2017 Ford Explorer

midsize SUV / 4-door SUV

2017 Ford Explorer 4-door SUV

Crashworthiness

Rating overview
Evaluation criteriaRating
Small overlap front: driver-side
M
Small overlap front: passenger-side
P
Moderate overlap front: original test
G
Side: original test
G
Roof strength
G

Crash avoidance & mitigation

Evaluation criteriaRating
Headlights
P
Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle
Optional system
Basic

Seat belts & child restraints

Evaluation criteriaRating
LATCH ease of use
A

Other available safety features

  • Optional blind spot detection
  • Optional lane departure warning
  • Optional lane departure prevention

Key

  • G
    Good
  • A
    Acceptable
  • M
    Marginal
  • P
    Poor
  • Superior
  • Advanced
  • Basic

Some ratings use a scale of Poor to Good. Others range from Basic to Superior.

Small overlap front: driver-side

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2014 Ford Explorer XLT 4-door 4wd

The Ford Explorer was redesigned for the 2011 model year. Beginning with 2013 models, the seat belts and airbags were modified.

Evaluation criteriaRating
M
Structure and safety cage
P
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
A
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head barely contacted the frontal airbag before sliding off the left side as the steering column moved 17 cm to the right, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure and allowing little airbag cushioning for the chest. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
M

Action shot taken during the driver-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame, steering wheel, and instrument panel after the crash test indicates that the driver's survival space was not maintained well.

During the crash, the dummy's head and torso barely contacted the airbag before sliding off to the left as the steering column moved to the right.

Door hinge pillar and instrument panel intrusion was extensive and contributed to a moderate risk of injuries to the left knee and lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Small overlap front: passenger-side

Rating applies to 2013-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2018 Ford Explorer XLT 4-door 4wd

The Ford Explorer was redesigned for the 2011 model year. Beginning with 2013 models, the seat belts and frontal airbags were modified, and a knee airbag for the front passenger was added.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
P
Structure and safety cage
P
Passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
P
Lower leg/foot
A
Passenger restraints and dummy kinematics
The dummy’s head contacted the frontal airbag but began to roll toward the right side, leaving the head vulnerable to contact with forward structure. The side curtain airbag deployed and has sufficient forward coverage to protect the head from contact with side structure and outside objects. The side torso airbag also deployed.
A
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Hip/thigh
G
Lower leg/foot
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G

Action shot taken during the passenger-side small overlap frontal crash test.

The dummy's position in relation to the door frame and dashboard after the crash test indicates that the passenger's survival space was not maintained well.

The dummy's head contacted the frontal airbag but then rolled around to the right.

Extensive intrusion of the dashboard and door hinge pillar contributed to a likely risk of injury to the right hip and a possible risk to the left lower leg.

Technical measurements for this test

About the small overlap front test

Moderate overlap front: original test

Rating applies to 2011-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Ford Explorer XLT 4-door 4wd

The Ford Explorer was redesigned for the 2011 model year and now shares the same basic design as the Ford Flex. Frontal ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Ford.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Chest
G
Leg/foot, left
G
Leg/foot, right
G
Driver restraints and dummy kinematics
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the original moderate overlap front test

Side: original test

Rating applies to 2016-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2016 Ford Explorer 4-door 4wd

The Ford Explorer was redesigned for the 2011 model year. Beginning with 2016 models, the front seat structure, front seat-mounted side torso airbags, and front and rear door trim were modified to improve occupant protection in side impact crashes. Side ratings are assigned by the Institute based on a test conducted by Ford.

Because there were no changes to the vehicle's body structure since 2011, the structure rating is based on both this test and an earlier test of a 2011 model Explorer conducted by Ford under the test verification procedure.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
G
Structure and safety cage
G
Driver injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Driver head protection
G
Rear passenger injury measures
Head/neck
G
Torso
G
Pelvis/leg
G
Rear passenger head protection
G
Technical measurements for this test

About the original side crash test

Roof strength

Rating applies to 2011-19 models

Tested vehicle: 2011 Ford Explorer XLT 4-door 4wd

Overall evaluation
G
Curb weight4,661 lbs
Peak force21,347 lbs
Strength-to-weight ratio4.58

About the roof strength test

Headlights

Ratings are given for 2 different headlight variations available on this vehicle.

Trim level(s)

  • Platinum trim
  • Limited trim equipped with Equipment Group 301a package
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?Yes
Overall rating
P
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination High-beam assist credit Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

High-beam assist compensates for some limitations of this vehicle's low beams on both left curves and on both right curves.

Technical measurements for this test

Trim level(s)

  • Explorer trim
  • XLT trim
  • Limited trim
  • Sport trim
Evaluation criteriaRating
Low-beam headlight typeLED reflector
High-beam headlight typeHalogen reflector
Curve-adaptive?No
High-beam assist?No
Overall rating
P
Distance at which headlights provide at least 5 lux illumination:
car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler car-simpler 0 ft 100 ft 200 ft 300 ft 400 ft 500 ft 600 ft Low beams Optimal low-beam illumination High beams Optimal high-beam illumination Excessive glare

Low beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on both sides of the road. On curves, visibility was fair on the sharp left and both right curves and inadequate on the gradual left curve.

The low beams created excessive glare.

High beams
On the straightaway, visibility was good on the right side of the road and inadequate on the left side. On curves, visibility was fair on both right curves and inadequate on both left curves.

Technical measurements for this test

About the headlight evaluation

Front crash prevention: vehicle-to-vehicle

System details

  • Optional Collision Warning with Brake Support

Package name

  • Optional Adaptive Cruise Control and Forward Collision Warning

Overall evaluation

Applies to 2015-19 models

Basic
Basic
with optional equipment
  • This system meets the requirements for forward collision warning.
  • Autobrake not available.

About the original front crash prevention test

Child seat anchors

Rating applies to 2015-19 models

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Vehicle trimXLT
Seat type cloth

This vehicle has 3 rear seating positions with complete child seat attachment (LATCH) hardware.

It has 1 additional seating position with a tether anchor and the ability to borrow lower anchors from the other seating positions.

Note: When anchors are borrowed, they aren't available to use in their designated positions.

Evaluation criteriaRating
Overall evaluation
A
Vehicle trimXLT
Seat type cloth
1 2 3 6 4
Rating iconRating
GGood
AAcceptable
MMarginal
PPoor
Seating positions that rely on borrowed lower anchors or have only a tether anchor available are not rated.
thether anchor symbol
Tether anchor
lower anchor symbol
Lower anchors
shared lower achors symbol
Lower anchor(s) can be borrowed from adjacent positions(s)
No hardware available

Details by seating position

PositionRating
1
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
2
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
Can be borrowed from 1 and 3
3
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
no other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
4
Tether anchor
hard-to-find location
other hardware could be confused for anchor
Lower anchors
not too deep in seat
not too much force needed to attach
easy to maneuver around anchors
Technical measurements for this test

About the child seat anchor evaluation