2020 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

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.

Ford Explorer has a panoramic roof cover that has a small plastic part that breaks and and creates a fold in the material - the window retracts but the material doesn't and fold down. This is a safety risk, because with the shade sagging down it blocks your view of the rear. According to others posting on online forums, a small plastic trim piece that is breaking and the cost to repair is around $1800. Repair shops has to pull the headliner and replace the fabric and new plastic bit. Apparently there is no way to make this repair without removing the entire sunroof window. What a design flaw!

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact had received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V675000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall was repair was performed; however, several months later while driving 50 MPH, the rear axle bolt split in half. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear axle bolt was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.

Recently, my 2020 Ford Explorer showed a front passenger TSMP failure followed by the rear driver TSMP failure light about 3 weeks later. Within a day or two of the second TSMP light displaying, I had multiple codes lighting up my dash: 4WD fault, hill-start assist unavailable, service advance track, pre-collision assist unavailable, check manual, etc. I found my car was not accelerating every time I pressed the acceleration pedal, and it would stop maintaining my speed and appear to drift like power was lost for a couple to few seconds before resuming power. This caused me to move into a turn lane or make an unexpected turn off the road as I could not maintain speed in the midst of traffic. It was terrifying and dangerous to myself, my children and the vehicles moving around me. One reputable repair shop replaced the TSMP sensors; however, the codes for the other warning lights showed a communication error that only Ford could diagnose. Ford stated the AWD module failed, which meant the different systems were not in communication when I was driving which led to the loss of power that I experienced multiple times while driving to repair shops. Ford stated the AWD module needed to be replaced. It is unbelievable that I would have 2 TSMP sensors and an AWD module fail in less than 5 years of the vehicle being manufactured when I have never replaced any of those items in 7-8 years of owning other vehicles with similar components. I believe Ford has used inferior parts that they know will fail to drive their repair revenue, which is unethical and unsafe to consumers.

Front axle boot defective and leaks grease causing steering instability and possible powertrain failure. Dealer charged $475 to fix/replace the part. Upon further research on-line, it is apparent that thousands of 2020 Ford Explorers exhibit the same problem and the manufacturer should be fixing this problem free of charge.

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.

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.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that the vehicle was recently repaired under NHTSA Campaign Number: 25V159000 (Back Over Prevention); however, the vehicle experienced a failure with the back over prevention system. The contact stated that the image on the screen was occasionally blue, or the image was frozen. The contact had taken the vehicle back to the same dealer and was informed there would be a charge for a diagnostic test and the repair. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 65,000.

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.