Complaint volume
1134 consumer-submitted complaints are matched to this model year. Treat the count as a research signal, then read the actual summaries for repeated symptoms.
Complaint records
2020 Ford Explorer Complaints
1134 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Explorer, grouped by component category.
1134 Total complaints
33 Crash reports
10 Fire reports
27 Injury reports
Complaint data reflects consumer-submitted reports. A complaint is not proof
of a defect, recall, or manufacturer fault. Enriched severity fields come
from official bulk records when the complaint can be matched by ODI number.
Buyer interpretation
How to use these complaints before buying
Complaint records are most useful when they turn into inspection points, seller questions, and comparison checks against nearby model years.
Pattern to inspect
The most common categories are power train, unknown or other, back over prevention. Use those categories as a test-drive checklist instead of judging the vehicle from the total count alone.
Severity flags
Enriched records include 33 crash reports, 10 fire reports, 27 injury reports, and 0 fatality reports. These fields come from complaint records and should be read in context.
Mileage clue
Mileage is available on 385 complaints, with an average reported failure mileage of 33,892 miles. Compare that with the mileage on the listing.
Questions to ask the seller
- Have you had any problems related to power train, unknown or other, back over prevention?
- Can I see recent maintenance and repair records?
- Has the vehicle ever been towed, involved in a crash, or repaired for the same issue twice?
- Can we also check the recall record for this 2020 Ford Explorer?
Used-car checklist
Use these complaints before the test drive.
Build a buyer checklist to turn these issues into questions and inspection points.
2020 Ford Explorer
Build buyer checklist Compare with other years Sends year, make, and model to pre-fill your checklist.
How severe are the 2020 Ford Explorer complaints?
33 Crash
10 Fire
27 Injury
0 Fatality
40 Towed
8 Medical attention
What are the most common 2020 Ford Explorer complaint categories?
POWER TRAIN 306
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 117
BACK OVER PREVENTION 56
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 44
ENGINE 42
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 40
SERVICE BRAKES 27
VISIBILITY/WIPER 27
STRUCTURE 26
SEATS 25
1,134 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I am filing a complaint regarding a recurring safety-related electrical and AWD defect in my 2020 Ford Explorer. My vehicle repeatedly displays the following warnings while driving: “4WD Fault Service Required” “Service AdvanceTrac” “Pre-Collision Assist Not Available” “Hill Start Assist Not Available” The issue began about a year ago occurring intermittently every few weeks and disappearing after restarting the vehicle. It has progressively worsened and now appears almost immediately after driving only a few feet. The defect affects multiple critical safety systems including AWD/4WD, traction/stability control, hill assist, and collision avoidance systems. I have contacted Ford multiple times. Ford only opens customer service cases but has not provided a permanent repair. Ford is aware this is a common issue with 2020 Explorers specifically, and later model years appear to have been corrected. Numerous owners report the exact same failures online. Ford has issued service information involving software reprogramming, module communication faults, and wiring harness issues, but only Ford dealerships can perform the required programming. This appears to be a widespread manufacturing or engineering defect and creates a serious safety concern while driving. Vehicle Information: 2020 Ford Explorer Mileage: Under 55,000 miles I respectfully request that NHTSA investigate this issue for a potential recall or mandatory corrective action. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | My 2020 Ford Explorer XLT sustained a major transmission failure at 94,574 miles without any warning lights. On a 200 mile trip home from Long Island NY to New Jersey the car began to jerk when changing from highway speed to a complete stop due to traffic. As we slowed down the jerking was more pronounce. When reaccelerating the car again jerked forward and at sporadic times did not respond. This was very scary and stressful for my family with the fear of being hit from behind! We made it through the mile long midtown tunnel and to [XXX] were a red light turned green and as i stepped on the gas the engine reved up and the car just rolled into the intersection as i stepped on the gas a second time again the car just jerked and rolled luckily i rolled through the cross walk into a empty spot due to a fire hydrant. Backed up traffic was able to pass and my car was done. I needed to put my family in a Uber for the last 60 miles home at 250.00 dollars on a Saturday night. while i waited for a tow truck back to the Ford dealership. Thankyou AAA! After a diagnostic inspection i needed a new transmission. It took the dealer one month to repair and the cost was 8,500.00 dollars. This issue is consistent with this Ford transmission system. There is a severe safety risk with sudden loss of acceleration and erratic shifting and jerking when braking and no warning lights. This is a clear safety risk that could lead to a crash. There is enough complaints on this site to warrant am investigation for a potential recall due to safety !! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | While the vehicle was under warranty, I reported a transmission problem to an authorized Ford dealership involving sudden slipping out of gear into neutral at highway speeds, resulting in momentary loss of power and acceleration. The dealership performed diagnostic testing but stated they could not identify a problem and advised that the vehicle was safe to continue driving. The condition persisted intermittently. After the warranty period expired, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic transmission failure while on a heavily traveled highway. The vehicle suddenly lost power and the rear wheels locked, creating a dangerous traffic situation requiring assistance from two state police vehicles until the vehicle could be towed. The vehicle was taken to the same Ford dealership that previously evaluated the transmission concern. The dealership then diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring replacement at a cost of approximately $9,000. I contacted Ford Headquarters regarding this issue and the prior warranty period complaint, but Ford has not responded to the matter in any way. I believe the transmission failure is a continuation of the original transmission defect that was reported during the warranty period but not repaired. I am submitting this complaint because of the significant safety risk created by sudden loss of power and rear wheel lockup while driving at highway speeds. All documentation of original issue and current repair is at the Ford Dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | I noticed fluid on the driveway. I scheduled a diagnostic about a week later began hearing a grinding noise. Took it in for repairs and was told the transmission cooler failed which led to fluid leaks from the inlet and outlet tubes where they connect to the unit. The leak caused the transmission to run dry and result in complete failure. There have been recalls specifically targeting transmission fluid leaks in certain 2020 Ford Explorers. The recall should be expanded to include this model as well. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Both my passenger and driver headlights have failed. I have paid to have them replaced. The drivers side has failed twice. The passenger side has failed 3 times. I have taken it to the dealership and they “fixed” the issue but it keeps coming back months or weeks later. The low beams are what is failing. The message on the dash says “check headlight assembly see manual” This is a safety risk to me and other people on the road. They have failed while driving. If I am driving early in the morning or late at night I can not see if there are no street lights. People also can’t see me coming. This is a major safety risk. I bought the car in August 2024. Headlights have failed 5 times since then. The dealership helped me with my first four failures. On this last failure, they said it is not covered under warranty and that I need to pay $3000 for the headlight. Five failures of headlights seems like a manufacturer issue and not something. I am doing on my end. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | I was driving on the highway and I got an error of Powertrain Failure , Pre Collision assist, service advance track and hill assist unavailable. I was in the last travel lane and it dropped me down to 25mph making an extremely dangerous situation!! I took the truck to the dealer and they stated they did a software update and it fixed it. About 6 months later the same thing happened. I took it back to the dealer and they replaced the AWD module and charged me $850 I was still under the 60,000 warranty but they said it was electrical part and it wasent under warranty. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Rear bolt recall. The small leak due to technician replacing bolt caused the rear end to eventually lose all fluid. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STEERING,WHEELS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | When putting the car in reverse and moving backwards start to feel the vehicle look drive power and knock sounds. Sounds likes and feels like gear teeth or not aligned. When putting the car into drive the vehicle jumps a little and you hear a lout pop noise. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | When trying to accelerate on interstate drive train light and I have to pull over turn off car on interstate then start again to keep out of limping mode also when backing up car stalls jumps and makes a grinding noise need a remedy | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,BACK OVER PREVENTION | Service advance track 4 weel drive doesn’t work and I don’t have control on the weels | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | Was driving on highway with 55 mph speed limit. Car in front slowed to turn right so i slowed briefly and then was accelerating back to speed limit and heard a loud bang and severe grinding noise after. Stopped at next safe area to inspect. Found that both cv axle boots were damaged. Was only a couple miles from home so placed hazard lights on and slowly crept the car to house for further inspection. Upon closer inspection found that when car was placed into forward gear the whole rear end would drop onto the exhaust and was causing CV axles to rub on exhaust. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | Ford Explorer roof screen issues— sun shade does not retract and is now the cover sagging into the backseats when open, and is loose. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | Cruise in vehicle was set to 58 mph. Vehicle shut off going around a curve and would not restart. At 40mph emergency brake set as car wasn’t running and it was coasting to a stop. I sat on the road barely off the shoulder as car would not restart and would not come out of park to be able to push the rest of the way off the road. Had it towed to a ford dealer where they replaced the fuel pump control module and they had concerns of it possibly not fixing the problem. I made it 10 miles after pickup and it did the exact same thing shuts off no warning like it ran out of gas. Get towed back to the ford dealer and they can’t duplicate the problem and say nothing is wrong and they don’t know why it randomly shuts off and loses fuel. However it still has the same codes as initially in relation to lack of fuel. I don’t feel safe driving the car as now I’ve broke down twice same problem and fear it’ll keep happening and I may not get so lucky as to not get seriously injured as I cannot move it from the road. Asked about getting rid of it and no dealership wants it because of these problems. Now I’m stuck with a $30,000 paperweight that I can’t drive safely and I can’t replace without going into a lot of debt. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Driver side headlamp low beam has burned out. They are supposed to be lifetime LED headlamps, not burn out after only 67,000 miles. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Sudden transmission issues, no warnings. Ford Explorer 2020 XLT, had sporadic issues while driving on the highway, decided not to take it to pick up my children a few hours away after sudden jerking and revving high RPM's on the highway, proceeded to take backroads home. Following day, only issue in slowing down to under 35mph with a hard jerk into first gear and delayed reaction. Transmission needs a complete replacement at about $9k, with $19k still being paid on the vehicle. Ford is refusing to acknowledge or offer any help on a known transmission issue with the 10 speed transmission in this model year. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | STRUCTURE | The fabric/plastic/felt under the car is falling to pieces! It's becoming a safety hazard. This complaint is posted in a lot of forums. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | POWER TRAIN | 7/2024- Harsh transmission shifts- Lost power on very busy highway on 4th of July weekend- spent 12 weeks in the shop for transmission repair 64,000 miles 3/2025- Harsh transmission shifts again- Vehicle slammed into gear very hard- 3 weeks in the shop for another transmission repair 71,000 miles 3/2026- Harsh transmission shifts again- 1 week in the shop- told it needed an adaptive relearn 88,000 miles 4/2026- Still experiencing harsh transmission shifts!!! 90,000 miles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | SEATS | Safety recall NHTSA 25V093, vehicle at dealership Cutter Ford, Aiea, Hawaii, for appointment to correct recall defect with the seat restraint bolts and the technician determined the center two rear seats failed the inspection and the bolts were defective. Cutter Ford invoice #XXX, dated January 15, 2026. Repair and correction not completed, stated back order the parts needed. On February 26, 2026, vehicle appointment at Cutter Ford for brake service and recall service, brakes completed, but informed parts for recall 25V093 on back order. On March 23, 2026, received notice from Ford Motors stating our vehicle required to be taken in for recall service for 25V093, seat restraint fasteners that are improperly secured may not effectively restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. Immediately contacted Cutter Ford, and was informed that the parts are on back order, unknown date for correction of the recall defect. On March 23, 2026 contacted Ford Recall Assistance at [XXX] , case #XXX was informed parts on back order, nothing they can do at this time. On May 11, 2026, emailed Cutter Ford customer service requesting information on the back ordered recall parts and a date and time for repairs. We use our recalled vehicle daily to transport our grandchildren to and from school and to their other activities. The recall notice states that this recall defect can increase the risk of injury-the grandkids sit in car seats on the two defective seats, this is a very serious matter that is endangering our families lives and welfare. We do not have the financial or other means of securing another vehicle, and do not believe that the burden of Ford's defective manufacturing should in anyway be assigned to us. Requesting that our vehicle be immediately replaced or repaired according to laws and regulations and policies implemented to protect people from these bad practices that place vehicle owners and families in danger. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The panoramic sunroof shade in my vehicle failed unexpectedly in August 2025 when I pressed the factory roof/shade retract button during normal operation. The sunshade fabric ripped and detached, causing it to hang down across the rear visibility area and partially obstruct the driver’s view through the rear of the vehicle. This created a safety hazard by reducing visibility while driving and creating a distraction. The failure occurred without misuse or modification. The defective sunroof shade assembly appears to be a design or material failure that has affected other vehicles with the same roof system. I am unable to utilize my sunroof due to visibility issues. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2026 | ENGINE | Vehicle with 42k miles and regular dealer maintenance suddenly stalled out in traffic, creating dangerous situation for driver and children passengers. Towed to dealership from which it was purchased. Told it was a catastrophic engine failure and had coolant and oil mixed. Dealer unwilling to explore exact cause. Vehicle 11 months past 5 year power train warranty but well under mileage. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | CUSTOMER STATES THE CHARGING SYSTEM LIGHT IS ON AND THERE IS A STARTING SYSTEM FAULT, PLEASE ADVISE VERIFIED CONCERN. RETRIEVED OTCS ANO P0A1E, U0120 PRESENT IN PCM. CLEARED ores AND LIGHT STAYED ON ANO BOTH RETURNED. CUSTOMER LEFT VEHICLE FOR DIAGNOSIS. PULLED VEHICLE INTO BAY AND WARNING LIGHTS OFF. RETRIEVED DTCS- P0A1E, U0120 MEMORY IN PCM. CLEARED DTCS AND BOTH CLEARED. TEST DROVE VEHICLE ANO BATTERY LIGHT RETURNED WITH B11D9:09 IN BCM AND P06EF IN PCM. SUSPECT VOLTAGE CONCERN. REMOVED WIPER COWL AND TRUNK TRIM, DISCONNECTED AND WARRANTY CHARGED/TESTED BOTH BATTERIES- BOTH PASSED. REASSEMBLED VEHICLE, CLEARED DTCS AND TEST DROVE- NO CONCERNS RETURNED. TEST DROVE AGAIN NEXT DAY ANO NO CONCERNS PRESENT. CONCERN WAS MODULE ERRORS CAUSED BY DISCHARGED BATTERY FROM SITTING FOR EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME. CONCERN RESOLVED DURING DIAGNOSIS. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked on several occasions, the vehicle rolled forward unintendedly, and the vehicle rolled backwards while on an incline. The contact engaged the parking brake to stop the vehicle from moving while in park(P). The vehicle was taken to a dealer; however, the failure could not be duplicated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 95,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 95,000 |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Driver was responding to a priority call with lights and siren going when the engine RPM's raced to approx 8,000 RPM's, engine lost forward movement and red triangle and stop safely now message turned on. Vehicle was moved to the side of the road and was disabled requiring a tow to Fleet. PCM codes P2884 and P2885 for Hybrid engine disconnect clutch faults were noted in PCM and vehicle was sent to dealer for diag/repairs on 4/27/26. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | When the vehicle was started this morning, it sounded like it was chugging and did not wasn’t to stay on. Then when the driver went to drive, he got the notification on my dash to stop safely and the engine was disabled. The check engine light was on, as well as the battery light was on, and the warning light was on. PCM code P1A0C present. TSB 25-2447 applies but the vehicle has current software already installed as of 3/26/26. Ongoing issue with this and other Hybrid Ford Police Interceptor Utilities in our Fleet. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Apr 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Car starts to jerk all of a sudden when breaking ( from 30-26 miles) . | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |