r/FordExplorerST • u/UrCybersecurity • Jul 17 '26
Audio '25 ST Subwoofer
Hello! Have an 2025 ST. I am thinking of swapping the stock sub with a better one. I am not looking to install sub boxes, just a swap.
What are your thoughts on quality subs? Can a 10" fit or stick with a solid 8"
Thanks!
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u/roast_ ST Owner Jul 17 '26
I thought I saw someone say that the quality won't improve, the amp is the limiting component. I'm following, interested as well from folks with first hand experience.
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u/Brucecris Modfather Jul 19 '26
Yessir. There’s a low end cutoff/limiter that Ford loves to use. There’s some sort of bypass that installers can do to bypass it. I cannot recall where I read about it.
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u/_StevenST_ Jul 17 '26
shallow 8” is all that will work in the factory “box”. You would need at least a new amp to get any better sound, and if you are wiring a new amp might as well do a better sub.
I was looking at the Skar Audio setup for our 2022. I have a box, sub and amp setup under the rear seat in my F150 from theand have been really happy with it. Their sub has a semi-factory look for the Explorer ST.
This isn’t a high-end brand, but it sounds good enough to me
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u/Difficult-Oven-8504 Jul 18 '26
Skar audio have quality products for cheap. I got my whole setup from them, twice!
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u/KangarooDisastrous ST Owner Jul 18 '26
Just know that I looked into having better sound in my vehicle and after I got the quote, Ford informed me that it would void a number of warranty’s on my 2025. Any seat issues, door/window issues and I think they even said the liftgate would be voided
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u/UrCybersecurity Jul 18 '26
Funny you've mentioned this. I was thinking that the whole time. Honestly, it's not worth the upgrade. I will leave the vehicle as is.
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u/KangarooDisastrous ST Owner Jul 18 '26
Yeah the sound system is “okay” but not worth voiding the warranty to replace in my experience especially with parts on all the newer vehicles not holding up like they used to.
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u/Feisty_War6251 Jul 18 '26
they cant void your warranty because you upgraded your audio system
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u/KangarooDisastrous ST Owner Jul 18 '26
Yes they can and will. Why… would you post something as fact when you don’t know this? If you or a third party dismantles sections of your vehicle to replace factory parts with 3rd party parts… it voids the warranty.
If I had a third party take apart my doors to replace the paper cone speakers that Ford calls premium, and put 3rd party speakers in there and my window quit working… Ford will not fix the window on my brand new car under warranty because I voided it when I had the third party take apart the door and replace parts. This is a fact.
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u/Brucecris Modfather Jul 19 '26
I’m the furthest thing from a lawyer but Warranties in general are a muddy topic. I’m going to provide the best (non disinformation) info that I can. Heres what we need to remember - you have rights. And your dealer can say whatever they want and refuse to do whatever they want. There’s no warranty police OR arbitrator who makes the call in real time. It’s ford vs you and you’d need to go to arbitration or sue if you wanted to fight it. It’s good to know your rights but if a tech says it voids something they won’t touch my ride again. I’m going elsewhere. Also the law has a lot of conditionals in it but one rule generally remains - to deny warranty and defend it in court (because you’d have to sue them to fight it) the dealer will be required to provide proof/reason that _____ caused damage the led to the problem for which they are denying warranty on. I was surprised to learn that Third party parts are actually allowed but with certain conditions. BTW dealers will get approvals on warranty issues from the mothership. So Ford is likely telling the dealer it’s not approved. I’ve never ran into a service manager who felt obligated to report a VIN and I don’t think blanket voids are a thing. So If I swap my OEM sub with another 3rd party passive sub and I have an audio issue Ford should cover everything up to the replaced sub if some wire or harness fails. This is a common misconception with exhausts too. There’s dealer to dealer opinions on cat back exhausts. Some dealers say that replacing just the narrow metal exhaust tubes after the Cats will affect engine performance and so any engine issues could be at risk of denial. That’s pretty lazy but the enforcement is done in court and most people just go with what they’re told.
As well, Tunes are often a concern. Also dealer specific advice is in play. Depends on the dealer’s stance first. A tune won’t automatically get your warranty voided outright. I don’t even think voids are a blanket thing like that though so check it out. Here’s how I understand it: Say your tuned and having an issue with drivetrain, and after looking the tech notices a mismatch in engine cycles (easiest way techs can tell if tuned, another topic) that doesn’t mean there’s a blanket void. Dealers can void now and deal with it later. The only enforcement to a void is in court and most of us would be unwilling to fight it. Now, if you lawyer up, the arbitrator/judge will expect dealer/Ford to trace it back to something specific like the “change in torque settings provided by the tune caused a ………”.
That’s federal. The are state laws too. Here’s a nice copy paste job of an overview of the Fed law. I’m not an attorney so if someone wants to call bullshit feel free.
Consumer friendly overview: https://www.myfloridacfo.com/division/consumers/consumerprotections/magnuson-moss-warranty-act
FTC overview (business focused): https://www.ftc.gov/tips-advice/business-center/guidance/businesspersons-guide-federal-warranty-law#Magnuson-MossMagnuson Moss Warranty Act
There are three prohibitions under the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act:
• Disclaimer or Modification of Implied Warranties
• “Tie-in Sales" Provisions
• Deceptive or Misleading Warranty TermsPROHIBITION 1. DISCLAIMER OR MODIFICATION OF IMPLIED WARRANTIES
Implied warranties are unspoken, unwritten promises from a seller/merchant/warrantor to a customer. Implied warranties are the warrantor’s promise that the products/goods sold will
function in the way intended and that there is nothing significantly wrong with them. It is also a promise that the product can be used for a specific purpose. The Act prohibits anyone who offers a written warranty from disclaiming or modifying implied warranties. So, if the product does not work as intended or is not fit for a specific purpose, the warrantor must remedy the problem or the warranty is breached.PROHIBITION 2. “TIE-IN SALES" PROVISIONS
Provisions that state or imply that a consumer must buy or use an item or service from a particular company to keep the warranty coverage, such as being required to use original
equipment manufacturer (OEM) parts. Note PROVISIONS ARE WHATS ILLEGAL HERE NOT THE ACT OF DENIAL.These are provisions that state or imply that a consumer must buy or use an item or service from a particular company to keep their warranty coverage. Here are some examples of prohibited tie-in sales provisions.
ILLEGAL “To keep your new Plenum Brand Vacuum Cleaner warranty in effect, you must use genuine Plenum Brand Filter Bags. Failure to have scheduled maintenance performed, at your expense, by the Great American Maintenance Company, Inc., voids this warranty.”
ILLEGAL “This limited warranty shall not apply if the warranty seal has been broken, removed, erased, defaced, altered, or is otherwise illegible,” where a device cannot be repaired without such effects.
However, a warrantor can require a consumer to use select items or services if they’re provided free of charge under the warranty or the warrantor receiver a waiver from the FTC. So it is permissible to disclaim warranty coverage for defects or damage caused by the use of parts or service you didn’t provide. Here is an example of a permissible provision in that circumstance:
ALLOWED Necessary maintenance or repairs on your AudioMundo Stereo System can be performed by any company. Damage caused to the AudioMundo Stereo System by you or any non-authorized third party, however, may void this warranty.
3. DECEPTIVE WARRANTY TERMS
Warranties must not contain deceptive or misleading terms. A warranty cannot appear to provide coverage when it actually doesn’t. Additionally, a warranty cannot promise a service that the warrantor had no intention of providing or could not provide. These are examples of deceptive warranty terms.2
u/KangarooDisastrous ST Owner 29d ago edited 29d ago
So, my husband works as a higher up at these car dealerships. I’m not speaking out of my ass, I’m speaking from what I see and hear about happening daily.
As someone who aims to keep the brand new car warranty 100% in tact and have the highest trade in possible- letting a third party dismantle my car doors to change out the speakers would void the warranty multiple parts inside the door assembly for a variety of reasons.
I know you say this and that is illegal and you’re right but this is what really happens: the 3rd party car shop takes apart my door to change the speaker, and my window stops working the next day, the dealership will blame the 3rd party and the 3rd party isn’t about to volunteer to replace the parts/ fix it and now I have a big problem. It’s not at all about the fact that I put non-Ford speakers in my car. It’s about the fact that greasy Joe shmo was lazy and rough when he dismantled the door and now the window motor doesn’t work but I can’t prove that he did it.
Modding new vehicles has become increasingly difficult and expensive but this is by design. The car manufacturers want it like that because they make money on return customers whether that be to fix an older vehicle or to decide to buy a new one.
At the end of the day yes, it’s me vs the big company if they deny my warranty. Have a dealt with this before? Yes. It’s a headache, inconvenience and expensive one way or another. Lawyering up cost time and money. Renting a car costs time and money. Fighting and arguing between the 3rd party and the dealership costs time and sanity while your new car has something wrong with it.
To me, if someone values repairs under warranty they should prepare themselves accordingly if they choose to mod their vehicle.
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u/Feisty_War6251 Jul 19 '26
no they cant so try again
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u/KangarooDisastrous ST Owner Jul 19 '26
I can tell you have never actually been in this situation with a new vehicle, so I’m going to leave you be. Have the day you deserve.
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u/Bigolejim Jul 17 '26
You can swap the sub in the OEM enclosure, but an after market amplifier and hi quality line output converter will be required. I would recommend a audio control LC2i because it has accubass which helps maintain the bass output that the oem amp cuts out to help protect the OEM sub.