2025 Ford Explorer: Recalls, Problems & MPG
Here are the deets on the 2025 Ford Explorer: 20 recalls, 102 owner complaints and up to 24 mpg combined.
Recalls
20 vehicle recalls from the manufacturer. Repairs are free. Check your VIN to see if one is still open on your car.
Fuel system Vehicle recall #24V634000 · 2024 · 24 vehicles
What's wrong: The fuel injectors May have been assembled without o-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
Why it matters: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
The fix: Dealers will install new fuel injector o-rings and o-ring support discs, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 7, 2024.
Backup camera Vehicle recall #24V801000 · 2024 · 391 vehicles
What's wrong: The rearview camera image May fail when the vehicle speed reaches 10 mph or greater. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "rear visibility."
Why it matters: The loss of the rearview camera image while in reverse can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The accessory protocol interface module (apim) software will be updated through an over-the-air (ota) update or by a dealer, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 28, 2025.
Equipment Vehicle recall #24V852000 · 2024 · 27,678 vehicles
What's wrong: The air bag warning label May be missing from the dashboard. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirement Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "occupant crash protection."
Why it matters: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants May have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
The fix: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners May call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24c39.
Body & structure, Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #25V020000 · 2025 · 259 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission May be improperly secured due to loose cross member bolts.
Why it matters: An improperly secured transmission can result in a loss of drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the transmission cross member bolts as necessary, free of charge. If the cross member bolts are missing, dealers will replace the cross member and install new bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 29, 2025.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #25V164000 · 2025 · 269 vehicles
What's wrong: The transmission valve body May have been machined incorrectly, which can cause reverse gear failure, or unexpected forward movement in reverse or neutral gear.
Why it matters: Unexpected vehicle movement increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the transmission main control valve body, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 11, 2025.
Transmission & drivetrain Vehicle recall #25V239000 · 2025 · 24,655 vehicles
What's wrong: The powertrain control module (PCM) May reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall.
Why it matters: A damaged park system can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. An engine stall while driving can result in a sudden loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025.
Body & structure Vehicle recall #25V316000 · 2025 · 206 vehicles
What's wrong: A mounting bolt for the front subframe May have been tightened improperly.
Why it matters: A loose subframe bolt May reduce the vehicle's performance in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the subframe bolts as necessary, free of charge.
Brakes (hydraulic) Vehicle recall #25V371000 · 2025 · 3 vehicles
What's wrong: The bolts securing the front brake caliper May not be tightened properly, which can result in a loss of front brake function and possible wheel damage.
Why it matters: Loss of brake function and wheel damage can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the bolts as necessary. If bolts are missing, the brake caliper and pads will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 19, 2025.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #25V344000 · 2025 · 156 vehicles
What's wrong: The connecting rod and rod bearing components May have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
Why it matters: A damaged engine can result in engine failure and a stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the connecting rods and replace the engine long block assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 15, 2025.
Seats Vehicle recall #25V393000 · 2025 · 304,662 vehicles
What's wrong: The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats May bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
Why it matters: A seat that moves unexpectedly May not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #25V543000 · 2025 · 213,121 vehicles
What's wrong: When towing a trailer, the tail lights on the trailer May fail to illuminate due to an improperly manufactured body control module. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: Trailer tail lights that do not illuminate as intended can reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the body control module c on vehicles with less than 9,000 miles. For vehicles over 9,000 miles, dealers will perform a functional check on the body control module c and replace it as necessary. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Aviator 2025 owner notification letters…
Trailer hitch Vehicle recall #25V687000 · 2025 · 1,412 vehicles
What's wrong: The trailer hitch assembly bolts May be loose.
Why it matters: While towing a trailer, loose trailer hitch bolts can cause a loss of vehicle handling and control, or cause the trailer to detach. Either of these conditions can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the trailer hitch bolts, or replace them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 29, 2025.
Visibility (wipers, glass) Vehicle recall #25V730000 · 2025 · 56,841 vehicles
What's wrong: The windshield glass May have visible air bubbles, which can obscure the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 205, "glazing materials."
Why it matters: Reduced visibility while driving can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the windshield as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 6, 2025.
Exterior lights Vehicle recall #26V121000 · 2026 · 35,772 vehicles
What's wrong: The dynamic bending light (dbl) system software May cause the passenger-side headlight to turn in the wrong direction when driving through curves in the road. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, " lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment."
Why it matters: A headlight that turns incorrectly can result in increased glare to other road users, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The headlight control module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 23, 2026.
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #26V122000 · 2026 · 47,804 vehicles
What's wrong: The exhaust gas recirculation (egr) valve May fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
Why it matters: An unexpected loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the egr valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 31, 2026.
Seat belts Vehicle recall #26V159000 · 2026 · 561 vehicles
What's wrong: The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions May be improperly secured.
Why it matters: A loose seat belt buckle May not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026.
Electrical, Backup camera Vehicle recall #26V165000 · 2026 · 254,640 vehicles
What's wrong: The image processing module a (ipma) May experience multiple unexpected resets, resulting in loss of the rearview camera image and advanced driver assistance (adas) features, including pre-collision assist, lane-keeping assist, and blind-spot monitoring.
Why it matters: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driverâs ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: The image processing module a software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (ota) update, free of charge. This is a phased campaign. Phase 1 will include 2025 aviator, 2025 explorer, 2025 nautilus notified owners on 4/13/2026. Phase 2 will include 2025 navigator will notify…
Engine & cooling Vehicle recall #26V343000 · 2026 · 1,536 vehicles
What's wrong: The engine May fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
Why it matters: A sudden loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the engine long block, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed June 5, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026.
Seats Vehicle recall #26V451000 · 2026 · 387,911 vehicles
What's wrong: The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats May bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Why it matters: A seat that moves unexpectedly May not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional…
Seats Vehicle recall #26V470000 · 2026 · 76,748 vehicles
What's wrong: An unoccupied driver's seat May recline unintentionally during certain scenarios, such as remote unlock or remote start.
Why it matters: Unexpected movement of the driverâs seat back May trap a second-row occupant, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will disable the driver seat module (dsm) feature until parts are available. Once available, the motor will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 3, 2026.
Most-reported problems
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component. One complaint can list several components. 0 mention a fire, 5 injuries and 0 deaths were reported.
What owners describe
- Electrical (23): the most common themes are electrical failure (7), warning light on (3), stalls / loses power (2).
- Other / unknown (17): the most common themes are noise or vibration (2).
- Brakes (16): the most common themes are warning light on (2).
- Transmission & drivetrain (15): the most common themes are hard / delayed shifting (5), warning light on (2).
The 2025 Ford Explorer has 102 owner complaints, ranking #33 of 38 Explorer model years for complaints (well below the 909 average). Complaints peaked in 2025 (53 filed that year). The typical problem showed up when the car was about 0 years old, at a median of 3,000 miles. Neighboring years: 2024 (21 complaints, 10 recalls), 2026 (39 complaints, 14 recalls).
Engines & fuel economy (EPA)
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | City | Hwy | Comb. | Fuel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 10-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 20 | 29 | 24 | Regular |
| 2.3 L 4-cyl turbo | Automatic 10-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 20 | 27 | 23 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 10-spd | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic 10-spd | Rear-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 21 | Regular |
| 3.0 L 6-cyl turbo | Automatic (S10) | Part-time 4-Wheel Drive | 18 | 25 | 20 | Regular |
Want the full repair deets? Get the factory manual.
Recall and complaint data tells you what goes wrong. A service manual tells you how to fix it: torque specs, wiring diagrams, fluid capacities and step-by-step procedures for the 2025 Ford Explorer.
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FAQ
Does the 2025 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. NHTSA lists 20 vehicle recalls for the 2025 Ford Explorer. Recall repairs are free at any dealer, no matter how old the car is. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What are the most common 2025 Ford Explorer problems?
Owners have filed 102 complaints with NHTSA. The most-reported areas are electrical (23), other / unknown (17), brakes (16).
What gas mileage does the 2025 Ford Explorer get?
EPA ratings run up to 24 mpg combined (2.3 L, Automatic 10-spd), across 6 engine and transmission combos.
Where can I get a 2025 Ford Explorer repair manual?
eManualOnline sells downloadable manuals, Mitchell 1 DIY and ALLDATAdiy sell online access to factory repair data, and Haynes sells printed guides and online access. Pick a download if you want to keep it, or a subscription for wiring diagrams and TSBs.