Special Service Message 53842 - 2025 Expedition/Navigator - Windshield RFID Transponder Not Working And Transponder Placement

[HazBeen]

Special Service Message 53842 - 2025 Expedition/Navigator/Nautilus - Windshield RFID Transponder Not Working And Transponder Placement

Some 2025 Expedition/Navigator/Nautilus customers may state that their windshield mounted toll road, home access, or other radio frequency identification (RFID) transponders are not working. 2025 Expedition, Navigator and Nautilus windshields have UV coating that may block RFID transmission. The windshield has a designated shaded area for RFID transponder placement in front of the rear-view mirror, next to the camera console, that does not contain UV coating. The online Owner Manual has been updated to include instructions for transponder placement with a picture of the shaded area, and the in-vehicle electronic Owner Manual will be updated via an over-the-air (OTA) in Q4 2025. Customers should follow transponder manufacturer provided instructions for mounting and orientation (some transponders recommend horizontal, vertical, etc.). In some cases, the transponder size may exceed the size of the windshield shaded area and a portion of the transponder may be outside of the shaded area. Many transponders will still function correctly as long as a majority of the transponder, particularly the internal RFID transmitter itself, is located in the shaded area. Customers may need to test transponder results and adjust the transponder in various positions within the shaded area until there is consistent transponder performance.

 

[brsmith77]

Has anyone been able to find the image showing the "designated area". I have checked the ford website owners manual and am not finding it there.

 

[ElwoodPDowd]

Just purchased a 2025 Tremor last month. VERY frustrated with this issue!

I think I found the online manual information on this:

https://www.fordservicecontent.com/Ford_Content/vdirsnet/OwnerManual/Home/Content?countryCode=USA&languageCode=EN&Uid=G2498452&ProcUid=G2498453&div=f&variantid=9960&vFilteringEnabled=False&userMarket=USA&buildtype=web

Unfortunately, I placed my transponder in that area, and it still did not work.

Has anyone gotten their EZPass transponder to work?

 

[rsupak]

Damn I didn’t know this I just put it under the mirror a little ways. We hardly ever go to the tolls so not sure if it works or not.

 

[Emilner]

We had that issue- I put my EZ Pass in the black shaded area to the right of the camera housing on the windshield and it works. It is not my preferred hidden behind the mirror location but it at least functions.

 

[rd618]

I wonder if you can just place it on the front of the sunroof glass. There's no coating on that glass, and front far enough won't interfere with the mechanism at all.

 

[ElwoodPDowd]

I wonder if you can just place it on the front of the sunroof glass. There's no coating on that glass, and front far enough won't interfere with the mechanism at all.

Researching this, I found a half dozen posts on facebook and other sites stating that putting it at the front of the sunroof does work. Almost all (maybe all?) showed pics of the "sticker" transponder - reasonably flat. I have the ezpass flex transponder. Big thing with a switch for the HOV lane. Saves a lot in our area when going on family vacations. Not sure it would fit under the sunroof screen.

Size of the flex is another factor. it barely fits vertically/sideways in the shaded area shown in manual. Several EZPass sites say that different orientation isn't the problem, but I wonder! I've ordered a sticker transponder, and I'm going to try that in the shaded area next. Will report back when it comes in.

 

[rd618]

The orientation won't matter. The flex transponder concept itself baffles me, but hey, someone much smarter than I thought it was a good idea.

In NY now, you don't even need the ezpass transponder. They don't advertise it, but so long as your license plate is on your account registration, it bills your EZpass first for all tolls.

 

[jkp71]

The orientation won't matter. The flex transponder concept itself baffles me, but hey, someone much smarter than I thought it was a good idea.

In NY now, you don't even need the ezpass transponder. They don't advertise it, but so long as your license plate is on your account registration, it bills your EZpass first for all tolls.

That works fine but doesn't help when you want to declare HOV status with the switch on the flex transponder.

 

[rd618]

That works fine but doesn't help when you want to declare HOV status with the switch on the flex transponder.

That's the thing that baffels me, what's just stopping anyone from leaving the "transponder" in "HOV" status?

 

[Emilner]

In NY now, you don't even need the ezpass transponder. They don't advertise it, but so long as your license plate is on your account registration, it bills your EZpass first for all tolls.

You don't need the transponder but you will be charged a lot more in the Mid Tier rate plan.

https://www.fox5ny.com/news/ezpass-tolls-car-driving-cost-new-jersey-new-york

 

[jkp71]

That's the thing that baffels me, what's just stopping anyone from leaving the "transponder" in "HOV" status?

Not really anything beyond honesty. It's difficult to enforce, but there are some road operators that conduct on road enforcement.

 

[sequoiasoon]

In NY now, you don't even need the ezpass transponder. They don't advertise it, but so long as your license plate is on your account registration, it bills your EZpass first for all tolls.

Check your EZ-Pass account when you get a chance. I have 4 EZ-Pass between mine and my kids cars. One of them died after multiple years. If they read your plate linked to your account the charge for Throgs Neck and Whitestone is $9.11 but if it reads transponder it's $6.94. Varies for other places also as well as out of state.



Next hassle is trying to replace. You can only have 4 on each personal account so need to claim the bad one lost. They charge you $16 for a replacement. Once you get the new you send the bad one back as found and they credit. At that point they "supposedly" will look back 6 months and credit the difference of plate vs. transponder on account.

I'm currently waiting 1 month for the replacement version. I called EZPass customer service and lady said multiple customers waiting over 2 months and still not shipped out. How hard can that be?

First post here, not a troll, same name on multiple forums. Looking at Expedition as short list for replacement for my wife's Pilot. UV coating issue came up on another forum so searched internet to here.

 

[rd618]

Check your EZ-Pass account when you get a chance. I have 4 EZ-Pass between mine and my kids cars. One of them died after multiple years. If they read your plate linked to your account the charge for Throgs Neck and Whitestone is $9.11 but if it reads transponder it's $6.94. Varies for other places also as well as out of state.

View attachment 85665

Next hassle is trying to replace. You can only have 4 on each personal account so need to claim the bad one lost. They charge you $16 for a replacement. Once you get the new you send the bad one back as found and they credit. At that point they "supposedly" will look back 6 months and credit the difference of plate vs. transponder on account.

I'm currently waiting 1 month for the replacement version. I called EZPass customer service and lady said multiple customers waiting over 2 months and still not shipped out. How hard can that be?

First post here, not a troll, same name on multiple forums. Looking at Expedition as short list for replacement for my wife's Pilot. UV coating issue came up on another forum so searched internet to here.

Yea. We had a similar thing it’s not for every toll, it typically is if you have a discount, it won’t get applied.
It’s a hassle for sure.
Also another way is open another account and move one car over then you get access to 4 new transponders. They send new ones out faster than replacement.

 

[Mac66]

As mentioned above I put my transponder on the moon roof, no issues.

 

[sanman28]

As mentioned above I put my transponder on the moon roof, no issues.

Good idea.