Four-Wheel Drive (If Equipped) 212
Four wheel drive.....................................212
Brakes 219
Brakes.............................................219
Hints on driving with anti-lock brakes......................220
Parking brake........................................220
Hill start assist.......................................221
Traction Control 222
TractionControl™ ....................................222
Stability Control 223
AdvanceTrac®.......................................224
Terrain Response 225
Hill descent control...................................226
Parking Aids 228
Sensing system.......................................228
Active park assist.....................................230
Rear-view camera system...............................234
Cruise Control 239
Using cruise control...................................239
Using Adaptive Cruise Control............................240
Driving Aids 248
Driveralert .........................................248
Lane keeping system...................................250
Blind Spot Information System (BLIS) with Cross Traffic Alert
(CTA) .............................................254
Collision warning system................................259
Steering............................................262
Table of Contents5
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Maintenance 310
General information...................................310
Opening and closing the hood............................311
Under hood overview..................................312
Engine oil dipstick....................................315
Engine oil check......................................316
Engine coolant check..................................316
Automatic transmission fluid check........................322
Brake fluid check.....................................326
Fuel filter...........................................327
Washer fluid check....................................327
Battery ............................................327
Checking the wiper blades..............................330
Air filter(s).........................................331
Adjusting the headlamps................................333
Changing a bulb......................................335
Bulb specification chart.................................339
Vehicle Care 341
Cleaning products.....................................341
Cleaning the exterior..................................341
Waxing.............................................343
Repairing minor paint damage............................343
Cleaning the engine...................................343
Cleaning the windows and wiper blades.....................344
Cleaning the interior...................................345
Cleaning the instrument panel and instrument cluster lens.......345
Cleaning leather seats..................................346
Cleaning the alloy wheels...............................347
Vehiclestorage.......................................348
Table of Contents7
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
SYMBOL GLOSSARY
These are some of the symbols you may see on your vehicle.
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Safety alertSee Owner’s
ManualAnti-lock
braking
system
Avoid
smoking,
flames, or
sparksBatteryBattery acid
Brake fluid –
non
petroleum
baseBrake systemCabin air
filter
Check fuel
capChild Safety
Door Lock
and UnlockChild seat
lower anchor
Child seat
tether anchorCruise
controlDo not open
when hot
Engine air
filterEngine
coolantEngine
coolant
temperature
Engine oilExplosive gasFan warning
Fasten safety
beltFront airbagFront fog
lamps
Fuel pump
resetFuse
compartmentHazard
warning
flasher
Heated rear
windowInterior
luggage
compartment
releaseJack
Introduction11
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Symbol Description Symbol Description Symbol Description
Lighting
controlLow tire
pressure
warningMaintain
correct fluid
level
Panic alarmParking aid
systemParking
brake system
Power
steering fluidPower
windows
front and
rearPower
window
lockout
Service
engine soonSide airbagStability
control
Windshield
defrost and
demistWindshield
washer and
wiper
DATA RECORDING
Service Data Recording
Service data recorders in your vehicle are capable of collecting and
storing diagnostic information about your vehicle. This potentially
includes information about the performance or status of various systems
and modules in the vehicle, such as engine, throttle, steering or brake
systems. In order to properly diagnose and service your vehicle, Ford
Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities may
access or share among them vehicle diagnostic information received
through a direct connection to your vehicle when diagnosing or servicing
your vehicle. Additionally, when your vehicle is in for service or repair,
Ford Motor Company, Ford of Canada, and service and repair facilities
may access or share among them data for vehicle improvement purposes.
For U.S. only (if equipped), if you choose to use the SYNC® Vehicle
Health Report, you consent that certain diagnostic information may also
be accessed electronically by Ford Motor Company and Ford authorized
service facilities, and that the diagnostic information may be used for any
purpose. See theSYNC®chapter for more information.
12Introduction
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Event Data Recording
This vehicle is equipped with an event data recorder (EDR). The
main purpose of an EDR is to record, in certain crash or near
crash-like situations, such as an airbag deployment or hitting a
road obstacle; this data will assist in understanding how a
vehicle’s systems performed. The EDR is designed to record data
related to vehicle dynamics and safety systems for a short period
of time, typically 30 seconds or less. The EDR in this vehicle is
designed to record such data as:
•How various systems in your vehicle were operating;
•Whether or not the driver and passenger safety belts were
buckled/fastened;
•How far (if at all) the driver was depressing the accelerator
and/or the brake pedal;
•How fast the vehicle was travelling;
•Where the driver was positioning the steering wheel.
This data can help provide a better understanding of the
circumstances in which crashes and injuries occur.
Note: EDR data is recorded by your vehicle only if a non-trivial
crash situation occurs; no data is recorded by the EDR under
normal driving conditions and no personal data or information
(e.g., name, gender, age, and crash location) is recorded (see
limitations regarding 911 Assist and Traffic, Directions and
Information privacy below). However, parties, such as law
enforcement, could combine the EDR data with the type of
personally identifying data routinely acquired during a crash
investigation.
To read data recorded by an EDR, special equipment is required,
and access to the vehicle or the EDR is needed. In addition to the
vehicle manufacturer, other parties, such as law enforcement,
that have such special equipment, can read the information if
they have access to the vehicle or the EDR. Ford Motor Company
and Ford of Canada do not access event data recorder
information without obtaining consent, unless pursuant to court
order or where required by law enforcement, other government
authorities or other third parties acting with lawful authority.
Other parties may seek to access the information independently
of Ford Motor Company and Ford of Canada.
Introduction13
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
Pregnant women should always
wear their safety belts. The lap belt
portion of a combination lap and
shoulder belt should be positioned
low across the hips below the belly
and worn as tight as comfort will
allow. The shoulder belt should be
positioned to cross the middle of
the shoulder and the center of the
chest.
Safety Belt Locking Modes
WARNING:After any vehicle crash, the safety belt system at all
passenger seating positions must be checked by an authorized
dealer to verify that the automatic locking retractor feature for child
seats is still functioning properly. In addition, all safety belts should be
checked for proper function.
WARNING:The belt and retractor assembly must be replaced if
the safety belt assembly automatic locking retractor feature or
any other safety belt function is not operating properly when checked
by an authorized dealer. Failure to replace the belt and retractor
assembly could increase the risk of injury in crashes.
All safety restraints in the vehicle are combination lap and shoulder
belts. The driver safety belt has the first locking mode. The front
outboard passenger and rear seat safety belts have both types of locking
modes described as follows:
Vehicle Sensitive Mode
This is the normal retractor mode, which allows free shoulder or lap belt
length adjustment to your movements and locking in response to vehicle
movement. For example, if the driver brakes suddenly or turns a corner
sharply, or the vehicle receives an impact of about 5 mph (8 km/h) or
more, the combination safety belts will lock to help reduce forward
movement of the driver and passengers.
In addition, the retractor(s) is designed to lock if the webbing is pulled
out too quickly. If this occurs, let the belt retract slightly and pull
webbing out again in a slow and controlled manner.
Safety Belts41
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
If... Then...
You or the front seat passenger do
not buckle your safety belts before
your vehicle reaches at least
6 mph (9.7 km/h) and 1-2 minutes
elapse after you switch the
ignition...The Belt-Minder feature activates, the
safety belt warning light illuminates
and a warning tone sounds for
6 seconds every 25 seconds, repeating
for about 5 minutes or until you and
the front seat passenger buckle your
safety belts.
The driver or front passenger
safety belt becomes unbuckled for
about one minute while the
vehicle is traveling at least 6 mph
(9.7 km/h) and more than
1-2 minutes elapse after you
switch the ignition on...The Belt-Minder feature activates, the
safety belt warning light illuminates
and a warning tone sounds for
6 seconds every 25 seconds, repeating
for about 5 minutes or until you and
the front seat passenger buckle your
safety belts.
Deactivating and Activating the Belt-Minder Feature
WARNING:While the system allows you to deactivate it, this
system is designed to improve your chances of being safely
belted and surviving an accident. We recommend you leave the system
activated for yourself and others who may use the vehicle. To reduce
the risk of injury, do not deactivate or activate the system while driving
the vehicle.
Note:The driver and front passenger warning are deactivated and
activated independently. When deactivating or activating one seating
position, do not buckle the other position as this will terminate the
process.
Read Steps1-4thoroughly before proceeding with the programming
procedure.
Before following the procedure, make sure that:
•The parking brake is set.
•The transmission is in park (P).
•The ignition is off.
•The driver and front passenger safety belts are unbuckled.
1. Turn the ignition on. Do not start the engine.
2. Wait until the safety belt warning light turns off (about one minute).
Safety Belts45
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)
The remote start system will not work if:
•the ignition is on
•the alarm system is triggered
•you disable the feature
•the hood is open
•the transmission is not inP
•the vehicle battery voltage is too low
•the fuel is too low
•the service engine soon light is on.
Remote Starting the Vehicle
Note:You must press each button within three seconds of each other.
Your vehicle will not remote start and the horn will not sound if you do
not follow this sequence.
The label on your transmitter
details the starting procedure.
To remote start your vehicle:
1. Press the lock button to lock all the doors.
2. Press the remote start button twice. The exterior lamps will flash twice.
The horn will sound if the system fails to start.
Note:If you remote start your vehicle with an integrated keyhead
transmitter, you must switch the ignition on before driving your vehicle.
If you remote start your vehicle with an intelligent access transmitter,
you must have a programmed intelligent access key inside your vehicle
and press theSTART/STOPbutton on the instrument panel once while
applying the brake pedal before driving your vehicle.
The power windows will not work during the remote start and the radio
will not turn on automatically.
The parking lamps will remain on and your vehicle will run for 5, 10, or
15 minutes, depending on the setting. See theInformation Displays
chapter to select the duration of the remote start system.
Keys and Remote Control67
2015 Explorer(exp)
Owners Guide gf, 2nd Printing, September 2014
USA(fus)