2025 Ford Explorer Problems

What owners report

Complaints about the 2025 Explorer cluster around electronics and driver-assistance features: blank or rebooting screens, unexpected automatic emergency braking, and brake assist that fades or engages without input. Many reports are filed within the first few thousand miles, and several owners describe dealers applying software updates or being unable to reproduce the fault.

1. 1
   Brakes

   Unexpected or missing brake assist and automatic braking

   • 14 complaints (13%)
   • median 20,000 mi at 1.9 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 4 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe the brake pedal going hard or feeling loose, reduced power assist, and the vehicle failing to stop as expected; some report the brakes engaging on their own at low or highway speed. Several say warning messages such as ABS or service AdvanceTrac appeared, and dealers replaced boosters, lines or ABS components, or performed software updates without resolving it. Others report pre-collision assist activating with no obstacle present. Reports span from a few hundred miles to around 20,000 miles, with many at low mileage within the first year.

   Recall 25V3710001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether any ABS or brake-assist software updates have been applied and whether brake-related recalls were completed. During a test drive, listen for warning chimes and check that the pedal feels firm and consistent.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11772449, filed 2026-10

   “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 complaint #11754676, filed 2026-08
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Blank, rebooting or unresponsive screens

   • 20 complaints (19%)
   • median 3,500 mi at 0.5 yrs old (4 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Complaints describe the infotainment screen and instrument cluster going black or rebooting while driving, sometimes repeatedly, leaving speed and safety information unavailable. Owners also report lost backup camera images, failed Bluetooth and phone pairing, and unresponsive window or dome light controls. Dealers commonly performed software updates, and in some cases replaced a control module. Mostly reported on new vehicles, often within the first few thousand miles and sometimes within days of purchase.

   Recall 26V165000Recall 24V8010003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller whether the infotainment and rear camera recall software updates were installed, and check for any stored service visits about screen blanking. Test the screen, camera and phone pairing during the test drive.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Ever since I bought that vehicle, it's had system malfunctions. I received three letters directly from Ford explaining the problems this vehicle had or could have. But he and the dealerships, where I took my vehicle for repairs, never did them. They always denied that it had any problems and said that my vehicle was new and had nothing wrong with it.”

   NHTSA complaint #11715207, filed 2026-02

   “Software for phone has failed 6 times. In the repair shop at dealer 7 out of 9 weeks owned. Dealer couldn't replicate until this visit. Couldn't use law required hands free system because people could not hear me while I could hear them perfectly”

   NHTSA complaint #11632855, filed 2024-12
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Unintended movement, stalling and lost power

   • 13 complaints (12%)
   • median 8,967 mi at 0.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2025–2026

   Complaints describe the vehicle surging or rolling when the driver expected it to stay put, the shifter moving out of park, and the engine or hybrid system shutting down with a stop safely message. Some report rough running, misfires or loss of power under acceleration, and a few describe difficulty shifting between park and drive. Dealers reprogrammed modules or replaced spark plugs, and some owners say the fault could not be duplicated. Reported from near-zero miles to roughly 18,000 miles, often within the first year.

   Recall 25V239000Recall 25V164000Recall 26V343000Recall 26V1220002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Confirm with a dealer that the powertrain control module and transmission recalls were completed. Check for a rough idle or hesitation after refueling, and make sure the shifter moves cleanly into and out of park.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “After the Ford recall software update, the gear shifter will turn itself out of park and either into drive or reverse. The software update was in regards to the PCM resetting itself. We took it to the Ford dealer and because they can not duplicate the problem, the truck was returned to us. it has happened to us more than once and it is very alarming. I have two children on top of other children in the neighborhood. I don't trust this truck to stay in park even with it off at this point.”

   NHTSA complaint #11667778, filed 2025-06

   “Automatic Return To Park safety feature failed to stop vehicle from forward rolling causing vehicle to crash into open garage. The drivers door hit side of garage frame, closing onto my left leg causing calf muscle pain and bruising.”

   NHTSA complaint #11684602, filed 2025-09
4. 4
   Forward collision avoidance

   Pre-collision assist alarms and unintended braking

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 11 mi at 0.4 yrs old (1 states mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2024–2026

   Owners report the forward collision warning beeping and the vehicle braking hard with no vehicle or object ahead, including during turns and on clear roads. Some describe the system failing to warn or brake when a vehicle ahead was slowing, and others report lane-keeping or BlueCruise steering fighting driver input. Dealers often said the system worked as designed or found no fault. Reported across the range from single-digit miles to the first year of ownership, with no clear mileage pattern.

   Recall 26V1650001 related service bulletin

   What to check: Ask whether the image processing module and driver-assist software updates were applied. During a test drive, note whether warnings trigger without a real obstacle and whether lane-keeping intervenes unexpectedly.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 complaint #11765372, filed 2026-09

   “I am concerned that the Forward Collision Warning and Automatic Emergency Braking are not working sensitive enough to assist in preventing a collision. I had a 2021 Explorer with these features on it and it would give an audible warning at least 8-10 feet if a vehicle was slowing down ahead, this new Explorer does not give an audible warning until about 4 feet near a vehicle slowing down and no braking for at least 3 feet before a collision. I believe anyone in my vehicle are at risk of a collision. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11621286, filed 2024-10
5. 5
   Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)

   Wind noise, mirror and glass distortion

   • 8 complaints (7%)
   • median 7,550 mi at 0.6 yrs old (2 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2025–2026

   Owners describe wind noise from the front door glass corners at highway speeds and turbulence traced to the driver-side mirror. Others report wavy distortion in the front side windows that makes it hard to see cross traffic or use the mirrors, and water collecting on the rear camera lens. Dealers confirmed some of these but said they could not repair them or had no fix available. Reported from about 100 miles to around 15,000 miles, most often noted at highway speeds.

   Recall 25V7300002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Drive the vehicle at highway speed with the windows up and listen for wind noise. Look through the front side glass at an angle to check for distortion, and inspect the windshield for bubbles or the roof panel for uneven gaps.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Front side windows (driver and passenger side) have a quality issue that creates a distorted, wave-like view when looking out the window. This results difficulty viewing objects seen in the side mirrors. Also, when viewing anything out the side windows (ie. cross traffic) the view is distorted. Further, this makes the driver and passenger nauseated. The issue is constant and does not depend of environment, temperature, weather, or time of day. No warning lamps or messages appear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11729375, filed 2026-04

   “The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, there was an abnormal sound coming from the doors and windows. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a dealer to be diagnosed; however, the cause of the failure was unknown. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 100.”

   NHTSA complaint #11646004, filed 2025-03, 100 miles

Buying note. This is a recent model year, so many reports involve early software and electronics behavior rather than wear. Before buying, ask for the completed recall and service-bulletin paperwork and take a highway test drive that covers braking, driver-assist features and wind noise.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.