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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jan 2020 | SERVICE BRAKES | ON JANUARY 6, 2020, I WAS DRIVING TO WORK, APPROACHING A RED LIGHT AND COULD NOT STOP. I WAS GOING AROUND 40 MPH. THEN, I BEGIN PRESSING ON THE BREAK WITH MY RIGHT FOOT AND COULD NOT STOP. NEXT, I USED BOTH FEET PRESSING THE BREAK PEDAL TO THE FLOOR AND COULD BARELY BRING THE TRUCK TO A STOP. AT THE SAME TIME, THERE WERE WARNING LIGHTS FLASHING (PARKING BREAK, ALL WHEEL DRIVE, TRACTION CONTROL) ON THE DASH. I IMMEDIATELY TOOK THE VEHICLE TO DEALERSHIP WHERE I PURCHASED IT. THEY PROVIDED ME WITH A LOANER VEHICLE. ON FRIDAY, JANUARY 10, 2020, THE DEALERSHIP CONTACTED ME TO PROVIDE ME AN UPDATE. THEY ADVISED THAT FORD MOTOR COMPANY ADVISED THEM THAT THIS WAS A SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT (MEANING THIS INFORMATION IS KNOWN TO FORD AND ALL FORD DEALERSHIPS NOT TO THE CUSTOMERS). DEALERSHIP ADVISED REAR BREAK CALIBERS NEEDS REPLACING, REAR BREAK MOTOR NEEDS REPLACING, AND REAR BREAK PADS NEEDS REPLACING. DEALERSHIP ADVISED ALL PARTS ARE ON NATIONAL BACK ORDER AND DOES NOT KNOW WHEN THEY WILL BE AVAILABLE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,810 |
| Jan 2020 | ENGINE | MY BRAND NEW 2020 FORD EXPLORER PLATINUM TOP OF LINE MODEL (VIN [XXX]) BROKE DOWN ON CHRISTMAS EVE 2019 AFTER A COMPLETE ENGINE SEIZURE WITH LESS THAN 2000 MILES AND LEFT US STRANDED WITH MY FAMILY FOR HOURS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD. THE VEHICLE LOST ALL POWER AND CONTROL AND HAD THIS HAPPENED ON AN INTERSTATE HIGHWAY DOING 80 MILES PER HOUR THE RESULT COULD HAVE BEEN CATASTROPHIC AND POTENTIALLY FATAL. IT HAS BEEN AT THE DEALERSHIP SINCE AND I AM BEING TOLD IT NEEDS A NEW ENGINE BUT FORD CANNOT PROVIDE A DATE WHEN THE ENGINE WILL BE AVAILABLE. REMEMBER....THIS VEHICLE WAS ONLY A MONTH OLD! A 2020 VEHICLE BROKE DOWN IN 2019!!! THE DEALERSHIP IS BEING FANTASTIC AND TRYING TO SWAP THE VEHICLE OUT FOR ME BUT FORD HAS DENIED THEIR REQUEST. I FINALLY SPOKE WITH A FORD CUSTOMER SERVICE REP ([XXX]) AND SHE TOLD ME THAT THE ENGINES FOR THIS MODEL (YES ENGINES PLURAL!) ARE BEING SHIPPED AT THE END OF THE MONTH. I ASKED HER DIRECTLY IF I WAS THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND SHE FLAT OUT SAID "NO, YOU'RE NOT". I REGRET HAVING PURCHASED A NEW MODEL YEAR VEHICLE OF THIS EXPLORER AND NOW FULLY THINK THIS IS A DANGEROUS VEHICLE. I HOPE FORD SEES THIS. I THINK THEY HAVE A SERIOUS ISSUE AND SOON IT WILL COME OUT THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS PROBLEMS WITH THE 2020 EXPLORER. JUST WAIT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,100 |
| Jan 2020 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | DEEP SLEEP MODE ACTIVATES AFTER 2 DAYS. MOST RECENT EXPERIENCE INVOLVED HAVING TO JUMP START THE CAR AFTER SETTING 3 DAYS. | Crash: No Fire: No | 5,300 |
| Dec 2019 | POWER TRAIN | VEHICLE DOESN'T MOVE FOR LONG SECONDS WHEN I SWITCH TO REVERSE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Dec 2019 | POWER TRAIN | THIS VEHICLE WAS GIVEN TO ME ON OR ABOUT 12 NOVEMBER 2019 AS A REPLACEMENT FOR A 2020 FORD EXPLORER, VIN [XXX], PURCHASED FROM SAMES FORD IN LAREDO, WHICH TWICE HAD FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION COOLING SYSTEM WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THIS NEW VEHICLE BROKE DOWN WHILE IN MOTION IN THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER) IN NEW BOSTON, TEXAS ON 22 NOV 2019 (MILEAGE 1021). JOHNSTON FORD IN NEW BOSTON COULD NOT IMMEDIATELY SECURE THE PARTS AS THEY WERE IN HIGH DEMAND FROM FORD, AND THE VEHICLE WAS NOT FULLY REPAIRED UNTIL 10 DECEMBER 2019. I INTEND TO SELL THIS VEHICLE AS SOON AS IT IS RETURNED TO ME AS I NO LONGER HAVE FAITH THAT THIS MODEL CAN BE RELIED ON FOR SAFE HIGHWAY PERFORMANCE. ON BOTH VEHICLES, THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER FAILURE OCCURRED AFTER A MINIMUM OF TWO HOURS OF CONSTANT HIGHWAY DRIVING. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,021 |
| Dec 2019 | POWER TRAIN | I PURCHASED A 2020 FORD EXPLORER AT SAMES FORD IN LAREDO, TX. THE VEHICLE WAS RECEIVED 11 SEPT 2019. THE VEHICLE BROKE DOWN ON 18 SEPT 2019 IN INDIANA (MILEAGE 1896) WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AUTO PARK FORD IN STERGIS, MICHIGAN. THE PROBLEM WAS THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER, WHICH I NOW KNOW IS ENDEMIC TO THIS MODEL. I WAS TOLD THE FAILURE OF THE TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER HAD ALSO CAUSED THE TRANSMISSION TO FAIL. THE TRANSMISSION & OIL COOLER WERE REPLACED AND I HAD TO DRIVE FROM NEW YORK TO MICHIGAN AT MY OWN EXPENSE TO GET THE CAR WHEN IT WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO ME 4 OCT 2019. THIS VEHICLE BROKE DOWN AGAIN WHILE IN MOTION ON THE HIGHWAY WITH THE SAME PROBLEM (TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER) 5 NOV 2019 (MILEAGE APPROX..5,300) IN LAREDO, TX. AT THAT TIME, THEY TOOK THE ORIGINAL CAR BACK AND GAVE ME AN IDENTICAL, NEW 2020 FORD EXPLORER WHICH SUBSEQUENTLY BROKE DOWN WITH THE EXACT SAME TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER FAILURE. | Crash: No Fire: No | 1,896 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER,SERVICE BRAKES,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | BREAKS GAVE OUT WHILE BACKING OUT OF LANE. SEPARATE ISSUE PRESSED ON GAS NO RESPONSE OR DELAYED RESPONSE IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC. ACTED LIKE IT WAS ALMOST OUT OF GAS BUT NOT. ALSO OTHER SMALL ISSUE IS LOUD HIGH WHISTLE NOISE ABOVE 70MPH. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |
| Dec 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | ON A 400 MILE ROAD TRIP ON A HIGHWAY, WE STARTED FEELING EXHAUST FUMES IN THE INSIDE CABIN. FELT NAUSEA AND WATERY EYES AND HAD TO STOP COUPLE OF TIME TO GET A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS IT DISAPPEARED AFTER AN HOUR. SCARY THING IS I SEE SOME ELSE ALSO HAS REPORTED THE SAME ISSUE. COULD BE VERY HAZARDOUS HAVING EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN SIDE THE CABIN. | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,200 |
| Nov 2019 | UNKNOWN OR OTHER | HAVE EXTREMELY STRONG EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN THE FRESH AIR INTAKE-MAKING ME AND MY PASSENGERS EXTREMELY SICK-NAUSEUS, REALLY BAD HEADACHES, EXTREMELY SLEEPY, ACID REFLUX AND EVEN HAVE PEOPLE ASK HALF HOUR AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE IF WE'VE BEEN STANDING NEXT TO AN EXHAUST PIPE!!!! ONE OF THESE TIMES, IM NOT GOING TO REALISE JUST HOW TIRED ITS MAKING ME-THAT I CRASH AND KILL MYSELF OR WORSE KILL SOMEONE ELSE OR FAMILY!! SERIOUS ISSUE ANS FORD CLAIMS......NOTHING WRONG!! [XXX]!! THIS IS A DEADLY FLAW THAT NEEDS TO BE DEALT WITH RIGHT NOW!!! WAY STRONGER WHEN IDLING, NOT AS BAD IF YOU PUT THE HVAC ON RECIRCULATE CABIN AIR-BUT EVEN THAT WONT STAY ENGAGED FOR MORE THAN 15MINUTES!! THAT IN ITSELF TELLS ME THERES A FLAW WITH THE FRESH AIR INTAKE MODE DOOR SOLENOID!!! PLEASE HELP ME AND MY FAMILY. INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). | Crash: No Fire: No | 75 |
| Nov 2019 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV VERY HIGHLY AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. AFTER TURNING THE VEHICLE OFF AND BACK ON, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE MANUFACTURER AND LEVITOWN FORD (3195 HEMPSTEAD TPKE, LEVITOWN, NY) WERE NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 2,000. *DT*JB | Crash: No Fire: No | 2,000 |