2025 Ford Explorer electrical system problems

Related recalls

• Recall 26V165000Mar 18, 2026254,640 vehicles
  BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ADAS

  Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2022-2025 Lincoln Navigator, 2024-2025 Lincoln Nautilus, 2025 Lincoln Aviator and Explorer vehicles. 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.

  Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image and certain driver assistance features, can reduce the driver’s ability to detect hazards, increasing the risk of a crash.

  Remedy: 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 owners on or about 4/20/2026. Phase 3 will include 2022-2024 Navigator will notify owners on or about 6/8/2026. Phase 4 will include 2024 Nautilus will notify owners on or about 6/22/2026. Owner notification letters were mailed April 13, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S21. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning March 25, 2026.

What owners say

1. Filed Sep 18, 2026NHElectrical SystemVisibility & Wipers

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11765202 · source
2. Filed Sep 17, 2026VAElectrical System

   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 complaint #11764979 · source
3. Filed Aug 26, 2026NJElectrical System

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11759707 · source
4. Filed Aug 13, 2026TNElectrical SystemOther / Unknown

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11756812 · source
5. Filed Aug 12, 20264,000 miNVElectrical System

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11756467 · source
6. Filed Jul 30, 2026TNBrakesElectrical System

   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…

   NHTSA complaint #11753755 · source
7. Filed Jun 30, 2026INElectrical System

   While driving the infotainment center will randomly go black and loose all function. Eventually only the defrost icon will show up and if I stop and go into reverse , there is a delay for the back up camera to come on. Another issue with this happening is that if you’re using your GPS or CarPlay GPS and relying on it while in heavy traffic especially on the highway, this becomes very nerve wracking and could cause an accident if drivers aren’t sure where they are going or…

   NHTSA complaint #11747556 · source
8. Filed Jun 24, 2026TXElectrical SystemEngineFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion

   I am reporting a severe safety hazard regarding an immediate, drastic increase in fuel consumption and erratic fuel range calculations following a manufacturer recall repair. My 2025 Ford Explorer ST-Line was operating perfectly until a Ford Mobile Service technician performed safety recall 26S21 (IPMA Reset). According to official Ford manufacturer specifications, this SUV has an expected driving range of up to 501 miles on a full 17.9-gallon tank of fuel. However,…

   NHTSA complaint #11746206 · source
9. Filed Feb 11, 2026DCBrakesElectrical SystemEngine

   I am writing to formally report a series of catastrophic and life-threatening mechanical and electronic failures in my 2025 Ford Explorer Active (VIN: [XXX] ]), purchased in Bogotá, Colombia. Despite immediately notifying the Ford Post-Sales Support Line after the first incident, the technical response was insufficient, leading to a second, more severe event that nearly resulted in a fatal high-speed collision on February 9, 2026. Incidents Summary: 1. Total Power Loss:…

   NHTSA complaint #11717439 · source
10. Filed Feb 3, 2026NJBrakesDriver Assistance & Safety TechElectrical System

    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 · source
11. Filed Jan 9, 2026VAElectrical SystemLighting

    First, we took this vehicle to a dealer because the rear window buttons were not working. They wouldn't roll down. Second, the dome lamps inside only work part of the time, when we take the vehicle to the dealer or another Ford dealer that we decided to try, they say they can't do anything because they see no issue as the lights are working AT THAT TIME. Third, while connected to a trailer, an error message appears several times stating that the trailer has been…

    NHTSA complaint #11709936 · source
12. Filed Dec 6, 2025FLElectrical SystemLightingVisibility & Wipers

    My vehicle originally showed more than 10 open safety recalls in the FordPass app and at the servicing dealer. I saved screenshots of each recall. After Ford performed a remote over-the-air software update, all but one recall suddenly disappeared from the app even though no physical repairs were done and no documentation was provided. NHTSA still shows Recall 25V543 as incomplete, involving BCM soldering defects that can cause trailer taillamp failure, electrical…

    NHTSA complaint #11703494 · source

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology