Ford Delays Launch of Three Refreshed Models for Quality Assurance
Just like it did with the 2023 Super Duty, 2023 Escape and 2024 F-150, Ford will delay the market launch of three refreshed models in order to perform extra quality checks and reduce the number of potential problems and recalls.
These models include the 2025 Explorer, Bronco Sport and Maverick, which all benefit from a mid-cycle update. Only the Explorer has been revealed so far, and production began last month in Chicago.
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Ford CEO Jim Farley confirmed the plan to U.S. publication Bloomberg in recent days. Shipments to dealerships will be pushed back up to six weeks after the start of production, giving the automaker more time to inspect the first units off the line and ensure smoother launches.
Farley said that quality issues and recalls are costing Ford upwards of $4.8 billion USD annually, or approximately $6.5 billion CAD. In the case of the 2024 F-150, the new quality checks at the plant are believed to have prevented a dozen recalls.
Sporting a refreshed exterior, the 2025 Explorer is the first vehicle to include the new Ford Digital Experience infotainment system, which offers more personalization and connectivity. It also offers Ford BlueCruise for the first time, allowing hands-free driving with automated lane changes on the highway.
The cabin is revised for improved comfort and space, while engineers recalibrated the 10-speed transmission in a bid to increase fuel economy.
The 2025 Bronco Sport and Maverick will also receive cosmetic revisions, and new models are expected to join their respective lineups. Based on spy shots, the former is set to gain an optional 13.2-inch touchscreen similar to the one in the Escape. Keep following The Car Guide for more details about these models as they become available.