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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKES | WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH INCREASED RPM. USE OF E-BRAKE OR PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN PARK REQUIRED TO STOP MOVEMENT. PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART OF ENGINE AND PROBLEM GONE UNTIL NEXT TIME. USE OF REVERSE, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND SOUND AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD. HAVE TO PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART ENGINE. THE ISSUE OCCURS FROM A STATIONARY CONDITION, IN DRIVEWAY OR PUBLIC PARKING AREAS, SO THIS CAUSES CONCERN THAT THIS MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ACCIDENT OR COLLISION WITH A STRUCTURE, ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR A PEDESTRIAN! ISSUE CANNOT BE REPEATED ON DEMAND. IT IS ENTIRELY RANDOM AND EVERY DRIVE HAS TO BE APPROACHED WITH THE EXPECTANCY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE WITHOUT NORMAL BRAKES TO STOP. THERE ARE NO ALERTS TO TELL US WHY (OR WHICH SYSTEM) IS THE ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY SINCE BUYING THIS EXPLORER ST. FORD SERVICE SEEMS SURPRISED AND UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE (AND MORE). | Crash: No Fire: No | 24,000 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION IS CATCHING WHICH SWITCHING GEARS. CAR HAS UNDER 6,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS AND CATCH. CAR WILL JOLT FORWARD AND IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING REAR ENDED | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,400 |
| Mar 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND I TAPPED THE BRAKE. THE CAR KEPT GOING BACKWARDS SO I PRESSED IT HARDER. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE BECAME CONCRETE AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN ANY FURTHER. I PRESSED HARDER AND IT FINALLY WENT DOWN. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ERROR MESSAGES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 4,900 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE STICKS, JERKS OR LUNGES WHILE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS | Crash: No Fire: No | 200 |
| Mar 2021 | STEERING,ENGINE | STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND ENGINE SOUNDS AS IT IS GOING TO STALL AT SPEEDS BETWEEN, 35 AND 45 MPH. FORD HAD VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS TOTAL AND CONFIRMED ISSUES. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TP FIX. THEY SAID VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS' | Crash: No Fire: No | 8,000 |
| Mar 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, GAS LOCKED, ALL SENSORS WENT HAYWIRE AND I SLID OFF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE WOODS THANKFULLY AVOIDING COLLISION ON MY PROPERTY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE ON MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED.*DT*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,800 |
| Mar 2021 | POWER TRAIN,SERVICE BRAKES,BACK OVER PREVENTION | THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE INCIDENT OCCURRED FEBRUARY 27 2021. I'VE STARTED MY 2020 FORD EXPLORER ST VIA REMOTE AND ENTERED IT TO MOVE IT IN ORDER TO LOAD THE VEHICLE. THE LOADING THE VEHICLE ALL IN ALL TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE WHOLE TIME, IT WAS IDLING. I'VE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BACKED OUT OF A SPOT AND STARTED DRIVING FORWARD IN THE LOT I WAS IN AT ABOUT 10MPH. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN IT WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN PROPERLY. I HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE BUTTON TO STOP IT. IT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE DASH WAS CYCLING THROUGH NUMEROUS WARNINGS; 1. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 2. ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAULT 3. PRE COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE 4. HILL START ASSIST WARNING 5. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 6. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK SYSTEM 7. CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM 8. PARK BRAKE FAULT SERVICE NOW I TRIED TESTING THE BRAKES, WHILE GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, THE WERE WEAK AND INCONSISTENT. LIKE THEY WERE PULSING WITH FULL POWER AND THEN NOTHING. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE MADE ALL THOSE WARNINGS DISAPPEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS THE 2ND TIME THAT IS IT GOING IN FOR BRAKE AND POWER TRAIN RELATED ISSUES. FEW TIMES A MONTHS SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT, THE ONLY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE, IS ON STARTUP AND IMMEDIATE MOVEMENT, THE BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES BOTTOM OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IN GEAR UNLESS I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PUMP THE BRAKES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY CODES, AND MIGHT BE JUST A WEIRD TIMING WITH MY START UPS. THE MOST RECENT EVENT ON THE 27TH, WAS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO REPORT THIS. VEHICLE WAS IDLING FOR A WHILE AND MOVING WITH WEAK OR NO BRAKES TO STOP. THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN INCIDENT. | Crash: No Fire: No | 13,000 |
| Mar 2021 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA WOULD LOSE STREAM UPON USE AS THE REVERSE BRAKE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE; SEE MANUAL WARNING MESSAGE WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOMBALL FORD (22702 TX-249, TOMBALL, TX 77375) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE REARVIEW CAMERA HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V575000 (VISIBILITY) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO REPAIR THE PART FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20. | Crash: No Fire: No | 20 |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN | VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTING. WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD. HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. HAPPENING FOR MONTHS | Crash: No Fire: No | 11,099 |
| Feb 2021 | SUSPENSION | CAR WAS THUMPING AT LEFT REAR AFTER RECALL (FOR TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER) WAS JUST COMPLETED. I HADN'T LEFT THE PARKING LOT. FORD MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE SHOCK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT BACK AFTER 3 DAYS. I'M HAVING MY DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER IT'S SAFE OR NOT. THEY SAID THEY'D CHANGE ONLY THAT ABSORBER. IF ONE IS BAD AFTER 3 MONTHS, WHY WOULDN'T THE OTHERS? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 2020. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,100 |
| Feb 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | WHEN PARKING VEHICLE OR BACKING OUT OF GARAGE SLOWLY, YOU HEAR FUEL SLOSHING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS LIKE THERE IS NO BAFFLE IN THE TANK. VERY VERY NOTICEABLE AND ALSO MENTIONED ON THIS SITE FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS. A TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED BY FORD IMMEDIATELY AS THEY DID FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH TSB 18-2378. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION AND IT'S A COP OUT FOR FORD NOT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN OTHER FORD PRODUCTS AND THIS ONE NOW AS WELL!! | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,ENGINE | THE VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AT ANYTIME. IT'S NOT THE AUTO START FEATURE, ALL POWER WILL TURN OFF AT ANYTIME. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY. | Crash: No Fire: No | 7,150 |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE STARTED GOING OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP ON A HIGHWAY. MY HUSBAND MADE A STOP AT A LIGHT AND UPON ACCELERATING AFTER THE STOP, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND BEGAN HAVING ENGINE ISSUES. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS DUE TO HIGH RPMS DESPITE LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AS OF MONDAY FEBRUARY 8TH AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE A RECALL FOR A TRANSMISSION INTERCOOLER. WE HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN NUMEROUS 2020 FORD EXPLORERS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,700 |
| Feb 2021 | STRUCTURE | DRIVERS DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT LET YOU ENTER AND/OR EXIT VEHICLE AT ITS DISCRETION . I AM HANDICAPPED AND CANNOT CLIMB OVER SEATS TO EXIT VEHICLE. ONLY HAPPENS TO DRIVER'S DOOR. WOULD BE SAFETY ISSUE IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN | AT 6700 MILES TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARSH , JOLTING SHIFTING MOSTLY IN LOW GEARS , DOWNSHIFTING . SO BAD AS TO BE UNDRIVEABLE, BEEN AT THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. FOR 8 DAYS NOW. THIS PROBLEM TOTALLY ECLIPSES THE DEAD BATTERY - DEEP SLEEP MODE THAT THE CAR EXPERIENCES ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED , THEY SAY NOTHING WRONG , THAT WE PROBABLY LEAVE OUR LIGHTS ON . WE DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT JUMPER CABLES. | Crash: No Fire: No | 6,600 |
| Feb 2021 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | ALL CAMERAS INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. DEALER REPLACED CAMERA MODULE. REAR CAMERA STILL NOT FUNCTIONING. SAID CURRENT RECALL FOR REAR CAMERA DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER DATE IS OUT OF RANGE FOR RECALL. DEALER BLAMING REAR CAMERA NOT WORKING ON FORD ACCESSORY DASH CAMERA. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,900 |
| Feb 2021 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | CHROME ON WINDOWS SWITCHES PEELS CUTTING USER. | Crash: No Fire: No Injuries: 1 | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | SERVICE BRAKES | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION FORD SANFORD (4911 WAYSIDE DR, SANFORD, FL 32771, (407)680-0781) WHERE THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | I HAVE RECEIVED A AUTO HOLD SYSTEM FAULT MESSAGE ON MY CLUSTER. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR PRODUCE ANY FAULT CODES. THIS IS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM. | Crash: No Fire: No | 15,900 |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN | TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, HARD SHIFTS, AND TWICE PRESS THE ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | REAR HATCH ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. HATCH CLOSES BY ITSELF, WHILE LOADING ITEMS INTO TRUNK AREA. CLOSE BUTTON ON HATCH DOES NOT WORK. HATCH OPENED BY ITSELF. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Feb 2021 | BACK OVER PREVENTION | WHEN SWITCHED TO REVERSE, THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE AND SAYS REAR PARKING ASSIST DISABLED. | Crash: No Fire: No | 3,600 |
| Feb 2021 | FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | I TOOK MY CAR TO THE BANK AND PARKED IN THE PARKING LOT AND WHILE I WENT TO THE ATM I LEFT THE CAR RUNNING I WASN'T AWAY FROM THE CAR FOR MORE THEN THREE MINUTES AND WHEN I GOT BACK IN THE CAR IT STARTED SPUTTERING AND THEN JUST SHUT OFF. I TRIED TO START IT BACK UP BUT UPON DOING SO THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T TURN OVER. THE ENGINE SOUNDED LIKE IT WANTED TO TURN OVER BUT WOULDN'T. I TRIED THIS A BUNCH OF TIMES UNTIL THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVED( ABOUT AN HOUR) BUT EVERY TIME THE VEHICLE STILL WOULDN'T TURN OVER. JUST CONTINUED TO MAKE THE ENGINE NOISE THEN WOULD SHUT OFF. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,687 |
| Feb 2021 | POWER TRAIN | HAVE HAD THE VEHICLE FOR ABOUT 4 MONTHS. IT ISN'T DRIVEN VERY MUCH. RECENTLY STARTED TO NOTICE THAT WENT SLOWING DOWN IT DOWNSHIFT VERY ROUGHLY FROM 35 TO 20 MPH. ABOUT 2300 MILES ON THE VEHICLE AND THEY ALREADY SAID THAT THEY NEEDED A NEW TRANSMISSION AND VALVE BODY. THEY SAID THAT IT WOULD BE COVERED BY WARRANTY BUT IT'S ODD THAT PRETTY MUCH A BRAND NEW VEHICLE THAT'S NOT DRIVEN OFTEN AND THAT IT'S ALREADY NEEDING A LARGE SCALE REPLACEMENT TO NOTHING I'VE DONE WRONG. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,300 |
| Jan 2021 | SUSPENSION,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,LANE DEPARTURE | THIS TRUCK HAS A FEW DIFFERENT ISSUES ON AND OFF ISSUES 1. THE REVERSE CAMERA STOPS WORKING TURNS BLUE WHEN TRYING TO REVERSE 2. ALL MY WARNING SENSORS STOP WORKING GOING REVERSE OR FORWARD WHEN TRYING TO PARK THERE'S EVEN TIMES WHEN I'M DRIVING AND I GET A WARNING THAT MY SENSOR ARE NOT WORKING TO REFER TO MANUAL 3.MY CAR CAR HAS AN AUTO SHUT OFF WHEN ON A RED LIGHT FOR SOME REASON THIS IS NOT WORKING I GET THE SYMBOL ON DASH BOARD BUT IS CROSSED WITH A LINE 4. WHEN DRIVING AND I STEP ON GAS THE RPM STAY HIGH LIKE IF THE ENGINE OR TRANSMISSION IS TRYING TO CATCH UP 5. WHEN DRIVING OR YOU STEP ON GAS HEAVILY I GET A ROTTEN EGG SMELL OR SEWER TYPE SMELL IN CABIN NOT A PLEASANT SMELL I'M CONSTANTLY KEEP HAVING THIS ISSUES ON AND OFF WILL NEED TO FIND OUT IS FORD IS GONNA FIX THIS ISSUES THEY KEEP GIVING ME THE RUN AROUND THAT THERE'S NO WORKER RIGHT. NOW | Crash: No Fire: No | 600 |