2020 FORD EXPLORER Complaints

My 2020 Ford Explorer XLT sustained a major transmission failure at 94,574 miles without any warning lights. On a 200 mile trip home from Long Island NY to New Jersey the car began to jerk when changing from highway speed to a complete stop due to traffic. As we slowed down the jerking was more pronounce. When reaccelerating the car again jerked forward and at sporadic times did not respond. This was very scary and stressful for my family with the fear of being hit from behind! We made it through the mile long midtown tunnel and to [XXX] were a red light turned green and as i stepped on the gas the engine reved up and the car just rolled into the intersection as i stepped on the gas a second time again the car just jerked and rolled luckily i rolled through the cross walk into a empty spot due to a fire hydrant. Backed up traffic was able to pass and my car was done. I needed to put my family in a Uber for the last 60 miles home at 250.00 dollars on a Saturday night. while i waited for a tow truck back to the Ford dealership. Thankyou AAA! After a diagnostic inspection i needed a new transmission. It took the dealer one month to repair and the cost was 8,500.00 dollars. This issue is consistent with this Ford transmission system. There is a severe safety risk with sudden loss of acceleration and erratic shifting and jerking when braking and no warning lights. This is a clear safety risk that could lead to a crash. There is enough complaints on this site to warrant am investigation for a potential recall due to safety !! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

While the vehicle was under warranty, I reported a transmission problem to an authorized Ford dealership involving sudden slipping out of gear into neutral at highway speeds, resulting in momentary loss of power and acceleration. The dealership performed diagnostic testing but stated they could not identify a problem and advised that the vehicle was safe to continue driving. The condition persisted intermittently. After the warranty period expired, the vehicle experienced a catastrophic transmission failure while on a heavily traveled highway. The vehicle suddenly lost power and the rear wheels locked, creating a dangerous traffic situation requiring assistance from two state police vehicles until the vehicle could be towed. The vehicle was taken to the same Ford dealership that previously evaluated the transmission concern. The dealership then diagnosed a complete transmission failure requiring replacement at a cost of approximately $9,000. I contacted Ford Headquarters regarding this issue and the prior warranty period complaint, but Ford has not responded to the matter in any way. I believe the transmission failure is a continuation of the original transmission defect that was reported during the warranty period but not repaired. I am submitting this complaint because of the significant safety risk created by sudden loss of power and rear wheel lockup while driving at highway speeds. All documentation of original issue and current repair is at the Ford Dealership.

I was driving on the highway and I got an error of Powertrain Failure , Pre Collision assist, service advance track and hill assist unavailable. I was in the last travel lane and it dropped me down to 25mph making an extremely dangerous situation!! I took the truck to the dealer and they stated they did a software update and it fixed it. About 6 months later the same thing happened. I took it back to the dealer and they replaced the AWD module and charged me $850 I was still under the 60,000 warranty but they said it was electrical part and it wasent under warranty.

Both my passenger and driver headlights have failed. I have paid to have them replaced. The drivers side has failed twice. The passenger side has failed 3 times. I have taken it to the dealership and they “fixed” the issue but it keeps coming back months or weeks later. The low beams are what is failing. The message on the dash says “check headlight assembly see manual” This is a safety risk to me and other people on the road. They have failed while driving. If I am driving early in the morning or late at night I can not see if there are no street lights. People also can’t see me coming. This is a major safety risk. I bought the car in August 2024. Headlights have failed 5 times since then. The dealership helped me with my first four failures. On this last failure, they said it is not covered under warranty and that I need to pay $3000 for the headlight. Five failures of headlights seems like a manufacturer issue and not something. I am doing on my end.

I noticed fluid on the driveway. I scheduled a diagnostic about a week later began hearing a grinding noise. Took it in for repairs and was told the transmission cooler failed which led to fluid leaks from the inlet and outlet tubes where they connect to the unit. The leak caused the transmission to run dry and result in complete failure. There have been recalls specifically targeting transmission fluid leaks in certain 2020 Ford Explorers. The recall should be expanded to include this model as well.

When trying to accelerate on interstate drive train light and I have to pull over turn off car on interstate then start again to keep out of limping mode also when backing up car stalls jumps and makes a grinding noise need a remedy

Service advance track 4 weel drive doesn’t work and I don’t have control on the weels

Rear bolt recall. The small leak due to technician replacing bolt caused the rear end to eventually lose all fluid.

When putting the car in reverse and moving backwards start to feel the vehicle look drive power and knock sounds. Sounds likes and feels like gear teeth or not aligned. When putting the car into drive the vehicle jumps a little and you hear a lout pop noise.

Was driving on highway with 55 mph speed limit. Car in front slowed to turn right so i slowed briefly and then was accelerating back to speed limit and heard a loud bang and severe grinding noise after. Stopped at next safe area to inspect. Found that both cv axle boots were damaged. Was only a couple miles from home so placed hazard lights on and slowly crept the car to house for further inspection. Upon closer inspection found that when car was placed into forward gear the whole rear end would drop onto the exhaust and was causing CV axles to rub on exhaust.