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Reliability report · 2020 Ford Explorer · Updated July 2026 · ~$2,600/yr fuel · what it costs to keep →

The rear-drive redesign year that launched with 31 recalls — only buy one with the driveline and park-safety recalls documented.

2020 is a ground-up redesign — a new rear-wheel-drive platform and a new ten-speed automatic — and first-year problems followed. It is the most-recalled year in our Explorer data (31 campaigns) and the complaint file is overwhelmingly powertrain: the ten-speed automatic hesitating, jerking on downshifts, and failing at 70,000-80,000 miles, plus a cluster of driveline defects — a driveshaft that can fracture at a weld, a rear-axle bolt that can break, and a control-module reset that can damage the park system — any of which can end in a rollaway.

The redeeming feature is that these are recalls, not out-of-pocket surprises: 20V-693 (driveshaft), 23V-069 and 23V-199 and 23V-675 (park system and rear-axle bolt), plus a long chain of rearview-camera fixes. Every one is free and does not expire. The 2020 to walk away from is the one where none of it was done — verify the full recall history by VIN, and get a transmission diagnostic scan, before you buy.

Evidence: 1,155 NHTSA complaints · 32 recall campaigns · 6 mechanic & forum sources

Canary status

Squawking

What that means: 1,155 federal complaints and 31 recalls — the sixth-generation Explorer's launch year, and it shows. The complaint file is dominated by the powertrain: a ten-speed automatic that jerks and fails, and a driveline-and-park-brake defect that can let the truck roll away. Almost every safety item has a free fix, but this is a redesign year, so the recall paperwork is the whole ballgame.

CalmChirpingSquawkingFainted

1,155

Federal complaints

32

Recalls

Federal crash tests

5-star scale
Overall
Frontal crash
Side crash
Rollover

Tested variant: 2020 Ford Explorer SUV RWD (NHTSA VehicleId 14894)

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (NCAP) →

Known issues

Ranked by the cost of ignoring them. Every claim carries its source.

Driveline and park-system rollaway — the recall cluster to verify

major

The 2020's most serious pattern is a set of driveline defects that can let the truck move when it shouldn't. A driveshaft can fracture along its weld seam on AWD ten-speed cars (recall 20V-693); a rear-axle horizontal mounting bolt can break and disconnect the driveshaft (23V-675, with software fixes 23V-069 and 23V-199); and an unintended powertrain-control-module reset can damage the park system so the truck won't actually hold 'Park.' Owners describe exactly that: 'the transmission shifts into park while driving,' and a 'loud dragging sound underneath' followed by loss of drive. Ford's bulletins (11009831/11006038) document the rear-axle-bolt fracture directly. All are free recall repairs — but on a used car they are only worth anything if they were done. Verify every one of these by VIN.

Recall repairs (20V-693, 23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675)

$0

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2020 Ford Explorer

Ten-speed automatic — jerking, hesitation, and out-of-warranty failuresmajor

  • 10-speed automatic (10R60)

The new ten-speed automatic is the gen-6 Explorer's frequent pain point. An independent mechanic describes valve-body and torque-converter glitches roughly between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, addressed by Ford software updates and recalls. The federal file backs it up: hard 7-to-6 downshift jerks, hesitation, and outright failures — one owner's transmission 'failed at 72,000 miles under normal driving,' another at 83,000 — past the powertrain warranty and on the owner's dime. On a test drive, feel for a jerk on deceleration or a shudder; get a diagnostic scan before buying, and price transmission risk into a high-mileage example.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Ford Explorer · Independent gen-6 Explorer mechanic transcript (ten-speed, 2.3L turbo/coolant costs) + NHTSA manufacturer communications (CSP 19B24; rear-axle-bolt TSBs)

under $200

Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)

several thousand, directional

Out-of-warranty transmission repair

2.3L EcoBoost — turbo and coolant, plus a launch-year inspection programmoderate

  • 2.3L EcoBoost I4

On the base 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, an independent mechanic reports turbocharger failures or coolant leaks on higher-mileage examples 'often costing $1,500 to $3,000 to repair.' Ford also ran a launch-year delivery-hold Customer Support Program (19B24) inspecting the 2.3L balance-shaft and oil-pump assembly on 2020 cars. And recall 19V-687 covers a wiring harness that can rub the A/C pulley and short against battery power — a fire risk on 2.3L/3.3L cars. Watch for coolant loss and confirm 19V-687 was completed.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Ford Explorer · Independent gen-6 Explorer mechanic transcript (ten-speed, 2.3L turbo/coolant costs) + NHTSA manufacturer communications (CSP 19B24; rear-axle-bolt TSBs)

$1,500–$3,000, mechanic-quoted

Turbo/coolant repair (higher mileage)

$0

CSP 19B24 / recall 19V-687

Fuel-system fire recalls — 19V-859 and 20V-730moderate

The launch year drew two fuel-system fire recalls: a protective sleeve that can chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line (19V-859, on Explorer and Aviator), and — on 2.3L cars with the 19-gallon tank — a fuel-tank inlet check valve that may not be fully welded, which could leak fuel in a crash (20V-730). Both are free repairs. Verify both by VIN; they are the kind of thing a used-car listing never mentions.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2020 Ford Explorer

$0

Recall repairs (19V-859, 20V-730)

The rearview-camera recall chain, and motor-mount fastenersminor

The 2020 sits under a long, repeatedly re-issued rearview-camera recall (20V-575, 21V-735, 23V-022, 23V-342, and later re-remedies) for cameras that display a blank or distorted image — several of which superseded each other, so a car 'fixed' once may need the newer remedy. There is also a motor-mount fastener recall (20V-788) where loose fasteners could let the axle disconnect from the engine. All free. Confirm the latest camera remedy and the motor-mount fix were applied, since earlier repairs were sometimes reopened.

Sources: NHTSA complaint database, 2020 Ford Explorer · NHTSA recall database, 2020 Ford Explorer

$0

Camera and motor-mount recalls

The transmission shifts into park while driving, causing the vehicle to jerk and slow down or stall.
6 mechanic & owner sources

Open recalls

Free fixes at any Ford dealer. Run the VIN — “completed” isn’t always completed.

  1. 26V-402Transmission park pawl may engage while in motion, damaging the park system — rollaway risk. Free PCM update and component inspection (2020–2021). Ford number 26S48; interim letters Aug 2026, final remedy expected April 2027 — VIN searchable now.open
  2. 20V-693AWD ten-speed driveshaft may fracture along the weld seam, risking a rollaway in Park or loss of drive. Free inspection/replacement (2.0L/3.3L AWD). Ford number 20S65.open
  3. 23V-675Rear-axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and disconnect the driveshaft — loss of drive or rollaway. Free subframe-bushing and rear-axle-bolt replacement (2020-2022). Ford number 23S55.open
  4. 23V-069PCM reset (2.3L, 10R60) may damage the park system so it won't hold 'Park' — rollaway risk. Free inspection/repair (2020-2022). Ford number 23S05.open
  5. 23V-199PCM software update to restore the automatic electronic parking brake at 'Park,' plus rear-axle-bolt concern. Free software update (2020-2022). Ford number 23S16.open
  6. 19V-859Protective sleeve can chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line, causing a leak and fire risk. Free longer-sleeve installation (2020 Explorer/Aviator). Ford number 19S49.open
  7. 20V-7302.3L 19-gallon fuel-tank inlet check valve may not be fully welded, risking a crash fuel leak. Free fuel-tank-shell replacement. Ford number 20S68.open
  8. 19V-6872.3L/3.3L wiring harness may contact the A/C pulley and short against battery power — a fire risk. Free tie-strap repair. Ford number 19S32.open
  9. 20V-788Right-hand motor-mount fasteners may loosen, letting the axle disconnect from the engine and causing loss of power. Free fastener replacement (2020-2021). Ford number 20S72.open
  10. 23V-342360-degree camera video output may fail, blanking the rearview image. Free camera replacement (2020-2023; expands 23V-022). Ford number 23S23.open

What it costs to keep

The purchase price is what you negotiate. These are the numbers you live with afterward — each one sourced, none of them blended into a fake total.

The ownership picture — 2020 Explorer

Four sourced numbers. No fake total.

Fuel

24 MPG combined (21 city / 28 highway) for the RWD, 2.3L turbo on the EPA federal fuel-economy test.

Source: FuelEconomy.gov (EPA) — EPA’s federal fuel-economy test, recomputed with current gas prices. EPA record 41485 (Explorer RWD).
Other builds EPA lists: 4WD, 2.3L turbo 23 MPG · 4WD, 3.3L 19 MPG · 4WD, 3.0L turbo 20 MPG · Hybrid 4WD, 3.3L 25 MPG.

$2,600/yr

at $4.15/gal · 15,000 mi/yr · 55/45 city/hwy · pulled Jul 12, 2026

Crash losses

Collision losses run about average here. Neither a red flag nor a discount at the insurer.

Source: HLDI — the insurance industry’s loss-data institute — HLDI collision losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report R-23). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Explorer 4dr 87 · Ford Explorer hybrid 4dr 4WD 109 · Ford Explorer hybrid 4dr 135, where 100 = average.

87 vs 100

13% below average

Theft

Stolen about 62% less often than the average vehicle. One less thing to price into coverage.

Source: HLDI — HLDI whole vehicle theft losses, 2020–22 models, published April 2023 (report WT-22). 100 = the all-vehicle average. Series read: Ford Explorer 4dr 4WD.
Other series: Ford Explorer 4dr 47, where 100 = average.

38 vs 100

62% below average

Repair risk

What this specific year is known to need. Pulled from the issues above — the repairs owners actually report, at the costs they report them. Averages from other sites blend every year together; these are this year’s own numbers.

Source: this report — 01 Known issues.

Recall repairs (20V-693, 23V-069, 23V-199, 23V-675)$0
Software/valve-body reflash (dealer)under $200
Out-of-warranty transmission repairseveral thousand, directional
Turbo/coolant repair (higher mileage)$1,500–$3,000, mechanic-quoted
CSP 19B24 / recall 19V-687$0
Recall repairs (19V-859, 20V-730)$0
Camera and motor-mount recalls$0
Why there’s no single “cost to own” number: sites that promise one are guessing at your insurance quote, your annual miles, and your luck. These are the numbers we can actually source — and each one carries its receipt.

Shopping this year?

Get the printable pre-purchase checklist and an alert if this year’s recall sheet changes.

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Have a specific one in your sights?

The VIN is on the listing. We’ll check this exact car — build, open recalls, and whether the “completed” repairs stayed fixed.

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Before you buy

Print this
  1. 01Verify every driveline and park-safety recall by VIN — 20V-693 (driveshaft), 23V-675 (rear-axle bolt), 23V-069 and 23V-199 (park system) — and confirm they show completed.
  2. 02Get a transmission diagnostic scan and drive it: a jerk on the 7-to-6 downshift or hesitation is the ten-speed's known-issue tell.
  3. 03Confirm the fuel-system fire recalls 19V-859 and 20V-730 (2.3L 19-gal tank) were done.
  4. 04On a 2.3L car, ask about CSP 19B24 (balance-shaft/oil-pump inspection) and recall 19V-687 (wiring-harness fire), and check for coolant loss.
  5. 05Confirm the latest rearview-camera remedy (23V-342/25V-159) and the motor-mount recall 20V-788 were applied — several camera repairs were reopened.
  6. 06Because this is a redesign year, treat a car with an incomplete recall history as a walk-away, not a negotiation.

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