10.0

really awful
Crashes / Fires:
7 / 4
Injuries / Deaths:
12 / 0
Average Mileage:
3,399 miles

About These NHTSA Complaints:

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problem #139

Jul 152025

Explorer

  • miles
Panoramic moon roof shade cover has detached from the roof of the car. The fabric shade falls into the car blocking vision of the driver. The problem has been confirmed by the dealer. I am unaware if the vehicle has been inspected by the manufacturer. There were no warnings of the problem. The fabric just fell into the car blocking the vision of the driver.

- Sugar Land, TX, USA

problem #138

May 052025

Explorer

  • miles
Back latch is getting stuck in secondary position when released. Module is intermittently not communicating.

- Westerville, OH, USA

problem #137

Mar 072024

Explorer

  • miles
The directional headlights low beams have failed to work on several occasions, it started at 30000 miles. If is extremely dangerous when the headlights go out during night driving.

- Maineville, OH, USA

problem #136

Jun 142025

Explorer

  • miles
Under 23S55 my rear bolt was supposed to be replaced at my recall appointment at the Nice ford dealership in Sioux Falls South Dakota. Only the bushing always replaced as stated by the service writer and also the paperwork says they found no broken bolts and the bushing and -??hardware-?? was replaced. I have the invoice. 1 1/2 year later the bolt snapped causing my differential to nearly come completely off, hanging by one bolt, nearly killing my wife and I, coconut point ford in Estero fl, had the audacity to say bolts aren-??t covered under my 100k warranty and the recall is closed so you have to pay. Then they said they-??d pay 2100 then 2600 towards the 5300 repair which is not fair as this is a known recall issue that ford failed to fix at my recall appt. Please assist and pressure ford to fix this under the recall. They are saying it is closed which seems inaccurate,

- Rotonda West , FL, USA

problem #135

Jun 282025

Explorer

  • miles
On the glass panels in between the rear and front side windows, the panels are shattering underneath both sides. When looking up online to see if anyone else has this problem, there-??s all kinds of pictures of this problem posted online..I-??m including photos of mine. Have included photos of driver and passenger side.

- Campbellsville , KY, USA

problem #134

Jun 242025

Explorer

  • miles
The panoramic sunroof shade has lost its tension when opens. The roller may have broken its clip to hold since being plastic. When open it blockes from seeing from rear view mirror as it sags down. In short cant use sunroof as it poses a risk of view

- Boston , MA, USA

problem #133

Jun 132025

Explorer

  • miles
Recently, my 2020 Ford Explorer showed a front passenger TSMP failure followed by the rear driver TSMP failure light about 3 weeks later. Within a day or two of the second TSMP light displaying, I had multiple codes lighting up my dash: 4WD fault, hill-start assist unavailable, service advance track, pre-collision assist unavailable, check manual, etc. I found my car was not accelerating every time I pressed the acceleration pedal, and it would stop maintaining my speed and appear to drift like power was lost for a couple to few seconds before resuming power. This caused me to move into a turn lane or make an unexpected turn off the road as I could not maintain speed in the midst of traffic. It was terrifying and dangerous to myself, my children and the vehicles moving around me. One reputable repair shop replaced the TSMP sensors; however, the codes for the other warning lights showed a communication error that only Ford could diagnose. Ford stated the AWD module failed, which meant the different systems were not in communication when I was driving which led to the loss of power that I experienced multiple times while driving to repair shops. Ford stated the AWD module needed to be replaced. It is unbelievable that I would have 2 TSMP sensors and an AWD module fail in less than 5 years of the vehicle being manufactured when I have never replaced any of those items in 7-8 years of owning other vehicles with similar components. I believe Ford has used inferior parts that they know will fail to drive their repair revenue, which is unethical and unsafe to consumers.

- Baxter, TN, USA

problem #132

Jun 092025

Explorer

  • miles
This recall has been remedied and there is nothing wrong with the car. I need this recall marked taken care of so that I can continue renting it. Please remove this care off the unrepaired list asap!!!!!

- Aliso Viejo, CA, USA

problem #131

Jun 012024

Explorer

  • miles
The rear hatch of my 2020 Ford Explorer does not open reliably. There is no manual release mechanism to open the hatch in case of failure. The only methods to open the hatch are via the button on the hatch itself, the button on the dashboard, or the key fob. When any of these are pressed, the hatch makes sounds as if it is trying to engage and open, but it does not actually open. Additionally, the vehicle dashboard displays an alert indicating that the hatch is open, even though it remains securely closed. This false alert is confusing and concerning. The problem is unpredictable and intermittent, sometimes allowing the hatch to open normally, but often failing without warning. This issue significantly limits access to the cargo area and poses a safety concern in situations where quick or emergency access to the hatch is needed. I had the vehicle inspected by a dealer regarding the hatch issue. They diagnosed the problem as a faulty hatch motor. The estimated cost to repair or replace the motor is approximately $1,300. Given the high cost, I am concerned about the safety and reliability of the vehicle, as well as the financial burden of any potential repairs. Because the rear hatch does not open reliably, I am forced to access the cargo area by crossing over the rear seats, which is inconvenient and unsafe, especially when carrying groceries or large items. Moreover, I am unable to access the spare tire in case of an emergency, which poses a serious safety risk.

- Church Hill, TN, USA

problem #130

Jun 042025

Explorer

  • miles
The vehicle-??s transmission system has been malfunctioning exhi jerky, delayed, and unpredictable shifting behaviors, especially noticeable at speeds between approximately 27 an 30 mph and higher. At lower speeds, the jerking is less frequent, but as speed increases, the jerks become more severe and abrupt. These issues manifest during various driving conditions, including accelerating, decelerating, coming to a stop, and lane changes on highways and city roads. When the problem first occurred, the vehicle suddenly jolted in a manner that felt as if I had been rear-ended, causing a sharp, uncomfortable sensation akin to whiplash. The unexpected jerks cause the vehicle to surge or hesitate unpredictably, significantly affecting my ability to maintain smooth control. On multiple occasions, this behavior happened while I was slowing down at stop signs, red lights, or in traffic, with vehicles close behind me, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. In one hazardous incident, while attempting to merge from the right lane to the outermost left lane in order to cross an intersection, the vehicle jerked suddenly and unexpectedly, nearly causing me to collide with multiple vehicles behind me. This loss of control was alarming and made it unsafe to continue driving in this condition. At the time of these transmission malfunctions, my children were passengers in the vehicle, which made the situation even more alarming due to the increased risk of injury to my family. To date, this transmission issue has been consistently reproducible during everyday driving but has not been formally inspected, diagnosed, or repaired by any dealership or independent mechanic. There have been no warning lights, messages, or dashboard indicators that signaled this problem prior to or during these events. The transmission system and related components are available for inspection upon request. Because of these unpredictable and unsafe transmission malfunctions, I am currently u

- Church Hill, TN, USA

problem #129

Jun 012025

Explorer

  • miles
Back up camera glitches and back up lights went out cause me to back into a tree at night

- Cumberland, MD, USA

problem #128

May 312025

Explorer

  • miles
Back up camera turns off out of nowhere while in use. We have to stop immediately and turn back and not always is there visibility through the rearview window. Has not been inspected, they wanted to charge me $200 just to look at it. Once it goes out after a while it states that backup camera not available and to contact the dealership on the screen.

- Commerce City, CO, USA

problem #127

May 192025

Explorer

  • miles
My 2020 Ford Explorer required a transmission replacement just after 100,000 miles. The service department that handled the repair informed me that the issue with my vehicle-??s transmission matches the same issue affecting 2021 and newer Ford Explorer models -?" models which, I understand, have been recalled due to this known transmission defect. Despite this, my vehicle-?"just one model year earlier-?"was not included in the recall, and I was required to cover the full cost of the transmission replacement. This is frustrating and concerning, as it indicates the issue may extend beyond the currently recalled model years. To make matters worse, about a month after the replacement, I had to return to the dealership because the transmission required an update that had not been performed. As a loyal Ford customer, I-??m disappointed that I-??ve had to endure these issues -?" both with a known transmission defect and with the quality of the repair -?" at my own expense. Ford Motor Company cannot cover the repairs due to it not being included in the recalled vehicles, even though the issue is the same.

- Highland, IL, USA

problem #126

Nov 052024

Explorer

  • miles
* The component that appears to be malfunctioning is the driveshaft and/or related transmission system. I have experienced repeated issues such as abnormal jerking when switching gears, grinding or clunking noises, and jerking through the drivetrain with erratic RPMs before the vehicle regains power. These symptoms are consistent with problems covered in recent recalls for the 2020 Ford Explorer. The vehicle is still in my possession and available for inspection upon request. issues have made it feel unsafe to drive the vehicle, especially with children in the car. The unpredictable jerking and loss of power present a serious danger, particularly when accelerating into traffic or driving at highway speeds. I am extremely concerned that a sudden failure could result in loss of control, a rollaway, or even a serious accident. Another concern is the defect involving the driveshaft or half shafts that might disconnect or stop functioning. This disconnection can lead to a loss of drive power or, if the parking brake is not applied, a possible vehicle rollaway. *While I have not yet had the issue diagnosed by a service center, I have filed a lemon law claim, and I-??m in the process of addressing the matter formally. The symptoms I-??m experiencing appear to match known issues that Ford has already recalled for the 2020-?"2021 Explorer models. manufacturer has not yet inspected the vehicle, and no inspections have been conducted by police or insurance representatives. I am open to having the vehicle inspected by Ford or an authorized party as needed. *There were no warning lamps or messages displayed prior to the issues occurring. The symptoms-?"jerking, clunking noises, and erratic RPM behavior-?"began gradually over time, with the first noticeable incident occurring a few months ago. Since then, the issues have become more frequent and severe.

- Brooklyn , NY, USA

problem #125

May 102025

Explorer

  • miles
Panoramic sunroof shade came off track causing it to sag.

- Maple Shade, NJ, USA

problem #124

Apr 202025

Explorer

  • miles
I was involved in an accident. I was traveling through a green light and a car was coming towards my driver side, they failed to yield. I attempted to accelerate and my transmission slipped prior to impact. I have tried to address this concern with Ford in the past and have reported the vehicle jerks on acceleration and when slowing down. You can feel the transmission slip when it is attempting to go from gear to gear.

- Traer, IA, USA

problem #123

Jun 012024

Explorer

  • miles
Sun Shade: Sunroof shade guide has lost the bolt securing it to the shade, will need bolt to re-secure. When retracted back sunroof Sun Shade sags, blocking rearview window. Causes driver to be unable to see out back window. No warning lamps. Problem has been inspected by ford dealership. According to ford the bolt that secures the Sun Shade to the sunroof has come out.

- Callahan, FL, USA

problem #122

Apr 022025

Explorer

  • miles
The panoramic roof fabric has become unhinged from the track and caused a visibility issue for my rear view mirror.

- Oxnard , CA, USA

problem #121

Feb 202025

Explorer

  • miles
Door handle chrome plating is peeling off. Finger cut when opening the car door. Chrome tips on window buttons had already been recalled for the same reason, but the door handles were not included in this recall. Attached picture of finger was 7 days later.

- Greeneville, TN, USA

problem #120

Apr 012025

Explorer

  • miles
The car leaks water into the cabin on the front passenger side from the HVAC system. This has been a consistent issue and has not been resolved by Ford. The car has no sunroof and the water drips from behind the glovebox. It is enough water to make a large puddle in the front passenger side foot space.

- Ypsilanti, MI, USA

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