2025 Ford Explorer Owner Complaints

Our first occurrence happened right after we pulled out of a parking space, then proceeded to drive; only to be alerted with numerous warnings, 1. Anti-lock brake fault. 2. Hill start assist warning. 3. Anti-lock brake system fault. 4. Electronic parking brake warning. 5. Pre-collision assist not available. It particularly was a bit scary at first, because we weren't going more than 10mph starting out, and the vehicle abruptly stopped on us, as was the steering became difficult. Luckily, there were not vehicles in front or behind us. The vehicle began to jerk forward and stop hard, if we proceeded, which we could do, limping the SUV, on back streets, only 1/2 mile from dealership. Once at dealership at Ford in Seaside, California, they ran diagnostics, and re-calibrated the faulty module(s), that may have caused this. Fast forward to XXX, while at stop sign in [XXX], we proceeded at slow speed, maybe 10mph or so, and SUV abruptly braked on us and came to complete stop, with warning on instrument display. We pulled over, shutoff vehicle for a minute or so, turned back on and were able to drive again normally. We took a chance, and a few days later, drove vehicle up to the dealership (The Ford Store, Morgan Hill, California) to diagnose. They had it for a few days, and determined the Electronic Brake Booster module needed replaced and whatever they did additionally, like re-calibrations, etc. We're crossing our fingers we don't encounter problem(s). SUV is under warrantly, still, and we did purchase an extended warranty when we purchased it, new, back in XX . We're just praying this doesn't happen if we're driving at a high speed. Never had problems with our three previous Ford Explorers. Of course, these 2025s and newer ones have extensive electronics. Needless to say, my wife is scared this issue might happen again. We can't be the only Ford Explorer or Ford vehicle that might have encountered these issues? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552

NHTSA ID

11776393

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was previously repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V451000 (Seats); however, the failure recurred. The contact stated that after slightly brushing against the second-row seat easy access button, the row of seats unlocked and tilted forward. The dealer was contacted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 35,816.

NHTSA ID

11776199

Incident

Oct 16, 2026

Mileage

35,816 mi

I was driving on a highway route on October 24, 2026 with my toddler and mother in the car. I stopped at a red light. While stopped my car lost complete power and could not be restarted (no buttons worked, lock/unlock, start button/ hazard lights etc). The police had to be contacted as even my hazard lights would not activate. The police officer and the tow truck driver attempted to start my car and failed, the car could also not be put in neutral to be towed. The car was then towed the closest ford dealer which kept my car for one full week. I was told the problem could not be duplicated and the car was returned to me with no repairs. Prior to this occurring there had been no warning lights on the dash board or otherwise. I find this unacceptable as this incident could have ended catastrophically and can happen again at any time.

NHTSA ID

11775568

Incident

Oct 24, 2026

While driving yesterday, I heard a loud pop sound on my roof. When I arrived home about 5 min later I checked the roof and saw no issues or visible damage. About an hour later I heard another loud sound coming from my garage. This is when I discovered that the moonroof had spontaneously shattered and cracked. There was no known impact , falling objects or anything that would explain how this happened. The fact that I heard the initial popping noise while driving and that the glass continued to fracture while the vehicle was parked raises serious concerns about a possible defect in the glass or moonroof assembly. I have since found other owner reported complaints involving spontaneous glass failures on other Ford vehicles. I'm glad that no one was in the car when the glass shattered causing serious harm.

NHTSA ID

11775089

Incident

Nov 1, 2026

I own a 2025 Ford Explorer Active, purchased new in April 2025. In approximately early October 2026, I noticed a significant and unexplained brightness difference between the rear taillights. The driver’s-side taillight is noticeably brighter than the passenger-side taillight when the exterior lights are illuminated. On October 19, 2026, I brought the vehicle to Ford Country in Henderson, Nevada, for diagnosis. My service advisor personally observed the difference in brightness. The technicians scanned the vehicle’s electronic systems and reportedly found no diagnostic trouble codes explaining the condition. According to the shop foreman, technicians also installed taillight assemblies from other Ford Explorers for comparison. The driver’s-side taillight remained brighter, suggesting that replacing the lamp assemblies did not correct the condition. The dealership discovered professionally installed aftermarket emergency lighting and two previously disconnected factory liftgate lighting connectors. These modifications were performed in 2025, and the remaining factory taillights appeared to operate normally for more than a year afterward. The shop foreman explained that the dealership would not continue electrical diagnostics because its technicians do not work on modified emergency-vehicle electrical systems. He did not establish that the aftermarket equipment caused the brightness difference. The vehicle is being returned without a confirmed diagnosis or repair. I am concerned that the unexplained difference in rear lighting brightness could affect the visibility or interpretation of the vehicle’s rear lighting by other motorists. The vehicle previously received an inspection under Ford recall 25C42 involving the Body Control Module C, which reportedly passed. I do not know whether that recall is related to the current condition. I am submitting this complaint to document a potential exterior lighting safety issue and request that NHTSA review whether similar

NHTSA ID

11772795

Incident

Oct 14, 2026

On October 19, 2026, I experienced a serious braking malfunction while driving my 2025 Ford Explorer ST at highway speed. While my foot was on the accelerator, the vehicle unexpectedly began braking repeatedly without me pressing the brake pedal. The vehicle jerked and pulsated as though the ABS was activating. When I attempted to brake, the pedal felt unusually loose and did not immediately respond to the pressure I applied. I eventually managed to slow down and pull onto the highway shoulder. This created a dangerous situation that put me and other motorists at risk. Multiple warnings appeared, including Anti-Lock Brake System Fault, Electronic Parking Brake, Pre-Collision Assist Not Available, and Powertrain Malfunction/Reduced Power. The dashboard also displayed “Park Brake Not Applied,” although I had not activated the parking brake. FordPass reported that the ABS control module was sending invalid information to other vehicle modules and that the electronic parking brake had a fault. This was the second nearly identical incident. On September 29, 2026, I experienced similar unexpected braking and difficulty controlling the brakes. The dealership diagnosed a software glitch and charged approximately $690 for a system reboot and update, which they stated was not covered under warranty. Despite that repair, the dangerous braking malfunction returned less than three weeks later. The vehicle was towed back to the Ford dealership on October 19 and is awaiting further diagnosis. I am concerned about this recurring braking malfunction and the risk of a serious collision. I request that NHTSA investigate this potential safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11772449

Incident

Oct 19, 2026

OUR FAMILY SAFETY A RISK BECAUSE THE CAR SEAT WAS BURNING, IT WAS SMOKING AND I GOT BURNED.

NHTSA ID

11772224

Incident

Sep 22, 2026

I was driving at approximately 5mph when my car suddenly slammed on breaks. The pre collision warning popped up. There was no obstical in site. Happened approximately 30 mins ago. Had immediate pain in my shoulder, neck and head.

NHTSA ID

11771498

Incident

Oct 15, 2026

Faulty led chip in headlight, DRL , high beam & low beams affected EXACTLY like the recalled 2026 models.. ford recommended replacement @ 2,400$ Ford should be forced to extend the recall to all affected models. This is an attempt to mitigate and minimize financial damage for ford motor company and is unacceptable

NHTSA ID

11770507

Incident

Oct 9, 2026

At approximately 17,000 miles the Explorer started misfiring, would not shift out of gear and check engine light would flash. Dealer replaced #1 spark plug. 1 week later the car misfiring occurred again, where #4 spark plug was replaced. 18,300 miles later, #1 and #3 spark plugs were replaced due to cracked spark plugs which caused misfire. All instances happened under engine load while merging onto freeway which caused a hazard due to lack of acceleration and reduced speed while getting onto freeway.

NHTSA ID

11769200

Incident

Sep 4, 2026

The contact owned a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was making a right turn into a resident carport, the vehicle surged forward and crashed into the house at approximately 10-15 MPH. The brake pedal was depressed during the failure. The contact was following his wife at the time and became aware that the brake pedal was being depressed. The air bags deployed on the driver's and passenger's sides, steering, curtain, and footwell. The driver sustained bruises from the air bag and seat belt. The vehicle was towed. The EMT provided medical attention at the scene. A Police report was filed but the police report number was not available. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and opened a case. The vehicle was inspected and totaled by the insurance company. The failure mileage was approximately 27,954.

NHTSA ID

11766976

Incident

Sep 21, 2026

Mileage

27,954 mi

I was making a left hand turn with incoming traffic. I had pleanty of time to make the turn. Next thing I know my forward pre collision alarm goes off, locks up breaks, alarms started going off. It only lasted a couple seconds, but that’s all it takes to killed.

NHTSA ID

11765372

Incident

Sep 18, 2026

A recent over-the-air (OTA) software update deployed by Ford Motor Company to my 2025 Ford Explorer ST introduced a primary safety hazard and severe system latency. PASSENGER MIRROR FAILURE: Approximately 10% of the time upon vehicle startup, the passenger-side power-folding exterior mirror fails to unfold. This leaves the driver with no right-side mirror visibility, creating an immediate blind-spot hazard and violating FMVSS 111 visibility standards. APIM / NAVIGATION LATENCY: The software update severely degraded processing in the Accessory Protocol Interface Module (APIM). Navigation display systems lag behind the actual vehicle location by approximately 0.1 miles, causing delayed routing information and significant driver distraction. System resets (soft reboots and full master resets) fail to fix the issues. Upon contacting Ford In-Vehicle Technology support, representatives acknowledged the issue but refused to log or escalate the side-mirror failure as a safety defect.

NHTSA ID

11765202

Incident

Sep 18, 2026

the rear passenger door flew open while I was driving on a public road, with absolutely no warning or dashboard alert to indicate it was unlatched

NHTSA ID

11764979

Incident

Sep 4, 2026

Just dropped off my [XXX] and [XXX] to elementary school drove to get gas and the passenger backseat behind the driver side fell forward and slid forward. I put it back in place drove again. It did it again and it is not staying in place. I called FORD. They told me they were supposed to be a remedy for it mid September. It is mid September but I can’t have my [XXX] getting hurt with a default seat and when I called today XXX at approximately 1:20 PM mountain time the lady on the phone told me pretty much. There’s nothing that they can do about it until there’s parts to replace it even though it opposes a danger to my child. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11764467

Incident

Sep 15, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 26V122000 (Engine and Engine Cooling). The contact scheduled an appointment at the local dealer after being notified of the recall. The dealer initially stated that the part would be available within a week, but the contact was subsequently informed that the part was on backorder and there was no estimated date when the part would be available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The contact had not experienced a failure.

NHTSA ID

11761852

Incident

Aug 26, 2026

I am reporting recurring engine misfires involving my 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum equipped with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 15,700 miles. The first incident occurred approximately five months ago. The check-engine warning appeared and the vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Ford dealership with DTC P0303, indicating a cylinder 3 misfire. The cylinder 3 spark plug was replaced. A second misfire subsequently occurred at approximately 15,700 miles. The vehicle again exhibited an engine misfire/check-engine warning and was transported through Ford Roadside Assistance for service. An authorized Ford dealership diagnosed DTC P0301, indicating a cylinder 1 misfire. I was advised that the cylinder 1 spark plug was physically damaged and that a portion/cap of the plug had broken off and was not present. I am concerned because this represents two spark-plug-related misfires involving two different cylinders of the same engine within approximately five months and at relatively low mileage. Ford has issued technical service information addressing P0301-P0304 misfires on certain 2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. I am not claiming that this establishes the cause of my vehicle's failures; I am reporting the recurring condition so NHTSA can document it and evaluate it alongside any similar reports. Both incidents were diagnosed by authorized Ford dealerships. Repair documentation and manufacturer/dealership correspondence concerning the incidents have been retained and can be provided if requested. The vehicle/component may be available for further inspection if requested, subject to its current repair status.

NHTSA ID

11759707

Incident

Aug 18, 2026

On XXX, my 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum experienced a complete unexplained no-start failure while approximately six hours from home. The vehicle had less than 1/4 tank of fuel but was not empty and was parked on a slight decline. It remote-started normally and ran for approximately 10 minutes before automatically shutting off. Afterward, it would not restart, repeatedly displayed "Accessory Power Only," and later displayed and audibly announced "System Failure, Contact Dealer." Multiple jump-start attempts failed and the vehicle required towing to Lugoff Ford in [XXX]. Lugoff Ford documented fuel and transmission-related codes and initially advised that the vehicle appeared to need a transmission replacement. That explanation later changed, and the vehicle was returned without an identified cause or repair. I subsequently took the vehicle to Cleveland Ford in [XXX] for a second evaluation. Their repair order specifically states that Ford connected data showed a fuel-pressure code on the day of the failure, but they found no active DTCs and could not duplicate the condition. The vehicle was again returned without diagnosis or repair. I am concerned that an intermittent defect involving the fuel system, transmission controls, electrical system, software, or related components could cause another sudden disabling event. Two Ford dealers have evaluated the vehicle, evidence of the original failure exists, and the underlying cause remains unidentified and unrepaired. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11756812

Incident

Jul 5, 2026

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, the vehicle was started and the doors were unlocked and the contact walked over to the front passenger’s side door to put her purse inside the vehicle; however, after the contact walked over to the rear driver’s side door to place a child into the car seat, the doors inadvertently locked and the child was trapped and locked inside the vehicle. The key fob failed to operate as designed, and the contact was unable to unlock the doors. The contact broke the rear driver’s side window to remove the child from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer, and the dealer stated that the failure might be related to a software malfunction; however, the cause of the failure was not yet determined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,000.

NHTSA ID

11756467

Incident

Aug 12, 2026

Mileage

4,000 mi

The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving 50 MPH, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The vehicle crashed into the driver's side of another vehicle. The air bags failed to deploy. The vehicle was towed to a local tow yard. The contact was transported to the local medical center for medical attention. The contact sustained bruises and contusions during the crash. The contact sustained a continuous headache after the crash. The contact was receiving continuous medical treatment. A Police report was filed. The vehicle was scheduled for an inspection by the insurance company within days. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. The failure mileage was approximately 20,000.

NHTSA ID

11756160

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

Mileage

20,000 mi

Steering fails to self-center after slight bear-left such as lane change manuver or steering to track a gentle left bend in road, typically holding ~10 degree left position of the steering wheel. Center feel is "notchy." Behavior is almost completely a bear-left problem and only a slight similar behavior in bear-right condition. Self-centering from hard left seems to be correct in fully returning wheel to center. This behavior has been confirmed by many owners' complaints posted online, and is a problem unique to the Explorer model and 2020+ generation. Video demonstrating problem while driving: [XXX] Explorer ST Owner Forum post confirms similar behavior by others: [XXX] My dealer is treating this as "not a problem, they all do this." No other vehicle in my life (dozens) has ever exhibited this behaviour of steering not returning to center while moving. After delivery I returned the car almost immediately to the dealer on noticing the steering just felt "weird." They found nothing. I narrowed the behavior down to the specific circumstance of bear-left and notchy on-center feel, returned it again, and again they found nothing. With ~3000mi, no change in behavior --"break-in" is long past. I know how to correct for the issue, but if I loan out the car? While it can be called a fit and finish flaw, on the outside it could be a safety issue for unfamiliar drivers. Answers to General Guidelines questions >>> Dealer has identified no failed components or need for repair after two attempts and multiple discussions of the problem. >>> Safety? Issue results in fatigue after long use of the vehicle. Drivers unfamiliar with non-return-to-center behavior may not give the neccesary corrective input to return steering to center. >>> Two dealer repair visits, both inconclusive. >>>No warning lamps etc. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755788

Incident

Aug 25, 2025

This vehicle was a rental car. The rear door opens and closes at random times. On multiple occasions even after locking the car, we would come out to the door being open. The door came down on its own and smacked my wife as well as hitting my [XXX] daughter in the head. While driving down the highway that rear door decided to open on its own putting my family in immediate grave danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11755681

Incident

Aug 5, 2026

On repeated occasions the vehicle’s braking system has malfunctioned without driver input, including uncommanded automatic brake engagement at highway speed and, most recently, a failure of the braking system to respond as commanded. These malfunctions occur without warning and directly impede my ability to control and safely operate the vehicle. On at least one occasion the malfunction occurred while I was driving on the highway with my three minor children in the vehicle and nearly resulted in a major collision.

NHTSA ID

11754676

Incident

Aug 3, 2026

On XXX at approximately 4:30pm, while driving through a parking lot (between 5-10mph), I tapped my brakes and then the parking brake activated and caused several errors on my dash, such as the ABS light, a brake failure error, a service Advance-Trac error, and others. The brakes became incredibly stiff and would not work when I pressed them. The car would continue to roll and stop randomly. I was able to pull into a parking spot out of traffic and when attempting to disable to parking brake, it would not work. I had to attempt to disable it, turn off my car, and then turn it back on. After a few seconds, the parking brake audibly unlocked and then my brake pedal became usable again. I called Two Rivers Ford in [XXX] the next day and they advised that they would look at it, but it would be the end of July before they had a service loaner available. I brushed it off as an electrical glitch. On XXX at approximately 7:30pm, my car did the exact same thing again while coming to a stop on a highway. This again occurred around 10mph. I was able to get off the highway and reset the parking brake again by turning the car on and off and was able to begin driving again with no issues. On XXX I called the same dealership again and they were able to provide me with an emergency service loaner same day due to the urgency of the situation. They advised that this had happened to 5 other Explorers in the country prior, the first step is to reset the ABS Module, if that doesn't fix it, they will replace the brake booster. On XXX at approximately 9:45am, while braking prior to turning in an intersection, at approximately 30mph, the same issue occurred again. This time I rolled into the middle of the intersection, because my brakes wouldn't work. On XXX, I called the dealership and they provided me with another service loaner to attempt to replace the brake booster. This is a major safety issue due to loss of brakes. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11753755

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

When going around a curve the steering wheel is sticking on the right. I have to tighten my grip on the wheel and manually straighten the wheel. This happened to me several times today on my 50 min trip. This was very frightening to me making me scared the wheel would stick and I have no control of the car while driving. I purchased this car on sat June 27. It just started today July 3. I am planning to take it back to the dealership on Monday.

NHTSA ID

11748213

Incident

Jul 3, 2026