2020 Ford Explorer: hesitation when accelerating

Filed Oct 29, 2026 · Transmission · 6,000 miles · NM

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving, the vehicle independently shifted to park(P), followed by a ripping sound coming from underneath the front of the vehicle. The contact stated that while driving 43-44 MPH and attempting to merge into the passing lane with his wife in the vehicle, the failure recurred, nearly bringing the vehicle to stop. The contact was able to continue driving. The contact stated that upon shifting from park(P) to drive(D), the vehicle hesitated, made a clicking sound and jerked while responding. Additionally, the contact stated that there was an abnormal sound coming from the rear of the vehicle. The contact emptied the trunk; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times, but the failure could not be duplicated. The contact received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 26V402000 (Power Train); however, the part required for the recall repair was not yet available. The vehicle was taken to the Chalmers Ford (2500 Rio Rancho Blvd SE, Rio Rancho, NM 87124), where it was test-driven, and the failures were confirmed. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The failure mileage was approximately 6,000.

Filed Oct 25, 2026 · SC

My 2020 Ford Explorer has had three episodes of grinding while driving, on September 24, September 26, and October 24, 2026. On October 24, I was traveling at approximately 50 mph when grinding lasted two to three seconds and the vehicle hesitated or slowed. After the grinding stopped, a start-stop warning flashed on the screen and normal operation resumed. The unexpected slowing while driving concerns me. The exact warning wording and mechanical cause are unknown. The odometer was 20,900 on October 24 and was likely around 20,600 during the September episodes. There was no crash, injury, death, or fire during any of the three episodes. The vehicle is subject to Ford recall 26S48 / the federal safety agency 26V402. As of October 25, the VIN lookup lists the recall as incomplete with no remedy available and anticipates a remedy in the second quarter of 2027. I do not know whether these symptoms are caused by the recalled defect. On October 7, I told Beach Ford that I was already having problems and was concerned about driving. The dealer said the recall fix was not released, gave a November estimate, and said it could not schedule the recall repair until release. I requested the OASIS history on October 7 and again October 13; no records have been received. On October 13, I asked to cancel the appointment for now because no fix was ready. An October 19 email confirms cancellation of the October 23 recall appointment at my request. On October 25, I emailed dealership management and Ford requesting a prompt assessment, written driving/towing guidance, transportation help, coverage clarification, and service records. I am requesting a review of these recurring symptoms and the unavailable recall remedy.

Filed Aug 21, 2026 · Engine, Transmission · TN

While driving down a main road, the speed limit changed from 40 to 55 mph. When the gas pedal was pushed, the car violently jerked, did not speed up, and proceeded to have a grinding sound emitting from the engine. No warning lights appeared. The grinding noise continued until the vehicle was placed in neutral and back in drive. We began looking into it and found a recall for the transmission. We contacted a local dealership and were told that they would not be able to inspect or address the issue until Ford issues a remedy (projected to be 8-11 months from now). Since then, the car has experienced harsh upshifting, hesitation with acceleration, jerking, and grinding along with significant rolling when put in park and let off the brake. We contacted Ford directly with no avail. No one has had any advice to “help” with the issue until Ford decides to issue the remedy. We have essentially been told to either park it and continue to make payments on something that is of no use, or to keep driving it and go until it stops. The concern is we have two small children and can not risk engine/transmission failure while driving down the road. The safety of our children comes before anything else, and this vehicle no longer provides safety for them.

Filed Apr 23, 2026 · Transmission · FL

The failure involves the automatic transmission system (10-speed 10R60) in my Ford Explorer 2020. The issue appears to be internal, affecting clutch packs and/or internal components (spring-related failure was initially noted by the dealership).Yes, the vehicle and transmission are available for inspection upon request. The transmission malfunction caused delayed engagement and loss of proper power delivery, which created unsafe driving conditions. There were moments where the vehicle hesitated or failed to respond properly when accelerating, increasing the risk of being struck in traffic or being unable to move out of the way of oncoming vehicles. This presents a clear safety concern, especially in traffic or intersections. Yes, the issue was inspected and confirmed by an authorized Ford dealership. The dealership initially diagnosed the problem as an internal transmission failure involving clutch-related components. However, those diagnostic notes were later removed or altered in the service record. I have retained screenshots of the original diagnosis as evidence. The vehicle has been inspected by an authorized dealership representing Ford Motor Company. At this time, it has not been inspected by police or insurance representatives. The manufacturer has not physically inspected the vehicle but has reviewed the case and offered partial financial assistance. Yes. Prior to the failure, the vehicle experienced symptoms including harsh shifting, delayed engagement when shifting into drive or reverse, and abnormal transmission behavior. These symptoms developed over time before the failure occurred. In some cases, there were no warning lights present before the issue became severe, which made the failure more sudden and unexpected. I was informed the original technician is no longer employed and there is no service manager currently overseeing the department. This lack of oversight makes it difficult to verify the original diagnosis or changes made to service records.

Filed Apr 17, 2026 · Transmission · LA

I am filing a safety complaint regarding my 2020 Ford Explorer (2.3L engine) experiencing a transmission-related failure. At approximately 112,000 miles, the vehicle began exhibiting a dangerous failure pattern. While braking, a loud mechanical noise occurs, followed by hesitation and inability to properly accelerate. The vehicle then displays a “Shift System Fault” warning. After this occurs, the vehicle struggles to respond when attempting to accelerate, creating a serious safety hazard, especially when merging into traffic or crossing intersections. This issue appears to be consistent with Ford Technical Service Bulletin 23-2249, indicating the manufacturer is aware of a defect involving the transmission system. Despite this, no recall has been issued, and I have been quoted a significant out-of-pocket repair cost. The sudden loss of acceleration and erratic shifting presents a clear safety risk that could lead to a crash. I am requesting that this issue be investigated for a potential recall due to the safety implications.

Filed Mar 20, 2026 · Transmission · IN

Vehicle Issue Description – 2020 Ford Explorer Limited (Transmission Failure) The issue involves the transmission system in a 2020 Ford Explorer Limited. The transmission began exhibiting hard and erratic shifting, particularly between lower gears and when decelerating to a stop. A within days experienced complete failure, leaving the vehicle unable to properly move or engage gears. There were no warning lights, messages, or dashboard indicators at any point prior to the failure. This lack of warning prevented any opportunity to address the issue before it became severe. This failure created a significant safety risk, as the vehicle became unreliable in traffic conditions. Hard shifting and delayed engagement made it difficult to predict acceleration and deceleration, increasing the risk of being rear-ended or unable to safely merge into traffic. The final failure rendered the vehicle inoperable, which could have been dangerous if it occurred in a high-traffic or unsafe location. The problem appears consistent with known transmission issues reported by other owners of 2020 Ford Explorers, including hard shifting, jerking, hesitation between gears, and sudden loss of drivability.  Many drivers report similar symptoms progressing to severe transmission problems or complete failure. At this time: •Confirmation by dealer or service center: 3/18/26 Despite the number of similar complaints and documented issues, there has not been a specific recall issued for the transmission system itself, although other drivetrain-related recalls (such as rear axle or driveline failures) have been issued for this model year.  Based on the pattern of symptoms and widespread reports, this appears to be a systemic issue affecting the transmission in this model year, rather than an isolated incident.

Filed Mar 6, 2026 · Transmission · NJ

Power Train, Automatic Transmission Issue The vehicle is a 2020 Ford Explorer XLT with approximately 71,000 miles. The automatic transmission has developed delayed engagement and harsh shifting during normal driving conditions. The issue occurs most often during low speed driving, rolling stops, and when shifting from Park into Drive or Reverse. The transmission will hesitate or pause before engaging, followed by a sudden harsh shift or jerk into gear. The condition has been reproduced multiple times during normal driving and is consistent. This behavior creates unpredictable vehicle response when I accelerate into traffic or proceed from a rolling stop. The delay followed by sudden engagement can cause the vehicle to lurch forward unexpectedly, which could increase the risk of a crash when entering intersections, merging into traffic, or operating near pedestrians. The vehicle is scheduled for inspection at a Ford dealership, and the issue will be evaluated under known Ford technical service bulletins addressing harsh or delayed shifting in the 10-speed automatic transmission. At this time, the vehicle has not yet been inspected by the manufacturer. The vehicle will be inspected by an authorized Ford dealer Monday March 9, 2026. No warning lights or messages have appeared. The condition occurs without warning indicators and is noticeable through delayed engagement and harsh gear shifts. My vehicle has been regularly maintained and received the recommended 60,000 mile service prior to the issue appearing. Similar transmission complaints appear to be widely reported among owners of 2020–2022 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with the 10-speed automatic transmission.

Filed Jan 16, 2026 · Transmission · VA

The vehicle has experienced repeated automatic transmission malfunctions, including harsh and delayed shifting and hesitation. These issues caused unpredictable acceleration/deceleration and hesitation when starting from a stop or merging, creating a safety risk. The condition has been confirmed by authorized Ford dealers with repairs attempted and service bulletin referenced. The transmission is available for inspection. Symptoms have recurred despite repairs. Warning indicators and abnormal shifting behavior were observed intermittently beginning around 65,000 miles.

Filed Jul 21, 2025 · Fuel system · WA

There is hesitation when coming from a stop to accelerating there is a delay of power. This problem has been going on since we have had the car. It is safety issue especially when we accelerate to get onto the highway. It is very inconsistent. We recently took it in and found that an error code of P0496 the evaporator purge valve to be a problem. Not sure if this is a problem with other Fords like ours. So I thought you could investigate it for me. Thank you.

Filed Jul 16, 2025 · Transmission · 46,894 miles · NC

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle hesitated while attempting to shift gear. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic but was not diagnosed or repaired. The contact was referred to the dealer for additional assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the transfer case had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 46,894.

Filed Jul 6, 2025 · Transmission · NH

11/5/24 Transmission failed. Gear selector knob went unresponsive. Wrench light on dash came on. 1/2/25- new transmission received. 4/25/25- car hesitates going into reverse gear- 10 second delay. Still continues. 7/1/25- transmission starts slipping again. 7/2/25- transmission slamming while accelerating.

Filed Jun 9, 2025 · Transmission · TX

While driving at highway speeds, my 2020 Ford Explorer ST began to hard-shift and hesitate between gears, resulting in a dangerous loss of power. The transmission would delay or fail to engage, making it difficult to accelerate or maintain speed, creating a serious safety risk for both myself and my wife while in traffic. After safely reaching home and placing the vehicle in park, the transmission completely failed. It would no longer engage Drive or Reverse and behaved as though it was in Neutral in all positions. No warning lights or error messages were displayed at any point before, during, or after the failure. The vehicle has only 85,000 miles, and the failure occurred just after the extended warranty expired. I have since learned that the 10R60 transmission in this vehicle has experienced similar issues in other Ford models, indicating a possible widespread defect. This failure could have caused a serious accident had it occurred at high speed or in heavy traffic.