2023 FORD EXPLORER service

The information contained in this publication was correct at the time of release. In the interest of continuousdevelopment, we reserve the right to change specifications, design or equipment at any time withoutnotice or obligation. No part of this publication may be reproduced, transmitted, stored in a retrievalsystem or translated into any language in any form by any means without our written permission. Errorsand omissions excepted.© Ford Motor Company 2022
All rights reserved.Part Number: -202209-20220907112020
California Proposition 65
WARNING: Operating, servicing and maintaining a passenger vehicle or off-highway motor vehiclecan expose you to chemicals including engine exhaust, carbon monoxide, phthalates, and lead, whichare known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Tominimize exposure, avoid breathing exhaust, do not idle the engine except as necessary, service yourvehicle in a well-ventilated area and wear gloves or wash your hands frequently when servicing yourvehicle. For more information go to www.P65Warnings.ca.gov/passenger-vehicle.
WARNING: Battery posts, terminals and
related accessories contain lead and lead
compounds, chemicals known to the State of
California to cause cancer and reproductive harm.
Wash your hands after handling.

Introduction
About This Manual..........................................9
Symbols Glossary............................................9
Perchlorate........................................................12
Ford Credit........................................................12
Replacement Parts Recommendation............................................................................12
Special Notices...............................................13
Mobile Communications Equipment...........................................................................14
Export Unique Options................................14
Data Privacy
Data Privacy.....................................................15
Service Data.....................................................16
Event Data........................................................16
Settings Data...................................................17
Connected Vehicle Data..............................17
Mobile Device Data.......................................18
Emergency Call System Data....................18
Environment
Protecting the Environment.......................19
At a Glance
At a Glance - ST............................................20
Instrument Panel............................................21
Child Safety
General Information.....................................23
Installing Child Restraints..........................25
Booster Seats.................................................33
Child Restraint Positioning........................35
Child Safety Locks........................................36
Seatbelts
Principle of Operation.................................38
Fastening the Seatbelts.............................39
Seatbelt Height Adjustment......................41
Seatbelt Warning Lamp and IndicatorChime.............................................................41
Seatbelt Reminder........................................42
Child Restraint and SeatbeltMaintenance...............................................43
Seatbelt Extensions.....................................44
Personal Safety System™
Personal Safety System™.........................45
Supplementary RestraintsSystem
Principle of Operation.................................46
Driver and Passenger Airbags...................47
Front Passenger Sensing System...........48
Side Airbags....................................................50
Driver and Passenger Knee Airbags........51
Safety Canopy™.............................................51
Crash Sensors and Airbag Indicator.......52
Airbag Disposal..............................................53
Pedestrian Protection - HybridElectric Vehicle (HEV)
Pedestrian Alert System............................54
911 Assist
What Is 911 Assist..........................................55
How Does 911 Assist Work.........................55
Emergency Call Requirements................55
Emergency Call Limitations......................56
Keys and Remote Controls
General Information on RadioFrequencies.................................................57
Remote Control..............................................57
Replacing a Lost Key or Remote Control..........................................................................63
MyKey™
Principle of Operation.................................64
1
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingTable of Contents

Drive Mode Control
What Is Drive Mode Control....................273
How Does Drive Mode Control Work.........................................................................273
Selecting a Drive Mode.............................273
Drive Modes...................................................273
Load Carrying
General Information...................................275
Rear Under Floor Storage........................275
Cargo Nets.....................................................276
Roof Racks and Load Carriers................276
Load Limit.......................................................277
Towing
Towing a Trailer...........................................283
Trailer Sway Control..................................284
Recommended Towing Weights..........284
Essential Towing Checks.........................285
Towing the Vehicle on Four Wheels.....287
Driving Hints
Reduced Engine Performance..............288
Cold Weather Precautions......................288
Breaking-In...................................................288
Driving Economically................................288
Driving Through Shallow Water............289
Floor Mats.....................................................289
Roadside Emergencies
Roadside Assistance..................................291
Hazard Flashers...........................................292
Fuel Shutoff..................................................292
Jump Starting the Vehicle.......................293
Collision, Damage or Fire Event............295
Post-Crash Alert System.........................296
Transporting the Vehicle.........................296
Customer Assistance
Getting the Services You Need.............298
In California (U.S. Only)...........................299
The Better Business Bureau (BBB) AutoLine Program (U.S. Only)....................300
Utilizing the Mediation/ArbitrationProgram (Canada Only).......................301
Getting Assistance Outside the U.S. andCanada........................................................301
Ordering Additional Owner's Literature........................................................................303
Reporting Safety Defects (U.S. Only)........................................................................303
Reporting Safety Defects (Canada Only)........................................................................303
Fuses
Fuse Specification Chart.........................305
Changing a Fuse...........................................313
Maintenance
General Information...................................315
Opening and Closing the Hood..............315
Under Hood Overview - 2.3L EcoBoost™.........................................................................316
Under Hood Overview - 3.0L...................317
Under Hood Overview - 3.3L...................318
Engine Oil Dipstick - 2.3L EcoBoost™.........................................................................319
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.0L.........................319
Engine Oil Dipstick - 3.3L..........................319
Engine Oil Check..........................................319
Oil Change Indicator Reset.....................320
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 2.3LEcoBoost™................................................321
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.0L........................................................................322
Changing the Engine Air Filter - 3.3L....323
Engine Coolant Check..............................324
Automatic Transmission Fluid Check........................................................................328
Brake Fluid Check.......................................328
6
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingTable of Contents

Keep out of reach of children
Lighting control
Low fuel level
Low tire pressure warning
Maintain correct fluid level
Malfunction Indicator Lamp(MIL)
Note operating instructions
Panic alarm
Parking aid
Parking lamps
Passenger airbag activated
Passenger airbag deactivated
Power steering fluid
Power windows front/rear
Power window lockout
Requires registered technician
Safety alert
See Owner's Manual
See Service Manual
Side airbag
Shield the eyes
Stability control
Stability control off
Trail control
Turn Signal
Windshield defrosting system
Windshield wiping system
Windshield wash and wipe
11
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingIntroductionE161353 E139232 E139229 E67028 E72343 E139213 E71341 E270849 E270850 E139216 E139225 E231159 E65963 E72021 E231158 E167012 E138639 E130458 E332910 E67018 E73953 E270969 E270967

PERCHLORATE
Certain components in your vehicle suchas airbag modules, seatbelt pretensionersand remote control batteries may containperchlorate material. Special handlingmay apply for service or vehicle end of lifedisposal.
For more information visit:
Web Address
www.dtsc.ca.gov/hazard-ouswaste/perchlorate
FORD CREDIT
US Only
Ford Credit offers a full range of financingand lease plans to help you acquire yourvehicle. If you have financed or leased yourvehicle through Ford Credit, thank you foryour business.
For assistance call 1-800-727-7000, or formore information about Ford Credit andaccess to the online Account Manager tool,visit www.ford.com/finance.
REPLACEMENT PARTS
RECOMMENDATION
We have built your vehicle to the higheststandards using quality parts. Werecommend that you demand the use ofgenuine Ford and Motorcraft partswhenever your vehicle requires scheduledmaintenance or repair. You can clearlyidentify genuine Ford and Motorcraft partsby looking for the Ford, FoMoCo orMotorcraft branding on the parts or theirpackaging.
Scheduled Maintenance andMechanical Repairs
One of the best ways for you to make surethat your vehicle provides years of serviceis to have it maintained in line with ourrecommendations using parts thatconform to the specifications detailed inthis Owner’s Manual.
Genuine Ford and Motorcraft parts meetor exceed these specifications.
Collision Repairs
We hope that you never experience acollision, but accidents happen sometimes.
Genuine Ford replacement collision partsmeet our stringent requirements for fit,finish, structural integrity, corrosionprotection and dent resistance. Duringvehicle development we validate thatthese parts deliver the intended level ofprotection as a whole system. A great wayto know for sure you are getting this levelof protection is to use genuine Fordreplacement collision parts.
Warranty on Replacement Parts
Genuine Ford and Motorcraft replacementparts are the only replacement parts thatbenefit from a Ford Warranty.
The Ford Warranty may not cover damagecaused to your vehicle as a result of failednon-Ford parts.
For additional information, refer to theterms and conditions of the Ford Warranty.
12
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingIntroduction

SPECIAL NOTICES
New Vehicle Limited Warranty
For a detailed description of what iscovered by your New Vehicle LimitedWarranty, see your warranty guide that isavailable online. For more information,refer to our website and download yourcopy of the warranty guide.
Special Instructions
For your added safety, your vehicle is fittedwith sophisticated electronic controls.
WARNING: You risk death orserious injury to yourself and others if youdo not follow the instruction highlightedby the warning symbol. Failure to followthe specific warnings and instructionscould result in personal injury.
WARNING: NEVER use a rearwardfacing child restraint on a seat protectedby an ACTIVE AIRBAG in front of it,DEATH or SERIOUS INJURY to the CHILDcan occur.
On Board Diagnostics Data LinkConnector
WARNING: Do not connectwireless plug-in devices to the data linkconnector. Unauthorized third partiescould gain access to vehicle data andimpair the performance of safety relatedsystems. Only allow repair facilities thatfollow our service and repair instructionsto connect their equipment to the datalink connector.
Your vehicle has an OBD Data LinkConnector (DLC) that is used inconjunction with a diagnostic scan tool forvehicle diagnostics, repairs andreprogramming services. Installing anaftermarket device that uses the DLCduring normal driving for purposes such asremote insurance company monitoring,transmission of vehicle data to otherdevices or entities, or altering theperformance of the vehicle, may causeinterference with or even damage tovehicle systems. We do not recommendor endorse the use of unapprovedaftermarket plug-in devices. The vehicleWarranty will not cover damage causedby an aftermarket plug-in device.
Notice to Owners of Pickup Trucksand Utility Type Vehicles
WARNING: Utility vehicles have asignificantly higher rollover rate thanother types of vehicles.
Before you drive your vehicle, please readthis Owner’s Guide carefully. Your vehicleis not a passenger car. As with othervehicles of this type, failure to operate thisvehicle correctly may result in loss ofvehicle control, vehicle rollover, personalinjury or death.
Using Your Vehicle With aSnowplow
Do not use this vehicle forsnowplowing.
Your vehicle does not have a snowplowingpackage.
Using Your Vehicle as anAmbulance
Do not use this vehicle as anambulance.
13
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingIntroduction

WARNING: Do not connectwireless plug-in devices to the data linkconnector. Unauthorized third partiescould gain access to vehicle data andimpair the performance of safety relatedsystems. Only allow repair facilities thatfollow our service and repair instructionsto connect their equipment to the datalink connector.
We respect your privacy and arecommitted to protecting it. Theinformation contained in this publicationwas correct at the time of release, but astechnology rapidly changes, werecommend that you visit the local Fordwebsite for the latest information.
Your vehicle has electronic control unitsthat have data recording functionality andthe ability to permanently or temporarilystore data. This data could includeinformation on the condition and status ofyour vehicle, vehicle maintenancerequirements, events and malfunctions.The types of data that can be recorded aredescribed in this section. Some of the datarecorded is stored in event logs or errorlogs.
Note:Error logs are reset following a serviceor repair.
Note:We may provide information inresponse to requests from law enforcement,other government authorities and thirdparties acting with lawful authority orthrough a legal process. Such informationcould be used by them in legal proceedings.
Data recorded includes, for example:
•Operating states of systemcomponents, for example fuel level,tire pressure and battery charge level.
•Vehicle and component status, forexample wheel speed, deceleration,lateral acceleration and seatbeltstatus.
•Events or errors in essential systems,for example headlamps and brakes.
•System responses to driving situations,for example airbag deployment andstability control.
•Environmental conditions, for exampletemperature.
Some of this data, when used incombination with other information, forexample an accident report, damage to avehicle or eyewitness statements, couldbe associated with a specific person.
Services That We Provide
If you use our services, we collect and usedata, for example account information,vehicle location and driving characteristics,that could identify you. We transmit thisdata through a dedicated, protectedconnection. We only collect and use datato enable your use of our services to whichyou have subscribed, with your consent orwhere permitted by law. For additionalinformation, see the terms and conditionsof the services to which you havesubscribed.
For additional information about ourprivacy policy, refer to the local Fordwebsite.
Services That Third PartiesProvide
We recommend that you review the termsand conditions and data privacyinformation for any services equipped withyour vehicle or to which you subscribe. Wetake no responsibility for services that thirdparties provide.
15
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingData Privacy

SERVICE DATA
Service data recorders in your vehicle arecapable of collecting and storingdiagnostic information about your vehicle.This potentially includes information aboutthe performance or status of varioussystems and modules in the vehicle, suchas engine, throttle, steering or brakesystems. In order to properly diagnose andservice your vehicle, Ford Motor Company(Ford of Canada in Canada), and serviceand repair facilities may access or shareamong them vehicle diagnosticinformation received through a directconnection to your vehicle whendiagnosing or servicing your vehicle.Additionally, Ford Motor Company (Fordof Canada, in Canada) may, wherepermitted by law, use vehicle diagnosticinformation for vehicle improvement orwith other information we may have aboutyou, for example, your contact information,to offer you products or services that mayinterest you. Data may be provided to ourservice providers such as part suppliersthat may help diagnose malfunctions, andwho are similarly obligated to protect data.We retain this data only as long asnecessary to perform these functions or tocomply with law. We may provideinformation where required in response toofficial requests to law enforcement orother government authorities or thirdparties acting with lawful authority or courtorder, and such information may be usedin legal proceedings. For U.S. only (ifequipped), if you choose to use connectedapps and services, you consent that certaindiagnostic information may also beaccessed electronically by Ford MotorCompany and Ford authorized servicefacilities, and that the diagnosticinformation may be used to provideservices to you, personalizing yourexperience, troubleshoot, and to improveproducts and services and offer youproducts and services that may interest
you, where permitted by law. For Canadaonly, for more information, please reviewthe Ford of Canada privacy policy atwww.ford.ca, including our U.S. datastorage and use of service providers inother jurisdictions who may be subject tolegal requirements in Canada, the UnitedStates and other countries applicable tothem, for example, lawful requirements todisclose personal information togovernmental authorities in thosecountries.
EVENT DATA
This vehicle is equipped with an event datarecorder. The main purpose of an eventdata recorder is to record, in certain crashor near crash-like situations, such as anairbag deployment or hitting a roadobstacle; this data will assist inunderstanding how a vehicle’s systemsperformed. The event data recorder isdesigned to record data related to vehicledynamics and safety systems for a shortperiod of time, typically 30 seconds or less.
The event data recorder in this vehicle isdesigned to record such data as:
•How various systems in your vehiclewere operating.
•Whether or not the driver andpassenger seatbelts werebuckled/fastened.
•How far (if at all) the driver wasdepressing the accelerator and/or thebrake pedal.
•How fast the vehicle was traveling.
•Where the driver was positioning thesteering wheel.
This data can help provide a betterunderstanding of the circumstances inwhich crashes and injuries occur.
16
2023 Explorer (CTW) Canada/United States of America, enUSA, Edition date: 202209, First-PrintingData Privacy