Home › Cars › Ford › Explorer › 2010
2010 Ford Explorer problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
44% of relevant owner complaints filed with NHTSA on the 2010 Ford Explorer are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is a model-level pattern, not bad luck.
Worse than 55% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 13 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 40%).
Does the 2010 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 59 of 133 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Explorer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%), and the largest group is filed under power train (35). For comparison, the 2011 scores 16%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
How the 2010 compares with other Ford Explorer years
Of the 14 Ford Explorer years with enough complaints to score, the 2010 is the 2nd-worst on engine and transmission share (44%). The worst is the 2020 (53%), the best the 2011 (16%). By volume, the 2010 drew 146 complaints (59 drivetrain), against 1,196 for the 2011.
Ford Explorer years to avoid and best years →
2010 · 2011 Explorer problems · 2012 Explorer problems · 2013 Explorer problems · 2014 Explorer problems · 2015 Explorer problems · 2016 Explorer problems · 2017 Explorer problems · 2018 Explorer problems · 2019 Explorer problems · 2020 Explorer problems · 2021 Explorer problems · 2022 Explorer problems · 2023 Explorer problems
The rest of the picture on the 2010 Ford Explorer
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2010 Ford Explorer said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 59 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows up to 15, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
2010 Ford Explorer engine and transmission recalls
No engine or transmission recalls. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Ford Explorer, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
2 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 3, 2026.
Checking one particular 2010 Ford Explorer? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
Get a history report from EpicVIN Before you pay: EpicVIN’s $1 offer is a 3-day trial (up to 5 reports) that renews at $49.99 a month unless you cancel. Other plans are listed under “View all our packages” at checkout. We may earn a commission if you buy through this link. It does not change what this page reports.Questions people ask about the 2010 Ford Explorer
Does the 2010 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Owner complaints say yes, as a model-year pattern. 59 of 133 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Ford Explorer concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (44%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
What is the most common problem with the 2010 Ford Explorer?
Going by NHTSA owner complaints, the most common problem filed against the 2010 Ford Explorer is power train: 35 of 146 complaints (24%) name it, followed by seats (24) and service brakes (19). A complaint can name more than one component, so these overlap.
Is the 2010 Ford Explorer reliable?
On the engine and transmission, owner complaints point to a weak spot: 44% of relevant complaints filed with NHTSA concern the drivetrain (high signal). That is worse than 55% of the 1,790 model years we track. Among the 14 Ford Explorer years we score, it ranks 2nd-worst. Complaint data describes the model year, not one car, and it says nothing about trim, paint or electronics outside the drivetrain; an independent inspection still decides it.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Ford Explorer?
No. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns on the 2010 Ford Explorer, none of them for the engine, transmission or fuel system.
Which Ford Explorer years are better?
Among the Ford Explorer years we track, the 2011 (16%), the 2012 (19%) and the 2023 (19%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (44%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car. Every year side by side: https://thelanecheck.com/cars/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.
Check a VINExperimental 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 2 body styles NHTSA files separately.