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

[GPWFordGuy]

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

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

This is not just ST, happened in my ST-Line too. First was unable set cruise control. Next got gas and boom no crank no start. Could with the key fob but as soon as put in gear engine stopped. As I was getting it on the tow, all sorts of errors and no start at all

 

[ExplorerSTBob]

This is not just ST, happened in my ST-Line too. First was unable set cruise control. Next got gas and boom no crank no start. Could with the key fob but as soon as put in gear engine stopped. As I was getting it on the tow, all sorts of errors and no start at all

From the time you started it up to drive to the place where you got gas, was there anything that happened before, like autobraking while in reverse?

 

[Adiazusn]

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

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

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

 

[Adiazusn]

Yesterday, I’ve been lucky for mine to have waited until 9K miles before acting up. Could only start with key fob and died when placed into gear. I had stopped at the store for 5 minutes came back to start it and it left me stranded at the store. It had a half a tank of fuel and just freshly washed. It left on a tow truck. This is the second time I’ve been given a loaner (1st time was leaking front transaxle). I’m waiting for the dealership to diagnose. However, I did receive a direct call from Ford Advocacy Rep and have been given a case #.

 

[GPWFordGuy]

From the time you started it up to drive to the place where you got gas, was there anything that happened before, like autobraking while in reverse?

Didn’t need to put it in reverse, but I tried to turn on Cruise Control. Would turn on, but wouldn’t set a speed.

 

[Adiazusn]

3-4-25 Update:

dealer diagnosed both leaking rear shocks as the cause for the thump noise over small pumps. I see some of you have experienced the same. This is off the heels of the dealership replacing my front transaxle for leaking a few a few weeks ago.

as for the not starting issue many of you also experiencing….they can’t replicate the issue.

at what point does the lemon law come into play? Unreal!!

 

[SoySauceSoakedSaltine]

3-4-25 Update:

dealer diagnosed both leaking rear shocks as the cause for the thump noise over small pumps. I see some of you have experienced the same. This is off the heels of the dealership replacing my front transaxle for leaking a few a few weeks ago.

as for the not starting issue many of you also experiencing….they can’t replicate the issue.

at what point does the lemon law come into play? Unreal!!

Mine is at the shop now. A few months ago I notices very large black stain in my driveway and didn't know where it could have came from and its most certainly not a oil leak. I also started hearing clunking from the front and possibly from the rear so, I took it to the dealership where I bought it from and they said they couldn't find anything. Took it to a local Ford dealership and they are currently looking for the issue along with the rattle that sounds like a loose cable or something flailing around in the wheel well that can be heard as low as 40 mph and its very audible at 65+. Since purchase this truck has been in the shop 7 times and the longest period was 2 months while it was deadlined waiting for parts. For South Carolina we have a 12 month or 12k miles to file a lemon law. I'm at 10k and some change.

 

[hbalek]

Mine is at the shop now. A few months ago I notices very large black stain in my driveway and didn't know where it could have came from and its most certainly not a oil leak. I also started hearing clunking from the front and possibly from the rear so, I took it to the dealership where I bought it from and they said they couldn't find anything. Took it to a local Ford dealership and they are currently looking for the issue along with the rattle that sounds like a loose cable or something flailing around in the wheel well that can be heard as low as 40 mph and its very audible at 65+. Since purchase this truck has been in the shop 7 times and the longest period was 2 months while it was deadlined waiting for parts. For South Carolina we have a 12 month or 12k miles to file a lemon law. I'm at 10k and some change.

It was wishful thinking that the 2025 refresh would fix all the problems plaguing the 2020, which is what mine is. Guess not! Ford should be ashamed at how they've ruined the Explorer name!

 

[Adiazusn]

Mine is at the shop now. A few months ago I notices very large black stain in my driveway and didn't know where it could have came from and its most certainly not a oil leak. I also started hearing clunking from the front and possibly from the rear so, I took it to the dealership where I bought it from and they said they couldn't find anything. Took it to a local Ford dealership and they are currently looking for the issue along with the rattle that sounds like a loose cable or something flailing around in the wheel well that can be heard as low as 40 mph and its very audible at 65+. Since purchase this truck has been in the shop 7 times and the longest period was 2 months while it was deadlined waiting for parts. For South Carolina we have a 12 month or 12k miles to file a lemon law. I'm at 10k and some change.

Thanks for the feedback on SC LL. I’m at 9K so we’ll see how it goes. I may negotiate an extended warranty after all these issues. Very disappointing indeed. My 2018 Limited gave me no issues through 98K miles. I’m still hopeful no more issues will arise.

 

[SoySauceSoakedSaltine]

Thanks for the feedback on SC LL. I’m at 9K so we’ll see how it goes. I may negotiate an extended warranty after all these issues. Very disappointing indeed. My 2018 Limited gave me no issues through 98K miles. I’m still hopeful no more issues will arise.

Wife emailed me and said my truck is done and she had dropped it off here at work. So lets see if I still hear the struts go clunk and the mystery rattle (was told it was a loose panel and the screws were rattling about) are still doing their thing. Fingers crossed. If its still a problem then Ill be shopping for something else while I file for LL. If all is fixed then I'm gonna press forward with my build.

 

[SoySauceSoakedSaltine]

Drove it home and all is fixed. I'm finally whole again!

 

[Flyman]

That's great news, I'm really happy for you.

Not to hijack your thread, but I started buyback process on my 25. It's depressing.

 

[SoySauceSoakedSaltine]

That's great news, I'm really happy for you.

Not to hijack your thread, but I started buyback process on my 25. It's depressing.

Sucks that it came to that and it's gonna be an annoying battle for what I heard. Good luck and hope you'll land into something better, whether it'll be another ST or something different.

 

[DaveG ST]

Thanks for the feedback on SC LL. I’m at 9K so we’ll see how it goes. I may negotiate an extended warranty after all these issues. Very disappointing indeed. My 2018 Limited gave me no issues through 98K miles. I’m still hopeful no more issues will arise.

If you contact Ford Customer Service they will give you a free extended warranty, likely with $100 deductible and for 75K miles, bumper to bumper. Sadly my wife decided we had to trade the ST in for an overweight Aviator. At just over 80K miles on my 2020 ST, I really felt all the kinks had been worked out.