Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0A1E stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). The vehicle may be unable to enter electric-only drive modes as expected during normal drive cycles. This may be due to the software within the belt integrated starter generator (BISG). For vehicles with this condition, follow Pinpoint Test I: Battery Isolation/Voltage Stabilization Control Circuit Carry Outance located in the Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-06D and repair the vehicle as necessary. No
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2021 Ford Explorer electrical problems
severe Owners of the 2021 Ford Explorer have filed 34 NHTSA complaints about the electrical at roughly $850 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See electrical across all vehicles →
Complaints
34
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$850
| Model year | electrical complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Explorer | 81 |
| 2018 Explorer | 45 |
| 2019 Explorer | 17 |
| 2020 Explorer | 136 |
| 2021 Explorer (this page) | 34 |
| 2022 Explorer | 28 |
| 2023 Explorer | 9 |
| 2025 Explorer | 14 |
2crashes
4fires
1injury
What stands out
Owners have filed 34 electrical complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering electrical on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B118C:11 and/or B118C:15 stored in the driver door module (DDM), and/or B118D:11 and/or B118D:15 stored in the passenger door module (PDM). This may be due to the wiring connector from the mirror to the BLIS module. If diagnostics lead to an internal mirror wiring harness fault, a new lower level BLIS light pigtail is now released for service. It is not necessary to replace the exterior mirror as
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Some 2020-2025 various Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). This may also be accompanied by diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) B118C:11 and/or B118C:15 stored in the driver door module (DDM), and/or B118D:11 and/or B118D:15 stored in the passenger door module (PDM). This may be due to the wiring connector from the mirror to the BLIS module. If diagnostics lead to an internal mirror wiring harness fault, a new lower level BLIS light pigtail is now released for service. It is not necessary to replace the exterior mirr
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗This article supersedes TSB 22-2177 to update labor times from M-time to AP-time and add a limit. Some of the vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with only diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P1A0C stored in the PCM. This may be due to the software in the powertrain control module (PCM).
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2021 Explorer electrical system shows a wide range of failures across multiple subsystems. Third-row power-folding seats get stuck immobile despite repair attempts, with complete control module replacement required in at least one case. The infotainment and backup camera system produces blue or black screens—repeatedly—sometimes freezing out navigation and hands-free calling. Owners report cycling through multiple camera replacements, full system replacements, and wiring work without lasting fixes. Dealerships acknowledge a recall (23V022) but claim it's on hold with no solution decided.
Power-loss and no-start failures plague owners at traffic lights and stop signs, with vehicles going dark and refusing restart. Some owners get battery replacements that don't stick; others end up with vehicles in the shop for three weeks or longer. A handful of narratives describe catastrophic failures: vehicles catching fire during normal driving or startup, one after aftermarket brake controller installation. Water intrusion into the fuse box after a car wash caused a $3,300 repair involving engine removal.
Rear cameras, cross-traffic sensors, and blind-spot warnings fail every six months like clockwork in one owner's case, with fuse replacement the only response. Front windows become unresponsive. One owner reports unintended acceleration and another describes rear wheels locking up on the highway causing a spinout into guardrails. A recall for the electrical system exists (23V626000) but parts remain unavailable.
The pattern suggests chronic electrical gremlins: some solved temporarily by parts replacement, others recurring despite multiple attempts, and several pointing toward deeper system architecture issues.
Same Ford Explorer electrical reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Third-row seat motor/control module failure
Electrical control module or motor for third-row seat power folding/unfolding fails, leaving seat stuck in intermediate position with immobile headrest. Initial failure resolved by complete computer replacement; failure recurred within months.
When: First occurrence around 2 months into ownership; recurrence at approximately 5-6 months
Symptoms owners cite: Seat unable to move up or down manually or electronically; Seat stuck in half-open or fully open position; Headrest becomes immobile; Complete loss of power folding function
Repairs/costs cited: Complete third-row seat computer brain replaced; second failure not yet repaired per narrative
Fuse box water intrusion and electrical fire
Fuse box becomes wet after car wash despite hood remaining closed, causing battery junction box to burn out, engine harness to melt, horn to stick on continuously, and multiple system failures. Repair required engine removal to replace melted harness and horn.
When: Hours after routine car wash, no prior warning signs
Symptoms owners cite: Horn honks continuously uncontrollably for 5-10 minutes; Car will not shut off despite being turned on; Smoke visible from fuse box; Hill start assist warning light; Powertrain malfunction/reduced power light; Pre-collision assist warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Removed and replaced battery junction box (burnt up), engine bay harness (melted), horn (burned out); required engine/transmission/subframe removal; total repair cost $3,300
Infotainment screen blue/black/freeze failures (backup camera and general display)
Backup camera display turns blue or black in reverse; primary infotainment screen also freezes, turns blue/black during normal driving, and displays distorted wavy lines. Issues persist after multiple repairs including full system replacement and camera replacement. Partially addressed by recall 23V022 but owner states recall is on hold.
When: Early 2022 (vehicle purchased April 2021); ongoing through 2024-2025
Symptoms owners cite: Blue screen when vehicle in reverse; Black screen in reverse or while driving; Infotainment system completely freezes; Navigation non-functional; Hands-free calling non-functional; Distorted wavy lines across digital dash making speedometer hard to read; Radio inoperative during blue/black screen events
Codes mentioned: Recall 23V022 (manufacturer-issued)
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple interventions: deprogramming (March 2022), complete system replacement (July 2022), three separate backup camera replacements, wiring replacement, instrument cluster replacement; issues recur
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V022 issued but stated as on hold with no decision on remedy; Ford dealerships report nothing further can be done
Electrical short causing battery drain and total system failure
Persistent electrical short beginning with burning metal smell and high idle continues undiagnosed for years; eventually leads to complete black-screen APIM failure, no-start condition, and rapid battery drain within days that disables power steering and braking assists.
When: Initial burning smell February 2022 at 10,542 miles; total system failure February 2026
Symptoms owners cite: Strong burning metal smell; Engine loud idle with high RPM; Abnormal electrical noises; Complete black-screen infotainment failure; No-start condition; Battery drains completely within days; Loss of power steering assist; Loss of braking assist; Unable to shift out of park
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership possessed vehicle for 32 days; unable to locate root cause; previous service advisors documented the burning smell but did not address
No-start condition with stalling at stop lights
Vehicle stalls and fails to restart at stop lights with dark instrument cluster; battery replacement does not resolve. Multiple incidents with same dealer unable to fix despite weeks in service. Owner reports numerous other Ford Explorers with identical repeated problem.
When: November 2024 at approximately 20,152 miles on warranty vehicle; recurred days later; ongoing through December 2024
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle stalls while stopped at traffic light; Will not restart; Instrument cluster goes dark; Vehicle locks in park; Recurring issue despite repairs
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced 12-volt battery and all four tires on first visit; second failure not resolved despite week in service; third failure resulted in vehicle in shop for 19+ days without repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford customer service refused to loan or provide rental vehicle; no assistance offered
Vehicle rollaway while parked
Vehicle rolls backward independently while owner loading items from liftgate, pinning owner between concrete post and driver-side door causing bruising. Root cause undetermined despite vehicle repair and notification to manufacturer.
When: Approximately 4,500 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle rolls backward while parked with owner nearby; No manual or mechanical engagement appears to have failed
Repairs/costs cited: Driver-side door replaced; root cause undetermined
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified and case number issued; first dealership offered no assistance
Electrical fire while driving
Vehicle catches fire during normal driving after only 10 minutes. Electrical doors fail to operate preventing occupant (wheelchair user) from exiting. Fire department cannot determine cause due to extensive damage. Manufacturer claims inability to determine cause from photos.
When: During normal driving, vehicle less than 10 minutes into trip
Symptoms owners cite: Warning signs flashed on screen; Vehicle completely shut down; Vehicle on fire; Electrical doors inoperative
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed; unable to repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer reviewed photos but claims unable to determine cause of fire
Engine fire during startup
Engine stalls and starts repeatedly during cold start, then seizes and catches fire from engine bottom. Fire burns for 10 minutes before owner extinguishes it.
When: During vehicle startup
Symptoms owners cite: Engine turns over only halfway on initial start attempt; Engine restarts and cycles repeatedly despite already running; Cycling continues for 15 minutes; Engine seizes and shuts off; Engine smoking; Fire starts from bottom of engine
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not repaired due to fire severity
Electrical fire after aftermarket brake controller installation
Vehicle catches fire in engine compartment 20 minutes after electronic brake controller installed and DC-to-DC wired to tow vehicle. Fire department confirms origin in engine compartment.
When: Approximately 3,807 miles; 20 minutes after brake controller installation completed
Symptoms owners cite: Flames visible in engine compartment
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle destroyed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer made aware and case opened
Instrument cluster display degradation (wavy/flickery)
Digital dash display shows wavy lines and flicker making speedometer difficult to read. Resolved by instrument cluster replacement.
When: Multiple episodes occurring over time
Symptoms owners cite: Wavy and flickery digital display; Lines appearing across screen; Speedometer difficult to read
Repairs/costs cited: Instrument cluster replaced; issue resolved after replacement
Chronic battery drain and battery saver mode
Vehicle experiences repeated battery failures (owner on fourth battery) going into battery saver mode within hours of driving. Root cause undiagnosed despite multiple visits to dealership.
When: Recurring issue; owner on fourth battery
Symptoms owners cite: Battery goes dead repeatedly; Vehicle enters battery saver mode unpredictably; Battery saver mode activates within hours of driving
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple battery replacements; root cause undiagnosed
Unintended acceleration and loss of engine response
Vehicle self-accelerates and applies forward propulsion as if cruise control is engaged (cruise control verified off). When braking applied, alert states 'Braking applied, power reduced' and engine revs higher. Upon stopping and releasing brake, vehicle accelerates on its own. Issue persists after power cycling.
When: Not specified in narrative
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle self-accelerates without driver input; Behaves as if cruise control engaged when cruise is off; Brake application produces alert: 'Braking applied, power reduced'; Engine rev increases above normal when braking; Vehicle accelerates when brake released while parked; Engine revs to 6,000 RPM while in park; Power cycling does not reset issue; No inadvertent gas pedal pressure confirmed by driver
Repairs/costs cited: Owner has video documentation; issue unrepaired
Rear wheel lock-up causing loss of vehicle control
Rear passenger tire suddenly locks/sticks while driving on interstate causing vehicle to lose control, spin 360 degrees, and collide with guardrail. Tire visibly stuck in neutral until loud pop occurred during tow truck offloading.
When: During interstate driving; vehicle had stalled briefly before incident
Symptoms owners cite: Rear tire locked/stuck; Vehicle lost control; Vehicle spun 360 degrees; Tire made loud pop when pressure released; Prior stalling during startup (possible electrical component)
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle at dealership for diagnosis; issue under investigation
No-power condition at traffic light
Vehicle loses all engine power at stop light despite all auxiliary systems remaining active (dashboard, Apple CarPlay functional). Check engine light appears 20-30 minutes later. Vehicle starts normally when brought to shop and no fault found.
When: At traffic light; issue intermittent
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of engine power while auxiliary systems operational; Dashboard and Apple CarPlay still functional; Check engine light delayed 20-30 minutes; Auto Start/Stop active; unclear if failure related
Repairs/costs cited: No fault found when brought to shop; vehicle starts normally; intermittent issue
Audio system failure from water intrusion in rear hatch
Audio connection in rear hatch fails due to water leaking into hatch area despite no obvious leak source. Requires extensive hatch reconstruction.
When: 33,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Audio power lost; No audio output
Repairs/costs cited: Water intrusion into rear hatch audio connections; not repaired per narrative
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer agreed to cover 65% of repair cost; owner advised to report to NHTSA
Loss of motive power and inadvertent park shift
Vehicle loses all motive power while driving and displays system shutdown message. Vehicle inadvertently shifts into park. Requires 30-minute wait to restart.
When: 30,469 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of motive power while driving; System shutdown message displayed; Inadvertent shift to park; Vehicle unable to restart immediately
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership diagnosis identified tire failure needing replacement; not repaired per narrative
Loss of power and failure to restart at stop sign
Vehicle loses automotive power and fails to restart at stop sign with no warning lights. Multiple unknown warning lights appear afterward. Root cause undetermined by dealership.
When: 74,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of automotive power; Failure to restart; No warning lights prior to failure; Multiple unknown warning lights appear after failure
Repairs/costs cited: Cause undetermined by dealer; not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; referred to NHTSA Hotline
Front window switch intermittent failure
Driver and passenger front windows occasionally fail to respond to switch depression. Issue is recurring and previously repaired but recurs. Dealer unable to duplicate failure despite multiple visits.
When: 18,600 miles; recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Front driver and passenger windows fail to respond to switch; Recurring intermittent failure
Repairs/costs cited: Previously repaired; recurred; dealer unable to duplicate during latest visit
Transmission grinding and brake lock-up
Vehicle produces grinding and screeching noise from front as if in park while driving highway speeds. Gas pedal becomes unresponsive. Occurs despite open recall that reportedly does not correlate with vehicle VIN.
When: While driving on highway
Symptoms owners cite: Front end screeches and grinds as if vehicle in park; Gas pedal cannot be depressed; Severe loss of vehicle control on highway
Codes mentioned: Open recall exists but does not match vehicle VIN per owner
Repairs/costs cited: Not repaired; owner states recall technically applies but VIN not included
Electrical system recall part unavailability
Owner receives notification of NHTSA Campaign 23V626000 (Electrical System) but repair parts are unavailable. Manufacturer exceeds reasonable timeframe for recall repair.
When: Recall notification received; no failure yet experienced
Symptoms owners cite: Parts unavailable for recall repair
Codes mentioned: NHTSA Campaign 23V626000 (Electrical System)
Repairs/costs cited: Parts unavailable; recall repair unable to be performed
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 23V626000 issued but parts not available
Rear camera, cross-traffic sensor, and blind-spot warning failure
Rear camera, cross-traffic sensor, and blind-spot warning system fail completely every 6 months and stop functioning entirely. Dealership repeatedly replaces fuse but never addresses root cause. Issue recurs after each service.
When: Every 6 months; recurring pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Rear camera non-functional; Cross-traffic sensor non-functional; Blind-spot warning non-functional; Complete loss of all three systems
Repairs/costs cited: Fuse replacement only; occurs four times with same result; third recurrence in shop for 3+ weeks without fix
Sunroof sag blocking rear view
Sunroof material sags downward when opened, blocking driver's rear view.
When: Not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Sunroof material sags when opened; Blocks driver rear visibility
Second-row seat unrequested movement
Second-row seat moves on its own without driver input.
When: Since 06-20-2025 per telematics-generated issue
Symptoms owners cite: Unrequested second-row seat movement
Synthesized from 34 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
11/9/23 our still under warranty, 2021 Ford Explorer Platinum with 20,152 miles on it died at stop sign and would not start. Locked in park and had to be towed to dealer who worked on it for one week and claimed it was fixed. Same problem second time a few days later and dealer claimed it was lose wires and returned to us on 11/28. This last time (happened at a very dangerous onramp location and…
Had electrical trouble with your 2021 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the electrical problem on the 2021 Ford Explorer?
It's a meaningful issue. 34 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $850.
At what mileage does the electrical typically fail?
Based on the 34 complaints filed, electrical issues most often appear around 27,768 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $850 for electrical repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to electrical?
No active recalls currently cover electrical issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2021/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.