"How reliable is the 2020 Ford Explorer?"

"Based on 1544 NHTSA complaints, the 2020 Ford Explorer has a median complaint mileage of 12600 miles. The most common issue is POWER TRAIN."

"What are common problems with the 2020 Ford Explorer?"

"The most frequently reported component in NHTSA complaints for the 2020 Ford Explorer is POWER TRAIN, accounting for a significant portion of the 1544 total complaints filed."

2020 Ford Explorer: Reliability Data

Source: NHTSA — 1544 complaints

1544

Total Complaints

12,600mi

Median Mileage

POWER TRAIN

Top Issue

Crash Reports

When Do Complaints Happen?

Distribution of NHTSA complaints by vehicle mileage at time of report.

5,000 25th Percentile

12,600 Median Mileage

53,250 75th Percentile

What Fails?

Most reported component issues from NHTSA complaints.

POWER TRAIN

404

UNKNOWN OR OTHER

186

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

169

ENGINE

105

SERVICE BRAKES

VISIBILITY/WIPER

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

BACK OVER PREVENTION

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS

Severity Assessment

Crashes

Fires

Injuries

Deaths

Sample Complaint Reports

"TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY BEGAN TO REV VERY HIGHLY AND THE VEHICLE ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE FORWARD. THE DRIVER DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL TO PREVENT THE VEHICLE FROM MOVING. THE TRANSMISSION WAS SWITCHED INTO NEUTRAL, BUT THE FAILURE ..."

"HAVE EXTREMELY STRONG EXHAUST FUMES COMING IN THE FRESH AIR INTAKE-MAKING ME AND MY PASSENGERS EXTREMELY SICK-NAUSEUS, REALLY BAD HEADACHES, EXTREMELY SLEEPY, ACID REFLUX AND EVEN HAVE PEOPLE ASK HALF HOUR AFTER LEAVING THE VEHICLE IF WE'VE BEEN STANDING NEXT TO AN EXHAUST PIPE!!!! ONE OF THESE TIME..."

"ON A 400 MILE ROAD TRIP ON A HIGHWAY, WE STARTED FEELING EXHAUST FUMES IN THE INSIDE CABIN. FELT NAUSEA AND WATERY EYES AND HAD TO STOP COUPLE OF TIME TO GET A BREATH OF FRESH AIR. NOT SURE WHAT THE ISSUE WAS IT DISAPPEARED AFTER AN HOUR. SCARY THING IS I SEE SOME ELSE ALSO HAS REPORTED THE SAME IS..."

Source: NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Names and identifying details omitted.

Data source: View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov | NHTSA ODI Complaints Database. Public domain.

Methodology: Complaint counts and mileage distributions are computed directly from consumer-reported NHTSA complaints. This data represents reported issues, not failure rates — vehicles without complaints are not represented. Full methodology.

Data through: 2026-03-28