2012–2025 · 2 generations
Ford Explorer Parts, Specs and Maintenance Guide
Every maintenance specification for the 2012–2025 Ford Explorer, organised by generation. Pick a topic for the full picture across every year, or jump straight to your model year.
Last verified
Quick facts: 2020–2025 Explorer
Ford Explorer maintenance guides
Oil & filter
Viscosity, capacity, filter part numbers, change interval
Battery
BCI group size, cold cranking amps, AGM or flooded
Tires & wheels
Factory sizes by trim, pressures, bolt pattern, lug torque
Wiper blades
Driver, passenger and rear blade lengths
Air & cabin filters
Cabin and engine air filter part numbers, locations, intervals
Bulbs
Headlight, fog and marker bulb types
Brakes
Rotor diameters, pad references, service notes
Fluids
Transmission fluid, coolant, brake fluid and capacities
Service schedule
What's actually due at every mileage interval
Problems & reliability
Documented failures, recalls, and which years to avoid
Oil light reset
Step-by-step maintenance light reset, no tools
Key fob battery
Which coin cell the remote takes
Specs
Towing, weight, fuel tank, fuel economy
Which Ford Explorer generation do you have?
Specifications change at generation boundaries, not every model year. Two cars four years apart often take the identical oil, filter, and battery. These are the generations we hold data for.
About the Ford Explorer
The Ford Explorer is America's best-selling three-row midsize SUV, and the 2012–2025 span covers two fundamentally different vehicles. 5L EcoBoost in Sport and Platinum trims. 5L V6's internal chain-driven water pump, which can take the engine with it when it fails, and leak-prone power transfer units on AWD models, plus a years-long NHTSA investigation into exhaust odor/carbon monoxide in the cabin (closed in 2023 without a recall) and repeated rear toe-link recalls.
3L V6 hybrid through 2024; a heavy 2025 refresh consolidated trims (Active, ST-Line, Platinum, ST) and dropped the hybrid. Sixth-gen ownership issues center on the rear axle mounting bolt recalls, 360-camera recall, and 10-speed shift-quality complaints. 3, lug torque is 100 ft-lbs, and Ford's schedule is simple: 10,000-mile oil changes via the oil-life monitor, cabin filter at 20k, air filter at 30k, plugs and coolant at 100k, transmission fluid at 150k.
Ford Explorer by model year
Year pages show only the engines and specs offered that year.
Sources
- 2020 Explorer Owner's Manual, Capacities and Specifications (fordservicecontent.com)
- CarCareTruth, 2020–2026 Explorer oil type & capacity (from OEM manuals)
- NHTSA recall 23V-675 / Ford 23S55, rear axle bolt replacement
- Ford recall 22S27 (NHTSA 22V-712), rear axle bolt software remedy
- NHTSA recall 23V-342 (Ford 23S23), 360-camera blue image
- Levittown Ford parts, FA-1947 / L1MZ-9601-A engine air filter (3.0L/3.3L)
- Ford Parts Giant, JX6Z-19N619-B cabin air filter, 2020 Explorer
- ExplorerST.org, factory H6 battery, fluid capacities (Mercon ULV, 75W-85 rear axle)
- fueleconomy.gov, 2021 Ford Explorer EPA ratings
- Goodyear / Mavis, 2021–2024 Explorer OE tire sizes by trim
- Car and Driver, 2020 Explorer specs (fuel tank, curb weight, towing)