No official US dataset names one best year. Complaint volume is not a reliability score. Use the comparison and the years with more reports as research priorities, then open the year dossier and check the VIN with the official NHTSA recall search.
The records cannot name a best Ford Explorer year.
Complaint totals have no sales, mileage or age denominator. Recall campaign counts are official actions, not a quality ranking. Years with more reports to inspect: 2002, 2016, 2013.
Shortlist years only after comparing the complete matrix and opening their individual dossiers. Then verify the exact VIN, recall-remedy status, service history, mileage and condition. An independent inspection can reveal faults that a national complaint or recall dataset cannot describe for one particular vehicle.