2025 Ford Explorer Hybrid problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Service Brakes (1)
Safety recalls (2)
Back Over Prevention:warnings:external/Pedestrian Alert 2026-06-30 · campaign 26V415000 · 66,383 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2027 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025-2027 Explorer Hybrid vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from making the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
Risk: A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Note: This is an expansion of Recall 25V691. Any vehicles previously repaired under 25V691 must have the new remedy completed. Ford will release an over-the-air (OTA) update or dealers will update the APIM software, free of charge. Additionally, dealers will replace the digital signal processing module in Nautilus Hybrid vehicles equipped with 28 speakers, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Own
Forward Collision Avoidance: Warnings:external/Pedestrian Alert 2025-10-10 · campaign 25V691000 · 43,438 vehicles
Defect: Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2024-2026 Lincoln Nautilus Hybrid and 2025 Explorer hybrid police vehicles. A software error may prevent the vehicle from emitting the pedestrian warning sound at certain speeds.
Risk: A vehicle that does not produce a warning sound may fail to alert pedestrians of an approaching vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: The audio control module and digital signal processing module software will be updated by a dealer, or through an over-the-air (OTA) update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 5, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA2. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 10, 2025.
Service bulletins (4)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-06-15 · SSM 54937 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2025-2026 police interceptor utility hybrid vehicles may have previously set a "procedure unsuccessful" message in the ford diagnosis and repair system (fdrs) scan tool during the passive anti-theft system (pats) parameter reset. this may have occurred after replacing the body control module (b
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-04-29 · SSM 54787 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020-2023 aviator and 2025-2026 explorer/police interceptor utility hybrid vehicles may exhibit a "refuel error see manual" message in the instrument panel cluster (ipc) after installing a replacement fuel filler door assembly (7827936). this may be due to a concern with the replacement fuel fi
Power Train 2026-04-27 · SSM 54783 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2021-2023 f-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5l powerboost engine and 2020-2026 explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3l hybrid engine may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p0a1e stored in the powertrain control module (pcm). the veh
Power Train 2025-12-04 · SSM 54425 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
some 2020-2026 police interceptor utility hybrid vehicles may exhibit multiple warning messages, various drivability concerns and/or an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (mil) with diagnostic trouble code (dtc) p061b stored in the powertrain control module (pcm). this may be due to the incorrec
What owners report
2026-10-05 · Unknown Or Other · 🔥 fire“last night around [xxx], a police officer was operating a 2025 ford police interceptor utility cruiser #[xxx] near the intersection of [xxx] and [xxx]. while operating the vehicle, the officer smelled something burning and observed the dashboard lights flickering before the instrument panel went completely dark. shortly thereafter, smoke and fire w…”
2026-06-15 · Service Brakes“brake system fault - no power assist. while the deputy was driving his vehicle every light on the dash lit up and it said all systems were not working. he stated that only brakes he had were the regenerative brakes for the electric motors. he stated that he turned the car off for 10 minutes and everything worked again. the vehicle was taken to a lo…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.