Reliability & 5-year cost of ownership — 2020 Ford Explorer
NHTSA data on file today
The 2020 Ford Explorer has 33 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1,248 owner complaints on file as of . Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
NCAP overall rating: 5.0 out of 5 stars, averaged across 4 NHTSA-tested trims.
Newest 20 recall campaigns on file
- NHTSA #26V451000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V402000 Vehicle Rollaway Risk NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V159000 Improperly Secured Seat Belt Anchors NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V123000 Incorrectly Displayed Rearview Camera Image/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #26V117000 Windshield Wipers May Fail NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V685000 Engine Block Heater May Short Circuit and Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V442000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V393000 Second-Row Seat May Move Unexpectedly NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V166000 Vehicle Rollaway from Driveshaft Disconnect NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V159000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #25V093000 Improperly Secured Seat Belt Buckle Anchor Bolts NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V852000 Missing Dashboard Air Bag Warning Label/FMVSS 208 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V598000 Engine Failure May Cause Fire NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #24V188000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V675000 Vehicle Rollaway from Driveshaft Disconnect NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V626000 High Voltage Battery May Short Circuit NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V342000 Rearview Camera Image May Not Display NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V305000 Rearview Image May Not Display/FMVSS 111 NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V199000 Incomplete PCM Update May Result in Rollaway NHTSA notice
- NHTSA #23V069000 Unintended PCM Reset May Cause Vehicle Rollaway NHTSA notice
Most-cited components in owner complaints
- Power Train 504 complaints
- Unknown or Other 213 complaints
- Electrical System 186 complaints
- Engine 117 complaints
- Back Over Prevention 104 complaints
- Service Brakes 81 complaints
Of the 1,248 complaints on file, 37 report a crash and 10 a fire; across all 1,248 complaints, owners report 38 injuries (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).
Below average
Estimated 5-year repair + maintenance cost: $12,000–$18,000AI estimate — not from NHTSA data
The 2020 Ford Explorer faces significant reliability concerns, particularly with its powertrain and electrical systems. Frequent recalls for transmission issues and complaints about the powertrain suggest potential high maintenance costs. Additionally, problems with critical safety features like seat belts, rear camera systems, and windshield wipers decrease overall safety and reliability ratings.
Most-common failures
| Part | Typical mileage (AI estimate) | Cost range (AI estimate) | Frequency |
|---|---|---|---|
| powertrain | 30,000–60,000 miles | $1,500–$4,000 | very common |
| transmission | 40,000–70,000 miles | $2,500–$6,000 | common |
| electrical system | 20,000–50,000 miles | $300–$1,500 | common |
| rearview camera | 15,000–40,000 miles | $200–$600 | occasional |
| wipers | 10,000–30,000 miles | $50–$150 | occasional |
AI estimate — not from NHTSA data: the mileage bands and repair-cost ranges above. Get a written repair quote before you budget.
Scheduled maintenance to budget
Routine items every owner should plan for.
- Oil changes every 5,000 miles
- Transmission fluid change every 30,000 miles
- Brake pad replacement every 25,000 miles
- Coolant replacement every 60,000 miles
- Replace air filter every 15,000 miles
- Tire rotation every 6,000 miles
Warning signs to watch for
Symptoms that signal a major upcoming repair.
- Transmission slipping or grinding
- Loss of powertrain function
- Electrical malfunctions
- Rear camera image distortion
- Frequent wiper failure
Generated by gpt-4o on from the NHTSA recall campaigns and owner-complaint counts on file for the 2020 Ford Explorer at the time. The rating is an AI assessment; cost and mileage figures are AI estimates, not NHTSA data.