2020 Ford Explorer problems and complaints
Owners have filed 1213 complaints with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Explorer. The most-reported areas: Power Train (485), Unknown Or Other (205), Electrical System (183).
Key takeaways
- 1213 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.
- 35 involve a crash, 10 a fire, 38 reported injuries.
- Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are confirmed defects.
| Component | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 485 | 40% |
| Unknown Or Other | 205 | 17% |
| Electrical System | 183 | 15% |
| Engine | 113 | 9% |
| Back Over Prevention | 104 | 9% |
| Service Brakes | 82 | 7% |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 69 | 6% |
| Visibility/Wiper | 55 | 5% |
| Exterior Lighting | 53 | 4% |
| Structure | 44 | 4% |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 40 | 3% |
| Seats | 39 | 3% |
One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
| Version | Overall | Front | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
| 2020 Ford Explorer SUV RWD | 5/5 | 5/5 | 5/5 | 4/5 |
Latest complaints, as filed
Owner-written and unverified by NHTSA.
Power Train - filed 2026-09-20
My 2020 Ford Explorer Limited has a broken transmission matching Recall 26S48. The car cannot be driven. My local dealer wants to help but has zero loaner vehicles available. Ford Corporate is refusing to fund an outside rental car or an emergency interim repair while delaying the official fix until next year. I am com...
Exterior Lighting - filed 2026-09-18
Passenger headlight module has blown and seems to be an issue with the 2020 Ford Explorer.
Power Train,unknown Or Other - filed 2026-09-17
Vehicle: 2020 Ford Explorer XLT Active Recall: Ford #26S48 The transmission on my 2020 Ford Explorer has completely failed, leaving my vehicle inoperable and my family stranded. The vehicle is currently located at a local Ford dealership, just sitting there waiting for a fix. My vehicle started shifting gears randomly...
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More for the 2020 Ford Explorer
Complaints are reports filed by owners with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. NHTSA publishes them without verifying them, and counts rise with how many cars were sold, so compare years of the same model rather than different models. Crash ratings are NHTSA's own 5-Star Safety Ratings results.