NHTSA (USA)
The official notice
Defect
This page covers 27 recalls, 77 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2025 Ford Explorer.
20–24 mpg combined
9.8–11.8 L/100km
Standard Sport Utility Vehicle 4WD
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 6 tested variants for this model year.
The 2023 to 2025 Ford Explorer received a five-star overall rating from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program for US-market vehicles. The Explorer earned five stars in frontal crash, side crash, and side pole crash tests. It received four stars in rollover testing. NHTSA applies these ratings across model years until a significant redesign occurs, so this rating covers the entire 2023 to 2025 range shown here.
5/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
For the 2025 Ford Explorer, powertrain complaints make up the largest share of what owners report, with the transmission and hybrid system drawing the most attention. On the transmission side, owners describe a rotary gear shifter that stiffens intermittently when moving between park and drive, and some report dealers declining to address it until the shifter fully seizes. Hybrid-specific complaints center on the charging system throwing faults, the 12-volt battery failing, and in some cases the engine disabling itself while driving, owners report a "stop safely now" warning appearing with no obvious warning leading up to it. Visibility complaints rank second, and a recurring pattern involves side windows shattering spontaneously while driving, with owners noting no visible impact or damage to the surrounding door panel.
77
Total Complaints
6
Crash-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2025 Ford Explorer has 26 recalls, the most serious being a cluster of drivetrain and powertrain issues that can cause unexpected vehicle movement, sudden loss of drive power, or an engine stall while driving.
Several recalls center on the transmission and powertrain. The transmission valve body can allow the vehicle to creep forward when reverse or neutral is selected, creating an unexpected movement risk. A separate powertrain control module software fault can reset while driving, damaging the parking pawl so the vehicle rolls away when parked without the parking brake applied, and can also cut drive power mid-trip. Loose cross member bolts can leave the transmission improperly secured, again cutting drive power. On vehicles with the 2.3L engine, internal engine components can fail and cause a sudden stall. A separate engine recall involving connecting rod and rod bearing defects carries the same stall risk. An exhaust gas recirculation valve can also fail unexpectedly and cut drive power. The trailer hitch assembly bolts may be loose, which while towing can cause loss of vehicle control or allow the trailer to detach entirely.
On the safety equipment side, fuel injectors assembled without O-ring support discs can leak fuel and raise the risk of a fire near an ignition source. The front brake caliper mounting bolts may not be properly tightened, which can cause a loss of front braking and potential wheel damage. Second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts may be loose, reducing restraint effectiveness in a crash. A front subframe mounting bolt may also be improperly tightened, reducing crash performance. The second-
The official notice
Defect
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Driver Assistance
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP). Based on 2 tested variants; worst-case ratings shown.
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Safety Risk
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters explaining the safety risk are expected to be mailed July 27, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may prevent the pedestrian warning sound from operating at certain speeds in these hybrid vehicles.
What the fix does
For 28-speaker Nautilus Hybrid models, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module at no cost. Remedy for other models is under development.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The engine may fail, causing loss of driving power in certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the engine long block at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
On certain vehicles with a 2.3L engine, manufacturing defects may cause engine failure, resulting in loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership, where technicians will replace the engine.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Image Processing Module A may unexpectedly restart, causing the rearview camera and advanced safety features—including collision warning, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring—to stop working.
What the fix does
A software update will be installed in the Image Processing Module A at no cost, either at a dealership or wirelessly to your vehicle.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts securing the seat belt anchors at the second-row outer seats may not be properly tightened, potentially allowing the seat belts to come loose.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten, repair, or replace the second-row outer seat belt anchor bolts as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The exhaust gas recirculation valve may fail, causing unexpected loss of engine power while driving.
What the fix does
Ford will replace or repair the exhaust gas recirculation valve. Remedy details will be provided in an upcoming letter.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The Dynamic Bending Light system software may cause the passenger-side headlight to turn the wrong direction when driving through curves.
What the fix does
A dealer will update the headlight control module software, or the update will be sent wirelessly to your vehicle. The fix is free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue may cause the right headlamp to aim incorrectly when you turn the steering wheel, potentially not meeting Canadian regulatory requirements.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you instructions to visit a dealership for a headlamp control module software update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The windshield glass contains visible air bubbles that can block the driver's view through the windshield.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the windshield and replace it if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software error may prevent the pedestrian warning sound from emitting at certain speeds in 2024-2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025 Explorer hybrid police vehicles.
What the fix does
Ford will update the audio control module and digital signal processing module software at no cost, either through a dealer or over-the-air update.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts that attach the trailer hitch assembly may become loose, which could cause the hitch to separate from the vehicle.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body control module may be improperly manufactured, causing trailer tail lights to not illuminate when towing.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the body control module. Vehicles with under 9,000 miles get automatic replacement; higher-mileage vehicles receive a functional check first.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The body control module may have a manufacturing defect, preventing trailer taillights from working when towing. This can also cause trailer error messages and electrical system malfunctions.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you a notice. Take your vehicle to a dealership to have the body control module inspected and replaced if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The connecting rods and rod bearings may have manufacturing defects that can cause engine damage and failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the connecting rods and replace the engine long block assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, causing the seats to unlatch, fold, or slide unexpectedly while driving.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch and replace the bezel around the switch as needed at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The bolts holding the front brake caliper may not be tight enough, which can cause the front brakes to stop working and potentially damage the wheel.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts. If bolts are missing, they'll replace the brake caliper and pads at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A mounting bolt that secures the front subframe may not have been tightened properly during manufacturing, potentially causing it to loosen.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the subframe bolts and tighten them as needed at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The powertrain control module may reset while driving, potentially damaging the park system or causing the engine to stall.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software fault can cause the engine control computer to reset while driving, which may damage the transmission's parking mechanism. This could allow the vehicle to roll when shifted to Park if the parking brake isn't applied, or cause loss of power to the wheels.
What the fix does
The dealer will update the engine control computer software and inspect the transmission, replacing it if needed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission valve body may be defective, causing reverse gear to fail or the vehicle to move forward when reverse or neutral is selected.
What the fix does
Ford will replace the transmission main control valve body at a dealership.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission valve body may have been machined incorrectly, causing reverse gear to fail or the vehicle to move forward unexpectedly when in reverse or neutral.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The transmission may not be properly secured because the cross member bolts holding it in place are loose or missing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the bolts and replace them if loose. If bolts are missing, they'll replace the entire cross member and install new bolts.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The air bag warning label on the dashboard may be missing, which means the vehicle doesn't have the required safety information label.
What the fix does
Ford will mail you the warning label at no cost. Letters were sent December 19, 2024. Call 1-866-436-7332 with questions.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rearview camera image stops displaying when the vehicle reaches 10 MPH or faster, blocking the rear visibility required by federal safety standards.
What the fix does
Ford will update the accessory protocol interface module software through an over-the-air update or at a dealer, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
A software issue in the accessory protocol image module can prevent the rearview camera image from displaying when you shift into reverse.
What the fix does
Ford will send a wireless software update to your vehicle's system, or you can schedule a dealership appointment to have the update installed.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Fuel injectors may lack O-ring support discs, allowing fuel to leak from the injector assembly.
What the fix does
Dealers will install new fuel injector O-rings and O-ring support discs at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
