Ford Explorer, representative photo
Representative model. Photo: Mr.choppers, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0

Recalls & complaints · NHTSA data

2020 Ford Explorer recalls

Every recall campaign and owner complaint NHTSA has on file for the 2020 model year. Not every vehicle is affected by every campaign: check a specific car by VIN below.

Recall campaigns
35
Park-it warnings
0
Complaints
1,238
Latest campaign
Jul 14, 2026

Recall summary by component35

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
ComponentCampaignsLatestCampaign IDs
Back over prevention9Mar 3, 2026
26V12300025V44200025V15900024V18800023V34200023V30500023V02200021V73500020V575000
Power train8Jun 24, 2026
26V40200025V16600023V67500023V19900023V06900022V25500020V69300019V575000
Seats3Jul 14, 2026
26V45100025V39300019V633000
Seat belts3Mar 17, 2026
26V15900025V09300020V549000
Visibility2Mar 3, 2026
26V11700021V014000
Equipment2Oct 10, 2025
25V68500024V852000
Engine2Aug 10, 2024
24V59800020V788000
Electrical system2Sep 8, 2023
23V62600019V687000
Fuel system, gasoline2Nov 24, 2020
20V73000019V859000
Suspension1Mar 10, 2021
21V154000
Air bags1Aug 21, 2020
20V497000

Safety recalls35

NHTSA Recalls API · cached ≤24 h
0Park-it warnings
0Fixable over the air
Jul 14, 2026Latest campaign
Jul 14, 202626V451000

Seats: mid/rear assembly

A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V451000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Risk
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 26V451000 · Jul 14, 2026
Jun 24, 202626V402000

Power train: automatic transmission

Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V402000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Risk
Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 26V402000 · Jun 24, 2026
Mar 17, 202626V159000

Seat belts

A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V159000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Risk
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 26V159000 · Mar 17, 2026
Mar 3, 202626V117000

Visibility: windshield wiper/washer motor

Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V117000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Risk
Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 26V117000 · Mar 3, 2026
Mar 3, 202626V123000

Back over prevention: software

An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

DetailsHide details for campaign 26V123000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Risk
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 26V123000 · Mar 3, 2026
Oct 10, 202525V685000

Equipment: electrical engine block heater

An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.

DetailsHide details for campaign 25V685000
What's wrong
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Risk
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated September 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Filed under
Explorer
Campaign
NHTSA 25V685000 · Oct 10, 2025

Merged from NHTSA model names: Explorer, Explorer Hybrid, Explorer Intercept Hybrid, Explorer Phev, Explorer Police Intercept. Not every vehicle of a model year is affected by every campaign.

To see whether a recall is still open on your car, enter the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer (federal law; see limits).

Owner complaints by component1,238

NHTSA Complaints API · cached ≤24 h
1,238Complaints filed
37Involving a crash
11Involving a fire
38Injuries reported
ComponentShareComplaints%CrashesFiresInjuries
Power train50040902
Unknown or other208178513
Electrical system18515343
Engine1179340
Back over prevention1048801
Service brakes837506
Forward collision avoidance696603
Visibility/wiper575100
Exterior lighting565210
Structure454115
Seats403103
Fuel/propulsion system403110
Suspension353000
Vehicle speed control292000
Steering282203

16 more components with fewer complaints not shown. An owner can tag several components, so percentages add up to more than 100. Complaints are unverified owner reports, de-duplicated by NHTSA ODI number, merged from NHTSA model names Explorer, Explorer Hev, Explorer Police Intercept.

Latest reports

  • Exterior lighting

    “Headlight went out.”

    Filed 10/15/2026 · ODI 11771367
  • Power train

    “My transmission had been getting increasingly jerky (was never a smooth ride since it was new). At 55k miles, I was driving down the road and my car started to jerk roughly and would not shift gears.”

    Filed 10/15/2026 · ODI 11771475
  • Power train

    “When I am driving, every now and then there is a grinding/electrocution noise that my vehicle makes. When that happens, I lose all acceleration power until the episode stops then it seems like it kicks back into gear.”

    Filed 10/14/2026 · ODI 11771148

Other Ford Explorer model years

All years: 2026 · 2025 · 2024 · 2023 · 2022 · 2021 · 2020 · 2019 · 2018 · 2017 · 2016 · 2015 · 2014 · 2013 · 2012 · 2011 · 2010 · 2009 · 2008 · 2007 · 2006 · 2005 · 2004 · 2003 · 2002 · 2001 · 2000

Other Ford models

All Ford models and years →

2020 Ford Explorer recall questions

How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?

NHTSA lists 35 safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford Explorer. The most recent, 26V451000 (reported July 14, 2026), concerns seats. Not every vehicle is covered by every campaign; check a specific car by VIN.

What are the 2020 Ford Explorer recalls for?

The largest group is back over prevention, with 9 campaigns. Others: power train (8), seats (3), seat belts (3). Each campaign below lists the defect, the risk and the free remedy.

What is the most common complaint about the 2020 Ford Explorer?

Power train is the most-reported component, named in 500 complaints out of 1,238 filed with NHTSA (40%). Across all complaints, owners reported 37 crashs and 11 fires. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

How do I check if a recall is open on my 2020 Ford Explorer?

Enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or the Ford recall lookup. That shows campaigns still unrepaired on that exact car. Safety recall repairs are free at a franchised Ford dealer.

Check a specific Ford by VIN

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