Ford Explorer: Brakes / Electric Parking Brake

WARNING: Always fully apply the parking brake and make sure you shift into park (P). Failure to follow this instruction could result in personal injury or death.

WARNING: If you drive extended distances with the parking brake applied, you could cause damage to the brake system.

WARNING: The electric parking brake does not operate if the vehicle battery is running out of charge.

Your vehicle has an electric parking brake. You operate it with a switch instead of a lever. The switch is on the center console or to the left-hand side of the steering wheel, on the lower part of the instrument panel.

Note: The electric parking brake makes noises during operation. This is normal.

Applying the Electric Parking Brake

Pull the switch upward.

The red warning lamp flashes during operation and illuminates when the parking brake is applied.

Note: It remains illuminated for a short period of time after you switch the ignition off.

If it continues to flash or does not illuminate, the system has malfunctioned. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.

Note: You can apply the electric parking brake when the ignition is off.

Note: The electric parking brake could automatically apply when you shift into park (P). See Transmission.

Applying the Electric Parking Brake in an Emergency

Note: Do not apply the electric parking brake when your vehicle is moving, except in an emergency. If you repeatedly use the electric parking brake to slow or stop your vehicle, you could cause damage to the brake system.

You can use the electric parking brake to slow or stop your vehicle in an emergency.

Pull the switch upward and hold it.

The red warning lamp illuminates, a tone sounds and the stoplamps turn on.

The electric parking brake continues to slow your vehicle down unless you release the switch.

Manually Releasing the Electric Parking Brake

Switch the ignition on.

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Push the switch downward.

The red warning lamp turns off.

If it remains illuminated or flashes, the system has malfunctioned. Have your vehicle checked as soon as possible.

Pulling Away on a Hill When Towing a Trailer

Press and hold the brake pedal.

Pull the switch upward and hold it.

Shift into gear.

Press the accelerator pedal until engine has developed sufficient torque to prevent your vehicle from rolling down the hill.

Release the switch and pull away in a normal manner.

Automatically Releasing the Electric Parking Brake

Close the driver door.

Shift into gear.

Press the accelerator pedal and pull away in a normal manner.

The red warning lamp turns off.

If it remains illuminated or flashes, the electric parking brake has not released. Manually release the parking brake.

Releasing the Electric Parking Brake if the Vehicle Battery is Running Out of Charge

Connect a booster battery to the vehicle battery to release the electric parking brake if the vehicle battery is running out of charge. See Jump Starting the Vehicle.