You might want to grab a beer and a snack before you start reading this.
On 27 April, 2025 I sent this letter to Jim Farley Jr. CEO, Ford Motor Company AND to the Board of Directors of FORD complaining about why myself and many others did NOT receive "ST" logo FOBs with our 2025 ST's. Here is my letter:
Dear Mr. Farley, Jr. RE: 2025 Explorer ST
VIN# . . . . . . . . . . SGB16319
Mfgr Date: 12/05/2024, Jobe 2
I am writing to inquire; no, actually complain, about how it is possible that I bought a brand new EXPLORER ST that came WITHOUT an ST logo on the key fob. Yes, it really has a FORD Blue Oval logo on my fob.
My Wife and I joined the Explorer ST.org blog group and it appears that I am NOT the only one who got shorted on the ST fob logo. I have heard numerous reasons so I thought I would write to you to get the official answer. Please keep in mind this ST is my 6th Ford Vehicle; I have had a 1964 ½ Ford F100 pu (with 352 Thunderbird engine), 1997 Ford Taurus LX W/Performance Suspension, 2010 Mustang GT Premium convertible, 2016 Mustang GT Premium Convertible (Converted to SHELBY GTE), a 2017 Mustang V6 Premium Convertible and a 2017 I-4 Ecoboost Mustang Premium Coupe (Converted to SHELBY GTE).
Please do NOT try to tell me it was a “cost cutting” decision; I just paid you the cash price of $XXXXX (after the Mustang Club of America X-Plan discount and Dealer First Time Customer Rebate). That does NOT include the FORD ESP extended warranty program costs, (which is a FORD extra to the original sale price)
The EXPLORER ST logo is iconic to say the least. It tells the whole world in just (2) two short letters that this vehicle is one bad ass hauler, period. Performance wise, it easily sits above my 2017 SHELBY GTE, I-4 Ecoboost 345HP Premium Coupe but just below my 456HP 2016 SHELBY GTE Premium Convertible, 5.0 Coyote with Ford Performance Pack 2 upgrades.
Clearly I want an “ST” fob and I do NOT think that I should have to pay for the upgrade. To all the ST owners I know of now, IT IS NOT AN UPGRADE, IT SHOULD BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON EVERY SINGLE ST SOLD, PERIOD. Remember, I bought a brand new 2025 ST with the good faith that I was getting an ST. Do you understand what I am saying? I bought an ST and my fob should say so. Those ST fobs are a badge of confidence that you proudly display wherever you go. The ST fob logo should not have been tied to any cost cutting issues. Once again, I bought an ST, it should have come with an ST logo fob designating it as the very special vehicle it is.
I hope this letter actually makes it to your desk Mr. Farley, Jr. Please know that I am open and available to discuss this issue with you. This is NOT Right, I am NOT happy and this clearly needs to be corrected.
Sincerely, William .......
On 20 May 2025, I received an EMAIL, not a letter from this Customer Service Person:
"Hello William,
My name is C..............., I am from Ford`s Customer Relationship Center (CRC). We have received your correspondence regarding your 2025 Ford Explorer ST. I am grateful for the opportunity to address this matter, as customer satisfaction is important to us.
Thank you for choosing the 2025 Ford Explorer ST! We appreciate you taking the time to write to us about your concerns with the missing ST logo on your key fob. We want you to enjoy every aspect of your vehicle, and we apologize for any inconvenience you’ve experienced.
Please note that the Ford Customer Relationship Center is unable to provide a key fob with the ST logo. To explore possible solutions, we recommend reaching out directly to the Sales Manager at the dealership where you purchased your vehicle. The Sales Manager is in the best position to assist you with available accessories or alternative options that may suit your needs. Please be assured that your feedback has been documented for further review.
If you have further questions or concerns, you can reach our Customer Relationship Center via chat Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 10:00 PM EST and Saturday/Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST. You will find our chat option on www.ford.com/support, look for a blue LIVE CHAT bubble near the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. You can also reach our inbound phone team Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM EST and Saturday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM EST (closed Sunday) at 1-800-392-3673. Hearing and speech-impaired callers can contact the Telecommunication Relay Service by dialing 711.
Thank you again for reaching out to us.
Sincerely,
C...........
Customer Service Representative
Ford Motor Company
Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your inquiry, we may require additional information, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST (Monday-Friday). Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952. Your reference number is CXH-04327054-R0V9W1.
In addition, you can try online support at www.owner.ford.com. Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and links to other key product and service information."
Back to Nascarbilly now: I followed up with my nearby Dealer:
1) They only sell the Ford Vehicles as they are received from FORD. "ST" Logo on key FOB vs not, they don't care as long as the listed item on their check off sheets agrees with the actual item provided from Ford.
2) This particular dealer did NOT receive ANY notification from FORD when they made the Shift from Job 1 to Job 2 and now to Job 3 vehicles.
3) There is at least ONE set of "ST" logo FOBs (at the distribution supply house that services this particular FORD Dealer) that are compatible with my Vehicle per the VIN number.
4) Those Two (2) "ST" logo FOBs EACH cost $250 before taxes.
5) I was told in www.owner.ford.com that FORD has included a disclaimer that they are NOT responsible for any changes or corrections that they have made to their vehicles.
Bottom line, this was NOT important enough to FORD for me to get any response from either Mr Farley or the Board directly. To me, it's clearly just a cost cutting measure to say the least. But they have other fish to fry, I am hearing that their highly anticipated S650 MUSTANGS are not selling at the pace they expected for 2025. So if you received an "ST" FOB with your purchase, consider yourself extremely lucky.
On 27 April, 2025 I sent this letter to Jim Farley Jr. CEO, Ford Motor Company AND to the Board of Directors of FORD complaining about why myself and many others did NOT receive "ST" logo FOBs with our 2025 ST's. Here is my letter:
Dear Mr. Farley, Jr. RE: 2025 Explorer ST
VIN# . . . . . . . . . . SGB16319
Mfgr Date: 12/05/2024, Jobe 2
I am writing to inquire; no, actually complain, about how it is possible that I bought a brand new EXPLORER ST that came WITHOUT an ST logo on the key fob. Yes, it really has a FORD Blue Oval logo on my fob.
My Wife and I joined the Explorer ST.org blog group and it appears that I am NOT the only one who got shorted on the ST fob logo. I have heard numerous reasons so I thought I would write to you to get the official answer. Please keep in mind this ST is my 6th Ford Vehicle; I have had a 1964 ½ Ford F100 pu (with 352 Thunderbird engine), 1997 Ford Taurus LX W/Performance Suspension, 2010 Mustang GT Premium convertible, 2016 Mustang GT Premium Convertible (Converted to SHELBY GTE), a 2017 Mustang V6 Premium Convertible and a 2017 I-4 Ecoboost Mustang Premium Coupe (Converted to SHELBY GTE).
Please do NOT try to tell me it was a “cost cutting” decision; I just paid you the cash price of $XXXXX (after the Mustang Club of America X-Plan discount and Dealer First Time Customer Rebate). That does NOT include the FORD ESP extended warranty program costs, (which is a FORD extra to the original sale price)
The EXPLORER ST logo is iconic to say the least. It tells the whole world in just (2) two short letters that this vehicle is one bad ass hauler, period. Performance wise, it easily sits above my 2017 SHELBY GTE, I-4 Ecoboost 345HP Premium Coupe but just below my 456HP 2016 SHELBY GTE Premium Convertible, 5.0 Coyote with Ford Performance Pack 2 upgrades.
Clearly I want an “ST” fob and I do NOT think that I should have to pay for the upgrade. To all the ST owners I know of now, IT IS NOT AN UPGRADE, IT SHOULD BE STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON EVERY SINGLE ST SOLD, PERIOD. Remember, I bought a brand new 2025 ST with the good faith that I was getting an ST. Do you understand what I am saying? I bought an ST and my fob should say so. Those ST fobs are a badge of confidence that you proudly display wherever you go. The ST fob logo should not have been tied to any cost cutting issues. Once again, I bought an ST, it should have come with an ST logo fob designating it as the very special vehicle it is.
I hope this letter actually makes it to your desk Mr. Farley, Jr. Please know that I am open and available to discuss this issue with you. This is NOT Right, I am NOT happy and this clearly needs to be corrected.
Sincerely, William .......
On 20 May 2025, I received an EMAIL, not a letter from this Customer Service Person:
"Hello William,
My name is C..............., I am from Ford`s Customer Relationship Center (CRC). We have received your correspondence regarding your 2025 Ford Explorer ST. I am grateful for the opportunity to address this matter, as customer satisfaction is important to us.
Thank you for choosing the 2025 Ford Explorer ST! We appreciate you taking the time to write to us about your concerns with the missing ST logo on your key fob. We want you to enjoy every aspect of your vehicle, and we apologize for any inconvenience you’ve experienced.
Please note that the Ford Customer Relationship Center is unable to provide a key fob with the ST logo. To explore possible solutions, we recommend reaching out directly to the Sales Manager at the dealership where you purchased your vehicle. The Sales Manager is in the best position to assist you with available accessories or alternative options that may suit your needs. Please be assured that your feedback has been documented for further review.
If you have further questions or concerns, you can reach our Customer Relationship Center via chat Monday - Friday 8:30 AM - 10:00 PM EST and Saturday/Sunday 11:00 AM - 7:00 PM EST. You will find our chat option on www.ford.com/support, look for a blue LIVE CHAT bubble near the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. You can also reach our inbound phone team Monday - Friday 8:00 AM - 11:00 PM EST and Saturday 8:00 AM - 8:00 PM EST (closed Sunday) at 1-800-392-3673. Hearing and speech-impaired callers can contact the Telecommunication Relay Service by dialing 711.
Thank you again for reaching out to us.
Sincerely,
C...........
Customer Service Representative
Ford Motor Company
Should you feel that we have not adequately addressed your inquiry, we may require additional information, please feel free to contact us via telephone at (800)392-3673 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. EST (Monday-Friday). Hearing-impaired callers with access to a TDD may contact 1-800-232-5952. Your reference number is CXH-04327054-R0V9W1.
In addition, you can try online support at www.owner.ford.com. Here you can find answers to frequently asked questions (FAQs) and links to other key product and service information."
Back to Nascarbilly now: I followed up with my nearby Dealer:
1) They only sell the Ford Vehicles as they are received from FORD. "ST" Logo on key FOB vs not, they don't care as long as the listed item on their check off sheets agrees with the actual item provided from Ford.
2) This particular dealer did NOT receive ANY notification from FORD when they made the Shift from Job 1 to Job 2 and now to Job 3 vehicles.
3) There is at least ONE set of "ST" logo FOBs (at the distribution supply house that services this particular FORD Dealer) that are compatible with my Vehicle per the VIN number.
4) Those Two (2) "ST" logo FOBs EACH cost $250 before taxes.
5) I was told in www.owner.ford.com that FORD has included a disclaimer that they are NOT responsible for any changes or corrections that they have made to their vehicles.
Bottom line, this was NOT important enough to FORD for me to get any response from either Mr Farley or the Board directly. To me, it's clearly just a cost cutting measure to say the least. But they have other fish to fry, I am hearing that their highly anticipated S650 MUSTANGS are not selling at the pace they expected for 2025. So if you received an "ST" FOB with your purchase, consider yourself extremely lucky.
