, USA

problem #9

Jan 212012

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 26,400 miles
My wife and I were leaving our local walmart store and we were driving in the parking lot. We were going down a hill at approximately 10 mph and my foot was covering the brake and was not on the accelerator. Suddenly the car accelerated rapidly with the motor racing. I immediately pressed the brake with both feet and stopped the vehicle but this sudden acceleration caused the car to travel approximately 50 feet. In another 30 feet the car would have gone off a high embankment. I am an experienced driver of 43 years without an accident and a trained and experienced driver education teacher, however, I was frightened by this sudden acceleration and my wife remarked that she would have not been able to stop the vehicle and would have been down the embankment. I took the car to the dealership and nothing was found. I am currently driving the car but are greatly concerned about the safety of the vehicle.

- Laurens, SC, USA

problem #8

Nov 142011

Explorer

  • miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

Incident has happened 4 times. Car is in drive and moving forward. When moving foot to apply brake and pushing down on brake pedal the gas pedal is also engaged causing the car to have the brake and gas applied at the same time. The harder I push on the brake the more gas is given to the engine. Since the car is already moving forward, removing my foot from the brake will let the car move forward. The first time this happened I was approaching a red light. Only by putting the car in neutral was I able to control the situation. I took the car to the dealership as I thought there was a mechanical problem. They could find nothing wrong. It was only after the 2nd time this happened I realized I was applying the brake and gas at the same time. Even though I am aware this can happen, it happened again in my driveway and at the local post office. The real problem is getting your foot off the brake while the car is moving forward and then back on the brake before you Ram into something. So far so good. Others may not be as lucky.

- Prescott, AZ, USA

problem #7

Aug 192011

Explorer

  • miles
2010 Ford Mountaineer stopping at a red light, putting the brake on and the car would not stop. The engine was revving and had to take it out of gear to stop the car.

- Cranston, RI, USA

problem #6

Jun 202010

Explorer 6-cyl

  • Automatic transmission
  • 5,000 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle suddenly accelerated on its own. He had to quickly depress the brake pedal and shift into neutral gear in order to gain control of the vehicle. On one occasion, the wheels spun as the vehicle tried to move forward with the contacts foot on the brake pedal. The failure occurred approximately ten times. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer several times who could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle had not been repaired. The contact called the manufacturer who stated that they would send someone to inspect the vehicle. The current mileage was 16,694. The failure mileage was approximately 5,000. Updated 06/24/11 updated 06/30/11

- Moulton, AL, USA

problem #5

Mar 202011

Explorer

  • 800 miles
The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle experienced an increased stopping distance while braking at low speeds. The contact also stated during one of the failures, the vehicle surged forward momentarily when the brakes were applied. The vehicle surged momentarily before experiencing an increased stopping distance. The vehicle was taken to an authorized dealer twice. An unknown repair was performed after the first visit to the authorized dealer but the failure continued. The failure mileage was 800 and the current mileage was 3,200.

- Passaic, NJ, USA

problem #4

Aug 282010

Explorer

  • 12,000 miles

A D V E R T I S E M E N T S

The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. While driving at less than 5 mph the contact applied the brakes. Yet, the vehicle surged forward. The vehicle crashed into a building causing front end damage. There were no injuries. The vehicle was not towed because it was still able to be driven. The dealer had not been contacted and there have been no repairs. A police report is available. The failure and the current mileages were 12000.

- Morrison, TN, USA

problem #3

Aug 102010

Explorer

  • 6,900 miles
2010 Ford Explorer limited with adjustable pedals. The brake and gas pedals are too close together. When I stepped on the brake my foot contacted the accelerator pedal and the engine accelerated. When the brake is fully depressed it is below the level of the accelerator pedal. If the foot is not fully on the brake pedal, it contacts the accelerator and the car jumps forward.

- Jeffersonton, VA, USA

problem #2

May 152010

Explorer

  • 1,290 miles
My 2010 Ford Explorer jump forward while sitting still with my foot on the brake. It had happen twice. May 15,2010 and May 17,2010.

- Sikeston, MO, USA

problem #1

Apr 212010

Explorer

  • 7,600 miles
Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) stuck accelerator pedal. While driving at approx. 35 mph attempted to stop at red light. Brakes were not holding much like you would experience after driving in wet weather. Weather conditions were dry. Pressing harder activated the anti-lock system and eventually stopped into the middle of intersection. Near T-bone accident. Engine continued to over rev until placed into neutral and turning key into off position. Restarted fine, but had pulsing speed like a surging feeling. VIN: [xxx] - avis rental

- Chesapeake, VA, USA

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