2025 Ford Explorer problems & reliability
98 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2025 Ford Explorer, alongside 20 safety recall campaigns. Last verified Sep 22, 2026. Complaints are unverified reports submitted by owners to the federal Office of Defects Investigation.
Each complaint is counted once (by NHTSA case number), even when it names several components.
4 complaints report injuries (4 injured).
Most reported problems
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical System → | 22 | 22% |
| Unknown / Other | 17 | 17% |
| Power Train → | 15 | 15% |
| Service Brakes → | 15 | 15% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance → | 12 | 12% |
| Steering | 9 | 9% |
| Visibility/wiper | 9 | 9% |
| Engine | 7 | 7% |
| Structure | 7 | 7% |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 6 | 6% |
Component groups as classified by NHTSA. A complaint can name more than one component, so shares may sum to more than 100%.
All 24 reported components →Common symptoms owners describe
Keyword analysis of complaint narratives; one complaint can describe several symptoms.
Complaints by incident year
What owners report
“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”
Electrical System · filed Sep 17, 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…”
Seats · filed 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…”
Engine and Engine Cooling · filed Sep 3, 2026
Verbatim excerpts from complaints filed with NHTSA. Reports are not independently verified.
Technical service bulletins
181 manufacturer communications (TSBs, service campaigns, warranty extensions) are on file with NHTSA for the 2025 Ford Explorer. The 10 most recent:
Quality improvements include: -Rear Gate latch calibration update to permit unlatching via the release button when the system has lost position memory and is stuck in a middle-latch position
RGTM-26.AF Expl&Aviator · Over The Air · issued Aug 27, 2026
Some of the following vehicles: * 2023-2025 F-Super Duty built on or before 02-Feb-2025 * 2024-2026 Ranger/Bronco/Mustang * 2024-2025 F-150 built on or before 15-Jul-2025 * 2024-2025 Nautilus built on or before…
SSM 55118 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 25, 2026
Some of the following vehicles: * 2025-2026 Expedition/Navigator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 F-Super Duty built on or after 02-Feb-2025 * 2025-2026 Explorer/Aviator built on or after 02-Feb-2025 *…
SSM 55116 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 25, 2026
For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service part W709919-S901 if the J-clip is…
SSM 55100 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 22, 2026
Quality improvements include: -Power Steering Control Module update to prepare the vehicle for a future BlueCruise enhancement
PSCM-26.AA Explorer&Aviat · Over The Air · issued Aug 19, 2026
Quality improvements include: -Android system update
PHX-26.2.0.8 Expl&Aviator · Over The Air · issued Aug 10, 2026
Some 2020-2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a power roof opening panel may exhibit a sunshield with localized bunching or binding/inoperative. This may be due to a broken or missing sunshield fabric retainer/clip. A…
SSM 55069 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 5, 2026
Some 2024-2026 Explorer vehicles built on or before 27-Feb-2026 and equipped with the panoramic glass roof may exhibit an uneven gap at the front edge of the roof opening panel shield when fully closed. The gap is an…
SSM 55060 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 4, 2026
Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine, and 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost hybrid engine…
SSM55059 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Aug 3, 2026
This bulletin supersedes 25-2415. Reason for update: To add production build dates of the right-side engine valve cover. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit oil consumption and blue…
TSB 26-2349 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions · issued Jul 31, 2026
TSBs are repair guidance manufacturers send to dealers — they are not recalls and repairs are not automatically free. Full documents are available on NHTSA’s site.
Safety recalls
The 2025 Ford Explorer has 20 NHTSA recall campaigns — recall repairs are free at franchised dealers regardless of the vehicle’s age.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →Buying a used 2025 Ford Explorer?
- · Decode the seller’s VIN with our free VIN decoder to confirm the exact year, engine and trim.
- · Check for unrepaired recalls by VIN on NHTSA’s official lookup — recall repairs are free.