Ford Explorer 6
Weaknesses, engine ratings and buying advice
The sixth-generation Explorer (U625) was an all-new car: Ford abandoned the front-drive crossover layout and switched to a rear-drive-based platform — a smarter recipe on paper, undermined by a genuinely troubled launch. Early build quality was poor and the recall list is long. The biggest buying warning is to treat recall history as the price of entry: this generation has had recalls for rear-axle bolts, a driveshaft that can separate, a strut-to-knuckle fastener (24V091), an easy-entry seat that can unlatch (25V393), and a rear-view camera that goes blue or black — among others. Buy only a car with every open recall closed, and verify it on a VIN check rather than the seller's word. Mechanically, the 10-speed automatic has suffered outright failures, not just shudder — a major, expensive risk on neglected examples. The electric brake booster can fail, compromising braking. The AWD driveline brings back the familiar PTU and RDU weak points. Window regulators fail repeatedly, the climate control and blend-door actuators misbehave, and the brake rotors warp. Seatback latches have been found missing a pawl, and the infotainment system is laggy even when it works. The good news: the platform underneath is fundamentally better than the U502's, with sharper handling and a more honest SUV feel, and later build years ironed out many early gremlins. That makes model year a real factor — the earliest cars carry the most teething trouble. Buying tips: prioritize a later-build example and run the VIN to confirm every recall — the axle, driveshaft, strut fastener, seat, and camera recalls are all safety-critical. On the test drive, check brake feel for a failing booster, work every window several times, cycle the climate across all settings, and confirm the camera and infotainment behave. Ask for transmission service history; the 10-speed is the one component that can write off the car. A sorted, later Explorer VI is a strong, comfortable three-row SUV.
400 PS
Explorer ST · Benzin
Family muscle car
Legendary!Generations
Engine Overview
The Ford Explorer 6 is available with 4 engine variants — from 273 to 457 hp.
2.3L turbocharged four-cylinder EcoBoost. Makes 280 hp in the large SUV first generation (2016-2019), 300 hp in the successor (2020+), and 270 hp in the pickup (2019-2024). Head gasket remains the primary concern — the manufacturer redesigned the block in 2020, replacing open coolant slots with drilled passages. Pickup applications are less affected than early sports car and hot hatch blocks. Check intake valve carbon deposits every 50,000-60,000 miles.
- !! Head gasket failure from 60,000 km
The most common and expensive 2.3L EcoBoost failure. The slotted groove block design (2015-2019) gives the head gasket insufficient sealing surface. Ford redesigned the block for 2020 with cross-drilled passages — failure rate dropped significantly.
Symptoms: Engine overheating, rapid coolant loss without visible leaks, white exhaust smoke, bubbling in coolant reservoir. - !! Turbo wastegate failure from 80,000 km
Wastegate clip or mechanism fails, boost pressure is no longer properly regulated. Can cause overboosting or power loss. Ford TSBs 16-0121 and 16-0122 address the problem.
Symptoms: Boost fluctuations, boost pressure warning, power loss under load, metallic rattling from turbo area. - !! Low-pressure fuel pump failure – recall 25S75/25V455 from 40,000 km
Internal jet-pump contamination makes the in-tank low-pressure pump overheat and fail in warm-tank, low-fuel conditions. The engine loses fuel pressure and stalls without warning. Recall covers 850,000+ vehicles (model years 2021–2023).
Symptoms: Sudden engine stall with no warning, part-throttle stumble, hesitation after restart, intermittent reduced-power mode, worst in hot weather with a low tank.
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Twin-turbo V6 with direct injection and strong, even power delivery. The six-cylinder pushes confidently from any situation while staying refined. Boost pressure and the cooling system want watching, and clean oil is essential for both turbochargers. Direct injection can promote deposits over time. Robust with good care and a commanding, torque-rich drive.
- !! Twin-Turbo System Wear from 140,000 km
The 3.0 EcoBoost V6 BQWA uses two turbochargers that wear quickly in poor oil conditions or at long service intervals. Oil changes every 10,000 km are critical for turbo longevity.
Symptoms: Boost pressure fluctuations, whistling from one or both turbos, bluish smoke - !! Head Gasket Failed — Coolant Loss from 60,000 km
The 1.5 EcoBoost (Focus, Kuga from 2014) shows a concentration of head gasket failures from a design-related weak point: narrow coolant passages between cylinders increase thermal stress on the gasket.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant without visible leak, overpressure in coolant reservoir, white exhaust smoke with coolant smell, temperature gauge spike - !! Timing Chain Rattle from 150,000 km
The 3.0L EcoBoost V6 BQWA (S-Max Vignale, Mondeo Vignale) can develop wear on the timing chain tensioner at high mileages. Rattling on cold start is the typical warning sign.
Symptoms: Metallic rattle on cold start from the timing chain area, stops after warm-up
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
3.3L V6 Cyclone with integrated electric motor and 1.5 kWh lithium-ion battery. Combined output 318 hp (237 kW). Self-charging full hybrid, no plug-in. Shares the internal water pump design of all Cyclone V6 engines — watch for coolant loss at high mileage. Separate cooling loops for engine, battery, and power electronics.
- !! Internal water pump (Cyclone design) from 100,000 km
The 3.3L V6 hybrid shares the Cyclone base design with its internally mounted water pump. Additional complexity from three separate cooling loops (engine, battery, power electronics). Failure of one electric pump can cause overheating.
Symptoms: Coolant loss, overheating warning, reduced hybrid system performance. - !! Recall: connecting-rod bearing failure / block breach (fire risk) from 80,000 km
NHTSA recall 24V-598: on 2020–2022 Explorer Police Interceptor with 3.3 hybrid and gas engines a rod bearing can fail, the rod can punch through the block, and oil/fuel vapor can ignite on hot parts. Ford updates PCM software and inspects, replacing the long block if needed.
Symptoms: Knocking noise from the engine, sudden loss of power, smoke from under the hood, oil leak. - !! Hybrid battery degradation from 80,000 km
The 1.5 kWh battery undergoes multiple charge-discharge cycles per trip. Noticeable capacity loss around 50,000 miles — city fuel economy drops from 27 to 22-24 MPG. Expected battery lifespan around 120,000 miles before replacement.
Symptoms: Rising fuel consumption, shorter electric driving portions, hybrid system warning on dashboard.
+ 2 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Twin-turbo V6 with direct injection and strong, even power delivery. The six-cylinder pushes confidently from any situation while staying refined. Boost pressure and the cooling system want watching, and clean oil is essential for both turbochargers. Direct injection can promote deposits over time. Robust with good care and a commanding, torque-rich drive.
- !! Twin-Turbo System Wear from 140,000 km
The 3.0 EcoBoost V6 BQWA uses two turbochargers that wear quickly in poor oil conditions or at long service intervals. Oil changes every 10,000 km are critical for turbo longevity.
Symptoms: Boost pressure fluctuations, whistling from one or both turbos, bluish smoke - !! Head Gasket Failed — Coolant Loss from 60,000 km
The 1.5 EcoBoost (Focus, Kuga from 2014) shows a concentration of head gasket failures from a design-related weak point: narrow coolant passages between cylinders increase thermal stress on the gasket.
Symptoms: Dropping coolant without visible leak, overpressure in coolant reservoir, white exhaust smoke with coolant smell, temperature gauge spike - !! Timing Chain Rattle from 150,000 km
The 3.0L EcoBoost V6 BQWA (S-Max Vignale, Mondeo Vignale) can develop wear on the timing chain tensioner at high mileages. Rattling on cold start is the typical warning sign.
Symptoms: Metallic rattle on cold start from the timing chain area, stops after warm-up
+ 3 more engine weaknesses + vehicle weaknesses
Vehicle Weaknesses
| Weakness | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Recall: Rear axle bolt can fracture (2018-2020) Ford recalled over 250,000 Explorers worldwide (model years 2018–2020). A rear axle mounting bolt could fracture, leading to a risk of rolling away and loss of control. A software update and mechanical reinforcement were the fix. Symptoms: Loud noises and vibrations when accelerating, vehicle rolls away despite being in Park. | Low | |
| Recall: Propshaft can separate (2022-2023) Ford recalled Explorer vehicles of model years 2020–2021 (NHTSA 23V675000) because the propshaft mounting bolts could loosen and the shaft could separate from the drivetrain — resulting in loss of drive and a risk of rolling away. Symptoms: Vibrations and heavy noises from the drivetrain, sudden loss of drive, vehicle rolls away despite being in Park. | Low | |
| Exhaust CO Leak into Passenger Cabin (2011–2017) Exhaust gases can enter the cabin. Over 2,700 NHTSA complaints, police interceptors particularly affected. NHTSA investigation closed without recall — Ford offered voluntary sealing measures. Symptoms: Headaches, dizziness, exhaust smell inside cabin | Low | |
| Recall: Rollaway Risk from Rear Axle Bolts (22V255000) Rear axle bolts can fracture — driveshaft separates, vehicle can roll in gear. Recall 22V255000 affects 252,936 Explorer 2020–2022. Symptoms: Loss of power to rear wheels, vehicle rolls away in gear | Low | |
| Second-row seat unlatches on its own (recall 25V393) Recall 25S67/25V393: the easy-entry switch on the outer second-row seats can stick due to a misaligned trim bezel. The seat unlatches, folds or slides unexpectedly - including while driving or braking. Symptoms: Second-row seat folds/slides with no input, unlatches when braking or cornering, sticking easy-entry switch. from 50,000 km | Low |
Top Reported Issues
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Known Problems and Issues +
A total of 33 weaknesses have been documented for the Ford Explorer 6 (2019–2024) — 17 engine-related and 16 vehicle-related. Typical issues affect Other, Electronics, Gearbox, Brakes.
Explorer (BQWA, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: Twin-Turbo System Wear, Head Gasket Failed — Coolant Loss, Timing Chain Rattle. Power: 400 PS.
Explorer (EcoBoost-2.3-Gen1, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: Head gasket failure, Turbo wastegate failure, Low-pressure fuel pump failure – recall 25S75/25V455. Power: 300 PS.
Explorer (Duratec33-Hybrid, 2020–2024) — Be Careful: Internal water pump (Cyclone design), Recall: connecting-rod bearing failure / block breach (fire risk), Hybrid battery degradation. Power: 318 PS.
Explorer (BQWA, 2019–2024) — Be Careful: Twin-Turbo System Wear, Head Gasket Failed — Coolant Loss, Timing Chain Rattle. Power: 457 PS.
What to watch out for with the Ford Explorer? See the detailed listing of all engine and vehicle weaknesses in the sections above.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Last updated: February 2026 · All information without guarantee