Th car goes into gear but does not go anywhere.
2020 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 6 of 18: complaints 131 to 160 of 507, newest first, as owners wrote them.
On highway was accelerating to pass another vehicle the transition froze , engine revved with no acceleration ( transmission skipped) this has happened several times over the 5 years. The lasted event we documented the date and mileage it happened date 7/13/25 mileage is 34990. These skips have put us in extremely dangerous situations. Transmission has been making growling noise now under normal driving.
I am writing to formally report a critical safety issue involving our 2020 Ford Explorer that I believe demands immediate investigation and consideration for a recall. While my wife was driving the vehicle on the freeway with our two young children, the transmission began shifting erratically and aggressively at various speeds. The vehicle experienced sudden power loss, delayed gear engagement, and violent jerking motions that nearly resulted in a rear-end collision due to the abrupt deceleration. This malfunction placed my family and others on the road in immediate danger. This is not an isolated incident. I am aware that there is already a Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) issued for this transmission issue, as well as an active class action lawsuit related to the same defect. These facts indicate that Ford is aware of the problem, yet the risk to consumers remains unaddressed through a formal recall. This is a serious safety hazard that must be escalated. I am urging your team to take immediate action to investigate this matter and initiate a recall if warranted. The safety of families like mine should not be compromised by known mechanical failures. Please confirm receipt of this message and advise on the next steps for inspection, documentation, and escalation. I am prepared to provide additional details, including service records and diagnostic reports, if needed. I trust that Ford and the appropriate regulatory bodies will act swiftly and responsibly to protect consumers and uphold safety standards.
i have been seeing complainants about the 2020 ford explorer transmission, I just want to say that I also had transmission issues with my 2020 ford explorer, I had Vehicle down shift issues at or around 50,000 miles, i took it back to the dealer because it was still under the 60K miles power train warr. The dealer had my explorer for about a week to do repairs, I do remember them saying there was a technical bulletin about this problem. I still have transmission jerking issues when i am driving slowly and have to let's say step on the gas to accelerate. I am at 67,000 miles now and worried is this thing going to make it to 100K.
Transmission shifts hard from first to second gear upon acceleration, then shifts hard down at approximately 25-30mph. Dealership is aware. Has been happening since I got vehicle, but no fix has been available.
The transmission shifted into neutral at a stop sign and a see dealer warning light came on. Turned the vehicle off and restarted it and it was able to resume drive. It happened twice more at a speed of 70mph. Ford has had the vehicle all but 3 weeks since 5/12 to repair it. Replaced the trans and harness.
Vehicle down shifts hard from 7th to 6th gear tested in manual mode but was originally feeling it while driving automatic when slowing down between 25 - 35 mph then I found a tsb that suggested trying it in manual in those gears and it happens every time
Bought my car 2020 and every year I have been on and off the shop to fix it. Last year I just paid them to fox my transmission gearing, clutch and axle. The other dY I have them service it again due to power train malfunction. And sent me an invoice of $1700 not including the $195 to diagnostic test for my car.
The transmission has failed due to a snap ring being dislodged. This caused substantial damage requiring complete transmission rebuild. The vehicle is currently at a ford dealership where they have identified the issue. The serviceman stated that the snap ring failure is due to manufactures defect and that it is a well known and common failure. Ford has a service bulletin describing this issue. Failure to repair this in a timely manner will cause catastrophic failure that could lead to loss of control of the vehicle. There were no warning lights for this issue. The first symptom was harsh shifting. The vehicle was taken to the dealership the day following the first symptom but the damage had been done.
The 2020 Ford Explorer was repaired due to a recall on the rear differential bolt. The bolt that was replaced fell out and had to go back in for service. The dealer said Ford refused to pay the full cost and it was split between Ford and the owner. We had to pay $2085.97 for the repair of a recalled item.
I recently had my vehicle serviced for reprogramming of the AWD control module after it failed. When the dealer returned the vehicle, I expected the issue to be resolved. Instead, I immediately noticed a new check engine light with code C00A6, related to the front axle disconnect. This was concerning because the dealer had assured me there were no active codes after programming the new module. After driving with the new fault, it became clear the vehicle was operating only in rear-wheel drive. I contacted Ford and was quoted $4,030 for repairs to the front axle disconnect. Given the cost, I researched whether this issue had a recall but found none, despite widespread reports from other owners experiencing the same failure. My main frustration is that this problem stems from Ford’s design of the intermittent AWD system, which engages the front wheels only when needed to improve fuel economy. The official “fix” eliminates this design entirely—converting the vehicle into a full-time AWD system. This requires removal of the front axle disconnect shaft, installation of a standard shaft, and reprogramming to support permanent AWD. The Technical Service Bulletin (TSB 23-2174) even directs technicians to cut and discard the electrical connector for the front axle disconnect actuator, confirming that the original intermittent system is abandoned rather than repaired. This is a major concern for owners. Many of us are facing the same issue, yet Ford’s solution shifts the burden of an expensive design flaw onto customers. I strongly urge Ford to address this problem responsibly and provide coverage for affected vehicles, rather than leaving owners to pay thousands for what appears to be a widespread defect.
Transmission gears were not running properly. On a Saturday evening the car was sleeping when slowing down and the following morning it completely died. Ford is reporting to me that I need a new transmission and I am only 1K miles over the warranty. i have read on line from several others with the 2020 explorer having this issue or the tranny dieing within 10-20K miles after warranty.
At this time, I am unsure if there is some kind of recall, but my alarm is going off alerting me that the lift gate opened but that isn't true once my vehicle is locked. Also, the headlights turn on by themselves as if i have pressed on the keyfob. I then get an alert stating that the remote features disabled to preserve battery. These are just a few of the issues that i am having with this vehicle at this moment. I am a mother to 3 kids and i need to have a reliable vehicle and I don't have time to stress about not locking my vehicle at night jus to avoid my alarm going off. This is insane.
On [XXX], after starting my vehicle, I received multiple safety warnings, prompting the check engine light and a wrench icon on the dashboard. The alerts included issues with the anti-collision system, hill assist, traction control, lane departure, and adaptive cruise control, as well as my drive modes which were also unavailable. I contacted Raceway Ford in Riverside, CA, and dropped off the vehicle that day, reporting the errors. The dealership informed me the next day that the Half Shaft Speed Sensor had failed and would cost $870.52 to replace. Since the warranty had expired a month earlier on [XXX], this was no longer covered under the drivetrain warranty. I agreed to the repairs. After installing the new sensor, and conducting a test drive, additional errors appeared. After two weeks in the shop and multiple follow-ups, the dealership concluded that the AWD/FWD sensor had also failed and replaced both sensors. The repair documentation references TSB 21-2270, SSM 49045, and C0631. I believe this raises serious safety concerns and should warrant a recall, especially since other vehicles are experiencing similar issues just a month after warranty expiration. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
While braking vehicle downshifted harshly with a noticeable slam into gear. While under acceleration, vehicle rpms raised sharply as transmission slipped and would not engage and accelerate. Potential risk to injury as vehicle transmission failed on interstate with loss of acceleration. Towed vehicle to Ford dealership. Ford dealership inspected to the conclusion of "Fluid full/extremely burnt. Possible A clutch failure due to faulty front support". Ford dealer recommended to remove and replace transmission. - Transmission failure, not available for inspection. - Safety risk due to transmission failure at interstate speeds with loss of acceleration. - Problem reproduced by Ford dealership - Transmission inspected by Ford dealership - Wrench light illuminated shortly after initial harsh downshift and acceleration with transmission slip.
My got multiple warning messages while driving my 2020 Ford Explorer. My local repair shop ran test and determined it needs a new front axle disconnect actuator/shaft - TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN 23-2174. Without this repair, several sensors are deactivated: 4WD, Hill Start Assist, Forward Collision Warning, Blind Spot system, pre-collision Assist and Service AdvanceTrac. With those functions disabled, it puts the driver/passengers at higher risk of collision - especially in the winter months. This repair is costing me over $2000. A vehicle with less than 70000 miles should not be having an issue like this, and Ford is award of the problem, yet have not issued a warranty extension or recall.
I have a 2020 ford explorer with the 3.3 motor. It was making an odd ticking noise, and I took it into the dealership, here the waterpump is bad. I have looked online and there are plenty of people complaining about pre mature waterpump failure. I called ford consumer affairs and warranty dept as my vehicle is not far out of warranty and they refuse to cover the repair.
issued started happening when I tried to get into my car and my keyfob was not working. then notice the number pad was working and was able to get into the vehicle. Once inside, vehicle did not want to start. I turn on and off the headlights and thats when the vehicle started. Once started, vehicle started showing orange warning messages. the following messages were shown: Pre-Collision Assist Not Available Hill Start Assist Not Available 4WD Fault Service Required Service AdvanceTrac See Manual with a wrench on it. There is also a wrench light on with the advance trac light on. This issue was diagnosed by Ford Scarsdale and they charge me $209 just for the diagnostic and stated that I need a new AWD Module plus performing TSB 23-2174. with a list of parts totaling $926.42 plus labor of $1,463. The labor seems a bit over price as I don't believe it will take 7 hours to fix this if we take the labor at $200/Hr. There were no prior messages prior to failure. Issue started happening around August 9th, 2025 where my car would start with no issues and after 10 minutes of driving, all the above messages would start showing. Now, messages show when car starts and dont go away. In addition, I have taken my vehicle to Ford Scarsdale on July 2, 2025 from front/read differential and transfer case fluid change and pinion seal change. In addition, on 03/27/2024, I took my vehicle since there was oil leak in the front axle and was repaired under warranty. Dealership should have suggested to do this TSB 23-2174 knowing this was a common issue and I was still under warranty
The exhaust leaks constantly and ford can’t seem to fix it. Been multiple times in the shop and all they say is it’s suppose to leak soot and make a fluttery sound. Three documented cases of it at the shop for exhaust leak and I’ve finely gave up because multiple dealerships refuse to acknowledge the issue and state it’s weep holes but weep holes are at connection joints. The smell of exhaust from start up or in tight confined spaces allows the exhaust to creep back into the car if windows are rolled down. Also the sound is embarrassing
Transmission slipping at 32m/h when downshifting
What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? The transmission failed at approximately 80,000 miles. It requires a complete rebuild/replacement. The failed transmission is available for inspection upon request. It is currently at the transmission shop. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Although the vehicle was technically still drivable, it did not feel safe. The transmission slipped and struggled to shift, and the vehicle felt like it could break down or cause a wreck at any point. The sudden and unpredictable loss of proper control put me and other drivers at risk. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Yes. An independent transmission repair service confirmed the failure and determined that the transmission required a full rebuild/replacement. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, or insurance representatives. It has only been inspected and diagnosed by an independent repair service. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? There were no warning lamps or dashboard messages prior to the failure. The first symptoms were slipping and difficulty shifting gears, which began shortly before I took it to a repair shop.
While driving, vehicle gave Powertrain malfunction, downhill assist unavailable and Pre-collision warning system unavailable faults. The vehicle then came to a stop and would not move. Turning the ignition off and on allowed the vehicle to be safely parked in a nearby parking lot.
With regular service and no warning, my transmission has failed at 83k miles. The 10r60 transmission is a known issue for Ford, as they have set out TSB to the dealerships and GM has recalled the same transmission, but Ford has failed to do so. Regardless of the fact that my family, husband, and I have been loyal Ford/Lincoln customers for the last 15 years, they are not willing to do anything to help with this very costly repair.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the transmission was shifting hard. While driving uphill, the transmission failed to properly shift into gear. The transmission was slow to respond while shifting gears. There were codes and warning lights related to the power train and pre-collision assist. Additionally, the powertrain, Hill Start Assist, and pre-collision warning lights were simultaneously activated and then deactivated. The TPMS warning illuminated and eventually turned off, and then became illuminated. The tire pressures were checked and were at proper inflation levels. The contact stated that the failure was possibly related to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 25V239000 (Power Train). The contact called the manufacturer and discussed the related recall on the 2025 Ford Explorer and was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The local dealer was contacted about the malfunction and informed the contact that the failure was a glitch. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
At approximately 30k miles (but after the 5 year warrantee had expired) the car started giving warnings about the brake system failing even though the brakes worked properly. Shortly after that, and without any warning indicators on the dash, the car began jerking when applying the brakes and down shifting at 35 mph. In the 4 months since the problem started, the jerking has become violent and other issues have begun. It also jerks when downshifting at 25 mph occasionally. It has a problem upshifting in gears 1-4, especially (but not only) when accelerating quickly. It seems that the gears are slipping. The engine revs higher because the gears are not properly shifting. My 18 month old child, my wife, and I have been put at risk driving in a vehicle that fails to shift properly accelerating through intersections and stopping at intersections. Both a Ford dealership and an independent auto repair shop have duplicated the problem and said the car needs either a new transmission ($8k) or to replace parts in the existing tranny that would cost $6k. Evidently there is a TSB from Ford on this issue, but not a recall. Ford has refused to offer financial assistance.
Transmission failure & clutch needs replacement. Vehicle started hard shifting at low MPH.
In June of this year, with about 82,000 miles I began to experience a clunk felt through the vehicle while slowing down from @35 mph upon the downshift. The clunk was more noticeable under braking, i.e. approaching a stop light. This went on for a few days growing more frequent and noticeable. On June 30th, 2025 I dropped my Explorer off at my Ford dealer's service department. The mechanic test drove and confirmed my experience. They also found that the transmission fluid had a burnt smell and some debris. Their testing turned up codes P1783 and P028 indicating an overtempt condition. I’d offer that at no time did I see and sort of dashboard indicators of any trouble. I’ve never pulled a trailer, modified the engine intake or exhaust systems, or had custom engine tunning performed. It’s a completely stock Explorer ST. My recourse was to pay $8,529.63 to replace the transmission. I do feel that if I had continued to operate the vehicle best case would be I was stranded someone where. Worse stranded on the roadway or highway.
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.
When my vehicle reaches 60 mph the back end of my vehicle begins to sway excessively. Something may be wrong with the axle. It’s actually very frightening. Also, when my vehicle is running, I feel a slight puttering and then it quickly goes away as if somethings going on with the fuel pump. Lastly, my rearview camera sometimes looks a little blurry. I did take my vehicle to team Chevrolet in Swansboro, North Carolina where I purchased the vehicle. They stated something is going on with the axle and sway bar.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed the transmission was slipping and the vehicle was slow accelerate. The vehicle lost motive power. Additionally, the contact stated that the RPM was high while driving at low speeds. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The manufacturer was notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 19,000.
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