Ford Explorer vs Toyota Highlander
Midsize SUV · 2015–2025 · 11,295 federal complaints
Ford Explorer
8,719 complaints · 10 engines
Most-complained engine: TI-VCT · 3.5L V6
Full breakdown for Ford Explorer →
Toyota Highlander
2,576 complaints · 5 engines
Most-complained engine: 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6
Full breakdown for Toyota Highlander →At a glance
Side by side. EPA figures are the model's median across its test variants; price is the base-trim MSRP (CarAPI), median across covered model years.
| Ford Explorer | Toyota Highlander | |
|---|---|---|
| Base MSRP | $31,650 | $30,930 |
| Most common engine | TI-VCT · 3.5L V6 | 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6 |
| Induction | Naturally aspirated | Naturally aspirated |
| Fuel economy | 21 MPG | 24 MPG |
| Running cost | $2,950/yr | $2,550/yr |
| Low emissions | 433 g/mi | 371 g/mi |
| Displacement | 3.0 L | 3.5 L |
| NHTSA overall crash rating | ★★★★★ (2025) | ★★★★★ (2025) |
| Rollover risk (NHTSA) | 15.1% | 16.4% |
| Engines with enough data | 10 | 5 |
Side by side
Both cars scored as percentiles within Midsize SUV, so the shapes are directly comparable. Built from EPA test data.
What each one's complaints are about
Showing each car's highest-volume engine. Share of component mentions — not a failure rate, and not a ranking between the two.
Ford Explorer
Toyota Highlander
How often each one's complaints involve a fire, crash or injury
Shares of each car's own complaints — sales volume cancels out of a within-car ratio, so these two can be compared. The vertical mark is the all-vehicle average.
all vehicles — Fire 1.1% · Crash 4.4% · Injury 2.6%
Every engine with enough data
Complaint counts per engine are shown for scale only — they track how many were sold, not how often they fail.
Ford Explorer
- TI-VCT · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated4,381
- GTDI · 3.5L V6Turbo1,390
- GTDI · 2.3L I4Turbo1,367
- GTDI · 3.0L V6Turbo753
- TI-VCT · 2.3L I4Turbo337
- ECOBOOST · 2.3L I4Turbo156
- TI-VCT · 3.7L V6130
- TIVCT · 2.3L I4Turbo68
- TI-VCT · 3.3L V6Naturally aspirated60
- TI-VCT · 3.3L I451
Toyota Highlander
- 2GR-FKS · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated1,636
- A25A-FXS · 2.5L I4Naturally aspirated392
- 2GR-FE · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated278
- T24A-FTS · 2.4L I4Turbo153
- 2GR-FXS · 3.5L V6Naturally aspirated92
Recalls where NHTSA said stop driving or park outside
The severest recall class only. Model-level, manufacturer-confirmed. Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer, whatever the car's age.
Ford Explorer
None on record for this model.
Toyota Highlander
None on record for this model.
One car having more complaints than the other mostly reflects how many were sold, not how often they break. Compare each car's own mix of problems — not the totals.