10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
3 / 0
Injuries / Deaths:
2 / 0
Average Mileage:
4,984 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

The NHTSA is the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints can be spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem. See the Back button — blue bar at the very top of the page — to explore more.

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« Read the previous 20 complaints

problem #14

Jul 122020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 1,927 miles
2020 Ford Explorer St with approximately 1,927 miles. I started the vehicle and put it into drive and it started to roll forward even though my foot was on the brake. Regardless of how hard I pushed the brake, the car continued to inch forward until I fully depressed/repressed the brake. I shut off the vehicle, waited a few minutes, and attempted to restart. Upon the attempted restart, all lights on the dashboard began flashing and the engine failed to turnover. The in-dash display then began beeping, flashing service/hazard/warning indicators, and cycling through the following error messages: -park brake fault service now; -pre-collision assist not available; -service advancetrac; -driver door ajar; -steering assist fault service required; -check park aid; -see manual; -front camera fault service required; -full accessory power active; I turned off the vehicle and attempted a few more restarts ranging in intervals from an immediate start/stop, 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 10 minutes without success (same error messages displayed as described above). There were also no alert messages/notification in the fordpass mobile app indicating the above failures. My next attempt was a few hours later and the vehicle started without error, but did not give any indication that the vehicle had failed to start the previous time. I stopped/restarted the vehicle again without error and put it into reverse and then drive and there did not appear to be any failure of the brake pedal. I took the vehicle for a test drive around my neighborhood and noticed that 1st and 2nd gear appeared to shift just fine, 3rd gear made a loud grinding/vibrating noise and took longer to shift than normal, and then the vehicle did a hard shift into 4th gear. I only got up to about 35 miles per hour, but the vehicle never shifted out of 4th gear, but appeared to hold the rpms higher than normal.

- Cincinnati, OH, USA

problem #13

Jun 022020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
On occasion, the brakes do not work properly when the car is first put into drive or reverse after starting. When shifting into drive or park with the foot firmly on the brake, the vehicle begins to move, and the brake pedal does not depress all the way and does not stop the vehicle from moving. If you attempt to pump the brakes, there is a hard stop that prevents the brake pedal from going all the way to the floor. The only way to stop the vehicle is to put it back into park.

- Vienna, VA, USA

problem #12

Mar 072020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 8,000 miles
After starting the vehicle in park and with brake depressed shifting to reverse the car moves regardless of brake pressure applied. Issue only stops after pumping the brakes or shifting back to park our neutral. All situations have been on flat land and has occurred with multiple drivers. Brake pedal is noted to be 'hard' when event occurs, almost like it is locked.

- Shamong, NJ, USA

problem #11

May 012020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 10,000 miles
Has happened to me a few times. Foot on brake, put the car in gear and it starts rolling. Brake pedal won't depress any further, but it definitely was not all the way in, almost like it was locked or something. Only way to get it to stop is to put it back in park or neutral and let off the brake.

- Foxboro, MA, USA

problem #10

Apr 222020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • miles
While I was driving on the interstate, in the left most lane, there was road on the side of the road sighted ahead that was extending into the left lane I was traveling in. To avoid the upcoming lane infringement, I needed to accelerate to change lanes to the right of me. I had plenty of room to execute evasive maneuvers; the 2020 Explorer St however, did not allow me to change lanes and instead applied the brakes and froze my ability to steer - almost causing an accident. This has happened twice on the interstate. I took the vehicle to Ford - no explanation/cannot find a problem. The vehicle also unexpectedly breaks when nothing is near it. This also happens in reverse. The car will not let me reverse out of my garage - nothing is anywhere near it!!! I have to turn the car off and restart it to clear its sensors. Nothing is there!!! I have had the car about 7 months and only have about 2000 miles on the car. I'm afraid to drive it and want to return it. The sensors are obviously malfunctioning. The vehicle will not remember seat settings or mirror settings. It also inadvertently changes the seat location while going from park to drive or sitting at a light and pushes it all the way forward ramming my knees/legs into the dash.... it will not stop going forward unless I turn the vehicle completely off. This is definitely a malfunction. I have taken it to Ford dealer service - they cannot find a problem.

- Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

problem #9

Apr 242020

Explorer 6-cyl

  • 2,000 miles
Periodically, after starting the vehicle, and selecting a gear (either drive or reverse), I experience a "hard brake" where I cannot press down the break pedal but the vehicle will begin to roll. The vehicle will continue to roll and I cannot use the brake pedal (therefore I cannot stop). The only solution I have found is to switch the vehicle to park, turn off the vehicle, and turn back on the vehicle. This happens approximately 2 times per month. The 2020 Ford Explorer uses an electric brake booster, and I believe it may be a calibration issue upon ignition/vehicle start up. If it does not calibrate properly, the brakes will not work. This is a common issue, and there is a thread at the Explorer forum with various members experiencing this safety issue. You can find the thread, and statements from others, at the below webpage: Https://www.explorerforum.com/forums/threads/brake-issue.483026/

- Beaverton, OR, USA

problem #8

Mar 072020

Explorer

  • 750 miles
Auto hold feature continues to display fault. I've taken it to the dealership 3 times and each time they say it's fixed. Im concerned that it will fault when im stopped and cause a collision. Ford customer care can barely understand english let alone listen to me describe the issue. For a vehicle with 700 miles this is ridiculous.

- London, KY, USA

problem #7

Feb 192020

Explorer

  • 2,800 miles
ABS brake light came on at aprox. 3,000 miles. Took to dealer told bad ground at module connector. Dealer said would have to order 2 nuts and bolts would call when parts arrived. Two weeks later no call. Called dealer & got voice mail, lefft message no call back after 2 hours. Dealer could have provided loaner till fixed as we are driving a car without ABS brakes. Paid 63K and driving a vehicle not as safe as represented at purchase after only 3K miles!. there should be a service letter at least for this problem. Concerned mechanic will make unapproved improvised repair.

- Vero Beach, FL, USA

problem #6

Dec 192019

Explorer

  • 82 miles
Cruise control can not be disabled by pressing brake pedal. Requires passing steering wheel button to turn off. Also "pre-collision assist not available" message comes on dash every time vehicle is started.

- Ackley, IA, USA

problem #5

Sep 272019

Explorer

  • 15 miles
The vehicle is randomly braking for no unknown reason. Almost like if I was driving and put on emergency brake. It mostly does it while in reverse when there is literally nothing around me. There is an option and it has still does it with option off. It has nearly caused 1 accident when I was in my sons car pool line at school. Otherwise it has caused extreme anxiety because I don't know when it will happen. The brake assist fault is also on, and dealer cannot find fix to that either. The dealer (capital Ford raleigh) was aware of sensor issues, as well as faults the day I took delivery on vehicle. They knowingly sold it to us anyways. I took vehicle to service dept the very day after we took delivery. There is no fix for these dangerous issues, and I am forced to keep driving with my kids in this dangerous vehicle.

- Clayton, NC, USA

problem #4

Feb 022020

Explorer

  • 10,700 miles
Vehicle unexpectedly breaks, as if detecting a crash, when there is clearly no car ahead. Vehicle takes over control of breaks unexpectedly. Has happened on repeated occasions and already reported to manufacturer months ago.

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #3

Nov 022019

Explorer

  • 5,800 miles
The Explorer was put into reverse. The vehicle drove forward about 3 ft, jerked, then slammed into reverse. Reaction time on my behalf was slow as it was unexpected, I almost hit a light pole. This occurred in a parking lot

- Houston, TX, USA

problem #2

Jan 062020

Explorer

  • 1,810 miles
On January 6, 2020, I was driving to work, approaching a red light and could not stop. I was going around 40 mph. Then, I begin pressing on the break with my right foot and could not stop. Next, I used both feet pressing the break pedal to the floor and could barely bring the truck to a stop. At the same time, there were warning lights flashing (parking break, all wheel drive, traction control) on the dash. I immediately took the vehicle to dealership where I purchased it. They provided me with a loaner vehicle. On Friday, January 10, 2020, the dealership contacted me to provide me an update. They advised that Ford Motor Company advised them that this was a service announcement (meaning this information is known to Ford and all Ford dealerships not to the customers). Dealership advised rear break calibers needs replacing, rear break motor needs replacing, and rear break pads needs replacing. Dealership advised all parts are on national back order and does not know when they will be available.

- Pontiac, MI, USA

problem #1

Dec 102019

Explorer

  • 2,000 miles
Breaks gave out while backing out of lane. Separate issue pressed on gas no response or delayed response in stop and go traffic. Acted like it was almost out of gas but not. Also other small issue is loud high whistle noise above 70mph.

- Fremont, NE, USA