2021 Ford Explorer: Rodent chewed wiring
Common wear/failure (not a recall)
Symptoms
Owners of the 2021 Explorer report: rodent chewed wiring. CarComplaints.com lists 1 owner complaints, average mileage 8,050 miles.
NHTSA has 48 owner complaints for the 2021 Explorer in this area. Examples:
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11769505 (filed 10/07/2026): “The passenger window and the driver window will not respond. the windows will not go up on either side, exposing the driver and passengers to the elements of rain. in addition, the car is vulnerable to theft and break-ins. the windows are part of a larger elec…”
- NHTSA complaint ODI #11769252 (filed 10/06/2026): “Ladder being shut off, i exited the vehicle. i shut the driver side door. the car locked itself after shutting . locking the keys and entrapped my 1.5 year old for 30 minutes while i waited for police to come and assist.…”
Likely causes
Sources do not establish a single root cause; diagnosis is needed. Owner-reported fixes are listed below.
Fix, in plain English
Most common owner-reported solutions on CarComplaints.com: pay for replacement wiring harness (1 reports). Check for open recalls and extended warranty coverage with a dealer before paying out of pocket.
DIY difficulty: Moderate
Finding and splicing chewed wiring is doable with a multimeter and patience but can be time-consuming; harness replacement is pro work. (Our assessment.)
Cost
CarComplaints.com owners report a typical repair cost of about $1,030 (owner-reported average, not a quote).
Typical parts (search links, no affiliate codes)
AutoZone · O'Reilly · Advance · RockAuto