2025 Ford Explorer ST engine dies as soon as I put in gear

[ExplorerSTBob]

2025 Ford Explorer with 3800 miles on it. Everything was running fine and right after I filled up with gas, I start the engine and put in in gear and the drive 1 foot and the engine dies. I start it back up and try again and again and same problem except it dies as soon as I put in gear forward or reverse.
I have no check engine light on but after plugging in my obd scanner I got a P161B code. Had it towed to the dealer and he said they didn't see that code. A few days later, they called and said it was purge valve issue.
Anyone else experience this issue? I am thinking about having a spare one handy in case this happens again. This is the first time in 40 years I have broken down and needed a tow. Other times my car was able to limp along to get somewhere.

Update 2/9/25: Its been 1 week since the purge valve was replaced and I haven't had any issues since.
Uploaded DTC code screenshot that I saw at the exact time of event.
Link to video showing it wouldn't start with the push button. Had to use the key fob to remote start it. Then showing that when I put into gear the engine dies. Notice the RPM gauge will go to 0 in the video. https://photos.app.goo.gl/YmYoQav5RRGtmzci8

 

[Doom Crew]

Heard topping off the gas tank can cause issues with this.

 

[Caster]

2025 Ford Explorer with 3800 miles on it. Everything was running fine and right after I filled up with gas, I start the engine and put in in gear and the drive 1 foot and the engine dies. I start it back up and try again and again and same problem except it dies as soon as I put in gear forward or reverse.
I have no check engine light on but after plugging in my obd scanner I got a P161B code. Had it towed to the dealer and he said they didn't see that code. A few days later, they called and said it was purge valve issue.
Anyone else experience this issue? I am thinking about having a spare one handy in case this happens again. This is the first time in 40 years I have broken down and needed a tow. Other times my car was able to limp along to get somewhere.

Its kinda the new modern day Ford. The vehicles will just leave you stranded.

 

[cheetoduster]

2025 Ford Explorer with 3800 miles on it. Everything was running fine and right after I filled up with gas, I start the engine and put in in gear and the drive 1 foot and the engine dies. I start it back up and try again and again and same problem except it dies as soon as I put in gear forward or reverse.
I have no check engine light on but after plugging in my obd scanner I got a P161B code. Had it towed to the dealer and he said they didn't see that code. A few days later, they called and said it was purge valve issue.
Anyone else experience this issue? I am thinking about having a spare one handy in case this happens again. This is the first time in 40 years I have broken down and needed a tow. Other times my car was able to limp along to get somewhere.

There has been a lot of folks who've experienced this issue.

https://www.explorerst.org/search/694626/?q=purge+valve&o=date

 

[Dale5403]

Heard topping off the gas tank can cause issues with this.

Overfilling the gas tank can cause purge valve issues.

 

[GomerPyleST]

When the gas pump shuts off do not be tempted to put more in. I think with cars nowadays those purge valves are really sensitive, if ya want to add a few cents to make it even then go for it but I would not hold it down after it clicks off. I have been doing this since I got my 2025 and so far have not had any problems.

 

[ExplorerSTBob]

When the gas pump shuts off do not be tempted to put more in. I think with cars nowadays those purge valves are really sensitive, if ya want to add a few cents to make it even then go for it but I would not hold it down after it clicks off. I have been doing this since I got my 2025 and so far have not had any problems.

I always pull out the pump as soon as it shuts off. So I don't believe this was the case here. Also this would run fine in Park. I could rev it up and it never sounded rough.

 

[Dale5403]

I always pull out the pump as soon as it shuts off. So I don't believe this was the case here. Also this would run fine in Park. I could rev it up and it never sounded rough.

There is always a chance the station you use is the issue. Not all pump nozzles are the same. It would be hard to tell is that is the issue.

 

[Pleckron]

2025 Ford Explorer with 3800 miles on it. Everything was running fine and right after I filled up with gas, I start the engine and put in in gear and the drive 1 foot and the engine dies. I start it back up and try again and again and same problem except it dies as soon as I put in gear forward or reverse.
I have no check engine light on but after plugging in my obd scanner I got a P161B code. Had it towed to the dealer and he said they didn't see that code. A few days later, they called and said it was purge valve issue.
Anyone else experience this issue? I am thinking about having a spare one handy in case this happens again. This is the first time in 40 years I have broken down and needed a tow. Other times my car was able to limp along to get somewhere.

2025 Ford Explorer with 3800 miles on it. Everything was running fine and right after I filled up with gas, I start the engine and put in in gear and the drive 1 foot and the engine dies. I start it back up and try again and again and same problem except it dies as soon as I put in gear forward or reverse.
I have no check engine light on but after plugging in my obd scanner I got a P161B code. Had it towed to the dealer and he said they didn't see that code. A few days later, they called and said it was purge valve issue.
Anyone else experience this issue? I am thinking about having a spare one handy in case this happens again. This is the first time in 40 years I have broken down and needed a tow. Other times my car was able to limp along to get somewhere.

Same issue here, but has nothing to do with topping off tank as others have mentioned. Backed it out of the garage, parked and remote started to warm up. Went out later and started but as soon as I put it in anything other than park it dies. 3100 miles and on its way to the dealer on a flatbed.

 

[GomerPyleST]

Hmmmm weird behavior. I wonder if it has to do with that gear shift module update? Has anyone had this problem after having to get that update or before having to get the update? I so far have been lucky (knock on wood) and I have not had to have any updates, unless my dealer did it behind my back when I took it in for it's first oil change and didn't list it on the report as they were looking into why my dash was resetting the and phone charger was buggy, they told me they could not find anything about the dash and the phone thing they said they know about but there is nothing they can do until there is a recall. So far as I know I have not needed any updates and so far have not had any problems other than the two mentioned above, which the dash problem worked itself out (no clue as how but it stopped resetting on it's own). I would not put it past the dealership though to update something and not tell me as I'm not even sure they changed my oil like I asked because my mileage was so low and there was zero evidence in the engine bay or underneath indicating that they changed it.

 

[AlanInDallas]

I just had that happen about 1 hour ago. Called my service guy and he suggested that i disconnect the battery for 5 mins and try it again. I did leaving it disconnected for 10 mins and put it back together and it worked.

 

[ExplorerSTBob]

I just had that happen about 1 hour ago. Called my service guy and he suggested that i disconnect the battery for 5 mins and try it again. I did leaving it disconnected for 10 mins and put it back together and it worked.

Thanks for that tip. I will try it if I get stranded again.

 

[ExplorerSTBob]

It happened again, this time in my driveway after I got home. I let it sit for a while and then came back out and it started just fine.

2/02/25 - 1st breakdown.
2/23/25 - 2nd breakdown.
Both times had bike rack on hitch and had two events where the autobrake kicked in. Both times it was the next time I killed the engine and restarted it is when I saw the problem.
3:18 pm backing out of garage - autobrake
5:00 pm backing out of parking space at park- autobrake
Left Park at 5 pm.
Had no adapative cruise control.
Had no auto brake hold
Had no autostart stop
30 minutes of driving and then pulled into driveway and killed engine at 5:35 pm.
At 5:40 pm, I started the vehicle and put into drive and engine died.
The next time it wouldnt start with the push button. I had to use the remote starter. Then died again as soon as I put in drive.
This continued for 10 minutes of trying.
I locked the vehicle and went inside and came back out at 6:22 pm.
It started and I was able to drive the vehicle again.
I took it for a test drive and it drove fine with adaptive cruise control, autobrake hold, and autostart stop all working normal.

 

[Caster]

It happened again, this time in my driveway after I got home. I let it sit for a while and then came back out and it started just fine.

2/02/25 - 1st breakdown.
2/23/25 - 2nd breakdown.
Both times had bike rack on hitch and had two events where the autobrake kicked in. Both times it was the next time I killed the engine and restarted it is when I saw the problem.
3:18 pm backing out of garage - autobrake
5:00 pm backing out of parking space at park- autobrake
Left Park at 5 pm.
Had no adapative cruise control.
Had no auto brake hold
Had no autostart stop
30 minutes of driving and then pulled into driveway and killed engine at 5:35 pm.
At 5:40 pm, I started the vehicle and put into drive and engine died.
The next time it wouldnt start with the push button. I had to use the remote starter. Then died again as soon as I put in drive.
This continued for 10 minutes of trying.
I locked the vehicle and went inside and came back out at 6:22 pm.
It started and I was able to drive the vehicle again.
I took it for a test drive and it drove fine with adaptive cruise control, autobrake hold, and autostart stop all working normal.

F%#KING FORD..

 

[GomerPyleST]

Has you dealer done the GSM update yet? If not that's probably what it is and not related to the gas tank. Ask your dealer to look into the GSM update.

 

[KCM]

Could it have something to do with the security system and not recognizing the key fob? When you say the push button start will not work and you have to use the key fob to start it, and when you say it shuts off when you put it into drive, sounds like it is not seeing the fob. Have you tried your other key fob?

 

[ExplorerSTBob]

Has you dealer done the GSM update yet? If not that's probably what it is and not related to the gas tank. Ask your dealer to look into the GSM update.

My vehicle has automatic sync updates from what I found on the Web.

 

[GomerPyleST]

Yes but they don't always take. I also have auto updates on and then one day out of the blue my car lost all its connectivity. Took it to the dealer and they did a whole bunch of updates and so far so good. So either mine got stuck doing an update or one of the updates didn't take. Even if you have auto updates on it can still get messed up, also I don't think the GSM is an update you can get over the air. You can research it some more for yourself but it sounds like this is what happening to you car. Check into it.

 

[F=MA]

I disabled that reverse auto brake. It occurred once when I was backing into an empty street from my driveway. Said that will be the only time that shits happens and shut it off. I do not miss it.

 

[GomerPyleST]

Yeah I heard they can be a little sensitive at times, some have even said that even the painted lines on the ground has set them off. One of my front ones went off once when I was backing out of a parking stall and the car was just turning into the isle and was still like was like 10 feet away. Its was a front sensor as well not the rear collision one. I thought well that was odd, it has not done it sense, but I did just have a bunch of updates that the dealer had to do.