Model year guide

2015 Ford Explorer

Recalls, most-reported problems, crash-test ratings, fuel economy and what a 2015 Ford Explorer is worth — from official NHTSA and EPA data. 351 on record.

2015 Ford Explorer — representative photo
Representative photo · via Wikimedia Commons

2015 Ford Explorer at a glance

Safety recalls9
Owner complaints1,753
Overall safety5 / 5 ★
Combined20 mpg
Typical price$29,668

Free: specs, open recalls for that exact car, build sheet and fair price.

2015 Ford Explorer recalls 9

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #19V435000 · 10/06/2019

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2017 Explorer vehicles. The rear suspension toe links may fracture due to stress on the rear suspension.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, and inspect both rear toe link ball joints, replacing the rear wheel knuckle(s), if necessary, free of charge. The recall began June 26, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's numbe…

Wheels:hub NHTSA Campaign #17E048000 · 28/08/2017

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain Wheel Hub Bearing assemblies, part number HB5Z-1104-C, incorrectly listed as being for installation on the rear axles of 2011-2017 Ford Explorer 4X2 vehicles. These bearings assemblies were manufactured without a self retention feature, possibly resulting in the separation of the wheel or wheel end.

Fix: Ford will notify the distributors of the hubs specifying that they are to only be used on drive axles. It is believed that none of the hubs were purchased from Ford dealers for the incorrect application. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332.

Parking Brake NHTSA Campaign #15V464000 · 24/07/2015

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Ford Flex, and Lincoln MKS vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015, Lincoln MKT vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 21, 2015, and 2015-2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured May 4, 2015, to May 23, 2015. The affected vehicles have a parking brake that may not fully engage when applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comp…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will test the operation of the parking brake system, and if necessary, replace the parking brake control assembly, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall …

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #16V245000 · 26/04/2016

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured January 17, 2014 to May 31, 2014. The affected vehicles may have improperly welded rear suspension toe links that may fracture.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. The recall began on November 18, 2016. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 16S18.

Power Train:axle Assembly:axle Shaft NHTSA Campaign #20V692000 · 10/11/2020

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Explorer, 2014-2015 Taurus and 2014 Edge vehicles equipped with 2.0L or 2.3L engines and front wheel drive. The support bracket for the front drive axle halfshaft may fail.

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the link shaft bracket, free of charge. Parts are not currently available. Owners received an interim notification detailing safety risk December 8, 2020. A second letter will be mailed when parts become available in January 2021. The recall bega…

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #21V537000 · 15/07/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, and the District of Columbia. Exposure to road salt can cause the …

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace as necessary, the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle, and replace the rear suspension toe links, free of charge. This recall is an expansion of previous NHTSA recall numbers 16V-245, 19V-435, and 20V-675. Certain vehicles previously repaired will need to return …

Suspension:rear NHTSA Campaign #20V675000 · 12/03/2021

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2017 Explorer vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin that were previously repaired unde…

Fix: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the cross-axis ball joint (CABJ) knuckle attached to the rear suspension toe link and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began November 27, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this …

Structure:body:roof And Pillars NHTSA Campaign #24V031000 · 19/01/2024

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2011-2019 Explorer vehicles. The A-pillar trim retention clips may not be properly engaged, allowing the trim to detach.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the A-pillar trim as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model years. Owner notification letters were mailed between July 18, 2024 and December 16, 2025. Owners may contact Ford c…

Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera NHTSA Campaign #25V695000 · 13/10/2025

Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Flex, 2015 Explorer, Lincoln MKT, Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 C-Max, Escape, Taurus, 2016 Fusion, 2018-2019 Taurus, 2019 Lincoln MKT, Fiesta, and 2020 Mustang vehicles. The rearview camera may display a distorted, intermittent, or blank image when the vehicle is in reverse.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the rearview camera as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed on October 25, 2025. Additional l…

Source: U.S. NHTSA. A recall applies to a model year, but only a VIN check shows whether a specific car has had the repair done.

2015 Ford Explorer common problems

The most-reported problem areas from 1,753 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — and what to check before you buy.

Back Over Prevention
Have a trusted mechanic inspect this system as part of a pre-purchase inspection.
Steering
Steering should be tight and centered — no play, clunks or wandering. Test at low and highway speed; listen for power-steering whine.
Power Train
Drive through every gear: watch for slipping, hard or delayed shifts, and shudder. Check for transmission/driveline leaks and noises.
Electrical System
Test every electrical feature: windows, locks, infotainment, charging and all lights. Watch for flickering, dead accessories or warning lights.
Structure
Inspect for rust, fresh undercoating, mismatched paint, uneven panel gaps and any sign of prior collision or frame repair.

2015 Ford Explorer safety ratings

Overall★★★★★
Frontal crash★★★★★
Side crash★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★

Source: NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings (NCAP), tested as the 2015 Ford Explorer 4 DR SUV AWD. Ratings can differ by body style and drivetrain.

2015 Ford Explorer MPG & running costs

Combined20 mpg
City17 mpg
Highway24 mpg
Est. annual fuel cost$3,125

Source: U.S. EPA / DOE fueleconomy.gov, averaged across trims.

What's a 2015 Ford Explorer worth?

Low
$17,995
Typical price
$29,668
High
$36,700

From 338 comparable 2015 Ford Explorer listings.

Estimated 5-year cost to own

A rough guide to what running a 2015 Ford Explorer costs over five years and 75,000 miles.

Fuel (5 yrs)$15,625
Depreciation (5 yrs)$17,200
Total$32,825
Per mile$0.44

How this is estimated: fuel is the U.S. EPA annual cost at 15,000 miles a year. Depreciation compares today's typical asking price for this model year ($29,668) with the same model 5 model-years older ($12,464), from CarLogs listing data. Not included: insurance, maintenance, repairs, taxes, registration and finance costs. Treat it as a comparison guide, not a quote.

2015 Ford Explorer trims & engines on record

Trims
Limited · Sport · XLT · Base · Police
Engines
3.5L 6-cyl 290 hp · 3.5L 6-cyl 365 hp · 3.7L 6-cyl 304 hp · 2.0L 4-cyl 240 hp

2015 Ford Explorer vehicles on record

Other Ford Explorer model years

2015 Ford Explorer — frequently asked questions

Does the 2015 Ford Explorer have any safety recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls for the 2015 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

What are the most common problems with the 2015 Ford Explorer?

Based on 1,753 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the most-reported problem areas are back over prevention, steering, power train.

What is the 2015 Ford Explorer safety rating?

NHTSA gives the 2015 Ford Explorer an overall crash-test rating of 5 out of 5 stars (frontal 5★, side 5★, rollover 4★).

What gas mileage does the 2015 Ford Explorer get?

The U.S. EPA rates the 2015 Ford Explorer at about 20 mpg combined (17 city / 24 highway).

How much is a 2015 Ford Explorer worth?

Comparable 2015 Ford Explorer listings run roughly $17,995–$36,700, typically around $29,668 (from 338 vehicles).

Sources: NHTSA (recalls, complaints, crash tests), U.S. EPA (fuel economy). Vehicle data only — CarLogs never shows owner information.