2017 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
A/C blows warm or the compressor fails
- 65owner reports
- 9,000median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Feb 28, 2025 · checked Oct 2, 2026
65 of the 1,693 complaints on this car describe A/C failure.
Tick what matches of 65 reports
A/C failure on other Explorer years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Most A/C complaints start the same way: the fan still blows, but the air coming out of the vents is warm or only a little cool. Some owners get cold air that fades after a while, and others hear a noise from the compressor before it quits. It's rarely a safety problem on its own, which is also why it seldom gets a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the compressor (6 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on this problem covers the 2017 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 5,000 and 32,000 miles, from the 36 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 5 service bulletins or notices for the 2017 Ford Explorer that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some 2013-2020 vehicles equipped with an EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function.
Some 2013-2019 vehicles equipped with a EVDC air conditioning (A/C) compressor may exhibit poor A/C performance/improper climate function and/or a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P06A0 in the powertrain control module (PCM).
Some 2016-2018 Explorer vehicles built on or before 07-Aug-2018 may automatically switch from A/C to heat and defrost after 1 minute during a remote start event when the customer expects the A/C to remain on.
Some 2017-2018 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 110V power outlet may exhibit a high pitched buzzing or ringing noise from the right side front interior area while the engine is running.
1 more on the 2017 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“After having the fan replaced on my vehicle less than 200 miles put on it the AC compressor went out.”
Filed Sep 17, 2022
“Ford Eco Boost Coolant Intrusion Issues. If the car sits an idles the coolant light will come on an say the coolant is too hotIf I run the air conditioning it will do the say, or drive it on the freeway. There are no leaks, no were. And you can smell the coolant, it smells really hot. My engine line is on.”
Filed Jul 17, 2022
“Smell in car when driving on freeway or using air conditioner. Burning eyes, nose running, sore throat, feeling sick.”
Filed Nov 3, 2021
“car stops an air-conditioned Bell Brooking due to bearing inside a clutch on the AC compressor !! I was on the highway and the car just stops I almost got hit from behind”
Filed Sep 16, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 65 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Trim or a body panel comes off while driving 418 reports
- Windshield cracks or distorts 285 reports
- Engine overheats or leaks coolant 125 reports
- Wheel bearing, tires or wheels 76 reports
- Water leaks into the cabin 61 reports
- Check engine light or misfire 59 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 57 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 51 reports
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 50 reports
- Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing 40 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 39 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 34 reports
- Airbag warning light or recall 34 reports
- Power steering cuts out or goes heavy 30 reports
- Paint peels or body rusts 30 reports