Ford Explorer was one of eighteen vehicles that lost its recommended status in Consumer Reports’ updated list. Based on the survey data, the model’s predicted reliability came in below average: 30 points out of 100 for the 2026 model. The change puts the Explorer under a sharper spotlight for the upcoming model year, and a score like that is hard for shoppers to ignore.

At the brand level, Ford finished in the middle of CR’s reliability study with 48 out of 100, improving by four points and climbing two places compared with last year. It suggests steady progress rather than a turnaround, but it is movement in the right direction.

To reach these results, Consumer Reports gathers information from respondents about every problem they have experienced with their vehicles, then sorts the data into twenty categories ranging from minor issues like broken trim to major troubles with engines, transmissions, or other mechanical components. Each problem is weighted, and a predicted reliability score for every new model is calculated on a 1-to-100 scale. The wide scope, from cosmetic glitches to core mechanical systems, offers a broad view of potential ownership risk.