Service bulletin TSB 17-0033

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
Type	Service bulletin
NHTSA id	10099086
Published by NHTSA	2017-05-15
Manufacturer's number	TSB 17-0033
Manufacturer's date	2017-03-21
NHTSA component	ENGINE

NHTSA's summary

SOME 2016-2017 EXPLORER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.3L ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 28-FEB-2017 MAY EXHIBIT THE IDLE SPEED DROPPING BELOW SPECIFICATION AFTER REPEATED LIGHT PEDAL TIP-IN/TIP-OUT EVENTS AT LOW VEHICLE SPEEDS, SUCH AS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC JAMS OR A PARKING LOT MANEUVERS. REPROGRAM THE POWERTRAIN CONTROL MODULE (PCM) TO THE LATEST CALIBRATION USING IDS RELEASE 104.04 OR HIGHER. MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN ENTERING MODULE PROGRAMMING TO OBTAIN THE LATEST UPDATES. CALIBRATION FILES MAY ALSO BE OBTAINED AT WWW.MOTORCRAFTSERVICE.COM.

The document

No address for NHTSA's copy can be built for this communication. Ask the dealer for it by the manufacturer's number.

Components

Engine

Vehicles listed
FORD EXPLORER	2016, 2017

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
16V925000	2016-12-22. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:GASOLINE:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER
2016138	2016-03-31. Engine
16V183000	2016-03-31. ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
25B51	2026-06-05. Other. Certain 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco, 2021-2024 Model Year Bronco Sport, 2020-2022 Model Year Corsair and Escape, 2016-2024 Model Year Explorer, 2019-2020 Model Year Fusion, 2016-2018 Model Year Focus RS, 2022-2024 Model Year Maverick, 2016-2019 Model Year MKC and 2019-2024 Model Year Ranger Vehicles Equipped with a 2.0L or 2.3L Engine and Engine Block Heater System Block Heater Replacement
SSM 52335	2024-03-20. Service bulletin. For 2015-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with turbocharged engines and customer concern of an engine oil leak, refer to Workshop Manual (WSM), Section 303-00 for oil leak inspection and testing methods. Ford has evaluated turbochargers replaced for oil leak symptoms and although oil may collect on the external surface of a turbocharger, it is extremely rare for a turbocharger assembly to be the root cause of the oil leak. Careful inspection of the turbocharger oil feed and drain tubes should be performed along with the recommended WSM procedures as needed. Warranty claims for turbocharger replacement going forward will be assessed.
20B27 S1	2022-10-05. Service bulletin. Certain 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer Vehicles Equipped With the 2.3L Engine and 6F35 Transmission Powertrain Control Module Reprogram Submitting Owner Letters
TSB-17-0044	2022-05-27. Service bulletin. EXHAUST ODOR IN VEHICLE
TSB160001	2021-12-20. Service bulletin. 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - March 2016 Air bag warning light illuminated with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) B141B and/or B141C
LTR3756	2021-12-20. Service bulletin. 49 CFR Part 579.5 Monthly Communications - January 2016
21N01	2021-09-05. Service bulletin. This program provides a no-cost, one-time repair (if needed) to the high-speed cooling fan relay and respective electrical terminals, if affected, to ten (10) years of service or 150,000 miles from the warranty start date of the vehicle, whichever occurs first.
21B05	2021-09-05. Service bulletin. After extended idling, the high-speed cooling fan relay may fail in some of the affected vehicles. A failure will cause the fan to either continuously run or never turn on. A continuously running fan will increase the temperature of the relay’s connections (terminals) to beyond their design maximum. This may eventually create an electrical arc which heats and damages the relay terminals. Customers may experience a drained battery and a non-functional or even a melted/burned high-speed cooling fan relay inside the battery junction box (BJB). A damaged non-functional relay causing the fan to never turn on, may lead to engine overheating at idle.
SSM 49821	2021-06-01. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to small debris causing the VCT solenoid to stick. Before attempting any component diagnosis or replacement of the VCT solenoid, refer to Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) pinpoint test HK11 to cycle the affected VCT solenoid 10 times to attempt to clear the debris. For claiming, use causal part 6M280 and applicable labor operations in Section 10 of the Service Labor Time Standards (SLTS) Manual.
TSB 20-2271	2021-01-05. Service bulletin. Some 2015-2019 MKC and 2016-2019 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine may exhibit a vibration/rough idle when the vehicle is in DRIVE or REVERSE. The vehicle may also exhibit a lack of engine revolutions per minute (RPM), lack of acceleration on take off and/or shudder while driving. This may be due to the torque converter overheating causing damage to the torque converter as well as possible internal damage to the transmission. To correct this condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to replace the torque converter and specified internal transmission components that may have been damaged.