Hearth Record

2023 Ford Explorer

Model year 2023: every recall NHTSA’s file names for it, the complaints owners made to NHTSA, and its crash ratings.

NHTSA’s recall lookup, on nhtsa.gov

Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. NHTSA’s recall lookup is on nhtsa.gov.

The short answer

From NHTSA’s files, copied Oct 29, 2026.

A recall covers the vehicles it names, by build date where NHTSA gives one. Your VIN says which are open on yours.

Is your vehicle in one of these recalls?

No public file says which recalls are still open on one vehicle. NHTSA’s lookup does, from its VIN.

17 letters and numbers, at the bottom of the windshield on the driver’s side. VINs never use I, O or Q.

Source:

The VIN goes to NHTSA, never to Hearth Record.

What recalls name it?

15 recalls for the 2023 Ford Explorer in NHTSA’s file, newest first. Each covers the vehicles it names; your VIN says if yours is one.

None carries NHTSA’s advice not to drive it or to park outside.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

Jul 14, 2026. Seats: mid/rear assembly

NHTSA counts 387,911 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-451

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 17, 2026. Seat belts

NHTSA counts 561 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-159

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 3, 2026. Back over prevention: software

NHTSA counts 889,950 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 26V-123

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 10, 2025. Equipment: electrical: engine block heater

NHTSA counts 59,006 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Dec 22, 2023.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-685

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jul 7, 2025. Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

NHTSA counts 850,318 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built to Jul 31, 2022.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-455

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jun 27, 2025. Back over prevention: software

NHTSA counts 200,237 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-442

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jun 13, 2025. Seats: mid/rear assembly

NHTSA counts 304,662 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-393

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Mar 14, 2025. Back over prevention: software

NHTSA counts 49,399 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 25V-159

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Nov 8, 2024. Equipment: other: labels

NHTSA counts 27,678 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Apr 26, 2019 to Aug 27, 2024.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-852

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 8, 2024. Suspension: front: macpherson strut; steering: linkages: knuckle: spindle: arm

NHTSA counts 121 potentially involved, across everything this recall names. The ones named here were built from Dec 19, 2023 to Dec 19, 2023.

  • NHTSA campaign 24V-091

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Oct 13, 2023. Back over prevention: display function; electrical system: wiring

NHTSA counts 2,866 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-686

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Aug 25, 2023. Engine and engine cooling: engine: oil/lubrication: pipes, hoses, and fittings; engine and engine cooling: engine: gasoline: turbo/supercharger

NHTSA counts 10 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-597

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

May 12, 2023. Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

NHTSA counts 442,973 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-342

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Feb 10, 2023. Power train: automatic transmission

NHTSA counts 1,138 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-070

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

Jan 23, 2023. Back over prevention: sensing system: camera

NHTSA counts 382,759 potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

  • NHTSA campaign 23V-022

The whole recall, in NHTSA’s words

What have owners told NHTSA?

113 complaints to NHTSA, received from Mar 25, 2023 to Oct 27, 2026.

  • 7 complaints told of a crash, and 2 complaints of a fire.
  • Together they report 9 people injured and no deaths.
  • Complaints are owners’ own reports, not findings: NHTSA reads them to decide what to look into. Only their counts are kept here; no complaint’s words or owner are read.
Source:

NHTSA, Owner complaints flat files. Released Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily.

How did it do in crash tests?

NHTSA rated 4 versions of the 2023 Ford Explorer: 5 stars overall, every version.

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings, in whole stars. NHTSA’s safety concerns are shown beneath the stars they qualify, as NHTSA asks.

Source:

NHTSA, 5-Star Safety Ratings. Released Aug 7, 2026. Updated monthly.

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2023 Ford Explorer, by the version NHTSA rated
VersionOverallFrontal crashSide crashRollover
Explorer, SUV, 4WD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 15.1% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer, SUV, RWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 14.7% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer HEV, SUV, 4WD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 15.1% chance of rolling over; no tip
Explorer HEV, SUV, RWD 5 stars 5 starsDriver 5, passenger 5 5 starsSide pole 5 4 starsA 14.7% chance of rolling over; no tip

NHTSA lists no safety concern for any version rated here.

NHTSA’s notes on these ratings

  • During the side pole impact test, the windshield separated from the roof, A-pillar, and lower edge

Safety technology, as NHTSA lists it

  • Forward collision warning: standard & optional.
  • Lane departure warning: standard.
  • Crash imminent braking: standard & optional.
  • Dynamic brake support: standard & optional.

What the record doesn’t say

  • Which recalls are still open on one vehicle: only NHTSA’s lookup, with its VIN, says that.
  • Ratings are for the versions NHTSA tested. Other cabs, engines and drives can rate differently.
  • How serious each complaint was, or whether it was confirmed: complaints aren’t findings.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Owner complaints flat files.

    Released Oct 29, 2026 and checked Oct 29, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 5-Star Safety Ratings.

    Released Aug 7, 2026 and checked Oct 19, 2026. Updated monthly. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 29, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 8, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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