The contact owns a 2026 Ford Explorer. While the contact's wife was driving 60 MPH, the instrument cluster independently turned off. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with a software malfunction. The contact was informed that the unknown software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired; however, the failure reoccurred. In addition, the contact stated that only the fuel gauge and the speed odometer operated as needed. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed with an unknown software malfunction. The contact was informed that the software needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired. The contact was informed that the software update was completed, and the system was rebooted. The contact was not satisfied with the repair. The contact researched and inquired about the APIM board being replaced to prevent the failure from reoccurring. The contact was informed that the manufacturer did not approve of the repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 1,000.
Ford Explorer fuel gauge problems
103 of the 34,661 owner complaints about the Ford Explorer describe wrong fuel gauge reading, most of them for the 2005 model year.
- owner complaints
- 103
- worst model year
- 2005
- typical repair cost reported
- $800
- typical mileage
- 48,000
By model year
Often reported together
Fuel pump 15Check engine light 15Stalling 3Hesitation 3Fuel smell 3Power windows 2Power steering loss 2Loss of power 2
What owners say
My 2017 Ford Explorer XLT with approximately 236,000 miles has an ongoing EVAP/fuel vapor system problem that causes the vehicle to hesitate, stumble, and attempt to stall. The problem occurs most frequently after refueling and also when the fuel level is low. The check-engine light comes on repeatedly, and despite numerous repair attempts, the issue has not been corrected. Repairs and parts replaced have included the purge valve, EVAP-related sensor(s), charcoal canister(s), and associated tubing. Significant money has been spent diagnosing and repairing this condition, but the symptoms continue. After filling the fuel tank, the engine may run rough, hesitate, lose power, and attempt to stall. This creates a safety concern because the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power or stall while driving, entering traffic, slowing for intersections, or operating in other traffic situations. The condition has persisted despite replacement of multiple EVAP system components. Based on the repeated failures and inability to permanently correct the issue, I believe this may indicate a defect affecting other vehicles of the same model year. I am requesting that this issue be investigated due to the potential safety risk associated with engine hesitation, loss of power, and stalling.
Car was parked on a driveway, decent grade, with 50 miles left to empty (no low fuel light on). Facing downward. Car did not turn over. Had to use manual override to put vehicle into neutral and coast to a more level area and start it up. Seen this issue posted on the Explorer ST Facebook group multiple times, so I was lucky I knew what the issue is. Most other people would be stranded. There is a flaw in the Explorer's fuel tank system that will not allow the car to start if fuel level gets below a certain threshold when parked facing down a steep street or driveway.
The fuel level indication on my 2022 Ford Explorer behaves erratically and inaccurately. The issue occurs regardless of whether the vehicle is parked uphill, or downhill, just any time I’m on an incline, and it happens even when the fuel tank is full. The fuel gauge and/or “miles to empty” reading changes unexpectedly and does not reliably reflect the actual amount of fuel in the tank. This behavior is not limited to low fuel conditions. The problem appears consistently raising concerns about inaccurate fuel level reporting and potential fuel system malfunction. The vehicle has not displayed warning lights, and the issue is resolved by refueling, but changing parking orientation does not reset or cause the fuel gauge to show accurate reading. I have had one instance of needing to call roadside assistance as it falsely read I was out of fuel.
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that after refueling the vehicle, the fuel gauge displayed a full tank; however, the Distance To Empty indicator was incorrect. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed that the fuel pump monitor needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was opened. The failure mileage was approximately 40,800.
The fuel sending unit goes bad due to the split tank and differential and drive train have to be taken apart and dropped in order to change. Costing over $1,000.00. You can not go under half a tank of gas and if you do you just run out of gas immediately causing you to stop on highways side roads etc.Its very dangerous to have a vehicle that will just all of a sudden run out of gas and no one is paying to get them fixed because of the pricepoint charged to repair. This is Fords faulty work 1000%
The gas gauge isn’t reading correctly. I’m a mother of a one year old son and I didn’t noticed that my car was reading wrong until I put in gas and it didn’t give me the correct reading. I have spoken to many people who owns a Ford Explorer and they have said the same thing. I don’t even know where to start on why it wouldn’t work. The problem has been reported and I didn’t get a warning. It just stopped reading correctly. There’s nothing on my dashboard, no sign or anything. I am confused.
Fuel gauge on electronic instrument panel shows empty at all times. Driver can run out of gas without warning. Vehicle OBDC shows fuel sensor fault, local dealer claims a faulty instrument cluster with very costly repair. No warnings before this happened. Just Fuel light coming on, check engine light coming on and fuel level showing Zero.
The APIM module failed in our 2017 Ford Explorer. The module failed so the windshield wipers do not work, the turn signals do not work, the heater does not work, the speedometer does not work, the tachometer does not work, the temperature gauge does not work, the fuel gauge does not work, the center display does not work, the reverse camera does not work and the radio will not turn off and the center display lights will not turn off.
During low speed maneuvers like parking and when coming to a stop, the fuel sloshes loudly and can be heard inside the vehicle. It sloshes most noticeably when the fuel level is above 3/4 full. The fuel moves so much it sometimes sounds like there's something hitting the floor underneath the driver seat or a driveline issue.
Related recalls
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Bronco, Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, F-250 SD, F-350 SD, F-450 SD, F-550 SD, 2021-2022 Lincoln Navigator, Mustang, F-150, and 2022 Expedition vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump may fail, which can result in an engine stall while driving.
- Risk
- An engine stall increases the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the low pressure fuel pump on super duty vehicles and update the powertrain control module (PCM) software on all other affected vehicles, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S75.
Recall number 25V455000 · Recall details
Hybrid propulsion system
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.3L Hybrid engines. The 12-Volt battery cable may chafe against the Belt-integrated Starter Generat (BiSG) and short circuit.
- Risk
- A short circuit increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a tie strap between the battery cable and high voltage cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 8, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S61.
Recall number 24V685000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: fuel injection system: injectors
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.
Recall number 24V634000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Ranger vehicles equipped with 2.3L engines. The fuel line may be loose due to improper tightening of the fuel line connection.
- Risk
- An improperly tightened fuel line connection may result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will inspect and replace the fuel line assembly, if needed, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 29, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22S60.
Recall number 22V685000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: filler pipe and cap
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The fuel filler tube may detach during a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."
- Risk
- A detached fuel filler tube can result in a fuel leak, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will install a fuel vapor line redundant locking clip, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on April 4, 2022. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 22C02.
Recall number 22V088000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L engines and 19 gallon fuel tanks. The fuel tank inlet check valve may not be fully welded to the fuel tank shell.
- Risk
- An incomplete weld securing the inlet check valve to the fuel tank shell could result in a substantial fuel leak during a crash, increasing the risk of fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank shell, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 20S68.
Recall number 20V730000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line and cause a fuel leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line, as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners and interim notification on January 29, 2020. Recall began March 23, 2020. A second notice will be sent once parts are available, expected to be late in the first quarter of 2020. A renotification letter was sent on July 10, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19S49.
Recall number 19V859000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L or 3.5L GTDI engine. Due to an assembly error, the fuel pressure sensor may leak fuel.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel line assembly, free of charge. The recall began December 7, 2018. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 18S35.
Recall number 18V807000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2013 Explorer, Explorer Police Utility, Taurus, Taurus Police Interceptor, Flex, Lincoln MKS, and Lincoln MKT vehicles. In the affected vehicles, the fuel delivery module may crack, allowing fuel to leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source may result in a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel delivery module, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 13S04-S1.
Recall number 15V812000 · Recall details
Fuel system, gasoline: storage: tank assembly: mounting
- What is wrong
- Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Taurus, Lincoln MKS, and 2016 Ford Explorer vehicles manufactured on July 24, 2015. During vehicle production, the fuel tank attachment bolts may not have been properly tightened. As a result, the fuel tank straps may fracture and the fuel tank could separate from the vehicle.
- Risk
- If the fuel tank separates from the vehicle, a fuel leak may occur, increasing the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Ford will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the fuel tank attachment bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 19, 2015. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1‑866‑436‑7332. Ford's number for this recall is 15S26.
Recall number 15V605000 · Recall details
Questions about the Ford Explorer fuel gauge
Which Ford Explorer years have wrong fuel gauge reading problems?
The model years with the most reports are 2005 (34 complaints), 2002 (15 complaints) and 2004 (8 complaints).
How much does it cost to fix wrong fuel gauge reading on the Ford Explorer?
Owners who mentioned a price put the repair at about $800 (median of 10 complaints that include a dollar amount). Costs vary with mileage, warranty and where the work is done.
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