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Picked up my 2025 Ford Explore ST last week

Mr-Stang

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2025 Ford Explorer ST
#1
I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise
LJS
 

Last edited:

hbalek

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Kensington, MD, USA
#2
I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
ST Projection Lamps (really miss this one)
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Standard USB-A plugs (All USB-C Now, which is a good thing)
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
No longer comes with tray storage inside armrest
No longer includes all covers for hidden trunk storage
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise
LJS
A lot of these are deal-breakers for me! I love the hands-free liftgate and active park assist. The projection lamps are things I am still enamored with after 5 years and people who don't even care about such things notice and give me compliments on them. I have driven an Escape and a Bronco Sport recently and the spinning gear selector thing is really annoying on those vehicles. The drive mode dial always spun around as well as the volume knob on my 2020. So as much as the new interior looks and feels nicer than the previous version sounds like a lot of substantive items are gone forever!
 

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New York, NY, USA
#3
Have the OG 2020 ST, and while yea the interior has some QC issues, still got the 2 bolt rear, no valve issues, and i think the pre-25 front fascia and rear looks better. But i do like the 25 wheels..

I don't think I would trade mine unless I got a great deal.
 

2020FordRaptor

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#4
Have the OG 2020 ST, and while yea the interior has some QC issues, still got the 2 bolt rear, no valve issues, and i think the pre-25 front fascia and rear looks better. But i do like the 25 wheels..

I don't think I would trade mine unless I got a great deal.
I think a lot of 25 owners would trade you straight across for yours.
 

mkngrm

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PA
Vehicle
'25 Explorer ST
#5
I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
ST Projection Lamps (really miss this one)
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Standard USB-A plugs (All USB-C Now, which is a good thing)
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
No longer comes with tray storage inside armrest
No longer includes all covers for hidden trunk storage
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise
LJS
Are you sure your trunk compartment covers aren't somewhere else in the car or maybe taken out by the dealer? I have all 3 covers on mine that I just picked up.
 

23 Explorer ST

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NC
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2023 Ford Explorer ST
#6
I’ve test drove a 2025 ST last week, I’m NOT impressed at all.
From the price for the none leather seats to the big screen radio and the lack of control buttons on the dash.

Only thing I did like was where the phone charger was moved too.

Sure the big screen is nice to have but from everything I’ve been reading on this forum and elsewhere about the radio and its features is that google sucks!

The wheels on the 25 is not my cup of tea.
It’s a shame they don’t offer a choice.

I’ll stick with my 23 ST which to me is a lot nicer than the 2025’s interior and exterior. IMO.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

OP
M

Mr-Stang

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New Jersey
Vehicle
2025 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #7
Are you sure your trunk compartment covers aren't somewhere else in the car or maybe taken out by the dealer? I have all 3 covers on mine that I just picked up.
That's exactly what I was thinking, so I took them from my old explorer when I returned it.
 

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Location
California
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2025 Ford Explorer ST
#8
My 2025 has all the covers for the trunk space so not sure what ya mean by that, maybe they did not give ya everything if ya bought it new? My floor mats were very cheap black carpet ones but did say explorer on them, however I bought a full set of Weathertech mats the good ones with the rolled edges and so far they are working great!, Not sure what you mean about the ST projection lamps unless you mean the ones on the side mirrors that project on the ground if so my 2025 has those, as for headlights I have no problem with how they are and are way brighter than my old car so i can't complain about them. Also there is a few (maybe one? I have not went looking) USB-A which is in the Front of center console next to the power port there is one USB-A and then a ISB-C and the lighter style power port. Door sill lighting, not quite sure what ya mean as this is my first explorer but again my 2025 has ambient lighting and its on the doors etc.. Maybe yours is turned off in the infotainment center section? Everything else I can agree with, although the seats are not bad and they warm up faster than the leather ones without the heater on that I noticed now that it has started to get a little colder. How long the material will last that I have no clue on. Here are the 9 things (thought I had 10 things but I miscounted lol) I don't like about my 2025 however I still love it as a whole so far (only have had it like 4 weeks now)

9 things I do not like or wish they would have changed.
1. the button panel for the start stop etc...is all one big panel they are not individual buttons so the whole panel moves a bit when you hit the buttons on there. It also has a really tiny hazard button.
2. there is not light on the E-brake switch even my old 2015 Jeep Cherokee had a little light on it, so ya have to look at the dash to see if it is on or off.
3. the only gauges ya get in the dash are trans temp and coolant temp, no oil temp or pressure, no battery voltage (which is surprising seeing how much they added to the infotainment center) or any other gauges just Trans Temp and Coolant Temp.
4. The buttons for your garage door opener on the sun visor has no lights at all and its black so you can't even see them at night (again my 2015 Jeep had the buttons light up).
5. Dash display does not change at all when you switch to different drive modes, it would have been nice to see some of the stuff change when in a different mode but all you get is a little symbol at the bottom letting you know what mode your in.
6. You can not change the tach or the speed portions of the dash all you can do is add a few different pages but you can only have 7 pages, but it only changes the middle section. and you cycle thru them. and there are only like 8 or so to choose from.
7. Interior ambient lighting you can only choose like 5 or six colors that not too bad but in this day and age of RGB you should be able to blend colors and make them whatever ya want. I use the light blue as it looks more blue than the dark blue option which looks a little purple to me.
8. Phone charger does not have any way to be turned off . Mine has been intermittently working but that might be be because of my iPhone 16 pro and the camera bump, but it also sometimes does not show in the notification area of the infotainment screen when it is working. My ford dealer said they know about this but there is no fix yet. and last but not least
9. When switching drive modes you have to spin the drive mode wheel to the right for the drive modes on the right hand side of the dash, but then instead of it continuing to spin it for the other modes ya have to spin it to the left to get to the drive modes on the left side of the dash instead of just continuing to spin the dial in one direction which is a little counter intuitive, but this is a minor complaint as ya don't really change drive modes all that much.

Other than these little quirks I really like mine and have a blast driving it and love the power as I don't even notice hills and such anymore as it always has plenty of power when ya need it or want it. I also have the 4WD version.
 

Tolum

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Quebec City, QC, Canada
#9
I picked up my 2025 Explorer ST last week, having had the previous 2021 Explorer ST.
I was surprised by what is no longer available, here's a short list, let me know if you have any questions:

No longer available:
Hands-Free, Foot-Activated Liftgate
Active Park Assist
ST Projection Lamps (really miss this one)
Door Sill lighting
Leather Seats
Standard USB-A plugs (All USB-C Now, which is a good thing)
Dash configurations when you switch modes
(Previously when you switched to say Sport Mode everything went red and the dash focused on sport related dials)
The PRNL & Mode Dials will keep spinning until you stop (Annoying)
Second-row Console

Not crazy about:
Seating material
Floor mats are cheap
No longer comes with tray storage inside armrest
No longer includes all covers for hidden trunk storage
Android based System is frustrating and distracting.
Limited amount of physical buttons to manage functions.
STILL NO RADIO Control other than volume from the steering wheel.

Dealer had no instruction available for BlueCruise

LJS
I also have a 2025 ST after renting a 2020 ST for 4 years. You forgot to say that Ford did remove the back-up camera washing nozzle. That was a must for people dealing with snow. A real penny-pinching! I have the ST projection lamps under my mirrors and I agree, the PRNL dial rotating 360 deg. is annoying and can be a source of confusion. You forgot to say that Ford removed the green/red led on the remote. So when you remote start your car using the key fob, you have no more acknowledgement. Using the phone apps resolve that but is Ford putting more money in its pocket by just taking out a led from a remote? The second row seats reclining backrest is no more electric.
 

OP
M

Mr-Stang

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New Jersey
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2025 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #10
Yep, now with only 648 miles it stated throwing the maintenance required light. It's throwing 3 codes now 1 for the Auto-Stop Start and one for a gear issue. Which makes sense as while we were driving the dash was reporting the car was in park when we were clearly driving it. Ford Quality has not been Job one, ever! Now need to make a service appointment. Glad I leased instead of buying
 

SoySauceSoakedSaltine

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#11
Yep, now with only 648 miles it stated throwing the maintenance required light. It's throwing 3 codes now 1 for the Auto-Stop Start and one for a gear issue. Which makes sense as while we were driving the dash was reporting the car was in park when we were clearly driving it. Ford Quality has not been Job one, ever! Now need to make a service appointment. Glad I leased instead of buying

Yea that's a bummer. My driver side rear night time driving light failed at around 1300 miles and currently waiting on a replacement. Going on two months and still hadn't received it. The said its been on back order since early this year and could expect it sometime November......doubt....
 

OP
M

Mr-Stang

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2025 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #12
This is my 3rd explorer first was a 2018 Explorer Platinum, had virtually no issues with that one. Then the 2021 Explorer ST, first week the massaging seats stopped working. Now this 2024 Explorer ST and all the issues that are happening.
 

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#13
This is my 3rd explorer first was a 2018 Explorer Platinum, had virtually no issues with that one. Then the 2021 Explorer ST, first week the massaging seats stopped working. Now this 2024 Explorer ST and all the issues that are happening.
Built Ford Tough - Tough to keep them out of the shop. 1st In warranty and recalls for the past few years running. WAY TO GO FORD.
 

2020FordRaptor

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#14
I also have a 2025 ST after renting a 2020 ST for 4 years. You forgot to say that Ford did remove the back-up camera washing nozzle. That was a must for people dealing with snow. A real penny-pinching! I have the ST projection lamps under my mirrors and I agree, the PRNL dial rotating 360 deg. is annoying and can be a source of confusion. You forgot to say that Ford removed the green/red led on the remote. So when you remote start your car using the key fob, you have no more acknowledgement. Using the phone apps resolve that but is Ford putting more money in its pocket by just taking out a led from a remote? The second row seats reclining backrest is no more electric.
Second row seats became manual somewhere around the 2021-22 MY. My 22 has manual 2nd row sliding seat.
 

JADE97

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18056
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2022 Ford F250 Tremor
#15
Noticed this on our '25 ST at the driver's side foot rest. Guess I need to get it looked at. 1000001575.jpg
 

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2025 Ford Explorer ST
#16
I wonder if that is one of those tracking devices connected to the OBD2 Port?
 

OP
M

Mr-Stang

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2025 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #17
Looks like the Ford App's Notifications are not working as I had to manually go check the app to see it it reported any issues. Thankfully it reported 1 issue but it does not alert you.
This is after 648 miles
 

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JADE97

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2022 Ford F250 Tremor
#18
I wonder if that is one of those tracking devices connected to the OBD2 Port?
Its one of the connectors that is supposed to be hidden behind behind the kick panel. Quality Issue.....harness installer didn't get the connector on the retainer and I guess the trim installer wasn't going to do more than their task, so they installed the trim over it.

Not a GPS Device. I special ordered this vehicle and have a good relationship with the GM and SM.

Going in Thursday to get fixed. The car has less than 500 miles on it and I'm sure I would screw up the trim clips or break something else.
 

JADE97

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2022 Ford F250 Tremor
#19
Its one of the connectors that is supposed to be hidden behind behind the kick panel. Quality Issue.....harness installer didn't get the connector on the retainer and I guess the trim installer wasn't going to do more than their task, so they installed the trim over it.

Not a GPS Device. I special ordered this vehicle and have a good relationship with the GM and SM.

Going in Thursday to get fixed. The car has less than 500 miles on it and I'm sure I would screw up the trim clips or break something else.
Got this fixed...took about 5 minutes. They pulled the panel and out the connector back where it was supposed to be.

On the way home, the center screen went blank (doubt it was related). Sirius was on - touched the screen with no response - pushed the front camera button & it showed up, but went blank when the camera was disabled - "Ford" showed up when I shut down the car - everything worked normally when I restarted the car.

:rolleyes::unsure::oops:
 

OP
M

Mr-Stang

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2025 Ford Explorer ST
Thread Starter #20
Looks like the Ford App's Notifications are not working as I had to manually go check the app to see it it reported any issues. Thankfully it reported 1 issue but it does not alert you.
This is after 648 miles
Today I get my ST back from the shoe
Looks like the Ford App's Notifications are not working as I had to manually go check the app to see it it reported any issues. Thankfully it reported 1 issue but it does not alert you.
This is after 648 miles
Getting vehicle back today, they said it just needed the software update: SSM53118
We'll see what happens
LJS
 



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