Illustration3 times this has happened. I brake and it seems like I'm pressing the gas pedal and the brakes feel like they aren't stopping the vehicle. The third time put me in incoming traffic and the vehicle was totaled as it already had a rebuilt salvage title when we bought it.
2010 Ford Explorer
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2010 Ford Explorer do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 609.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Explorer years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
350–25K
1525–50K
1650–75K
1275–100K
14100–150K
3150K+
95 reports with mileage · 20 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 28 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Seats. Review the 20 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
8 crash reports0 fire reports3 injury reports
Service Brakes complaints
9 reportsThe contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to stop, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a guard rail. During the crash, no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene an…
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The contact owns a 2010 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving approximately 20 mph and attempting to stop, the brake pedal extended to the floorboard causing the driver to lose control of the vehicle and crash into a guard rail. During the crash, no injuries were reported. A police report was taken at the scene and the vehicle was towed away. The cause of the failure was not determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 92,600
Rsc alarm keeps going sounding alarm and the abs alarm keeps sounding as well. Seen a ton of owners having this same error
AUGUST 16, 2018 I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATING WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD SO FAST. THE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. MY DAUGHTER HAD UNBUCKLED HER SEAT BELT SINCE WE WERE ALL BUT STOPPED AND …
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AUGUST 16, 2018 I HAD AN ACCIDENT AS A RESULT OF MY 2010 FORD EXPLORER ACCELERATING WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE. I WAS ALMOST COMPLETELY STOPPED AND OUT OF NO WHERE MY VEHICLE SURGED FORWARD SO FAST. THE SOUND COMING FROM THE ENGINE WAS EXTREMELY LOUD. MY DAUGHTER HAD UNBUCKLED HER SEAT BELT SINCE WE WERE ALL BUT STOPPED AND HIT HER HEAD ON IMPACT. MY VEHICLE ACCELERATED VERY FAST AND HIT THE REAR END OF A LARGE YUKON TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED IN FRONT OF ME. THE YUKON THEN WAS PUSHED FORWARD AND BROAD SIDED AN OLDER TRUCK WHICH WAS PARKED AT A GAS PUMP. THIS WAS ALL A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. I WAS ATTEMPTING TO PARK ON THE SIDE PARKING LOT OF A STORE. MY VEHICLE WAS ALMOST STOPPED, WITH MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE. I HAD TO ALMOST STAND ON THE BRAKES WITH BRAKES NOT RESPONDING. *TR
WHILE DRIVE THE RSC LIGHT CAME ON. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT THE ANTI SKID CAME ON LOCKING THE WHEELS. 4 WHEEL DRIVE CAME ON LOCKING THE WHEELS FURTHER AND THE BREAKS ENGAGED. CAR WOULD NOT TURN OR MOVE AND PUSHING THE GAS PETAL ONLY CAUSED BREAK SYSTEM TO LOCK UP FURTHER.
I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT WHEN I AM ON THE HIGJWAY DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A INCREASE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I AM GOING SPEEDS OF 55 MPH - 60MPH. EVEN WHEN I HAVE TAPPED THE BRAKE, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE INCREASE OF SPEED. ON AUGUST 12, 2015 AT APPROXIAMTELY 5:30PM, WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH WHILE TURNING A CORNER.…
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I HAVE BEEN NOTICING THAT WHEN I AM ON THE HIGJWAY DRIVING IT FEELS LIKE THERE IS A INCREASE OF ACCELERATION WHEN I AM GOING SPEEDS OF 55 MPH - 60MPH. EVEN WHEN I HAVE TAPPED THE BRAKE, THERE IS STILL A LITTLE INCREASE OF SPEED. ON AUGUST 12, 2015 AT APPROXIAMTELY 5:30PM, WAS DRIVING AT SPEEDS OF 10MPH WHILE TURNING A CORNER. I HAD MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE WHEN I TURNED BUT MY TRUCK WOULD NOT STOP AND IT ACTUALLY TRIED TO OVERRIDE MY BRAKING AND ACCELERATED TO THE POINT WHERE I FELT LIKE I WAS NO LONGER IN CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE. AFTER 2 JOLTS OF ACCELERATION (WHILE MY FOOT WAS ON THE BRAKE), IT FINALLY STOPPED. I AM ON MY WAY TO THE DEALER RIGHT NOW TO GET THIS RESOLVED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTINUED JUMPED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE HOUSE AND AN IRON GATE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES …
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ROLL WHEN THE GEAR WAS SHIFTED INTO PARK. THE CONTINUED JUMPED IN THE VEHICLE, BUT THE BRAKES FAILED TO RESPOND. THE VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE WALL OF THE HOUSE AND AN IRON GATE. THE VEHICLE CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP. THE LOCAL AUTHORITIES WERE NOTIFIED, BUT NO REPORT WAS FILED. THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC, BUT WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED PER THE INSURANCE COMPANY. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING DOWN A HIGHWAY TO GET TO WORK WHEN THE ABS LIGHT, THE TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT AND THE WRENCH LIT UP ON THE DASHBOARD. HE IMMEDIATELY PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF THE TRUCK. WHEN HE TURNED IT BACK ON, HE WAS UNABLE TO GET THE TRUCK TO MOVE. *TR
I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND AS I WAS AT A FULL STOP, I SAW THAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD MOVED. SO I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I SAW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED, I WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HIT THEM AGAIN AND STILL NOTHING, MY CAR KEPT ON GOING. BY THE THIRD SLAM ON THE BRAKES IT FINALLY TOOK HOW…
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I WAS STUCK IN TRAFFIC AND AS I WAS AT A FULL STOP, I SAW THAT THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD MOVED. SO I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE. WHEN I SAW THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME HAD STOPPED, I WENT TO HIT THE BRAKES AND NOTHING HAPPENED. I HIT THEM AGAIN AND STILL NOTHING, MY CAR KEPT ON GOING. BY THE THIRD SLAM ON THE BRAKES IT FINALLY TOOK HOWEVER I ENDED UP HITTING THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME AND HER THE CAR IN FRONT OF HER. THIS IS NOT OKAY!!! MY VEHICLE IS ONLY 2 YEARS OLD AND I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE WHO HAS EXPERIENCED THIS. WHY HASN'T A RECALL OCCURRED? DOES SOMEONE NEED TO PASS AWAY FOR ONE TO HAPPEN? MY ACCIDENT COULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. AT THE HOUR I WAS TRAVELING THERE IS NORMALLY NO TRAFFIC BUT OPEN HIGHWAY. MY SAVING GRACE WAS THAT THERE WAS TRAFFIC BECAUSE I COULD HAVE BEEN KILLED AND/OR KILLED THE PERSON I ACCIDENTALLY HIT. *TR
Official recalls
110V161000 · Seats:front Assembly:recliner
Apr 20, 2010
FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 FUSION, EXPLORER, EXPLORER SPORT TRAC, AND MERCURY MILAN AND MOUNTAINEER VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 15, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH FRONT SEAT MANUAL RECLINERS. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 202, "HEAD RESTRAINT." THE RECLINER GEAR PLATE TEETH MAY BE OUT OF DIMENSION SPECIFICATION WHICH COULD RESULT IN LIMITED PAWL TO GEAR PLATE TOOTH ENGAGEMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEATBACK AND HEAD RESTRAINT MAY MOVE REARWARD, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE MANUAL RECLINERS FOR BOTH POWER AND MANUAL SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR BEFORE APRIL 30, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FORD AT 1-866-436-7332.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1AQ10001 · Fleet Vehicle Recall Completion Audit
Opened Nov 18, 2010 · Closed Dec 28, 2015
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Unknown Or Other
On November 18, 2010, NHTSA's Recall Management Division (RMD) opened an audit query (AQ10-001) to investigate recall remedy completion by rental car companies on safety recall campaigns.It was expected to provide the agency an indication of how completely and how quickly rental car fleets perform necessary recall-related remedies on the vehicles owned and then rented/leased for use on the roadways.RMD queried three (3) major motor vehicle manufacturers (Ford, Chrysler, and General Motors) and requested data regarding completion figures for fifteen (15) discreet safety recalls.Analysis of this data demonstrated that rental car recalls completion was neither complete nor consistent.The rental car companies representing the largest market share in the industry were then queried as to their respective policies for the rental, lease, and sale of vehicles with open recalls.The data and responses from the manufacturers and the rental car companies can be found in the document repository by accessing the ?Associated Documents link above.In December 2015, Congress enacted the Fixing America's Surface Transportation (FAST) Act.One section of the Act prohibits rental car companies from renting, leasing, or selling motor vehicles subject to open safety recalls.With the passage of the FAST Act and its prohibition, there is no continuing need for the agency to investigate rental car recall completions.Accordingly, this investigation is closed.The agency reserves the right to open any future investigations, including audits of individual recalls, or groups of recalls, or rental car companies, to examine more closely safety recalls performance and completion issues in this area.