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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | Ford ST 2020 just 37000 miles, the window from driver side can’t complete close when you try to roll up. When it all most close- it will automatically roll down. TPMS fails cause 4WD fault, ABS turn off and a lot of warning symbol turn on like pre-collision…etc. Dealer can’t fix and claim for client need to paid for 4WD program. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VISIBILITY/WIPER | Vehicle: 2020 Ford Explorer XLT Date of Incident: October 24 2025 Approx. Mileage: 82000 Affected Component: Visibility / Defroster / Rear Window Glass Description of Problem: While the rear defroster was on, the rear window of my 2020 Ford Explorer XLT suddenly made a popping noise and began to spider-crack from a point near the defroster grid. There was no external impact to the glass. The cracking continued slowly across the entire rear window after the noise. The event occurred on October 24 2025. The vehicle was parked outdoors in normal fall weather conditions in Pennsylvania, and the rear defroster had been turned on to clear condensation. This appears to be a rear defroster thermal event, similar to issues described in Ford’s Customer Satisfaction Program N192265660, which addressed defroster overheating and rear-window damage in certain Ford vehicles. The defect presents a safety concern, as the rear glass integrity is compromised and visibility is reduced. I have photographs of the crack pattern and plan to have the the window replaced by safelite. It is not safe to drive to a dealership. Please investigate this potential manufacturing or electrical defect affecting 2020 Ford Explorer models. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | AIR BAGS,UNKNOWN OR OTHER | The dash board is warped and literally peeling off. I took it to a dealer to get it looked at to see if Ford could help. They won't. My concern is that if the airbag had to deploy, they won't operate properly. I don't know what to do. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | SEAT BELTS | I am driving and the second row seat is disengaging randomly and folding/sliding forward. These are the bucket seats. It appears that the button on top of the seat to do this is stuck in the down position. There is a current recall for the 2020 explorer, but my vin is not currently included. However, the exact situation in ford recall 25S67 is happening to my vehicle. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | On my way to visit my cousin down south my vehicle wouldnt go in park. A warning came across stating that it was a shift system fault. I went to the Ford dealership in North Carolina. They werent helpful. I went to a nearby auto repair shop alerted me that it was an issue with tge powertrain that Ford covered in vehicles same as my yr make and model. Ford refused to honor it due to the fact that it doesnt fit my vin number even though it is the very same issue presented in the other vehicle with the similar yr make and model. It is unsafe. I have a family. I would not move | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Put vehicle in reverse camera camera on then went black and the backup lights went out while trying to move resulting in hitting a pole. | Crash: Yes Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at night, the driver's side headlight failed to illuminate as intended and the failure was progressing with the passenger’s side front headlight. Upon further inspection, the contact noticed an abnormal buildup of condensation inside the front driver's side headlight. The message "Driver Side Headlamp Out" was displayed. The local dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 120,000 |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission unexpectedly downshifted from 3rd to 2nd gear as indicated on the console shift indicator. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 22-2428. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 83,000. | Crash: No Fire: No | 83,000 |
| Oct 2025 | ENGINE | I was driving down upper pleasant ridge road caldwell id . Had cruise control on doing 50 and all of a sudden car just stopped in the middle of the road. No warning, no noise, no smoke , no check engine light nothing. I was in the middle of the road ,in the dark. Had to call the canyon county sheriff out to help me not get hit by a car waiting on the tow truck. Put jumper cables on battery my new battery bought in jan 2025 started smoking what ever happen fried my battery . Took it to dealership waiting on info | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | On [XXX]., in heavy rush‑hour traffic on [XXX] , my vehicle (~75,417 mi) suddenly lost motive power w/o warning at ~55 mph. It became immobile in a live lane, creating a roadblock and rear‑end crash risk. Drivers swerved/honked. Accelerator had no effect; limited/no power‑steering assist; I coasted to an in‑lane stop (no safe shoulder) and activated hazards. Cluster displayed “SHIFT SYS FAULT—Service Required” and wrench icon. Attempts to restart failed; the vehicle remained disabled ~30min until a tow arrived; police responded. After tow, on a slight incline, the vehicle rolled backward when started and the parking brake was released, though the cluster showed Park—clear rollaway concern. Recovery/diagnosis: Towed first to AutoTech Clinic (advised replacement trans). Then to Bill Brown Ford (Livonia, MI): fractured planetary gear and broken park pawl; recommended full transmission replacement (~$8,500). Repair history (pre‑purchase): I’ve owned the car <6 mos (now ~75k). A Ford dealer later informed me the vehicle previously had major work at Taylor Ford of MI: trans‑cooler plumbing cracks between cooler and trans lines at ~34k, and major internal trans repair at ~46k (“burnt clutch A; full reassembly”). None of this appeared on CARFAX or was disclosed by the selling dealer. Costs/downtime: ~$700 towing/diagnostics to date; trans replacement quoted ~$8,500. Mfr/dealer response: Reported to Ford on 10/13/2025, case [XXX]. Initial response: no assistance; pending. The Ford 10R60 has multiple TSBs for trans issues, but neither the dealer nor CSR cited any, and no assistance has been offered. Maintenance/mods: Vehicle stock; maintained per mfr schedule. Safety concern: Sudden loss of propulsion in traffic + inability to move to safety, combined with a Park indication that allows rollback, present significant crash/rollaway hazards. Please investigate and, if warranted, require a recall. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6) | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Kept getting a Check Headlamp System See Manual for a couple days then the headlight went out | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Ford has released a technical service bulletin for this issue , however they are not being held accountable for the issue at hand that I believe poses a safety issue while driving and could cause other drivers to run into the back of your car. The TSB was posted for a part inside the transmission which is a snap ring that comes dislodged from its groove and causes harsh down shifts between gears. This has happened to thousands of owners of these vehicles with a simple internet search. To say a harsh downshift is the issue is putting it mildly. When you are decelerating and the transmission downshifts as it does, It feels as if you slammed on your brakes, however the cars behind you see no brake lights light up to tell them you just slowed down considerably which could cause a pile up accident, especially in rush hour traffic. I feel this is the same type of recall that Ford was made to put out on all the 2011-2014 F150's where the transmission would randomly down shift to first gear on the highway. Ford has major transmission issues that cause safety concerns and I do not feel they are being held accountable on these newer vehicles. Theyve created a TSB on a known issue, yet let people drive around and pose risk of harm to themself or other drivers. Its only a matter of time until the downshift causes a major accident or pile up and people are seriously injured due to Fords negligence. They are aware of the issue and should be held to fix it for the drivers as well as everyone elses safety. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | EXTERIOR LIGHTING | Driver side low beam has stopped working. Ford was unable to pinpoint the problem and wants to replace the entire head lamp to cover all possibilities. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM | Car vibrate and jerk when switching gears randomly. Also the control panel has went out twice. I read everywhere these vehicles have issues with transmission problems on all the 2020 and there is no recall this is. Ridiculous. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission starting to fail at around 91,000 miles. Diagnosed at dealership. Just out of warranty. Other repair shops say this is a common issue. This should be a recall matter. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Oct 2025 | POWER TRAIN | For new model year 20 20, and 2021 Ford developed an all-wheel-drive vehicle. This is not a four-wheel-drive vehicle. It is an all-wheel-drive vehicle that you can select manually into four-wheel-drive, but it has an automatic system that engages and disengages the front drive axle through a comp component called an FADA. Front axle disconnect actuator. Ford has problems with that actuator going bad to the point that they put out a technical service bulletin to fix this unsafe design TSB 23-2174 dated 24 July 2023. They replace the drive axle and this component and make the car full time all wheel drive. The reason was because the actuator would fail and it would damage the front differential when it locked up on the highway. My car is in Service right now getting it replaced over $3000 and it just clicked past the drivetrain warranty. Now, unfortunately, the car is redesigned into something that it wasn’t meant to be. For highway speeds it now affects fuel economy and design is different from what they sold us. It is unsafe and it is like a ticking time bomb they they’re exploding on the highway. They redesigned the cars after this to four-wheel-drive and you have to manually selected into four-wheel-drive. Ford is reworking all the parts and they’re trying to cover it up. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | SUSPENSION,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | The first component that fails and gives a warning is a 4WD failure. Once this warning occurs it cascades into a failure of collision assist, a sudden loss of adaptive cruise control, traction control and lane assist component. When this first occurred and my vehicle would suddenly slow down on the highway, because the cruise control would suddenly shut down and swerve due to the lane assist also shutting down. these warnings and failures did not reset immediately when you shut the car off and would last for days at a time. this would also happen randomly either on the highway or local roads. This is a known issue to Ford and they have issued TSB 23-2174 in regards to this. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | SEATS | At 45,000 miles the third row driver side headrest broke and the seat will not fold and is a safety hazard for the seat since the head rest does not work as intended. The third row passenger side head rest broke while under bumper to bumper warranty. Given both have broken with minimal use and others having the same exact issue, the part is made inferior and causes a safety issue. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM | On highway was accelerating to pass another vehicle the transition froze , engine revved with no acceleration ( transmission skipped) this has happened several times over the 5 years. The lasted event we documented the date and mileage it happened date 7/13/25 mileage is 34990. These skips have put us in extremely dangerous situations. Transmission has been making growling noise now under normal driving. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a critical safety issue involving our 2020 Ford Explorer that I believe demands immediate investigation and consideration for a recall. While my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway with our two young children, the transmission began shifting erratically and aggressively at various speeds. The vehicle experienced sudden power loss, delayed gear engagement, and violent jerking motions that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision due to the abrupt deceleration. This malfunction placed my family and others on the road in immediate danger. This is not an isolated incident. I am aware that there is already a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) issued for this transmission issue, as well as an active class action lawsuit related to the same defect. These facts indicate that Ford is aware of the problem, yet the risk to consumers remains unaddressed through a formal recall. This is a serious safety hazard that must be escalated. I am urging your team to take immediate action to investigate this matter and initiate a recall if warranted. The safety of families like mine should not be compromised by known mechanical failures. Please confirm receipt of this message and advise on the next steps for inspection, documentation, and escalation. I am prepared to provide additional details, including service records and diagnostic reports, if needed. I trust that Ford and the appropriate regulatory bodies will act swiftly and responsibly to protect consumers and uphold safety standards. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission shifts hard from first to second gear upon acceleration, then shifts hard down at approximately 25-30mph. Dealership is aware. Has been happening since I got vehicle, but no fix has been available. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | i have been seeing complainants about the 2020 ford explorer transmission, I just want to say that I also had transmission issues with my 2020 ford explorer, I had Vehicle down shift issues at or around 50,000 miles, i took it back to the dealer because it was still under the 60K miles power train warr. The dealer had my explorer for about a week to do repairs, I do remember them saying there was a technical bulletin about this problem. I still have transmission jerking issues when i am driving slowly and have to let's say step on the gas to accelerate. I am at 67,000 miles now and worried is this thing going to make it to 100K. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | ENGINE | slipping gears between 1&2nd gear, harsh/delayed shifting, some power loss. Vehicle is around 120k miles | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Th car goes into gear but does not go anywhere. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |
| Sep 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission shifted into neutral at a stop sign and a see dealer warning light came on. Turned the vehicle off and restarted it and it was able to resume drive. It happened twice more at a speed of 70mph. Ford has had the vehicle all but 3 weeks since 5/12 to repair it. Replaced the trans and harness. | Crash: No Fire: No | Unknown |