Powertrain complaints and recalls from NHTSA
Summary
The 2020 Ford Explorer has 400 NHTSA powertrain complaints and 6 powertrain-related recalls.
400
Complaints
6
Recalls
1
Injuries Reported
Data source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) · Last updated April 9, 2026
20V693000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with a 2.0L or 3.3L engine and a 10 Speed Automatic...
19V575000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. ...
23V069000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine and 10R60 automatic transmission. An unintenti...
23V199000
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The ...
23V675000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles. The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the drivesh...
25V166000
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall numbers 23V-199 or 22V-255. T...
| Date ↓ | Component | Summary |
|---|---|---|
| Apr 4, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Thank you for your time reviewing my complaint. I've answered each of your bullet points below. - t... |
| Mar 12, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Vehicle Issue Description – 2020 Ford Explorer Limited (Transmission Failure) The issue involves th... |
| Feb 27, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | on 2/27/26 I heard a knocking sound in my car, no warning lights came on, took it to local car place... |
| Feb 25, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | 2020 Ford Explorer with the 10r80 transmission went bad. Shuttering between 2/3 gear, neutraled out ... |
| Feb 3, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | The catalytic converters (both) on my 5-year-old Ford Explorer both failed due to cracked welds. Thi... |
| Jan 26, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE,BACK OVER PREVENTION | SUMMARY OF FACTS FOR LEGAL CONSULTATION Bad Faith Redhibition Claim — Louisiana Civil Code Art. 2545... |
| Jan 19, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Car will be in drive or reverse, start to move with foot on gas then will shift itself into park |
| Jan 17, 2026 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | I own a 2020 Ford Explorer with approximately 85,776 miles. The vehicle has experienced two separate... |
| Jan 12, 2026 | POWER TRAIN | Power Train, Automatic Transmission Issue The vehicle is a 2020 Ford Explorer XLT with approximatel... |
| Dec 26, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The transmission developed a harsh engagement from part to reverse and a harsh downshift when decele... |
| Dec 26, 2025 | POWER TRAIN,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE | On December 26, at approximately 7:08 p.m., I was driving on the Belt Parkway during a snowstorm. I ... |
| Dec 17, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission had hard downshifts, whining, would.not change gears intermittently and would clunk whe... |
| Dec 17, 2025 | POWER TRAIN,ENGINE | My explorer was very slow/unable to accelerate onto the highway. The next time I started it there wa... |
| Dec 5, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The car started hard shifting, bucking like an animal in the middle of driving 70 on the highway, ha... |
| Nov 25, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Transmission randomly kicks out of gear causing a grinding noise and loss of acceleration. This is t... |
| Nov 24, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Since I have bought my 2020 Ford Explorer (brand new off the lot) it has had to have the turbo repla... |
| Nov 19, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed... |
| Nov 12, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | Driving at speed and starting to slow down the vehicle downshifted hard and afterwards would shift h... |
| Nov 6, 2025 | POWER TRAIN | The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undi... |
| Oct 26, 2025 | POWER TRAIN,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL | Vehicle did not want to shift above 35 mph. When letting off gas - harsh downshift (with no break li... |