Complaint volume
1135 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
1135 consumer-submitted complaints on record for the 2020 Ford Explorer, grouped by component category.
1135 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 307
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
1,135 total complaints on record
Latest complaints
| Date | Component | Summary | Severity | Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The Ford Explorer ST when shifting into reverse, sporadically, the backup camera presents a blue screen, preventing all visibility while attempting to drive in reverse. It appears that none of the warning signals are operational when getting close to people or objects when the camera isn't working, thus presenting a hazardous condition as all safety features do not function. Apparently, there are similar recalls on some Explorer models but my particular vehicle is one that is not included in the previous pool of vehicles that are eligible for the recall repair. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Aug 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while shifting into reverse the Back Over Prevention screen failed to operate as designed. Additionally, the vehicle would respond without the accelerator pedal being depressed. The contact also stated that while driving 35 MPH, the Forward Collision Avoidance warning system activated while there was no vehicle nearby. The contact stated that the vehicle was sputtering. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and the technician informed the contact that the brake assist was unavailable. The technician was unable to duplicate the failure with the Forward Collision Avoidance system. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 4,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,000 |
| Aug 2022 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated when the vehicle was shifted into reverse, there was no image displayed on the screen. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the contact was informed that there was a recall for the failure. The contact stated a programming update was needed and was performed; however, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer where an update was completed several times; however, the failure persisted. The contact stated that the vehicle had been to the dealer at least 7 times to update the software. The manufacturer was notified of the issue and advised to go back to the dealer and a case was opened. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer for a 9-hour update. The contact stated that the dealer called and stated that the vehicle was out of warranty and the contact would be responsible for the repair. The VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V735000 (Back Over Prevention). The approximate failure mileage was 28,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 28,000 |
| Jul 2022 | SUSPENSION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing there was an abnormal bumping sound coming from the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that the vehicle then failed to drive forward after the failure. The tow truck was called to the scene; however, while lifting the vehicle onto the tow truck it was discovered that the front passenger’s side control arm had fractured. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer. No further information was available. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 80,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Towed | 80,000 |
| Jul 2022 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The backup camera display on the infotainment system when the vehicle is placed into reverse the screen illuminates in a blue screen not showing the surrounding area normally viewed. This issue was confirmed by Ford technician, an update to the system was supposed to fix the issue, the following day after the update to the vehicle, the same issue arose, I took the vehicle to the dealership, the issue was reproduced, the service writer documented the issue with a photo. This creates a backing safety issue as the proximity sensors where not working while in blue screen to warn of objects or persons while in reverse There where no warnings or onboard messages indicating an issue with the beck up camera This issue still has yet to been repaired by the dealership. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | ENGINE | The contact owned a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 15 mph, the vehicle began to decelerate its speed on its own. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact was able to park on the side of the road and saw fire located on the front passenger side wheel. The contact, his wife, and grandson were able to safely exit the vehicle before the vehicle was engulfed by the fire. The contact stated no one was injured nor sought medical attention. The fire department extinguished the fire and filed a fire report. A police report was filed. The insurance company deemed the vehicle total loss. The contact towed the vehicle to towing lot. The contact drive to the local dealer and made them aware of the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000. | Crash: No Fire: Yes Towed | 30,000 |
| Jul 2022 | FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving with the auto-hold brake system engaged, the tires began to spin. The brake pedal was applied but the vehicle rolled and crashed into a vehicle. The charging system and engine warning lights were illuminated. There were no reported injuries, fire, or air bag deployment. A police report was filed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where it was diagnosed that the computer, AC unit, and wiring harness needed to be repaired. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline. The approximate failure mileage was 32,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 32,000 |
| Jul 2022 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | When engaging reverse the image on the screen turns solid blue. I can turn the vehicle off and back on and sometime this resoles the issue. It has happened at least a 12 times in the last couple of weeks. I did some initial investigation online and it appears that my vehicle is experiencing the same symptoms as a recall announced by Ford. https://www.consumerreports.org/car-recalls-defects/ford-and-lincoln-recall-2020-models-for-faulty-backup-cameras/ | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jul 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while having a routine oil change completed at the local dealer, she was informed about a recall update. The contact stated that while driving, the electronic parking brake engaged. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while the vehicle was in park(P) and also while driving. While shifting into drive or reverse, the vehicle was jerking. The Auto START/STOP was disengaged. Additionally, the brakes were continuously grabbing while attempting to stop the vehicle. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA. The approximate failure mileage was 19,624. | Crash: No Fire: No | 19,624 |
| Jul 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | THE HANDS FREE LIFT GATE CLOSES ON ITS OWN. THIS HAS HAPPENED MORE THAN A DOZEN TIMES SINCE I BOUGHT THIS VEHICLE 3 MONTHS AGO. ANY PERSON STANDING AT THE REAR BUMPER (NOT PUTTING THEIR FOOT UNDER THE BUMPER) ACTIVATES THIS SELF CLOSING PROCESS. THE DOOR HIT ME IN THE HEAD TWICE. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while placing the gear shifter into reverse(R), the Back Over Protection screen turned blue. The side and front camera's functionality worked as intended. The vehicle was repaired under recall; however, the failure recurred several times. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was diagnosed at the local dealer with a defective camera. The camera was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 50,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 50,000 |
| Jun 2022 | STEERING | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed and attempting to simultaneously accelerate and make a left turn, the steering wheel forcefully turned in the opposite direction. During the failure the message "power steering fault, service required" was displayed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who determined that the 12-volt battery was faulty and performed a reprogramming of the steering system. After retrieving the vehicle, the failure was still present. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 34,000 |
| Jun 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 22V255000 (Power Train) and the fix stated that the dealer would update the electronic parking brake software but not replace the bolts. The contact was concerned that an update would not fix the issue as the failure was with the bolts. The contact had not experienced a failure. The contact stated that he called the dealer and it was confirmed that the remedy was to update the electronic parking brake software. The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed the remedy and a case was opened. The manufacturer offered no further assistance. Parts distribution disconnect. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving approximately 20 MPH and slowing down for a traffic light he had a brake failure and crashed at low speed into the rear of a vehicle already stopped at the traffic light. The contact stated that he was pumping the brakes and was not able to stop. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that there was damage to the right front passenger side of his vehicle and was unable to determine the damage to the other vehicle. The police were called and wrote a report. There were no injuries and the contact had the vehicle towed to his home and later towed to a dealer. The local dealer diagnosed that there were no problems with the brakes. The vehicle damage was repaired but not the brakes. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000. | Crash: Yes Fire: No Towed | 15,000 |
| Jun 2022 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH the vehicle started jerking while shifting gears. After the vehicle accelerated above 10 MPH, the vehicle operated normal. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the transmission was replaced; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer and a software update was performed; however, the failure continued. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer however, the mechanic was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 3,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,000 |
| Jun 2022 | POWER TRAIN | While driving on the highway the 2020 Ford Explorer XLT briefly lost all power, exhibited jerking through the drivetrain and erratic engine RPMs, before regaining power. Thereafter, the vehicle consistently jerked during acceleration and deceleration, with an audible clunking sound, as if the vehicle was transitioning gears or drive modes (2WD-AWD). Mileage noticeably dropped and transmission and engine RPM performance was erratic. Only a warning was issued with no indication of high severity, only reduced power. Upon further driving, the erratic behavior persisted included losing power in highway traffic and putting occupants at risk of accident. Vehicle has only 14,500 miles at time of issue with full dealer service history. As of this writing, it is being brought to the dealer for service. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | While driving on a busy , high speed road the pre collision error message came on the screen. It felt like the truck started applying brakes causing us to jerk. Although I tried I could not accelerate. Several error messages were sent to the ford app about the Powertrain. This put my kids and my safety in jeopardy. Our speed was greatly reduced and someone easily could have hit us. This is the second time I’m taking this truck in for service with the same problem. I have less than 25 k miles on this truck. This should not be happening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | POWER TRAIN | My car has a transmission problem. 6 times now, it fails to re engage after I took my foot off the gas pedal. This happens when I am attempting to accelerate after slowing down in fast moving traffic when I really need to be able to accelerate. This caused a very dangerous situation due the the fact that I am trying to get into a faster moving lane of traffic. This put me and others around me at risk. The car is at the dealership now. They say that they have identified the problem. No parts are available to fix the problem. Covid, you know!!! 6 weeks for parts! There are many complaints on the internet expressing the same problem. I also read that Ford has been buying some of this year and model back due to "This" problem. What does NHTSA know? There have been "Warning Messages", But when driving at 70-75mph and there is a problem like this, I did not have time to read it before it disappeared. Scared the crap out of me as I was put into a dangerous situation. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | Backup camera display shows intermittent blue screen. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Jun 2022 | ENGINE | Vehicle stalled on interstate on my way home from picking it up. Had been at dealer for nearly a month for heater repair. Cost me $250 to get it towed back to dealer. Very dangerous situation. I was lucky to be able to get it oof the travel lanes before someone rear ended me at high speed. Very frightening. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | VISIBILITY | The front panel of my 2020 Ford Explorer ST panoramic sunroof exploded on May 6, 2022. Fortunately, I had closed the sun shade two days prior while on vacation in Florida. It was not due to being hit by debris as traffic was light and no trucks nearby. I was driving westbound on I-4 between Orlando and Tampa when a sudden "BOOM" occurred. I looked around as to what happened as their was no vibration or shuttering in the steering. I then heard glass shattering. When I could safely pull to the side of the road to inspect, the entire front panel of the sunroof was gone except around the perimeter. If I had not previously closed the sun shade, the tempered glass would have been in my eyes and any passengers in the front or rear seats. The local Ford dealership initially stated that the sunroof would be covered by warranty while waiting (6 days) for the back-ordered sunroof to be delivered. Then after being in the Service department for 2 days, they stated it would not be covered under warranty. I called Ford Corporate to complain, but they were only concerned if there was an open recall on the sunroof and there were none. They seemed disinterested in the safety aspect of the issue. I have since paid for the repair and filed an insurance claim. I know what a rock hitting the windshield or hood sounds like... this was not a rock, but a low, "mini-sonic boom"... the sunroof literally exploded. I usually do not pull the sun shade closed, but did so while in Florida although it was not extremely hot , between 87-92 degrees at around 9:30am, clear and sunny. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Sometimes the rear camera view shows a blue screen while the other camera views work. I have to restart the vehicle to make it work. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | When reversing the rear camera display turns blue and I'm not able to see anything behind me using the safety camera feature. I rely on the camera to assist with detecting people or objects in my blind spots while reversing and intermittently the display turns blue. There was a recall for this make and model and manufacture date, but the vehicle is not included in the recall. Recall information - Rearview Camera Recall 21C09. The dealership can't reproduce the issue because it's intermittent and there are no error codes, so they won't replace the camera. They've tried several software fixes but the problem continues. No warning messages displayed when the issue occurs. Thanks. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| May 2022 | SERVICE BRAKES, AIR,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while the vehicle was parked, unattended on an incline, the vehicle rolled backward without warning. The contact was able to place her hand on the brake and stop the vehicle. There were no warning indicator lights illuminated. The contact scraped her knee but no medical attention was provided. The contact stated while sitting in the driver's seat, the vehicle rolled backward. The driver was able to depress the brake pedal. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer where they could not duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified but no additional assistance was provided. The failure mileage was 22,000. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | 22,000 |
| May 2022 | SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the rear end of the vehicle would make an abnormal, roaring sound as well as vibrate without warning. The contact also stated that the vehicle would violently jerk upon depression of the brake pedal or the accelerator pedal. The contact stated that she had taken the vehicle to the dealer several times for repair and had the transmission replaced; however, a year later, the failure recurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact stated that the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 21V154000 (Suspension). The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,000 |