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2020 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report

Based on 31 NHTSA recalls and 1,136 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.

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10/100

Avoid This Year — 2020 Ford Explorer

The 2020 Ford Explorer is among the worst-performing model years for this vehicle. NHTSA data shows high complaint and recall activity. Strongly consider a different model year.

31
NHTSA Recalls
31 recalls on record
1,136
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
33
Crashes + Injuries
10 fire reports

Own or buying a 2020 Ford Explorer?

Check your specific VIN for open recalls, market value, full specs, and a free AI buyer summary.

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NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Ford Explorer (31)

All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.

🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V859000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V788000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V154000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #21V735000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V549000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V693000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V575000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V730000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #20V497000
🔧 Unknown Component
NHTSA #19V633000

Showing 10 of 31 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →

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Most Common Problems — 2020 Ford Explorer

Based on 1,136 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.

Power Train
421
Unknown Or Other
148
Electrical System
132
Back Over Prevention
61
Engine
47
Exterior Lighting
41
Service Brakes
40
Visibility/wiper
33
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Ford Explorer — Complaints by Year

Spike in a year = known problem year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.

2014 1,665 complaints 2015 1,728 complaints 2016 2,409 complaints 2017 1,646 complaints 2018 696 complaints 2019 280 complaints 2020 1,136 complaints 2021 383 complaints 2022 233 complaints 2023 94 complaints 2024 16 complaints

⚠ Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 — These model years show significantly elevated complaint activity.

✅ Best model years: 2019, 2021, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.

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Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Ford Explorer

Is the 2020 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Ford Explorer has 31 recalls and 1,136 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated issues — consider alternatives or a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
The 2020 Ford Explorer has 31 NHTSA recalls. Affected systems include: see recall details above. All recalls are repaired free at authorized dealers.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Ford Explorer?
The most commonly reported problems for the 2020 Ford Explorer are: Power Train, Unknown Or Other, Electrical System, Back Over Prevention. See the complaint breakdown above for full details.
Is the 2020 Ford Explorer safe to buy?
The 2020 Ford Explorer has some safety and reliability items to review before buying. Ensure all 31 recalls are completed at a dealer. A pre-purchase inspection by an independent mechanic is strongly recommended.
What year Ford Explorer should I buy?
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the best years for the Ford Explorer are: 2019, 2021, 2022. These show the lowest complaint rates. Years to avoid: 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017.
Data source: All recall and complaint data is sourced directly from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) public API. Data is cached and refreshed every 7 days. Recall and complaint counts reflect data available at the time of last cache update. For the most current recall status on a specific vehicle, enter the VIN above or visit NHTSA.gov/recalls.