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2017 Ford Explorer Transmission & Power Train Problems

NHTSA component category: POWER TRAIN · data through 07/14/2026

113Power Train complaints
6.8%Of all 1,659 complaints
#5Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How power train ranks on this vehicle

Unspecified / other365 · 22%
STRUCTURE362 · 21.8%
STRUCTURE:BODY256 · 15.4%
ENGINE234 · 14.1%
POWER TRAIN113 · 6.8%

Share of the 1,659 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2017 Ford Explorer overview page.

What owners report

“MY 2017 FORD EXPLORER XLT WITH BASE 3.5 V6 HAS BEEN HARD TO START FROM THE FIRST WEEK OF OWNERSHIP. IT HAS LESS THAN 5000…”NHTSA complaint 11035816 — filed 10/23/2017
“UPON PARKING OUR BRAND NEW EXPLORER IN OUR DRIVEWAY (IT HAS A 10 DEGREE SLANT), WE TURNED OFF THE KEYLESS/PUSH BUTTON IGNITION, BUT MY HUSBAND…”NHTSA complaint 11011958 — filed 08/01/2017

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Power Train complaints by year filed

4201742018102019132020720216202218202329202413202592026

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2017 Ford Explorer have transmission & power train problems?

Power Train is the #5 most-reported problem area on the 2017 Ford Explorer: 113 of 1,659 complaints on file (6.8%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2017 Ford Explorer have in total?

1,659 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/14/2026. Across all categories, 33 involved a crash, 10 involved a fire, 50 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's power train category include?

NHTSA groups complaints about the transmission (automatic or manual), driveline, axles, transfer case and related parts under a single component category called POWER TRAIN. This page reports that category as NHTSA defines it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/14/2026.