# Ford Explorer tire pressure light: complaints, recalls and what to do **Verdict:** Drive to a shop this week - **Owner complaints:** 23 - **Most complaints:** 2020 (7) - **Related recalls:** 0 - **Verdict:** This week ## Quick answer NHTSA has 23 owner complaints about the tire pressure light on the Ford Explorer (2015-2026 models), most for the **2020** model year (7). No recall covers the parts behind this light, so a repair is usually at the owner's cost. Drive to a shop this week: You can drive carefully to the nearest air pump. ## Ford Explorer tire pressure light complaints by model year | Model year | Complaints mentioning the tire pressure light | All complaints that year | Share | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | 2015 | 5 | 1814 | 0% | | 2016 | 6 | 2464 | 0% | | 2017 | 3 | 1713 | 0% | | 2020 | 7 | 1248 | 1% | | 2021 | 2 | 452 | 0% | Counts are complaints filed with NHTSA whose description mentions this light. They show where owners have had trouble, not a failure rate: popular years collect more complaints simply because more cars are on the road. ## Is there a recall for the Ford Explorer tire pressure light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. The Ford Explorer has 92 recalls for other parts in 2015-2026; see the [Ford Explorer page](/vehicles/ford-explorer) or check your VIN at [nhtsa.gov/recalls](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls). ## What Ford Explorer owners report - "All 4 tire TPMS sensor have failed. 2 at 67,057 on ~ 2/20/26, 2 at 71,024 miles on ~6/10/26. Car is a 2021. Sensors should not have failed within 5 years of owing the car. I have a 2012 Ford F50m only 1 has failed in over 14 years. Asking consideration for a recall to cover costs." -- owner of a 2021 Ford Explorer, complaint filed 2026 - "Tire pressure sensor fault. A rear tire pressure sensor has defaulted more than once. As this is built into the wheel assembly, I believe this is a safety issue" -- owner of a 2020 Ford Explorer, complaint filed 2025 - "(this seems to be the same symptom for which hankook issued an earlier - jan 2016 - recall.) all four tires were properly inflated as indicated by the tire pressure monitoring system. To the best of our knowledge the tire had never struck an object that could have weakened the sidewall." -- owner of a 2017 Ford Explorer, complaint filed 2017 Excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly cleaned for reading. They are owners' own accounts and have not been verified. ## What the tire pressure light means A steady tire pressure light means one or more tires is significantly underinflated, usually 25% or more below the pressure on the driver door sticker. Cold weather and slow leaks are the most common reasons. If the light flashes for about a minute and then stays on, the monitoring system itself has a fault, often a dead sensor battery. The most common causes, on any make: 1. **Cold weather dropped the pressure** (most common) 2. **Slow leak or puncture** (common) 3. **Dead TPMS sensor battery** (common) 4. **Sensors not relearned after tire work** (less common) Full causes, what to do and how to reset it: [Tire pressure (TPMS) light](/warning-lights/tire-pressure). ## Frequently asked questions ### Is there a recall for the Ford Explorer tire pressure light? Not for the parts behind this light, as of 2026-11-04. A repair is usually at the owner's cost unless the car is under warranty. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, since new recalls are added often. ### Which Ford Explorer years have the most tire pressure light complaints? In NHTSA's database the 2015, 2016 and 2020 Explorer model years have the most complaints mentioning the tire pressure light, with 7 for 2020. Complaint counts reflect how many cars were sold as well as how often problems happen. ### Is it safe to drive a Ford Explorer with the tire pressure light on? Drive to a shop this week. You can drive carefully to the nearest air pump. If a tire looks visibly flat, the car pulls hard, or you hear flapping, stop and change to the spare or call for help, because driving on a very low tire can destroy it and cause a blowout. ### How do I check if my Ford Explorer has an open recall? Enter the 17-character VIN from your dashboard or registration at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Ford dealer. Open recalls are fixed free of charge, even if you are not the first owner. ## Sources - [NHTSA: Vehicle safety complaints and recalls (api.nhtsa.gov)](https://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa-datasets-and-apis) - [NHTSA: Check for recalls by VIN](https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls) ## Other Ford Explorer warning lights - [ABS warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/abs/ford-explorer): 33 complaints - [Airbag (SRS) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/airbag/ford-explorer): 205 complaints - [Battery (charging system) warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/battery/ford-explorer): 15 complaints - [Brake warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/brake/ford-explorer): 62 complaints - [Check engine light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/check-engine/ford-explorer): 314 complaints - [Coolant temperature warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/coolant-temperature/ford-explorer): 222 complaints - [Oil pressure warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/oil-pressure/ford-explorer): 11 complaints - [Power steering warning light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/power-steering/ford-explorer): 498 complaints - [Traction control light](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/traction-control/ford-explorer): 81 complaints ## Tire pressure (TPMS) light on other models - [Honda Accord](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-accord): 154 complaints - [Honda CR-V](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-cr-v): 146 complaints - [Honda Civic](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-civic): 59 complaints - [Ford Escape](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/ford-escape): 36 complaints - [Hyundai Sonata](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/hyundai-sonata): 23 complaints - [Chevrolet Equinox](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/chevrolet-equinox): 20 complaints - [Hyundai Elantra](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/hyundai-elantra): 20 complaints - [Honda HR-V](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/honda-hr-v): 18 complaints - [Jeep Grand Cherokee](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/jeep-grand-cherokee): 18 complaints - [Toyota RAV4](https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/toyota-rav4): 17 complaints ## Ford Explorer - [Ford Explorer specs and mpg by year](https://diagxcar.com/vehicles/ford-explorer) --- Source page: https://diagxcar.com/warning-lights/tire-pressure/ford-explorer Updated: 2026-11-04 General information, not a substitute for a qualified mechanic.