Ford has a recall for Explorer backup cameras failing but ours was not built on the correct date so it doesn't fall under the recall. Yet, our 2020 Explorers backup camera shows a blue screen and no video. Took it to the dealership and they said we were 2500 mile out of warranty and we would have to pay. You and Ford knows there is an issue and should have to fix this. it goes beyond the build date listed. This vehicle is full of gremlins and should be heavily watched.
2020 Ford Explorer complaints
Owner reports filed with NHTSA about this vehicle, newest first and reproduced as filed. They are unverified accounts: one proves nothing, and a pattern across many is the thing worth reading. Back to the full 2020 record →
Vehicle started, but then every warning lamp and alert triggered on the dashboard and engine shut off. Would not restart, but would just cycle through error/alert messages. Waited 15 minutes, car started but upon putting it in reverse WITH FOOT ON THE BRAKE the car started to drive backwards. No amount of pressure on the brake pedal stopped the car. Had to depress and repress the pedal to stop the vehicle after shifting into gear. Rear cameras failed to activate as well. Thankfully, no one was behind the vehicle and injured. This is the second time this has happened and the second time I have reported to NHTSA. The Ford dealership is oblivious to the root cause of the issue. Their quick fix is a battery replacement and software reload.
Reverse camera has displayed very dark once. Reverse camera has displayed solid, bright blue multiple times. Gauge cluster displayed warning message that reverse assistance is unavailable.
Every now and then it will shift hard and jerk you in your seat, it will happen at different speeds, reported to ford garage and they said they haven't heard of any problems with it but the guy went on to ask if it happened with selector in sport mode but we usually drive in eco.
FIRENo INJURIES0 DEATHS0 WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH INCREASED RPM. USE OF REVERSE, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND SOUND AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD.. THE ISSUE OCCURS FROM A STATIONARY CONDITION, IN DRIVEWAY OR PUBLIC PARKING AREAS, SO THIS CAUSES CONCERN THAT IT DID RESULT IN A COLLISION WITH ANOTHER VEHICLE. ISSUE CANNOT BE REPEATED ON DEMAND. IT IS ENTIRELY RANDOM AND EVERY DRIVE HAS TO BE APPROACHED WITH THE EXPECTANCY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE WITHOUT NORMAL BRAKES TO STOP. THERE ARE NO ALERTS TO TELL US WHY (OR WHICH SYSTEM) IS THE ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY SINCE LEASING THIS EXPLORER . FORD SERVICE SEEMS SURPRISED AND UNAWARE OF THIS
The vehicle suddenly started having transmission issues at 5,600 miles. Very low mileage and no issues until that point. The vehicle started jerking when up and down shifting, sometimes really lurching the vehicle. Took the vehicle to the Ford dealer ASAP and it was returned to me 4 days later. They said the issue was a valve and replaced it. However, on the drive home from the dealership the problem started again. Unfortunately, by that time the dealer was closed. The next morning there was transmission fluid all over the driveway. The car has now been towed back to the Ford dealership. We have been unable to use our vehicle for about 12 days now and are waiting to hear back from the service department.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while attempting to reverse, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing the plate and gasket assembly to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 10,000.
Transmission started shifting on it’s on. Mostly down shifting. Gas mileage went from 28mpg to around 20 mpg. Dealer had to order parts-not available for 4- 6 weeks. Never know when it will happen. No recall or warning lights Dealer aware of this issue
Rear camera goes blue,
Automatic transmission "jumps" and clunks in and out of gear at speeds between 25-35 mph, causing vehicle to lunge. Also, experienced vehicle sporadically engaging into gear from a stop sign and lunging forward for several seconds, almost causing a car to rear end my vehicle. Problem has been reported to dealer, but dealer will not look at it for more than 2 weeks. No warning lamps or system messages appear on the dash board. This is a major safety problem as it causes the vehicle to lunge and jump randomly while driving or accelerating from a stop.
The backing aid camera turns blue out of nowhere when put in Reverse gear, which causes the parking warning system to fail, the forward collision warning turned on by itself while driving on the freeway, there were absolutely no cars or objects in front at the time, causing the SUV to abruptly come to a complete stop, putting my self and my family at risk of being hit by a vehicle in the back. this is absolutely unacceptable.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked while attempting to upshift. The contact stated there were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the same symptoms. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 4,261.
1. Powertrain/Transmission: The transmission starting slipping and having hard shifts. When I would slow the car to turn or stop, it jerked at 30mph, 20 mph, and again at 15-10mph. Then it started hard shifting when you put it in Drive, and again at each shift. It wouldn't go over 55mph. The Powertrain Failure light(orange wrench) and Fordpass Notice finally came on a week and a half after the issues started. Shortly after the light cam on the car would not go in Reverse. There is a recall on the Powertrain in 2020 Explorers, however my VIN # does not show any recalls. I have an infant that is in the car with me usually. I am afraid for her to travel with me now in this vehicle, even once Ford tries to "fix" the issue because the warning light does not appear until the Powertrain is completely gone. I feel that the sensor should go off when it notices the transmission is having issues. This vehicle is now at a Ford dealership to be repaired. *2. Rear-view back up camera: Camera works 20% of the time. The screen is blue or the image jumps severely. It was taken to a Ford dealership and they said it didn't happen when it was there so they did nothing to fix it. There is a recall on this feature however my VIN # does not apply. *3. A/C: The air-conditioning unit fails to cool the air. The AC unit blows humid air. *4. Screen/display: The screen in the center console will go black and the steering wheel buttons will not work on the radio or bluetooth phone capabilities. The hands
There are times when I start the vehicle, or manually release the parking brake, that it simply does not release. The brake pedal becomes rock hard at these times, without its normal travel. If the vehicle is reversing, like leaving my garage, it stops like it hit a brick wall when the brake pedal is touched. The rear brakes are simply locked. It stops so abruptly that it has aggravated lower back pain from previous injuries. I’m afraid of getting stranded in traffic, unable to move the vehicle. It did this on dirt and it was just dragging the rear tires. The only solution I have found is to turn off the engine, wait a few seconds, restart the vehicle, hope. I got, in rapid succession: 1. ANTILOCK BRAKE FAULT !!! 2. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 3. PRE-COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE 4. HILL START ASSIST WARNING The service at Mesquite (Nevada) Ford was totally insufficient. I expected them to find and fix the problem, which obviously lies in the anti-lock/parking brake. I was eager to get the vehicle back and find out what was wrong as I’ve been afraid to use the manual parking brake for fear it will seize up and not release. When I got the vehicle back (which took a long time and a long story as the mechanic went home sick in the middle of the job with COVID) they said, “Oh, we reset the error message so everything is fine.” Well, it still locks up, sometimes when I have shut the engine off and sometimes when I tried to manually set the parking brake, which I am still avoiding.
Ball joint worked itself loose and the bolt connecting the wheel to the control arm fell out. As a result, the wheel concaved and posed a serious risk of loss of control, crash and injury to vehicle occupants and other drivers.
Driving our 2020 Ford Explorer ST Friday at approx 35-40mph. Vehicle seemed to loose power and almost die when it suddenly surged forward at a high rate of speed. This happened several more times scaring my wife and grandkids. The vehicle only has 3800 miles on it but she is now scared to death to drive it. Had it towed to dealership Friday afternoon and waiting for a tech to take a look. Not good!
THE BACKUP CAMERA INTERMITTENTLY DOES NOT WORK WHEN WE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE. WE ESTIMATE THAT IT FAILS TO WORK 10-15% OF THE TIME. THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE AND WE CANNOT USE THE CAMERA TO SEE WHAT IS BEHIND US. WE RELY ON THE CAMERA BECAUSE THE OVERALL VISIBILITY TO SEE BEHIND THE VEHICLE IS POOR. WE BELIEVE THAT THIS ISSUE IS SIMILAR TO THE PROBLEM THAT LED FORD TO RECALL OTHER VEHICLES. OUR VEHICLE IS NOT INCLUDED IN THOSE RECALLS.
CAR JERKS FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND SOMETIMES 2ND TO 3RD. ALSO, VERY LONG DELAY WHEN PUTTING THE CAR INTO REVERSE. TAKES ANYWHERE FROM 5-10 SECONDS SOMETIMES TO SHIFT INTO REVERSE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED UNDER THE CAR PORT AND TURNED OFF, A FIRE IGNITED CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO BURN AND ALSO CAUSING BURN DAMAGE TO THE HOME. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS CALLED TO THE SCENE AND EXTINGUISHED THE FLAMES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT DETERMINED THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY A FAULTY STARTER INSIDE THE VEHICLE. DURING THE INCIDENT, THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. THE CONTACT INDICATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN STARTED FOR 2 DAYS PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT. THE LOCAL DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT YET CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 6,000.
LEAKED TRANSMISSION OIL.VEHICLE SHIFTS HARD INTO GEAR LIKE IF IT WERE UP HILL AND ITAS ON A FLAT SURFACE. THIS VEHICLE MAKES A LOAD NOISE AND WOULD JERK.
MY 2020 FORD EXPLORER, BOUGHT BRAND NEW. AT 25K MILES, CAR STARTED TO MAKE THIS WEIRD SOUND WHEN THE GEAR SHIFTS 1-2 AND 2-3 WHEN ACCELERATING. NOW EVERY TIME IT SHIFTS VERY NOTICEABLY FROM 1-2 AND 2-3, IT JERKS SO HARD. IT IS SO ANNOYING. SERIOUSLY SO DISAPPOINTED THIS CAR IS MY DREAM CAR. LOVE EVERYTHING ELSE ABOUT IT. IS THIS GOING TO BE AN ONGOING PROBLEM FOREVER? I WOULD LIKE IT TO GET RECALLED BECAUSE I KNOW FOR A FACT THAT I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE EXPERIENCING THIS. TONS OF FORUMS OUT THERE ARE EXPLAINING THE EXACT SAME ISSUE. WHAT A SAME, BECAUSE THIS CAR IS PLEASING TO THE EYE BUT.... I DON'T WANT TO RECOMMEND IT TO SOMEONE BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE.. CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE ABLE TO GET THE CAR IN THE SHOP BECAUSE THE TRANSMISSION DEPARTMENTS ARE BOOKED... MAKES ME WONDER IF THEY ARE ALL 2020 FORD EXPLORERS
UNDER 10K MILES AND VEHICLE HAD STARTED TO JERK/LURCH FORWARD WHEN STOPPED AT TRAFFIC LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS AND IS NOW AN ONGOING PROBLEM. CALLED DEALERSHIP ON 4/16/21 AND THEY CAN'T GET ME IN UNTIL JUNE 1.VEHICLE SEEMS TO NOT WANT TO SWITCH GEARS. ALSO IS MAKING A WEIRD WHINY SOUND WHILE SWITCHING GEAR. NO LONGER COMFORTABLE DRIVING CAR AT THIS POINT.
ON TWO OCCASIONS, INSTEAD OF CHANGING GEAR, THE CAR INCREASED RPMS LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL AND THEN LURCHED BACK INTO GEAR. IN BOTH CASES, I WAS ABLE TO QUICKLY BRAKE, BUT IT WAS A TERRIFYING SITUATION. I WAS IN NORMAL DRIVE MODE, AND BELIEVE THE GEARS WERE SHIFTING FROM FIRST TO SECOND.
THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE TRANSMISSION. VEHICLE WAS STUCK IN FIRST GEAR. TURNED VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON 3 TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. ON ANOTHER ATTEMPT THE VEHICLE SEEMED TO BE STUCK IN THIRD GEAR.
BACKUP CAMERA SHOWS ONLY BLUE. HAPPENS OCCASIONALLY. NOTHING IS ON CAMERA. SOMETIME WILL REMEDY AFTER TURNING VEHICLE OFF AND THEN BACK ON.
WHILE DRIVING AT 70MPH THE TRANSMISSION ABRUPTLY DOWNSHIFTED ABOUT THREW US INTO THE DASH. PULLED OVER AND SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED. AT NO TIME DID ANY WARNING LAMP COME ON. AFTER RESTARTING TRANSMISSION SHIFTED NORMAL , THEN THE SHIFT TO PARK MESSAGE CAME ON AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS. THEN IT WENT OFF, THEN THE TRANSMISSION BEGAN LURCHING THEN IT WAS OK. STILL NO WARNING LIGHTS. PARKED CAR IN DRIVEWAY AND TURNED IT OFF. MESSAGE ON DASH SAID SHIFT TO PARK BUT IT WAS IN PARK. I GOT OUT AND CAR ROLLED ABOUT 10 FEET AND STOPPED ON IT'S OWN. NEXT DAY IT DROVE FINE FOR AWHILE AND NO WARNING LIGHTS THEN BEGAN TO GET MESSAGE SHIFT TO PARK. TRANSMISSION THEN SEEMED TO SKIP GEARS THEN BEGAN TO NOT SHIFT UNTIL RPMS WERE VERY HIGH. PARKED CAR AND WITH ENGINE OFF MESSAGE SAID SHIFT TO PARK EVEN THOUGH IT WAS IN PARK. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD DEALER. THEY SAID IT WAS STUCK IN PARK. THEN CALLED TO SAY IT HAD METAL IN IT AND IT NEEDS A WHOLE NEW TRANSMISSION. THIS IS UNSAFE THAT A CAR CAN ROLL BY ITSELF WHEN IN PARK. UNACCEPTABLE THAT IT FAILED WITH NO WARNING LIGHTS OR MESSAGES AT 19,000 MILES.
VEHICLE WAS SITTING IN DRIVEWAY OVERNIGHT WITH NO ISSUES AND WHEN WENT TO DRIVE THE NEXT MORNING TO TAKE KIDS TO SCHOOL VEHICLE WOULD NOT GO ABOVE 10 MPH. IT GAVE THE WARNING THERE WAS A POWERTRAIN MALFUNCTION, ENGINE COOLANT OVER TEMPERATURE (WHICH WE JUST HAD THE RECALL DONE A WEEK AGO), AND A REGULATORY MALFUNCTION INDICATOR. WE WERE NOT FAR FROM HOME, SO RETURNED BACK.
THE VEHICLE HAS STARTED ITSELF 4 TIMES IN THE LAST 24 HOURS. IT DOES NOT AUTOMATICALLY SHUT OFF AND THE KEYS ARE NOT IN THE VEHICLE. IT LOCKS AND STARTS AS IF IT WAS AUTO STARTED BUT DOES NOT SHUT OFF AND NO ONE HAS STARTED THE VEHICLE. IT HAS BEEN STATIONARY AND PARKED WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THIS IS NOT THE ONLY ISSUE I AM EXPERIENCING. IT HAS ALSO HAD TRANSMISSION SHIFTING ISSUES AS WELL AS HILL START ASSIST ISSUES.
TRANSMISSION WAS GRINDING AND STOPPED PULLING AT APPROXIMATELY 17,000 MILES. HAD CAR TOWED TO DEALER. THERE WAS A TRANSMISSION LEAK. IT WAS REPAIRED AND 6 QUARTS OF FLUID ADDED. SINCE THE REPAIRS, TRANSMISSION IS HARD SHIFTING AND JERKING. I'VE HAD THE CAR BACK AT THE DEALER FOR STEERING ISSUES 3 TIMES. AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS (65MPH AND ABOVE) THE CAR WANDERS ALL OVER THE ROAD, LIKE THERE'S SLACK IN THE RACK AND PINION. THE DEALER SAYS THE ALIGNMENT IS OKAY AND REFUSES TO LISTEN TO MY COMPLAINTS. HAVE ISSUES WITH THE SYNC. THE RADIO WILL RANDOMLY NOT LET YOU ADJUST THE VOLUME AND HAVE HAD THE BACK-UP CAMERA REPLACED. ALSO, RANDOMLY WILL NOT SYNC-UP WITH IPHONE.
WHEN STOPPING, MOVING SLOW OR PULLING INTO A PARKING SPOT OR GARAGE YOU CAN HEAR AND FEEL THE FUEL IN THE TANK SLOSHING BACK AND FORTH. THIS HAPPENS WHEN THE FUEL TANK IS AT LEAST 1/2 FULL AND IS VERY NOTICEABLE BUT SEEMS TO GO AWAY WHEN FUEL IS UNDER 1/2 TANK.
I BOUGHT A 2020 FORD EXPLORER LAST MAY. THE VEHICLE HAS LESS THAN 7500 MILES. MONDAY 3/15/21 I NOTICED A WHINING NOISE WHEN THE CAR WAS SHIFTING INTO GEARS. IT CONTINUED TO HAPPEN AS THE WEEK PROGRESS. IT GOT WORSE BY MID-WEEK. THURSDAY 3/19/21 I CALLED MY LOCAL FORD DEARLERSHIP AND WAS TOLD I COULD DROP IT OFF FOR SEVERAL DAYS OR THE NEXT AVAILABLE DATE WAS THE 2ND WEEKEND IN APRIL. I INFORMED MY HUSBAND WHO STATED THAT THERE WAS A PUDDLE OF FLUID UNDER MY CAR THIS MORNING. HE CALL ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE TO COME GET MY CAR. WE HAD TO MOVE IT FROM THE PARKING GARAGE I PARK IN TO THE STREET AND THERE WAS ALSO A BIG PUDDLE OF FLUID. HE CHECKED THE OIL AND THERE WAS PLENTY OF IT IN THE CAR. BY THE TIME THE TOW TRUCK ARRIVE THERE WAS JUST A SMALL PUDDLE UNDER THE CAR. NO WARNING LIGHTS ON CAR CAME ON TO INDICATE AN ISSUE.
MY 20 FORD EXPLORER HAS EXPERIENCED TWICE WHERE THE SPEED LIMITER (ACC ADAPTED CRUISE CONTROL)-(SSR SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) READS THE SPEED LIMIT SIGNS INCORRECTLY. POSTED SPEED WAS 65 MPH AND IT INCREASE SPEED TO 85 MPH. I WAS DRIVING THRU COLUMBUS OHIO, ON I670 GOING NE, STARTING AT THE LEONARD AVE EXIT TO I270 (TO EXIT 10B SR161). I DON'T DRIVE HERE OFTEN; THE FIRST TIME WAS FEB 23 & THEN MARCH 16 (PHOTOS ATTACHED) IN THE SAME EXACT LOCATION. ON BOTH OCCASIONS, THE SPEED SIGN (SPEED SIGN RECOGNITION) ON THE DASH READ 85 MPH FOR AT LEAST 3 MILES BEFORE CORRECTING ITSELF TO THE POSTED 65 MPH SPEED LIMIT. ON FEB. 23RD, I WAS DRIVING APPROX. 65MPH WITH THE ACC SET. THE CAR ACCELERATED QUICKLY AND NOT REALIZING AT FIRST WHAT WAS HAPPENING, I PRESSED THE BRAKE TO SLOW DOWN (I WAS GOING OVER 75MPH). THE ICON ON THE DASH (SSR) READ 85 MPH WHICH IS 20 MPH OVER THE POSTED SPEED LIMIT. THE SECOND TIME WHEN THE CAR SPED UP, IT SLOWED ABRUPTLY DUE TO A CAR CROSSING IN FRONT OF ME (WITHIN THE 4 CAR FOLLOWING GAP SETTING). BOTH TIMES I HAD THE CRUISE SET (ACC) AROUND 69 MPH AND THE CAR SPEED INCREASED OR TRIED TO, TO 85 MPH BEFORE REALIZED WHAT IT WAS DOING. EITHER TIME I COULD HAVE CAUSED AN ACCIDENT OR BEEN CITED FOR SPEEDING. I HAVE VIDEO OF THE INCIDENT IF NEEDED. WHY I'M SUBMITTING THIS TO YOU...I CALLED MY SERVICE DEPARTMENT AND IT WAS SUGGESTED BY THEM TO CHECK MY EXTERIOR SENSORS AND CLEAN THEM (WASH MY CAR) AND CONTACT FORD CORPORATE. I CONTACTED FORD CORP. VIA THE 800#, I WAS I
PREVIOUS COMPLAINT OF 11394378, THEY TRIED TO FIX IT BY CHANGING VALVE BODY FOR TRANSMISSION. THAT DIDN'T WORK SO NOW I'M NEEDING A NEW TRANSMISSION. BEEN WITH THEM FOR OVER A MONTH. THEY ARE WORKING ON IT, BUT STILL AN ISSUE AT THIS TIME.
THIS IS A POLICE CRUISER. 3,510 MILES. THE AIR CONDITIONING ONLY SEEMS TO COME ON WHEN THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 50 DEGREES. BELOW THAT WITH THE AIR CONDITIONING ACTIVATED AND ON LOW THE VENTS BLOW WARM AIR MAKING IT VERY HOT INSIDE THE PASSENGERS COMPARTMENT.
IN NOVEMBER 2020 WE TOOK OUR BRAND NEW 2020 EXPLORER TO THE DEALER WE PURCHASED IT FROM FOR A LEAKING OIL AND TRANSMISSION ISSUE AS WELL AS THE TRANSMISSION HAVING TROUBLE SHIFTING, LURCHING, AND GETTING STUCK IN GEAR. THEY ADVISED THAT THE OIL DRAIN WAS NOT TIGHT ENOUGH BUT THE TRANSMISSION NEEDED PARTS. WE TOOK IT BACK IN DEC AND THEY PUT A SHIFT KIT IN. THIS DID NOT FIX THE PROBLEM AND THEY SAID THEY NEEDED TO ORDER OTHER PARTS BUT THEY WERE BACK ORDERED AND WOULD BE IN AROUND JAN 2021. JANUARY CAME AND WENT AND NO CONTACT. I CONTACTED THE DEALER IN FEBRUARY AND THEY SAID THEY HAD NOT RECEIVED THE PARTS. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN END OF FEBRUARY AND THEY HAD THE PARTS BUT NO TRANSMISSION PERSON. I CONTACTED THEM AGAIN BEGINNING OF MARCH AND WAS TOLD THEY STILL HAD NO TRANSMISSION PERSON AND WOULD CALL US WITHIN A WEEK TO GET IT FIGURED OUT. STILL NO ONE CALLED AND ON MARCH 16 I CALLED THE DEALER AGAIN. THEY ONCE AGAIN SAID THEY HAD NO TRANSMISSION PERSON BUT WOULD BRING THE CAR IN ON THE 30TH TO PUT IN A NEW VALVE BODY AND ATTEMPT ANY OTHER REPAIRS THEY FIND. IN THE MEAN TIME WE ARE DRIVING AROUND IN A CAR THAT WE DO NOT BELIEVE IS SAFE DUE TO THE TRANSMISSION ISSUES AND THE DEALER DOES NOT SEEM TO CARE.
VEHICLE IS NOW HAVING HARD SHIFTS WHEN IN LOWER GEARS, IT HAS A HARD TIME GOING FROM DRIVE TO REVERSE. ENGINE MAKES A HUMMING OR LOW GROWLING NOISE, LIKE IT DID BEFORE THE TRANSMISSION COOLER BUSTED IN DECEMBER 2020. THIS ALL HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING THE VEHICLE IT DOESN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE PROPERLY ANYMORE IT LAGS. SEVERAL TIMES I'VE GONE TO REVERSE INTO MY DRIVE WAY ABS IT DOESN'T SHIFT AT FIRST IT TAKES A COUPLE OF PUSHES ON THE ACCELERATE FOR IT TO CATCH.
WHILE MAKING A TURN AROUND UNDER THE FREEWAY, I SAW AN UPCOMING SUV STOPPED FOR CROSS TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I WAS WHERE THE SUV WAS I SAW THE SUV ACCELERATE TO MERGE. I CHECKED OVER MY SHOULDER FOR THE CROSS TRAFFIC UNAWARE THE SUV HAD STOPPED AGAIN IN FRONT OF ME. MY SUV'S COLLISION WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM NEVER ENGAGED OR ALERTED ME. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING A FENDED BENDER.
SAME FAILURE AS OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED. VERY OCCASIONALLY, IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGAGING DRIVE/REVERSE FROM A FRESH START, PARKED POSITION, BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. VERY HARD WALL ON BREAK PRESS WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO BREAKING AS A RESULT. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOWLY ROLL IN SELECTED DIRECTION REGARDLESS OF BREAK PEDAL PRESSURE UNTIL HOLDING THE BREAK AND TRANSFERRING BACK INTO PARK. NO ERROR IS DISPLAYED DURING THIS EVENT. SO FAR, 100% OF THE TIME, TRANSFERRING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE/REVERSE AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE, IT DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY REPRODUCE. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 17,000 MILES.
INTERIOR FLOODING, IN SPARE TIRE WELL AND ALL FLOORING AREAS. SIX GALLONS OF WATER REMOVED. WAITING FOR FORD DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT. THEY BELIEVE A WELD HAS GONE BAD.
WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH INCREASED RPM. USE OF E-BRAKE OR PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN PARK REQUIRED TO STOP MOVEMENT. PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART OF ENGINE AND PROBLEM GONE UNTIL NEXT TIME. USE OF REVERSE, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND SOUND AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD. HAVE TO PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART ENGINE. THE ISSUE OCCURS FROM A STATIONARY CONDITION, IN DRIVEWAY OR PUBLIC PARKING AREAS, SO THIS CAUSES CONCERN THAT THIS MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ACCIDENT OR COLLISION WITH A STRUCTURE, ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR A PEDESTRIAN! ISSUE CANNOT BE REPEATED ON DEMAND. IT IS ENTIRELY RANDOM AND EVERY DRIVE HAS TO BE APPROACHED WITH THE EXPECTANCY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE WITHOUT NORMAL BRAKES TO STOP. THERE ARE NO ALERTS TO TELL US WHY (OR WHICH SYSTEM) IS THE ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY SINCE BUYING THIS EXPLORER ST. FORD SERVICE SEEMS SURPRISED AND UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE (AND MORE).
TRANSMISSION IS CATCHING WHICH SWITCHING GEARS. CAR HAS UNDER 6,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS AND CATCH. CAR WILL JOLT FORWARD AND IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING REAR ENDED
I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND I TAPPED THE BRAKE. THE CAR KEPT GOING BACKWARDS SO I PRESSED IT HARDER. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE BECAME CONCRETE AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN ANY FURTHER. I PRESSED HARDER AND IT FINALLY WENT DOWN. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ERROR MESSAGES.
VEHICLE STICKS, JERKS OR LUNGES WHILE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS
STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND ENGINE SOUNDS AS IT IS GOING TO STALL AT SPEEDS BETWEEN, 35 AND 45 MPH. FORD HAD VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS TOTAL AND CONFIRMED ISSUES. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TP FIX. THEY SAID VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS'
THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, GAS LOCKED, ALL SENSORS WENT HAYWIRE AND I SLID OFF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE WOODS THANKFULLY AVOIDING COLLISION ON MY PROPERTY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE ON MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED.*DT*JB
THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE INCIDENT OCCURRED FEBRUARY 27 2021. I'VE STARTED MY 2020 FORD EXPLORER ST VIA REMOTE AND ENTERED IT TO MOVE IT IN ORDER TO LOAD THE VEHICLE. THE LOADING THE VEHICLE ALL IN ALL TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE WHOLE TIME, IT WAS IDLING. I'VE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BACKED OUT OF A SPOT AND STARTED DRIVING FORWARD IN THE LOT I WAS IN AT ABOUT 10MPH. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN IT WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN PROPERLY. I HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE BUTTON TO STOP IT. IT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE DASH WAS CYCLING THROUGH NUMEROUS WARNINGS; 1. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 2. ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAULT 3. PRE COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE 4. HILL START ASSIST WARNING 5. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 6. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK SYSTEM 7. CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM 8. PARK BRAKE FAULT SERVICE NOW I TRIED TESTING THE BRAKES, WHILE GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, THE WERE WEAK AND INCONSISTENT. LIKE THEY WERE PULSING WITH FULL POWER AND THEN NOTHING. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE MADE ALL THOSE WARNINGS DISAPPEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS THE 2ND TIME THAT IS IT GOING IN FOR BRAKE AND POWER TRAIN RELATED ISSUES. FEW TIMES A MONTHS SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT, THE ONLY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE, IS ON STARTUP AND IMMEDIATE MOVEMENT, THE BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES BOTTOM OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IN GEAR UNLESS I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PUMP THE BRAKES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY CODES, AND MIGHT BE JUST A WEIRD TIMING WITH MY START UPS. THE MOST RECENT EVENT ON THE 2
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA WOULD LOSE STREAM UPON USE AS THE REVERSE BRAKE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE; SEE MANUAL WARNING MESSAGE WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOMBALL FORD (22702 TX-249, TOMBALL, TX 77375) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE REARVIEW CAMERA HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V575000 (VISIBILITY) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO REPAIR THE PART FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.
VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTING. WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD. HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. HAPPENING FOR MONTHS
CAR WAS THUMPING AT LEFT REAR AFTER RECALL (FOR TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER) WAS JUST COMPLETED. I HADN'T LEFT THE PARKING LOT. FORD MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE SHOCK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT BACK AFTER 3 DAYS. I'M HAVING MY DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER IT'S SAFE OR NOT. THEY SAID THEY'D CHANGE ONLY THAT ABSORBER. IF ONE IS BAD AFTER 3 MONTHS, WHY WOULDN'T THE OTHERS? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 2020.
WHEN PARKING VEHICLE OR BACKING OUT OF GARAGE SLOWLY, YOU HEAR FUEL SLOSHING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS LIKE THERE IS NO BAFFLE IN THE TANK. VERY VERY NOTICEABLE AND ALSO MENTIONED ON THIS SITE FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS. A TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED BY FORD IMMEDIATELY AS THEY DID FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH TSB 18-2378. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION AND IT'S A COP OUT FOR FORD NOT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN OTHER FORD PRODUCTS AND THIS ONE NOW AS WELL!!
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NHTSA publishes every complaint as the owner wrote it and investigates only a fraction. Spelling, capitalisation and judgement are the filer’s own. What carries weight is repetition: the same component failing the same way across many filings, and whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Full record for the 2020 Ford Explorer → · Every Explorer year → · How the figures are calculated →