In-car Electronics
CD or DVD players, radio, speakers, GPS, communication system (e.g., OnStar), display screen freezes or goes blank, phone pairing (e.g. Bluetooth), voice control commands, steering wheel controls, portable music device interface (e.g., iPod/MP3 player), backup or other camera/sensors.
What Owners Say
"Sync 3 Update caused Apple CarPlay and Waze to display incorrect speed"
Anonymous, IN (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)"Thee Apple Play Screen freezes up a lot when I use Waze or Google Maps"
Anonymous, (2017 Ford Explorer XLT Unsure)"Random disconnects. Doing a reset on the Sync system seems to fix it for a while, but is really inconvenient."
Anonymous, IN (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)"Occasionally, both the front and rear cameras don't work...just get a blank black screen. Sometimes shutting the Explorer off and then back on will reset the cameras to work; sometimes not. No codes show up when technicians try to figure out what's wrong, so they haven't been able to find a permanent fix for the problem"
Anonymous, VA (2017 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5-L V6 turbo)"I use the CD player daily, but over the past few months the discs have been harder and harder to load and play. Often I have to reinsert the disc 4 or 5 times until it finally plays. Since I am almost at the end of my lease, I have not taken in to dealership for repair as I know they would need to pull the whole system for repair."
Anonymous, MI (2017 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5-L V6 turbo)"Cameras freeze and does not display what is in front no matter how many times you push the front camera button"
Anonymous, TX (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 3.5-L V6)"Sometimes the display, and the whole system, crashes while the vehicle is in motion. Does not seem to affect any of the vehicle controls. To reset the vehicle needs to be stopped, shut down, and a restart initiated. Sometimes it takes a dozen restarts to get system working again. Ford says they cannot troubleshoot unless the vehicle is experiencing the problem what at the Ford service center."
Richard V., NC (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)"Problem unknown?. Wouldn't do it again at the dealership"
Laura H., MI (2017 Ford Explorer XLT)"Center screen had to be replaced. It was like a dead computer constantly rebooting and making noises. This is a know problems with ford."
Anonymous, MA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 3.5-L V6)"Happens very intermittently but the screen will go black and may or may not come back on while driving. Sometimes you have to turn off vehicle and restart"
Ernest B., FL (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)"I believe the problem is related to previously mentioned difficulty. Touch screen stopped working, and the system performed random actions all by itself"
Laura H., MI (2017 Ford Explorer XLT)"in-dash control screen blanks out-leaves no electronic control of navigation, climate control, bluetooth phone connection, audio controls, etc"
Anonymous, CA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Actually, not only does the screen go blank, the entire GPS/entertainment system/ etc. becomes inoperative. The driver's panel continues to operate. Took it twice to Ford. They told me to bring it in for service when these intermittent system failures occur. How the hell do you do that? Often occurs far from home or the Ford dealer. Time and repeated start/stops eventually get it operating again. System just has these occasional mysterious total seizures (like my beagle has). No obvious cause, no obvious cure."
Anonymous, NC (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)"My Explorer has an intermittent back up camera issue. It causes the screen to go blank. In cold weather it barely works. It's fine in the summer. The dealership has tried several times to fix this and has not been able to. I was without my car for a week once while they tried to diagnose the problem."
Anonymous, ON (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)"The Ford Sync3 system appears to not be robust. A major controller for that saws replaced at the dealership."
Jason G., AK (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"vehicle would not operate my Sony MP3 player via bluetooth, despite both car and player being listed as recognized by each other"
Anonymous, CA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"The USB port does not always recognize my device. The Ford dealership told me it was the cord, but I bought several certified cords and it still happens"
Anonymous, (2017 Ford Explorer XLT Unsure)"Map Databse was about two years behind reality when new. Worse now. Don't even bother to use it anymore. Ford needs to pay up for up-to-date map database. Google Maps on my phone does a much better job in many ways."
Richard V., NC (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)"It is a 2017 and there is STILL no update available. It is 2019."
Anonymous, TX (2017 Ford Explorer)"After one year I noticed I was being misdirected almost every time I used the GPS. The dealer had it for 3 weeks and were unable to fix it. I only got the car back because they got it to function for a week."
Anonymous, (2017 Ford Explorer XLT Unsure)"In addition to just plain quitting on occasion, the map database is out of date and inaccurate. Ford buys the cheapest, lowest level database, and never bring it up to date. Most times I need GPS reliable and accurate guidance I use Google Maps on my smartphone which is far better. I have had bad experiences on all my Ford vehicles for years. Would be better if they just didn't install a database, but rather take the map and guidance from Google Maps by bluetooth and put it on the screen on the panel."
Anonymous, NC (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)"More computer problems. Replaced."
Anonymous, MA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 3.5-L V6)"I purchased an unlocked iPhone 7 plus. I use Straight Talk. My phone synced perfectly when I purchased the vehicle (with Sync 3) in June 2016. Since January 2017, my Explorer will not sync with my iPhone. I am unable to utilize hands-free calling (the law in my state). I am only able to, intermittently, listen to my iPod or iPhone. I have met with Service Technicians at three different dealers since the problem surfaced. I have taken my phone to other new vehicles at the dealerships (including a loaner 2017 Escape, a 2018 Mustang and another 2018 Explorer). Both my devices worked perfectly in those vehicles. Unfortunately (and infuriatingly) the dealerships claim that they were unable to generate an Error Code. And without it they can do nothing. So I'm left with vehicle that, although equipped with, Sync3, phone and bluetooth, I cannot legally use to make phone calls while in motion nor listen to music (unless in range of an AM or FM station). All this pleasure from my $50,000 2018 Ford Explorer, which Ford states, is not compatible for someone owning an unlocked iPhone 7 plus, using Straight Talk (I understand to be one of the most popular service providers in the nation) or an iPod Classic. Each of them worked perfectly well in my 2012 Explorer's (much maligned by you) My Ford Touch system. So, I have a nearly new 2017 Ford, under warranty, with an entertainment system (costing over $1700) that is nearly useless to me for its intended purpose."
Anonymous, VT (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Phone fails to pair even when connected with usb."
Anonymous, TX (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 3.5-L V6)"When starting the vehicle, the phone conects and frequently dials 0. It doesn't resut in anything more than inconvenience, but it should be fixed."
Anonymous, VA (2017 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5-L V6 turbo)"Sync2 (your favored system, although MyFord Touch was much more reliable and offered more features) would not pair with iPhone, iPod or iPad nano."
Anonymous, VT (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"recently the car failed to recognize my phone via bluetooth even though both were listed on the in-dash screen. had to reboot and re-pair phone to car"
Anonymous, CA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"vehicle occasionally doesn't recognize phone via bluetooth even though there is an icon on the in-dash screen and the phone is open and ready. must try several times to re-pair phone and car systems, after waiting sometimes minutes or hours"
Anonymous, CA (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"A hardware component within the Sync3 failed. However, before the final problem was uncovered I was repeatedly told by Ford technicians, FOMCO and every forum that the problem was that my iPhone 6 and then 7plus were incompatible (even after demonstrating that my phone worked on each and every other new Ford vehicle in the showroom or on the lots. I finally found a Ford technician who took the time to review my videos of the problem, duplicated my problem and diagnosed the part failure. Bravo to him. Boos to all the know-it-not's and lazy techs who blew me off."
Anonymous, VT (2017 Ford Explorer Limited 2.3-L 4 Cyl turbo)"Sync is extremely difficult, drops out and in general does not function properly."
Anonymous, NJ (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)"Trouble with getting phone to pair with blue tooth to get update"
Anonymous, IL (2017 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5-L V6 turbo)"A message indicating that the system can search for nearby wifi networks always comes up when the car is started and must be closed in order to view the screen. I have changed the settings to turn off this notification but it persists."
Anonymous, VA (2017 Ford Explorer)"Even though the dealership has downloaded the map updates multiple times, they don't work."
Anonymous, (2017 Ford Explorer XLT Unsure)"My 2017 Explorer didn't have an update until sometime in early 2020. It had Sync3, I was notified by FordPass that updates were available in 2019, but I couldn't get them. This included lack of updated maps (much of Tucson wasn't showing up) and lack of both Android Auto and Apple Play. Now Android Auto / Apple Play have been installed, but I'm unsure about map updates as I've switched cars with my wife and I no longer drive the Explorer daily."
Anonymous, IL (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)"One of the woofers in the Sony sound system blew."
Anonymous, NJ (2017 Ford Explorer Sport 3.5-L V6 turbo)"tuning controls on steering wheel would freeze up. Voice controls would freeze as well. Computer module has been replaced twice"
Anonymous, FL (2017 Ford Explorer Platinum 3.5-L V6 turbo)
"SYNC and Android Auto continually not work. The dealership was unable to fix it. FORD tech line was also not able to fix the problem."
Anonymous, ON (2017 Ford Explorer XLT 3.5-L V6)