Explorer Compliance Recall Notice 25C42/NTHSA Recall 25V543

[Nascarbilly]

My opinion is that many of the quality issues on the Explorer are more related to the Chicago plant and not necessarily corporate Ford. They used to be a tooling customer of my former business and I’ve been there countless times. Worst run assembly plant of any type that I have seen. During BLM riots they were intentionally trashing police cars on their way through.

Having said that, my 22 has had a few recalls but I have never experienced the problems and don’t want them touching mine. On second thought, I did replace the 1 bolt rear subframe with a 2 bolt but I got the part reasonably cheap and did it myself.

All brands have issues to some extent these days. Honda and Toyota seeming being the best overall.

@Cruising68 : Until I got interested in the ST's, I never knew their final assembly was done at the Chicago plant (however, I became very aware of the Flat Rock, MI Mustang location). I'd be curious to see which model year since 2020 was the most problem free for the ST's. My wife has a 2025 Highlander Platinum Hybrid; she is highly confident her car will outlast my 2025 ST. With the exception of our collector and speciality cars, she and I generally keep our everyday cars well into their 200,000 plus to 260,000 mile range before ever thinking about replacing them.

 

[Caster]

I always find it interesting that recalls occur and all to often no parts are available for the recall yet they keep on pushing out the brand new vehicles with the parts they cannot get to satisfy the recall. Their priority is not the post purchase consumer experiencing the problems. It's all about the new sales they're chasing while you sit and wait. IMO, if their aren't parts available for a recall that are being put in new vehicles going down the line, the line should be shut down until all recalled vehicle parts demand has been furnished. That will never happen but that is how it should be.

 

[Cruising68]

I always find it interesting that recalls occur and all to often no parts are available for the recall yet they keep on pushing out the brand new vehicles with the parts they cannot get to satisfy the recall. Their priority is not the post purchase consumer experiencing the problems. It's all about the new sales they're chasing while you sit and wait. IMO, if their aren't parts available for a recall that are being put in new vehicles going down the line, the line should be shut down until all recalled vehicle parts demand has been furnished. That will never happen but that is how it should be.

I agree 100%.


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[Nascarbilly]

I always find it interesting that recalls occur and all to often no parts are available for the recall yet they keep on pushing out the brand new vehicles with the parts they cannot get to satisfy the recall. Their priority is not the post purchase consumer experiencing the problems. It's all about the new sales they're chasing while you sit and wait. IMO, if their aren't parts available for a recall that are being put in new vehicles going down the line, the line should be shut down until all recalled vehicle parts demand has been furnished. That will never happen but that is how it should be.

@Caster @Cruising68

5 Nov 2025:

To all those following this thread, in full disclosure, my Wife's Toyota Highlander just fell victim to the dreaded "RECALL" notification today. Yes, her notification was for the rear view camera issue which came into her Toyota on-line notification account. There is no idea when the fix will arrive at the Toyota Dealerships.

 

[wifeys-ST]

The real issue is many companies like Toyota issue TSBs, which act as phantom recalls. Ford doesn't do that anymore. They just issue the recall. And it's frustrating that they look bad because they're doing the right thing.

From what I’ve observed (and I mentioned this already), there are many issues that ford puts out TSBs for that should be recalled. Can’t speak for other manufacturers. But front axle disconnect actuators having a 100% failure rate early in life, and AWD module grounding failures could even be argued for being eligible for a safety recall because they both disable countless safety measures like brake assist, collision avoidance, hill climb, etc etc. I have recorded evidence that the grounding problem causes complete brake failure when switching out of park after a cold start. and those are just two issues I personally experienced with my explorer in the last year. I know there are more out there. When I get a safety recall notice, i just make my appointment and am glad it’s being acknowledged and mitigated. But there should be more recalls issued that ford just slaps a TSB on.

 

[ChasVS]

Today, I received my first recall notice for my Explorer ST. This recall covers the "electronic components of the printed circuit board of the Body Control Module C (BCMC) that MAY have been improperly soldered. As a result, when a trailer is connected to the vehicle and the vehicle's trailer tow electrical connector is utilized, the trailer's taillamps may not illuminate as intended". Ford's letter went on to say "Inoperative trailer tail lamps reduce visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk for a crash."

However, please sit down for this, your vehicle may also experience the following operability problems with:
__inoperative power window/mirror switches
__vehicle's air conditioning system may blow warm air
__operability issues with DC/AC inverter
__glove box light
__vanity lights or dome lamps
__alarm portion of the horn
__rear defroster
__USB chargers
__and/or 12 volt points.

Thank God the car is still considered to be drivable according to Ford!! The parts for the fix are not out yet but is expected before the end of the year (2025).

Would you rather they not inform you of the issue until parts are available? Just sayin. They didn’t make the error on purpose, yous might be fine, but here’s what they do know. Kinda like it’s the right thing to do.