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Service bulletins for the 2017 Ford Explorer

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.

215 on file from NHTSA, as of 2026-10-19.

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Bulletins, newest first
SSM 464502017-05-17. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL. SOME VEHICLES MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MIL WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS) 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 17-00332017-05-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. 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.
SSM 461952017-03-20. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT. 2017 EXPLORER AND 2016 TAURUS VEHICLES BUILT ON OR AFTER 9-JUN-2016 NO LONGER HAVE THE FUEL FILLER PIPE INFORMATION BEZEL ATTACHED TO THE FUEL FILLER PIPE. THE BEZEL WAS REMOVED TO COMPLY WITH FUEL PUMP VAPOR RECOVERY EQUIPMENT REQUIREMENTS AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED MISSING. THE ADDITION OF THE INFORMATION BEZEL TO UNITS BUILT ON OR AFTER 9-JUN-2016 SHOULD NOT BE DONE.
SSM 461942017-03-20. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL. 2016-2017 EXPLORER SIGNATURE LIGHTING IS STANDARD EQUIPMENT ON XLT AND HIGHER LEVEL VEHICLES. BASE MODEL VEHICLES ARE NOT EQUIPPED WITH SIGNATURE LIGHTING AND IT IS NOT AN OPTION. BASE LEVEL VEHICLES WITHOUT THE LED LIGHTING SURROUNDING THE HEADLAMPS ARE BUILT CORRECTLY AND SHOULD NOT BE MODIFIED BY INSTALLING THE SIGNATURE LAMPS. PRIOR TO BEGINNING ANY DIAGNOSTICS, VERIFY THE PROPER VEHICLE MODEL/SERIES UTILIZING OASIS OR REFERRING TO WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION 100-01.
SSM 463382017-03-15. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL; STRUCTURE:BODY; EQUIPMENT. SOME 2016-2017 EXPLORER POLICE UTILITY VEHICLES MAY HAVE AN ILLUMINATED MIL WITH AMBIENT AIR TEMPERATURE SENSOR DTC P0073. DURING THE INSTALLATION OF CERTAIN POLICE ACCESSORIES BY NON-FORD VEHICLE UPFITTERS, WIRING CONNECTOR C134 MAY HAVE BEEN LEFT DISCONNECTED FOLLOWING THE REMOVAL AND INSTALLATION OF THE FRONT BUMPER COVER. IF THIS ISSUE IS NOTED, FIRST CHECK C134 BEFORE BEGINNING OTHER DIAGNOSTIC STEPS. RECONNECTING C134 DUE TO IMPROPER REASSEMBLY BY AN OUTSIDE SUPPLIER IS NOT A WARRANTABLE REPAIR.
SSM 462952017-03-15. Service bulletin. ENGINE. TO HELP DIFFERENTIATE ENGINE OIL LEAKS FROM OTHER POSSIBLE SOURCES, A NEW WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT ENGINE OIL DYE IS AVAILABLE. WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM), SECTION 303-00 HAS BEEN REVISED TO REFERENCE THE NEW WHITE-COLORED DYE. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE PROVIDES A DISTINCT WHITE GLOW TO IDENTIFY ENGINE OIL LEAKS. THE NEW WHITE FLUORESCENT DYE REQUIRES A PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP. THE WHITE-COLORED FLUORESCENT DYE AND PURE UV LAMP ARE NOW IN THE ROTUNDA CATALOG. DYE AND LAMP PART NUMBERS. GASOLINE ONLY DYE: 1 OUNCE BOTTLE 164-TP-33200601. DIESEL ONLY DYE: 8 OUNCE BOTTLE: 164-TP-3320-0008. PURE UV DIAGNOSTIC INSPECTION LAMP 164-TP8695 OR 164-R3748.
SSM 462812017-03-11. Service bulletin. ENGINE. SOME 2015-2017 EDGE/MKX, ESCAPE/MKC, FUSION/MKZ AND EXPLORER VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.0L OR 2.3L MAY EXHIBIT DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE APPEARANCE COVER, VALVE COVER AND/OR INTAKE MANIFOLD WHEN ATTEMPTING TO REMOVE THE APPEARANCE COVER. TO REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DAMAGE, CAREFULLY PULL STRAIGHT UPWARD ON THE UNDERSIDE OF THE COVER AT EACH FASTENER LOCATION TO REMOVE. DO NOT PULL THE COVER FORWARD OR TO THE SIDE. BEFORE INSTALLING THE ENGINE APPEARANCE COVER, APPLY MOTORCRAFT SILICONE BRAKE CALIPER GREASE AND DIELECTRIC COMPOUND (XG-3-A) TO THE COVER FASTENER GROMMETS. WORKSHOP MANUAL (WSM) INFORMATION IS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING UPDATED
SSM 460222017-02-23. Service bulletin. STEERING; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF. CLEAR ANY DTCS PRESENT AND RETEST.
SSM 459682017-02-21. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SOME 2016 ESCAPE/MKC/FIESTA/F150/EXPEDITION/NAVIGATOR/MUSTANG /TRANSIT/FOCUS/C-MAX/MKX/TAURUS/MKS/FLEX/MKT/EDGE AND 2017 ESCAPE/EXPLORER/MKC/FUSION AND MKZ VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 MIGHT EXHIBIT A BLANK SCREEN OR OTHER VARIOUS SYNC SYMPTOMS ONLY WHEN THE VEHICLE IS IN TRANSPORT MODE. ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THIS POSSIBILITY AND IT IS CONSIDERED NORMAL DUE TO THE POWER SAVING FEATURES ENABLED WHILE IN TRANSPORTATION MODE. IT IS BENEFICIAL TO EXTENDED BATTERY LIFE TO KEEP THE VEHICLE IN TRANSPORT MODE UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS PREPPED FOR SALE. IF THE VEHICLE SHOULD EXHIBIT A BLANK SCREEN OR OTHER SYNC SYMPTOMS AFTER IT HAS BEEN TAKEN OUT OF TRANSPORT MODE, REFER TO WORKSHOP MANUAL, SECTION 415-00 FOR NORMAL DIAGNOSIS. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS.
SSM 459142017-02-10. Service bulletin. ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. SOME 2017 POLICE UTILITY VEHICLES BUILT ON OR BEFORE 6/23/2016 AND EQUIPPED WITH THE DARK CAR OPTION MAY EXHIBIT THE DARK CAR FEATURE NOT ENABLING. TO ADDRESS THIS CONCERN, UPDATE THE AS-BUILT DATA IN THE BODY CONTROL MODULE (BCM). MAKE SURE YOU ARE CONNECTED TO THE INTERNET WHEN PROGRAMMING AS BUILT DATA. DURING UPDATE PROCESS, WHEN PROMPTED BY IDS TO USE MANUAL OR AUTOMATIC DATA RETRIEVAL, SELECT AUTOMATIC TO OBTAIN THE LATEST CONFIGURATION. USE APPLICABLE LABOR OPERATIONS IN SECTION 10 OF THE SLTS MANUAL AND CAUSAL PART 15604.
SSM 461322017-02-10. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY DTC OR SYMPTOM. STARTING IN 2015 NOT ALL SYNC EQUIPPED VEHICLES SUPPORT VHR, REFER TO THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR VHR OPERATION.
SSM 461532017-02-09. Service bulletin. TIRES:PRESSURE MONITORING AND REGULATING SYSTEMS. SETTING THE CORRECT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE IS AN IMPORTANT STEP IN THE PRE-DELIVERY PROCESS AND DURING ROUTINE MAINTENANCE INTERVALS. RECENT CUSTOMER CLINICS REVEALED THAT MOST EVERY VEHICLE IN THE CLINICS HAD THE TIRE PRESSURES SET INCORRECTLY. TIRE PRESSURES FROM THE FACTORY ARE NOT SET TO THE CORRECT SPECIFICATION. MAINTAINING THE CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE IS KEY TO THE RIDE CHARACTERISTICS OF THE VEHICLE AND AFFECTS RIDE QUALITY, HANDLING, LOAD CAPACITY AND TIRE WEAR. THE RECOMMENDED PRESSURE SETTINGS CAN BE FOUND ON THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL IN THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT DOOR JAM. DO NOT USE THE TIRE PRESSURES LISTED ON THE SIDEWALL OF THE TIRES. MAINTAINING THE TIRE PRESSURE IS PART OF NORMAL MAINTENANCE. IT SHOULD BE RECHECKED MONTHLY, PER THE OWNER GUIDE AND DURING THE RECOMMENDED TIRE ROTATION INTERVALS.
SSM 461512017-02-09. Service bulletin. EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:RADIO/TAPE DECK/CD ETC.. SOME 2016-2017 FORD AND LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC 3 AND NAVIGATION MAY EXHIBIT A CONDITION IN WHICH THE SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC LISTING IS NOT LOADING BUT ALL REMAINING TRAVEL LINK FEATURES OPERATE PROPERLY. SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC IS ONLY AVAILABLE ON VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH NAVIGATION, ONLY IN SELECT MARKETS AND REQUIRES AN ACTIVE SUBSCRIPTION TO SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC INFORMATION. IF SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC WILL NOT LOAD ATTEMPT THE FOLLOWING PROCEDURE. TURN THE IGNITION OFF, OPEN AND CLOSE THE DRIVERS DOOR, WAIT FOR 3 MINUTES, THEN DRIVE THE VEHICLE OUTSIDE TO OBTAIN A CLEAR VIEW OF THE SKY. SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC SHOULD RECOVER. IF SIRIUSXM TRAFFIC DOES NOT RECOVER CONTINUE TO MONITOR OASIS FOR FUTURE UPDATES. ENGINEERING IS AWARE OF THIS CONCERN AND NO COMPONENT REPLACEMENT OR ANY SOFTWARE RE-FLASHES SHOULD BE PERFORMED AT THIS TIME. THE SYNC VERSION CAN BE CONFIRMED VIA OASIS.
SSM 461322017-02-07. Service bulletin. SERVICE BRAKES. SOME 2008-2017 FORD/MERCURY/LINCOLN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH SYNC MAY GENERATE A VHR THAT IDENTIFIES A CONCERN WITH THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION CATEGORY INDICATING SERVICE IS REQUIRED DUE TO A BRAKE SYSTEM WARNING LAMP BEING ILLUMINATED. IF THE PARK BRAKE WAS APPLIED WHEN THE VHR WAS GATHERING DATA FROM THE MAJOR VEHICLE SYSTEMS, THE BRAKES AND SUSPENSION MESSAGE WILL BE REPORTED AS THE VHR LOOKS FOR ANY WARNING LAMPS ILLUMINATED IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER. RERUN THE VHR WITH THE ENGINE ON AND VEHICLE IN PARK, AND ENSURE THE PARK BRAKE IS DISENGAGED. IF THE SYNC VHR IS STILL REPORTING A CONCERN TO THE CUSTOMERS SYNC OWNERS ACCOUNT, REFER TO THE APPROPRIATE WORKSHOP MANUAL SECTION FOR DIAGNOSIS BY DTC OR SYMPTOM. STARTING IN 2015 NOT ALL SYNC EQUIPPED VEHICLES SUPPORT VHR, REFER TO THE OWNERS MANUAL FOR VHR OPERATION.
SSM 461182017-02-07. Service bulletin. STEERING. WHEN HOOKING UP THE VEHICLE COMMUNICATION MODULE (VCM) AND INTEGRATED DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM (IDS) TO THE DLC LOCATED ON THE DRIVER SIDE UNDER THE STEERING COLUMN AT THE GWM, MAKE SURE THAT THE IGNITION IS OFF BEFORE CONNECTING TO IDS. IF THE IGNITION IS ON OR THE ENGINE IS RUNNING DURING THE HOOK UP, IT CAN RESULT IN VARIOUS WARNING LIGHTS BEING ILLUMINATED WITH DIAGNOSTIC TROUBLE CODES (DTCS), NO START OR NO CRANK CONDITIONS OR THE CLUSTER INOPERATIVE. FOR LINCOLN VEHICLES, THIS INFORMATION IS NOW LISTED IN THE TECHNICAL INSPECTION AND POST ROAD TEST SECTIONS OF EPDI ON THE PTS WEBSITE. IF A VEHICLE DISPLAYS THESE ISSUES, DISCONNECT THE EQUIPMENT FROM THE DLC AND REINSTALL WITH THE IGNITION OFF. CLEAR ANY DTCS PRESENT AND RETEST.

The summaries are NHTSA's. Each bulletin's page links NHTSA's copy of the manufacturer's document.