general problems of the 2020 Ford Explorer - part 2

Transmission gears were not running properly. On a Saturday evening the car was sleeping when slowing down and the following morning it completely died. Ford is reporting to me that I need a new transmission and I am only 1k miles over the warranty. I have read on line from several others with the 2020 Explorer having this issue or the tranny dieing within 10-20k miles after warranty.

I was driving my vehicle that was just over 5 years old with just over 38,000 miles on the highway out of state for a family wedding with my 3 children and wife. There were no safety lights or indications of any malfunction, but upon acceleration the transmission “was not engaging” and it would not shift up to increase speed. I pulled to the far lane and upon down shifting the vehicle was jerking forward. After getting off the next exit, the vehicle would not engage between gears and speed up. This put my family with 3 kids under 7 at extreme risk and left us stranded out of state with minimal options. The car needed to be towed and arrangements needed to be made for our family and all belongings packed in the car. It was determined that the transmission was in need of full rebuild or replacement and advised to contact Ford as it may be under warranty. My powertrain warranty was 5yrs and 60,000 miles and Ford after 2 weeks of trying to get someone to contact me back stated it’s no longer under warranty and there is nothing they can do - even with a vehicle with 38,400 miles. I received a few quotes and Ford wanted nearly $11,000 to replace. I chose to have the transmission rebuilt due to the cost and still making car payments on the vehicle. This is a known issue with this transmission. Ford has sent out reimbursements for other Explorers, but my VIN is not included in them.

Dear NHTSA, I am writing to formally report a critical safety issue involving our 2020 Ford Explorer that I believe demands immediate investigation and consideration for a recall. While my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway with our two young children, the transmission began shifting erratically and aggressively at various speeds. The vehicle experienced sudden power loss, delayed gear engagement, and violent jerking motions that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision due to the abrupt deceleration. This malfunction placed my family and others on the road in immediate danger. This is not an isolated incident. I am aware that there is already a technical service bulletin (TSB) issued for this transmission issue, as well as an active class action lawsuit related to the same defect. These facts indicate that Ford is aware of the problem, yet the risk to consumers remains unaddressed through a formal recall. This is a serious safety hazard that must be escalated. I am urging your team to take immediate action to investigate this matter and initiate a recall if warranted. The safety of families like mine should not be compromised by known mechanical failures. Please confirm receipt of this message and advise on the next steps for inspection, documentation, and escalation. I am prepared to provide additional details, including service records and diagnostic reports, if needed. I trust that Ford and the appropriate regulatory bodies will act swiftly and responsibly to protect consumers and uphold safety standards.

My got multiple warning messages while driving my 2020 Ford Explorer. My local repair shop ran test and determined it needs a new front axle disconnect actuator/shaft - technical service bulletin 23-2174. Without this repair, several sensors are deactivated: 4wd, hill start assist, forward collision warning, blind spot system, pre-collision assist and service advancetrac. With those functions disabled, it puts the driver/passengers at higher risk of collision - especially in the winter months. This repair is costing me over $2000. A vehicle with less than 70000 miles should not be having an issue like this, and Ford is award of the problem, yet have not issued a warranty extension or recall.

While driving, vehicle gave powertrain malfunction, downhill assist unavailable and pre-collision warning system unavailable faults. The vehicle then came to a stop and would not move. Turning the ignition off and on allowed the vehicle to be safely parked in a nearby parking lot.

With regular service and no warning, my transmission has failed at 83k miles. The 10r60 transmission is a known issue for Ford, as they have set out TSB to the dealerships and gm has recalled the same transmission, but Ford has failed to do so. Regardless of the fact that my family, husband, and I have been loyal Ford/Lincoln customers for the last 15 years, they are not willing to do anything to help with this very costly repair.

Issued started happening when I tried to get into my car and my keyfob was not working. Then notice the number pad was working and was able to get into the vehicle. Once inside, vehicle did not want to start. I turn on and off the headlights and thats when the vehicle started. Once started, vehicle started showing orange warning messages. The following messages were shown: pre-collision assist not available hill start assist not available 4wd fault service required service advancetrac see manual with a wrench on it. There is also a wrench light on with the advance trac light on. This issue was diagnosed by Ford scarsdale and they charge me $209 just for the diagnostic and stated that I need a new awd module plus performing TSB 23-2174. With a list of parts totaling $926. 42 plus labor of $1,463. The labor seems a bit over price as I don't believe it will take 7 hours to fix this if we take the labor at $200/hr. There were no prior messages prior to failure. Issue started happening around August 9th, 2025 where my car would start with no issues and after 10 minutes of driving, all the above messages would start showing. Now, messages show when car starts and dont go away. In addition, I have taken my vehicle to Ford scarsdale on July 2, 2025 from front/read differential and transfer case fluid change and pinion seal change. In addition, on 03/27/2024, I took my vehicle since there was oil leak in the front axle and was repaired under warranty. Dealership should have suggested to do this TSB 23-2174 knowing this was a common issue and I was still under warranty.

Powertrain malfunction/ reduced power bill start assist warning pre-collision assist not available.

The exhaust leaks constantly and Ford can’t seem to fix it. Been multiple times in the shop and all they say is it’s suppose to leak soot and make a fluttery sound. Three documented cases of it at the shop for exhaust leak and I’ve finely gave up because multiple dealerships refuse to acknowledge the issue and state it’s weep holes but weep holes are at connection joints. The smell of exhaust from start up or in tight confined spaces allows the exhaust to creep back into the car if windows are rolled down. Also the sound is embarrassing.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? the transmission failed at approximately 80,000 miles. It requires a complete rebuild/replacement. The failed transmission is available for inspection upon request. It is currently at the transmission shop. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? although the vehicle was technically still drivable, it did not feel safe. The transmission slipped and struggled to shift, and the vehicle felt like it could break down or cause a wreck at any point. The sudden and unpredictable loss of proper control put me and other drivers at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? yes. An independent transmission repair service confirmed the failure and determined that the transmission required a full rebuild/replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? the vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It has only been inspected and diagnosed by an independent repair service. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? there were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to the failure. The first symptoms were slipping and difficulty shifting gears, which began shortly before I took it to a repair shop.

At this time, I am unsure if there is some kind of recall, but my alarm is going off alerting me that the lift gate opened but that isn't true once my vehicle is locked. Also, the headlights turn on by themselves as if I have pressed on the keyfob. I then get an alert stating that the remote features disabled to preserve battery. These are just a few of the issues that I am having with this vehicle at this moment. I am a mother to 3 kids and I need to have a reliable vehicle and I don't have time to stress about not locking my vehicle at night jus to avoid my alarm going off. This is insane.

Subject: formal complaint – 2020 Ford Explorer transmission failures and unfair coverage practices dear Ford customer service, I am writing to formally express my concern and disappointment regarding repeated transmission failures in my 2020 Ford Explorer. The vehicle required its first transmission replacement at just 4,000 miles, and again recently at approximately 100,000 miles. It has come to my attention that Ford issued a recall for transmission issues affecting a large number of 2020 Ford Explorers manufactured at the chicago assembly plant during the covid production period. My vehicle, however, narrowly falls one month outside of the official recall range. Despite this, the symptoms and failures my vehicle experienced are identical to those described in the recall and in numerous owner complaints online. I find it deeply concerning and unjust that Ford refuses to extend coverage to vehicles like mine that clearly suffer from the same manufacturing defects. It is unreasonable for a I find it deeply concerning and unjust that Ford refuses to extend coverage to vehicles like mine that clearly suffer from the same manufacturing defects. It is unreasonable for a $45,000 vehicle, only a few years old, to require two complete transmission replacements. This is not an isolated case — thousands of 2020–2022 Ford Explorer owners have reported similar failures with the same transmission model, often shortly after warranty expiration. I am requesting that Ford review this case for goodwill repair coverage or reimbursement, and to consider expanding the recall parameters to include vehicles like mine that were evidently affected by the same defective components and production issues. I have purchased over $100,000 on Ford cars, and have only purchased Fords. I am going to purchase a brand new car in 2 years, and it most likely will not be with Ford due to their shady recall practices, and lack of care for the quality of their product and customer service.

The 2020 Ford Explorer was repaired due to a recall on the rear differential bolt. The bolt that was replaced fell out and had to go back in for service. The dealer said Ford refused to pay the full cost and it was split between Ford and the owner. We had to pay $2085. 97 for the repair of a recalled item.

The vehicle has experienced repeated automatic transmission malfunctions, including harsh and delayed shifting and hesitation. These issues caused unpredictable acceleration/deceleration and hesitation when starting from a stop or merging, creating a safety risk. The condition has been confirmed by authorized Ford dealers with repairs attempted and service bulletin referenced. The transmission is available for inspection. Symptoms have recurred despite repairs. Warning indicators and abnormal shifting behavior were observed intermittently beginning around 65,000 miles.

Car vibrate and jerk when switching gears randomly. Also the control panel has went out twice. I read everywhere these vehicles have issues with transmission problems on all the 2020 and there is no recall this is. Ridiculous.

Transmission failure & clutch needs replacement. Vehicle started hard shifting at low mph.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while attempting to shift gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the dealer for additional assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 46,894.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the transmission was slipping and the vehicle was slow accelerate. The vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the contact stated that the rpm was high while driving at low speeds. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 19,000.

On highway was accelerating to pass another vehicle the transition froze , engine revved with no acceleration ( transmission skipped) this has happened several times over the 5 years. The lasted event we documented the date and mileage it happened date 7/13/25 mileage is 34990. These skips have put us in extremely dangerous situations. Transmission has been making growling noise now under normal driving.

With no previous problems, over the course of the past two days the transmission has begun to hard and delayed shift in multiple gears between 10 to 75 mph. When slowing down to go through tolls this morning, as I accelerated, there was a sudden loss of power transmission and a loud rattling sound. The engine would rev in this case. I had to coast for about 150 ft before I regained control of my speed. Once I was slowing down to take my exit to get to work and wait at the light, when I attempted to accelerate to go through the light, I experienced another loss of power. However, this time the engine would not rev. Once in the intersection I was moving slowly. Had this happened (loss of power) while I was in the intersection or through the toll and someone was behind me accelerating, I could have been rear ended and injured. I am taking the Explorer to the dealership next Tuesday to find out if they can reproduce the issue. There are no warning lamps associated with this problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by any third party yet.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated upon shifting to park(p), the vehicle rolled and almost struck two pedestrians. The contact engaged the parking brake, and the vehicle stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated upon driving to the residence and attempting to park near the garage door, the failure recurred, and the vehicle struck the garage door. The contact engaged the parking brake and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the vehicle then became inoperable. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.

11/5/24 transmission failed. Gear selector knob went unresponsive. Wrench light on dash came on. 1/2/25- new transmission received. 4/25/25- car hesitates going into reverse gear- 10 second delay. Still continues. 7/1/25- transmission starts slipping again. 7/2/25- transmission slamming while accelerating.

The rear axle is slipping when going up any incline and when traveling on regular roads has vibration they have a recall but say mine not covered when it comes from the same plant in question during the time frame listed.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the previous owner had previously taken the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and the failure information was already in the dealer database. The contact was informed that the failure was due to transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle was purchased two weeks prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.

My car has been in the shop in louisiana and alabama, it has had a leak, and I have told them over and over about the jerky shifting etc, but it was never noted on any of the service, they said they have fixed the leak. . . But it continued with the jerking and slow to go into gear. Then a couple of weeks ago I was driving down the road and the car wouldn't go, I made it home. I called the Ford service to make an appointment to have it checked again, and the service recall on the seatbelt. My appointment was for Tuesday morning July 1st, but on Thursday I hadn't heard from them, so I called, and on the following Monday they called me back to say the transmission was out and needed to be replaced, it would be 10k plus. So I got a tow to go pick it up and take to a transmission shop. They didn't even get the seatbelt issue resolved in the week it was there. Why didn't they check the transmission was bad while it was under warranty. It now has about 80k miles.

When my vehicle reaches 60 mph the back end of my vehicle begins to sway excessively. Something may be wrong with the axle. It’s actually very frightening. Also, when my vehicle is running, I feel a slight puttering and then it quickly goes away as if somethings going on with the fuel pump. Lastly, my rearview camera sometimes looks a little blurry. I did take my vehicle to team Chevrolet in swansboro, north carolina where I purchased the vehicle. They stated something is going on with the axle and sway bar.

On [xxx], after starting my vehicle, I received multiple safety warnings, prompting the check engine light and a wrench icon on the dashboard. The alerts included issues with the anti-collision system, hill assist, traction control, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control, as well as my drive modes which were also unavailable. I contacted raceway Ford in riverside, CA, and dropped off the vehicle that day, reporting the errors. The dealership informed me the next day that the half shaft speed sensor had failed and would cost $870. 52 to replace. Since the warranty had expired a month earlier on [xxx], this was no longer covered under the drivetrain warranty. I agreed to the repairs. After installing the new sensor, and conducting a test drive, additional errors appeared. After two weeks in the shop and multiple follow-ups, the dealership concluded that the awd/fwd sensor had also failed and replaced both sensors. The repair documentation references TSB 21-2270, ssm 49045, and c0631. I believe this raises serious safety concerns and should warrant a recall, especially since other vehicles are experiencing similar issues just a month after warranty expiration. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt, causing the rear driveshaft to disconnect. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 23v675000 (power train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was already repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000.

In June of this year, with about 82,000 miles I began to experience a clunk felt through the vehicle while slowing down from @35 mph upon the downshift. The clunk was more noticeable under braking, I. E. Approaching a stop light. This went on for a few days growing more frequent and noticeable. On June 30th, 2025 I dropped my Explorer off at my Ford dealer's service department. The mechanic test drove and confirmed my experience. They also found that the transmission fluid had a burnt smell and some debris. Their testing turned up codes p1783 and p028 indicating an overtempt condition. I’d offer that at no time did I see and sort of dashboard indicators of any trouble. I’ve never pulled a trailer, modified the engine intake or exhaust systems, or had custom engine tunning performed. It’s a completely stock Explorer st. My recourse was to pay $8,529. 63 to replace the transmission. I do feel that if I had continued to operate the vehicle best case would be I was stranded someone where. Worse stranded on the roadway or highway.

While driving at 50 mph, the powertrain malfunction light, hill start assist malfunction light , and precollision malfunction light came on. Took vehicle to performance Ford, randolph, NJ where it was determined that it was the front axle disconnect actuator assembly was broken. Ford is aware of this problem per TSB 23-2174 but has not advised the owners of the problem, at least not myself. The cost was $2946. 61. This is a safety issue and should be addressed and repaired by Ford. Also had to rent a car for 3 days.

My 2020 Ford Explorer has 63,853 miles on it. My power train started to hard shift up and down out of nowhere on Wednesday June 18, 2025. It was fine in the morning before work and on my way home after work it started to hard shift.

While slowing, between 30-25mph the transmission downshifts hard and the vehicle jerks. This just began happening. No alarms or errors present on the vehicle. Regularly serviced with no issues.

I am filing a complaint regarding a safety issue with my 2020 Ford Explorer that was not properly addressed during a recall repair, leading to a dangerous situation. Vehicle details make: Ford model: Explorer year: 2020 recall repair details in January 2024, I took my vehicle to coconut point Ford in estero, FL, for a recall repair related to the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt, which was at risk of fracturing. The recall required the replacement of the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt to prevent driveshaft disconnection. Incident description recently, while driving under normal conditions, the bolt fractured, causing the differential to nearly detach from the vehicle. This failure could have resulted in a catastrophic accident. I am now facing a $6,000 repair bill for an issue that should have been resolved under the recall. Safety risk the failure of the bolt and the near detachment of the differential posed a severe safety risk, as it could have led to a loss of control of the vehicle, especially at highway speeds. Dealership response when I brought this to the attention of coconut point Ford, they stated that "bolts are not covered under the extended warranty. " however, since this is a recall-related issue, I believe Ford is obligated to cover the repair costs. The service writer, steve, has been helpful, but the resolution has been delayed. Additional context I am aware of class action lawsuits against Ford regarding this defect, which allege that the recall fix does not fully address the issue and that the design is inherently flawed. Request I request that the NHTSA investigate this matter to ensure that Ford is held accountable for properly addressing this safety recall and to prevent similar incidents from occurring to other vehicle owners. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety concern.

Vehicle accelerates rapidly at low speeds when attempting to slightly accelerate in slow speed area such as in parking lots. Transmission chugs shifts hard when trying to maintain speeds below 50 mph. Transmission was rebuilt by dealer under warranty but same problem still exists. Dangerous and happens often.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway and making a right turn, the vehicle felt like the front axle was locked in 4wd mode. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while reversing out of the driveway. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was confirmed, and the dealer diagnosed that the front axle and the front axle boots needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,950.