2020 Ford Explorer: recalls and problems
35 recalls and 1,222 owner complaints on file with NHTSA. The most-reported problem area is power train.
Most common problems
What owners report
Panoramic roof sunshade/retractor failure resulting in obstruction of rearward visibility through the interior rearview mirror while driving
Driving down road when motor started making noise. no lights on dash or anything then it started to buck and wouldn’t accelerate.i pulled over on the highway and shut it off and called a friend for a tow. got the car checked out and turns out it was almost 5 quarts low on oil and has spun a rod bearing and almost locked up.
I was driving back home going approx 40mph and my car started to slow down on its own. got back up to speed and it continued to do this the whole way home. it sounded like it was downshifting. making it extremely dangerous turning, lane shifting.
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 completely stranded by a manufacturer safety defect. it is setting at the dealer, and they have said i
Crash-test ratings
| Version | Overall | Frontal | Side | Rollover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Ford Explorer SUV 4WD | ||||
| 2020 Ford Explorer SUV RWD |
Source: NHTSA recalls, complaints and NCAP APIs, covering EXPLORER, EXPLORER HEV, EXPLORER POLICE INTERCEPT. Last refreshed 2026-09-29.