2020 Ford Explorer Reliability & Recall Report
Based on 33 NHTSA recalls and 1,234 owner complaints. All data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — free, no signup required.
F
10/100
Very High Reported Activity — 2020 Ford Explorer
The 2020 Ford Explorer shows very high recall and complaint activity in NHTSA data. Counts are raw and are higher for popular models, so see how we score this below. Review the issues and recalls carefully, and have the vehicle inspected before buying.
Own or buying a 2020 Ford Explorer?
Check your specific VIN free for recalls and specs. Full vehicle history report: one-time $4.99, no subscription, no auto-renewal.
33
NHTSA Recalls
33 recalls on record
1,234
Owner Complaints
Filed with NHTSA
37
Crash Reports
10 fire reports
⚠️
NHTSA Recalls — 2020 Ford Explorer (33)
All recalls listed below must be repaired by an authorized Ford dealer at no charge to the owner.
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings
A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective sleeve on the liquid fuel line, as necessary, free of charge. Ford issued owners and interim notification on January…
🔧 Engine
With a loose motor mount, motor vibration may cause the axle to disconnect from the engine and could result in loss of power, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove and replace the right hand motor mount fasteners, free of charge. The recall began February 3, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer…
🔧 Suspension: Rear
Broken RLCA bolts can cause a loss of steering control, and increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace both RLCA bolts, free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Software
A rearview camera that does not display an image reduces the driver's rear view, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module (IPMB) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 16, 2021. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number…
🔧 Seat Belts: Rear/Other: Buckle Assembly
Vehicles with seat belt buckles that are not properly secured may fail to restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the second row center seat assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at…
🔧 Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft
Defective drive shafts may fail and cause a loss of connection between the transfer case and rear axle, possibly resulting in a vehicle rollaway when in Park or a loss of drive. Either condition can increase the risk of a…
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shaft label inspected and replace it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began December 11, 2020. Owners may contact…
🔧 Back Over Prevention: Sensing System: Camera
Reduced rearward visibility can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rearview camera, free of charge. The recall began November 17, 2020. Remedy became available on February 1, 2021. Owner notification letters…
🔧 Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage
An incomplete weld securing the inlet check valve to the fuel tank shell could result in a substantial fuel leak during a crash, increasing the risk of fire.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will replace the fuel tank shell, free of charge. The recall began December 8, 2020. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's…
🔧 Air Bags: Critical Fasteners
If the side air bag or seat back fasteners were not properly tightened, the side air bag deployment could be affected, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will remove front seat back panels from one or both front seats (VIN-specific) and verify that the fasteners have been properly tightened, free of…
🔧 Seats: Front Assembly: Recliner
A seat back with an improperly assembled recliner mechanism may have reduced strength and may not adequately restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and Ford and Lincoln dealers will inspect the seat structure and replace them, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 21, 2019. Owners may…
Showing 10 of 33 recalls. View all on NHTSA.gov →
💬
Most Common Problems — 2020 Ford Explorer
Based on 1,234 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. Bars show relative complaint frequency.
📊
Ford Explorer — Complaints by Year
A spike means more owner complaints were filed for that model year. The 2020 model year is highlighted.
→ Recently checked Ford Explorer VINs — free recall, safety and specs report for any VIN.
→ Decode a Ford VIN — free Ford VIN decoder guide: where to find the VIN and what each part means.
⚠ Higher-complaint years: 2015, 2016 — These model years have more owner complaints in NHTSA data than the other years compared.
✅ Best model years: 2019, 2021, 2022 — Lowest complaint rates for this model.
❓
Frequently Asked Questions — 2020 Ford Explorer
Is the 2020 Ford Explorer reliable?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2020 Ford Explorer has 33 recall campaigns and 1,234 owner complaints. This model year shows elevated recall or complaint activity — review the details and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
The 2020 Ford Explorer has 33 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 33 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 with higher complaint counts: 2015, 2016.
How we score this: The score starts at 100 and subtracts points for the number of NHTSA recall campaigns and owner complaints filed for this model year, and for complaints that report crashes or fires. Newer model years get a small bonus because they have had less time to collect reports. These are raw counts and are not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, so popular models tend to have more recalls and complaints. Complaints are unverified owner reports. This grade is not a prediction about any individual vehicle and is not an inspection: check a specific car’s VIN for open recalls and get an independent pre-purchase inspection.
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.