2023 Ford Explorer Production Adds SecuriCode Delete Option

January 3, 2023 9:34 am

The current-gen Ford Explorer debuted in 2019 for the 2020 model year, but enters 2023 essentially unchanged, save for a few minor tweaks. Bigger things are on the horizon with a forthcoming mid-cycle refresh, redesign, and an all-electric version of the popular crossover, but in the meantime, shoppers will notice that one additional change is taking place on the 2023 Ford Explorer. That change is the addition of a SecuriCode delete option, sources familiar with the matter have told Ford Authority.

2023 Ford Explorer production has added this SecuriCode delete option to the lineup, which is available on XLT trimmed models and up, as the feature is standard on XLT 202A and above. Presumably, this option would become mandatory if supply chain issues arise, but there is nothing suggesting that this will be the case at the moment. The addition of this option is likely just a way for FoMoCo to keep production rolling in the event that the supplies of certain chips or other related parts dry up.

This is the second such change we’ve seen added to the 2023 Ford Explorer lineup in recent months, as the crossover ditched its hands-free liftgate back in early November. For the 2022 model year, this particular feature was part of the Limited, ST, King Ranch, and Platinum trims, but a hands-free liftgate removal option was introduced during production, with the option becoming mandatory later in the 2022 production run. These types of changes will likely continue, as Ford CEO Jim Farley recently stated that he doesn’t see an end to the company’s supply chain woes any time soon.

As Ford Authority reported in June, 2023 Explorer order banks opened up on August 11^th, 2022, while production began at the Chicago Assembly plant on November 7^th, 2022. A refreshed model is expected to launch in 2023 for the 2024 model year, while a redesigned ICE Explorer should follow in 2026. Meanwhile, an all-electric version of the Explorer is also expected arrive in 2024.

We’ll have more on the Explorer soon, so be sure and subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Explorer news and ongoing Ford news coverage.

By Brett Foote

Brett's lost track of all the Fords he's owned over the years and how much he's spent modifying them, but his current money pits include an S550 Mustang and 13th gen F-150.