Problems · NHTSA complaints

2020 Ford Explorer problems

Owners filed 1,247 complaints about the 2020 Ford Explorer with NHTSA between Nov 2019 and Oct 2026. The most-cited component is power train (503).

Complaints
1,247
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
37
Reported by owners
Fires
10
Reported by owners
Injuries
38
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Power train503
  2. Electrical system186
  3. Engine117
  4. Back over prevention104
  5. Service brakes81
  6. Forward collision avoidance71
  7. Visibility/wiper58
  8. Exterior lighting56
  9. Structure46
  10. Seats41
  11. Fuel/propulsion system40
  12. Suspension36
  13. Vehicle speed control29
  14. Steering28

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 3, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20197
2020110
2021136
202285
2023186
2024200
2025318
2026205

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Power train

503 reports9 crashes7 related recalls
“For the past year i have been dealing with the 4wd fault where a lost connection to the module and im not the only one i belong to a group on facebook where they are always asking the same questions about who has the same problem and i feel like this should of been recalled a long time ago”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 27, 2026Power trainODI 11774119

Electrical system

186 reports3 crashes4 fires2 related recalls
“My 2020 Ford Explorer previously received a safety recall repair under Ford Recall 23S23 for the 360-degree/rearview camera system. Unfortunately, the camera system is malfunctioning again following that repair. The 360-degree display intermittently shows solid blue/teal or black areas instead of properly displaying the vehicle’s surroundings. The camera images also become washed out, distorted, or unusually dark, reducing visibility when reversing. Additionally, my instrument cluster displays the warning “Reverse Brake Assist Not Available – See Manual.” These problems raise serious safety concerns because the vehicle’s camera visibility is compromised while another safety system reports that it is unavailable. This creates potential risks when backing near children, pedestrians, other vehicles, or obstacles. I have photographs documenting the camera malfunctions and dashboard warning. Ford subsequently issued Recall 25S27 after discovering that certain vehicles previously repaired under Recall 23S23 may not have received the correct remedy, even though the repairs were recorded as completed. I have not yet received confirmation whether Recall 25S27 applies to…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 19, 2026Electrical system, Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11772252

Engine

117 reports3 crashes4 fires2 related recalls
“My transmission had been getting increasingly jerky (was never a smooth ride since it was new). At 55k miles, I was driving down the road and my car started to jerk roughly and would not shift gears. It would go and jerk, hard, like I hit something. We made it home but the next day it was even worse. I noted it was jerking around 25 mph and randomly at other speeds. I drove it to Ford, where we were under the impression there was an upcoming transmission recall, but we also thought our extended warranty was still in effect. Instead, they realized the transmission recall is for something different and we were lied to about our warranty, so it had been backdated and covered the 2 years prior to purchase, not the life of the loan as we had been told, and what we went in to do. The employees, mechanics, and forums, if you type (2020 Explorer transmission) quickly painted the picture that this is a VERY common issue and a KNOWN issue at that. Rough jerking. Rebuild transmission. Aside from knowing about this EXACT problem, and it being repeated everywhere, and acknowledged from FORD employees that they see it several times a day, I found that there was a huge…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 15, 2026Power train, EngineODI 11771475

Back over prevention

104 reports8 crashes9 related recalls
“SUMMARY OF FACTS FOR LEGAL CONSULTATION Bad Faith Redhibition Claim — Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2545 Prepared for Attorney Consultation 1. Vehicle & Transaction Information Vehicle2020 Ford Explorer ST — AWDPurchase DateMarch 2025Purchase Structure17,000 trade-in applied 17,000 remaining loan balanceAdditional Warranty2,500 paid warranty purchased through dealership at time of saleSelling DealerIndependently licensed dealership (non-Ford franchise)Warranty ServiceWarranty work performed during coverage period 2. The Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 23-2174) Ford issued TSB 23-2174 in July 2023 — nearly two years before the vehicle was sold to the client. Key facts about the TSB: •Covers: 2020–2021 Ford Explorer/Lincoln Aviator AWD vehicles •Component affected: Front Axle Disconnect Actuator (FADA) — left side •Failure mode: FADA O-ring seal failure causing AWD malfunction, triggering powertrain warning light (wrench icon) with DTCs C00A6 and/or C0631 •Required repair per TSB: Full replacement of FADA with revised intermediate shaft AND reprogramming of transfer case control module •Result of proper TSB repair: Permanently eliminates front axle disconnect…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Mar 11, 2026Power train, Forward collision avoidance, Back over preventionODI 11723709

Service brakes

81 reports3 crashes
“Have token it to several different dealerships and they say it’s up to specs but they won’t touch it without me paying for the work you can see that it’s not installed correctly idk what to do to get this fixed before it does break and something happens”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026Suspension, Power train, Service brakesODI 11773447

Forward collision avoidance

71 reports6 crashes
“Front axle disconnect actuator on my 2020 Ford Explorer 2.3L AWD is failing. The vehicle stores DTC C0631-7E (Actuator Stuck On) and previously stored C0631-7F (Actuator Stuck Off). When the fault is active, the wrench light comes on and the following safety systems are disabled: AdvanceTrac, Pre-Collision Assist, and Hill Start Assist. Ford has issued TSB 25-2373 / 25-2568 for this exact issue requiring replacement of the intermediate shaft with revised part N1MZ-3A329-A and AWD module reprogramming, but there is no recall. Owners must pay for the repair. The problem is intermittent and has been confirmed with a scan tool. This is a known design defect, not normal wear, and it affects safety systems.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 21, 2026Power train, Unknown or other, Forward collision avoidanceODI 11772624
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 3, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.