Diagsheet

Midsize and three-row SUVs · model years 2014 to 2023

Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander: problems and reliability

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 4 and the Highlander on 2, with 1 too close to call.

Ford Explorer

Ford Explorer

10,584 complaints · 67 recalls

Toyota Highlander

Toyota Highlander

2,700 complaints · 28 recalls

Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026

Counts are not adjusted for sales. The more cars of a model there are on the road, the more complaints it draws, so the raw totals above say a lot about sales. Everything below compares shares of each model's own complaints, the mileage problems start at, recalls per model year and each model's years against its own median.

Scorecard

Measure, 2014 to 2023ExplorerHighlander
Complaints that report a crash2.2%5.9%
Complaints that report a fire0.5%0.6%
Complaints that report an injury2.3%4.0%
Median miles when problems are reported56,00041,000
Recall campaigns per model year6.72.8
Do-not-drive recalls00
NHTSA investigations90

The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.

What owners complain about

The system Explorer owners complain about most is structure; for the Highlander it is transmission and drivetrain. Complaints citing structure make up 23% of all Explorer complaints, against 9.3% on the Highlander. The Highlander leans the other way on transmission and drivetrain: 28% of its complaints, against 12% for the Explorer.

Ford ExplorerToyota Highlander

Transmission and drivetrain12%28%
Structure23%9.3%
Engine13%10%
Electrical7.2%11%
Steering14%2.7%
Brakes2.0%11%
Fuel and propulsion3.8%8.1%
Airbags2.8%6.3%
Suspension4.0%1.2%
Speed control1.8%3.3%

Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.

The most reported problems

The most reported problem on the Explorer is windshield problems (9.4% of its complaints). On the Highlander it is brake wear (11% of its complaints), against 2.2% on the Explorer.

ProblemExplorerHighlander
Engine stalls or loses power while driving4.8% 503most in 2016 · 44k mi9.1% 245most in 2019 · 43k mi
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early2.2% 228most in 2020 · 24k mi11% 303most in 2021 · 25k mi
Windshield cracks or distorts9.4% 996most in 2017 · 77k mi2.8% 7522k mi
Transmission fails or needs replacement1.4% 148most in 2020 · 67k mi11% 289most in 2021 · 74k mi
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails6.4% 682most in 2015 · 60k mi4.4% 11925k mi
Airbag warning light or recall2.7% 291most in 2016 · 60k mi6.3% 169most in 2021 · 23k mi
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard3.6% 382most in 2020 · 61k mi4.3% 116most in 2019 · 60k mi
Power steering cuts out or goes heavy7.6% 802most in 2014 · 70k mi0.2% 6

Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.

When problems start

Highlander owners report problems earlier. Half the Highlander complaints that give a mileage come before 41,000 miles; for the Explorer the halfway point is 56,000. 44% of Explorer reports and 55% of Highlander reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.

Ford ExplorerToyota Highlander

Under 25k23%35%
25k to 50k21%20%
50k to 75k21%22%
75k to 100k15%13%
100k to 150k16%8.0%
Over 150k4.3%1.4%

Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 5,693 for the Explorer and 1,188 for the Highlander.

Worst and best years

The 2016 Explorer draws 2.7 times the complaints of a typical Explorer year for its age. The 2021 Highlander draws 2.9 times the complaints of a typical Highlander year for its age.

Ford Explorer

Every Explorer model year

Toyota Highlander

Every Highlander model year

Ford ExplorerToyota Highlander

Each model year against its own model's median. Explorer: 2014 1.5, 2015 1.8, 2016 2.7, 2017 2.1, 2018 1.0, 2019 0.5, 2020 2.1, 2021 0.9, 2022 0.7, 2023 0.3. Highlander: 2014 0.3, 2015 0.5, 2016 0.3, 2017 0.9, 2018 1.0, 2019 2.0, 2020 1.5, 2021 2.9, 2022 1.7, 2023 1.5.2014 Explorer: 1.5 times its median2014 Highlander: 0.3 times its median'142015 Explorer: 1.8 times its median2015 Highlander: 0.5 times its median'152016 Explorer: 2.7 times its median2016 Highlander: 0.3 times its median'162017 Explorer: 2.1 times its median2017 Highlander: 0.9 times its median'172018 Explorer: 1.0 times its median2018 Highlander: 1.0 times its median'182019 Explorer: 0.5 times its median2019 Highlander: 2.0 times its median'192020 Explorer: 2.1 times its median2020 Highlander: 1.5 times its median'202021 Explorer: 0.9 times its median2021 Highlander: 2.9 times its median'212022 Explorer: 0.7 times its median2022 Highlander: 1.7 times its median'222023 Explorer: 0.3 times its median2023 Highlander: 1.5 times its median'231x

Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.

Recalls and investigations

The Explorer draws more recalls: 6.7 campaigns per model year against 2.8 for the Highlander. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.

Ford Explorer

67 recall campaigns and 9 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: backup camera (11), transmission and drivetrain (9) and suspension (8).

  • 25V-685 (equipment) covers 7 model years
  • 24V-031 (structure) covers 6 model years

Investigations

  • DP25001: Underbody shields detachment (closed)
  • EA23002: Loss of motive power (closed, led to a recall)
  • RQ23002: Rear axle bolt failure (closed, led to a recall)

Toyota Highlander

28 recall campaigns and 0 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (6), electrical (4) and fuel system (4).

  • 18E-107 (electrical) covers 5 model years
  • 23V-720 (structure) covers 4 model years

Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Crashes, fires and injuries

A larger share of Highlander complaints report a crash: 5.9%, against 2.2% for the Explorer. Fire reports: 57 for the Explorer and 17 for the Highlander. Complaints on file report 2 deaths in the Explorer and 2 in the Highlander for these model years.

Ford ExplorerToyota Highlander

Report a crash2.2%5.9%
Report a fire0.5%0.6%
Report someone hurt2.3%4.0%

Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.

Questions

Is the Ford Explorer or the Toyota Highlander more reliable?

On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Explorer looks better on 4 and the Highlander on 2, with 1 too close to call. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Explorer has 10,584 complaints and the Highlander 2,700 for model years 2014 to 2023, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.

Which has more recalls, the Explorer or the Highlander?

The Explorer has 67 recall campaigns and the Highlander 28 across model years 2014 to 2023. The Explorer draws more recalls: 6.7 campaigns per model year against 2.8 for the Highlander.

What are the most common problems on the Explorer and the Highlander?

The most reported problem on the Explorer is windshield problems (9.4% of its complaints). On the Highlander it is brake wear (11% of its complaints), against 2.2% on the Explorer.

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