Vehicles · Insights

2020 Ford Explorer

Watch the transmission first on the 2020 Explorer

Powertrain issues dominate owner complaints for this Explorer model year, with transmission cooling system failures reported while the vehicle is in motion being a recurring theme. Electrical faults and engine failures also appear frequently, with some owners describing sudden unintended acceleration events and at least one complete engine seizure on a near-new vehicle. Backup camera malfunctions round out the most-reported issues, with owners noting the display goes blank during reversing.

Most reported areas

Power Train safety 39%
Owners report transmission cooling system failures occurring while the vehicle is in motion, with some cases serious enough to prompt vehicle replacement. · 6 crash · 2 injured
Electrical System safety 15%
Owners report the engine suddenly revving to high RPM while parked, with the vehicle attempting to accelerate forward unexpectedly. · 4 fire · 3 crash · 2 injured
Engine safety 10%
Owners report complete engine seizure occurring on vehicles with very low mileage, leaving occupants stranded. · 4 fire · 2 crash
Back Over Prevention safety 9%
Owners report the backup camera intermittently displaying a blank blue screen during reversing, providing no visual or warning feedback. · 8 crash · 1 injured
Service Brakes safety 7%
80 reports (7%), but the highest injury count here at 6, plus 4 crashes - some owners describe reduced stopping power. Test the brakes carefully and have a mechanic inspect them before buying.

Source: NHTSA owner complaints · 1,138 complaints

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General information compiled from public NHTSA complaint data, for reference only — not professional advice and not reviewed by automotive experts. Verify before acting; Team AM is not responsible for decisions made from it.