Toll roads are rarely anyone’s favorite, and they’re even more of a hassle when they’re a non-negotiable part of the daily commute. In response, certain U.S. states adopted electronic toll collection systems that rely on windshield-mounted transponders to keep track of tolls. These systems, like E-ZPass, eliminate the need to stop at a booth. However, owners of certain examples of the 2025 Ford Expedition, 2025 Lincoln Navigator, or 2025 Lincoln Nautilus may notice that their E-ZPass transponders don’t pick up where they’re supposed to.
Fortunately, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is on top of the E-ZPass issue impacting certain 2025 Ford and Lincoln models. According to bulletin SSM 53842, the problem stems from the UV coating applied to the windshields of the Navigator, Nautilus, and Expedition. Said coating can interfere with E-ZPass functionality by blocking radio frequency identification (RFID) signals – which can affect other RFID-reliant tech like home access.
However, the fix is simple. 2025 Ford and Lincoln owners must place their E-ZPass or other RFID transponder in a specific area to avoid UV coating interference. There is a designated shaded area in front of the rearview mirror that does not feature UV coating, located directly next to the camera console. When installing an RFID transponder, customers should follow the manufacturer’s placement guidelines. The NHTSA notes that some perform best positioned horizontally, others vertically, depending on the design.
In some cases, the size of the transponder may exceed the size of the designated UV-coating-free area on the windshield. This should not affect the transponder’s functionality, however. Even so, the NHTSA recommends that 2025 Ford and Lincoln owners test transponder results and adjust the component accordingly.
Affected vehicles’ owner’s manuals have been updated to include information regarding E-ZPass placement. In-vehicle electronic owner’s manuals will also be updated via an over-the-air (OTA) update, which will roll out in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Comments
I had this issue with my 23 Mustang Mach E. It’s mentioned in the owners manual but who reads every chapter of the manual. Especially when they don’t give you an owners manual anymore.
Just another great Jim Farley move.
I didn’t realize I had a problem until EZ Pass was about ready to cancel my account for not registering with the reader the months. 😠
Do you have a picture of exactly where the shaded area is? Is it the area with all the dots?
Do you seriously think that Farley had anything to do with this?
More endless junk since Failure Farley became in charge, there will be many more instances like this as long as Failure Farley is in charge.