2025 Ford EXPLORER
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2025 Ford EXPLORER has 123 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.1x the segment average of 1024. The most common issue is other problems (13% of all complaints), specifically: hands free connection from cell phone to vehicle speakers and mic won't work properly. i consider this a safety issue as it requires me to pickup phone and turn off bluetooth and work phone manually, looking at it, rather than hands-free. dealer says corporate has no resolution. ford consumer line s. There are 18 recalls issued for this model year.
123
Total Complaints
18
Recalls Issued
5/5
Safety Stars
0.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
OTHER
16 complaints- • Hands free connection from cell phone to vehicle speakers and mic won't work properly. I consider this a safety issue as it requires me to pickup phone and turn off Bluetooth and work phone manually, looking at it, rather than hands-free. Dealer says corporate has no resolution. Ford consumer line s
- • 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
- • Put car in park. sUV rolled back & damaged my garage door. Also damaged my trunk of SUV.
“Hands free connection from cell phone to vehicle speakers and mic won't work properly. I consider this a safety issue as it requires me to pickup phone and turn off Bluetooth and work phone manually, looking at it, rather than hands-free. Dealer says corporate has no resolution. Ford consumer line s”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2025 Ford EXPLORER
Based on 15 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 2K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred. This vehicle is under 5 years old, so most of the fleet hasn't accumulated high mileage yet — low-mileage peaks reflect fleet age, not necessarily premature failure.
Recalls (18)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023 Lincoln Corsair, 2023-2024 Escape, 2024 Mustang, and 2025 Explorer vehicles. The fuel injectors may have been assembled without O-ring support discs, which can result in a fuel leak.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
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. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24S54.
Fuel Cost Calculator for 2025 Ford EXPLORER
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
5-Year Gas Price History
EIA weekly retail data · 2021 → todaySource: US Energy Information Administration weekly retail gasoline prices.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2025 Ford EXPLORER
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Ford EXPLORER Service Intervals
IOLM (Intelligent Oil Life Monitor) may signal earlier. Older 5.4L Triton engines have specific service needs — check the manual.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Ford New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 123 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐OTHER: Hands free connection from cell phone to vehicle speakers and mic won't work properly. I consider this a safety issue as it requires me to pickup phone and turn off Bluetooth and work phone manually, looking at it, rather than hands-free. Dealer says corporate has no resolution. Ford consumer line s
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: We have experience a wrench light on the dash in regards to a powertrain malfunction. I have done some research, it seams that there are a lot of other ford explorer owners that are experiencing this. I have found that there is also a possible TSB for this. Just wondering if this TSB could be recall
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ELECTRICAL: The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, the infotainment screen intermittently went blank. The failure persisted and the contact stated that the instrumental panel partially went blank at start-up and while driving. The vehicle was taken to
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: 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 ne
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 18 recalls have been completed — free at any Ford dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Ford EXPLORER — Year Comparison
How does 2025 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
NHTSA Safety Rating
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 123
- Recalls
- 18
- Fire reports
- 0
- Crash reports
- 10
- Injury reports
- 3
- Segment avg
- 1024
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2025 Ford EXPLORER