2025 Ford Explorer Drivetrain Software Recall (25V239)
Ford Motor Company · 24,655 vehicles · Reported April 11, 2025
Ford Motor Company is recalling 24,655 2025 Ford Explorer vehicles. The powertrain control module (PCM) may reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall. A damaged park system can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. An engine stall while driving can result in a sudden loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash. Dealers will make the repair free of charge.
Recall 25V239 at a glance
| NHTSA campaign number | 25V239000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer recall number | 25S35 |
| Date reported to NHTSA | April 11, 2025 |
| Manufacturer | Ford Motor Company |
| Vehicles | 2025 Ford Explorer |
| Units affected | 24,655 |
| Build dates | December 6, 2023 to September 6, 2024 |
| Component | Power Train > Automatic Transmission > Control Module > Software |
| Safety risk | A damaged park system can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. An engine stall while driving can result in a sudden loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash. |
| Fix | Available at dealers |
What is wrong with the 2025 Ford Explorer in recall 25V239?
The powertrain control module (PCM) may reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Explorer vehicles. The powertrain control module (PCM) may reset while driving, which can damage the park system or cause an engine stall.
Is it safe to drive a 2025 Explorer with recall 25V239?
NHTSA has not told owners to stop driving, but the risk is real: A damaged park system can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. An engine stall while driving can result in a sudden loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
NHTSA describes the risk this way: A damaged park system can result in a vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. An engine stall while driving can result in a sudden loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
There is no do-not-drive order on this campaign. If your Explorer shows warning lights or behaves differently in a way that involves the software, have it checked before driving further.
Which vehicles are included in recall 25V239?
Recall 25V239 covers 24,655 vehicles: 2025 Ford Explorer.
NHTSA lists 24,655 vehicles in this campaign, built December 6, 2023 to September 6, 2024. Not every vehicle of these models and years is included, so check your VIN.
| Model years | Make | Model |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Ford | Explorer |
What is the fix for the Explorer drivetrain software recall?
Yes. Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge.
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 6, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S35.
When was recall 25V239 announced?
Ford Motor Company reported recall 25V239 to NHTSA on April 11, 2025. NHTSA lists the owner letter date as June 6, 2025.
| Date | What happened |
|---|---|
| December 6, 2023 | First affected vehicle built (per Ford Motor Company's filing). |
| September 6, 2024 | Last affected vehicle built. |
| April 11, 2025 | Ford Motor Company filed the defect report with NHTSA; NHTSA assigned campaign 25V239000. |
| June 6, 2025 | Owner notification letters mailed (per NHTSA). |
This recall was filed 17 months ago, and vehicles were built over a span of 275 days. If your Explorer was built in that window, the VIN check below is the way to confirm it is included.
How do I check if my Explorer is part of recall 25V239?
Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If recall 25V239 is open on your Explorer, it will be listed there.
Enter your 17-character VIN at NHTSA’s recall lookup. It shows any open safety recall on your vehicle, including 25V239000. Your VIN is on the registration card, the insurance card, and the driver side of the dashboard where it meets the windshield. Recent recalls can take a few days to appear in the lookup.
What should Explorer owners do about recall 25V239?
Check your VIN, schedule the free recall repair, and keep a repair order for every dealer visit.
- Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm recall 25V239000 applies to your Explorer.
- Call a Ford dealer and schedule the recall repair. Ask how long the repair takes and whether parts are in stock.
- Get a repair order for every visit, even if the dealer only inspects the vehicle. Read it before you leave and make sure your complaint is written the way you described it.
- Write down when symptoms involving the software happen: date, mileage, speed, weather and what you felt or heard. Photos and short videos help.
- Count the days the vehicle is at the dealer. Days out of service add up toward California's 30-day presumption.
- If the problem comes back after the repair, return to the dealer and contact a lemon law attorney.
What are Explorer owners reporting to NHTSA?
Owners have filed 101 complaints with NHTSA about these vehicles since 2020, 15 of them about the transmission.
Since recall 25V239 was reported on April 11, 2025, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt.
How we counted: we matched NHTSA owner complaints for the model years in this recall that list the transmission and were received on or after April 11, 2025, then flagged narratives that describe a repeat failure or a problem returning after a dealer repair, recall service or software update. Data from NHTSA, accessed October 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified owner reports and may involve a related transmission issue rather than this exact defect; automated text matching can miss or misread some reports.
NHTSA’s public complaint database lists 101 owner complaints filed since 2020 for the vehicles in this recall, and 15 of them involve the transmission. Complaints are reports from owners and have not been verified by NHTSA, but a high count for the same component is a sign the problem is widespread.
- 2025 Ford Explorer: 101 complaints in total, 15 about the transmission
Here is what some owners told NHTSA, in their own words (excerpts, unverified):
The contact owns a 2025 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed through a drive-thru, the Auto Hold feature was activated, but the vehicle failed to respond. No warning light was illuminated.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, GA, NHTSA complaint 11650709, filed March 26, 2025
Vehicle has 5700 miles on it. At roughly 3000 miles I noticed a clunk or tension thud at speeds under 12 mph, both moving forward and in reverse. Brought the vehicle to the dealer and was told it was unsafe to drive.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11664553, filed June 3, 2025
After the Ford recall software update, the gear shifter will turn itself out of park and either into drive or reverse. The software update was in regards to the PCM resetting itself. We took it to the Ford dealer and because they can not duplicate the problem, the truck was returned to us.
2025 Ford Explorer owner, MI, NHTSA complaint 11667778, filed June 18, 2025
Can recall 25V239 make my Explorer a lemon in California?
Not by itself. A recall repair that fails, or repeat dealer visits for the same defect, can support a California lemon law claim.
Owners often ask whether this software recall means their Explorer qualifies as a lemon. Not by itself. Song-Beverly looks at whether a defect covered by the warranty substantially impairs use, value or safety and was not fixed after a reasonable number of repair attempts (Civ. Code 1793.2(d)).
A transmission defect affects the core job of the 2025 Ford Explorer: moving reliably. Owners often see the same symptom return after a repair, and those repeat visits are the kind of history California's lemon law looks at.
A remedy is available. Many vehicles are fixed on the first try. If the problem returns after the recall repair, or the 2025 Ford Explorer has needed other repairs for the same defect, those visits count toward a lemon law claim.
Civil Code 1793.22(b) sets out a presumption that applies in the first 18 months or 18,000 miles: two or more repair attempts for a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury, four or more attempts for the same defect, or more than 30 total days out of service for repairs. Written notice to the manufacturer is required in some cases. Owners outside that window can still have a claim.
An owner who prevails in a lemon law case can recover reasonable attorney fees and costs from the manufacturer (Civ. Code 1794(d)). You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
In our cases, a recall repair visit counts as a repair attempt, and it's strongest when the owner complained about the problem before the recall came out. A recall shows the defect is real and that enough owners reported it for the manufacturer to issue a fix.
A software update can count as a repair attempt, especially if you complained about the problem or the update keeps being repeated. I've seen dealers do the same software update five or six times with no fix.
A typical pattern: an owner reports the transmission slipping, and the dealer can't verify it. Six months later, NHTSA issues a recall for the same problem. Because the recall confirms the defect, the mileage offset goes back to that first visit.
The biggest mistake I see is waiting too long. The mileage offset starts at your first repair visit for the problem, so the sooner you take it in, the better. If the problem comes and goes, take it in when it happens. You can't go back to that date later.
If you get a recall notice, call a lemon law attorney right away. You may have taken the car in for the same problem before and forgotten, or there may be other recalls related to it.
Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320), Founder and Managing Attorney. Quotes lightly edited for clarity. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
Has your Explorer been back to the dealer for this problem?
Call 877-536-6620Other Ford Explorer recalls
Frequently asked questions about recall 25V239
Did the recall 25V239 fix work?
Since recall 25V239 was reported on April 11, 2025, owners have filed 13 complaints with NHTSA about the transmission on these vehicles. 1 of them (8%) describe the same problem happening more than once or coming back after a repair attempt. If your vehicle still has the problem after the recall repair, go back to the dealer, get a repair order, and talk to a lemon law attorney.
When will owners be notified?
According to NHTSA, owner notification letters were or are scheduled to be mailed June 6, 2025.
Is the 25V239000 recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.
How do I know if my Explorer is part of recall 25V239000?
Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or call a dealer. The VIN is on your registration, insurance card and the lower corner of the windshield.
Will a transmission software update fix the problem for good?
Sometimes. Many owners report that shifting problems return after an update. If yours does, go back to the dealer and make sure the visit is written up.
Does the recall fixing my car mean I have no case?
Not necessarily. Even if the recall repair fixed it, you may still have a case, and a car that's a year or more old can still qualify.
Do used cars qualify for California lemon law?
We take certified pre-owned, demo and dealer vehicles. Since the California Supreme Court's Rodriguez decision in 2024, ordinary used cars generally do not qualify.
How long does a recall lemon law case take?
Recall-related cases typically resolve in one to three months from your first call. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.
What does a lemon law attorney cost?
You pay nothing, win or lose. We are paid only if you win, and the manufacturer pays our fees, including in settlements. If a case is lost, our firm covers the costs.
Sources
- NHTSA recall record 25V239000 (recall report and owner letters are posted there)
- NHTSA complaints and recalls data, accessed October 1, 2026
- California Civil Code 1793.2 and 1793.22
Attorney advertising. America’s Lemon Lawyer is a trade name of Wynn Law Group, APC. Responsible attorney: Jacob Shayesteh, Esq. (SBN 362320). This page is general information, not legal advice. America’s Lemon Lawyer is not affiliated with NHTSA or Ford. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome.