With no previous problems, over the course of the past two days the transmission has begun to hard and delayed shift in multiple gears between 10 to 75 mph. When slowing down to go through tolls this morning, as I accelerated, there was a sudden loss of power transmission and a loud rattling sound. The engine would rev in this case. I had to coast for about 150 ft before I regained control of my speed. Once I was slowing down to take my exit to get to work and wait at the light, when I attempted to accelerate to go through the light, I experienced another loss of power. However, this time the engine would not rev. Once in the intersection I was moving slowly. Had this happened (loss of power) while I was in the intersection or through the toll and someone was behind me accelerating, I could have been rear ended and injured. I am taking the Explorer to the dealership next Tuesday to find out if they can reproduce the issue. There are no warning lamps associated with this problem. The vehicle has not been inspected by any third party yet.
2020 Ford Explorer transmission complaints
Page 7 of 18: complaints 161 to 190 of 507, newest first, as owners wrote them.
2020 explorer Transmission needs to be rebuilt due to transmission failure. Hard shifting that causes car to jerk dangerously. Decreased ability to gain speed due to delays and inability to properly shift though gears. Issues started on April 2025 and have continued to get worse. Care only has a little over 36000 miles on it. It was bought brand new November of 2019. Car is currently at ford dealership being worked on but this is a known issue with the transmission on 2020 models. This should be covered at no cost to me but here I am stuck paying for most of it.
my car has been in the shop in Louisiana and Alabama, it has had a leak, and I have told them over and over about the jerky shifting etc, but it was never noted on any of the service, they said they have fixed the leak...but it continued with the jerking and slow to go into gear. then a couple of weeks ago I was driving down the road and the car wouldn't go, I made it home. I called the Ford service to make an appointment to have it checked again, and the service recall on the seatbelt. My appointment was for Tuesday morning July 1st, but on Thursday I hadn't heard from them, so I called, and on the following Monday they called me back to say the transmission was out and needed to be replaced, it would be 10K plus. So I got a tow to go pick it up and take to a transmission shop. They didn't even get the seatbelt issue resolved in the week it was there. Why didn't they check the transmission was bad while it was under warranty. It now has about 80K miles
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while reversing, the vehicle stalled. The vehicle jolted forward while parking. The brakes were locking up. While driving 5 MPH, the steering wheel locked up. The 4-WD fault light was illuminated. The contact stated that the Pre-collision Assist, Hill Assist and Reverse messages were displayed. The contact stated that the failure was related to Technical Service Bulletin: 23-2174. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the AWD actuator was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 89,156.
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.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated upon shifting to park(P), the vehicle rolled and almost struck two pedestrians. The contact engaged the parking brake, and the vehicle stopped. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated upon driving to the residence and attempting to park near the garage door, the failure recurred, and the vehicle struck the garage door. The contact engaged the parking brake and the vehicle stopped. The contact stated that the vehicle then became inoperable. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle, and the vehicle responded as needed. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 41,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed, and the vehicle jerked abnormally. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer; however, the previous owner had previously taken the vehicle to the dealer for diagnostic testing, and the failure information was already in the dealer database. The contact was informed that the failure was due to transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. In addition, the contact stated the vehicle was purchased two weeks prior to the failure. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and a case was filed. The contact was advised to contact the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 47,000.
The rear axle is slipping when going up any incline and when traveling on regular roads has vibration they have a recall but say mine not covered when it comes from the same plant in question during the time frame listed
While driving at 50 MPH, the Powertrain malfunction light, Hill Start assist malfunction light , and PreCollision malfunction light came on. Took vehicle to Performance Ford, Randolph, NJ where it was determined that it was the front axle disconnect actuator assembly was broken. FORD is aware of this problem per TSB 23-2174 but has not advised the owners of the problem, at least not myself. The cost was $2946.61. This is a safety issue and should be addressed and repaired by Ford. Also had to rent a car for 3 days
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact heard a loud sound coming from the vehicle. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, who diagnosed a failure with the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt, causing the rear driveshaft to disconnect. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V675000 (Power Train); the VIN was included, but the vehicle was already repaired under the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 70,000.
After maintaining a speed, accelerating just a bit, the steering wheel vibrates until i increase the speed. Twice I have had it into the shop after I purchased it and the Ford dealership said there is nothing wrong. It cost me the 2nd time. There is a recall on a bolt on the rear axle on mine and a steering bolt on another 2020 vehicle. Another mechanic said it could be the transmition not working properly. It drives down the road good except when accelerating a little. It sometimes has a hard shift into drive or reverse. Thank You
My 2020 Ford Explorer has 63,853 miles on it. My power train started to hard shift up and down out of nowhere on Wednesday June 18, 2025. It was fine in the morning before work and on my way home after work it started to hard shift.
I am filing a complaint regarding a safety issue with my 2020 Ford Explorer that was not properly addressed during a recall repair, leading to a dangerous situation. Vehicle Details Make: Ford Model: Explorer Year: 2020 Recall Repair Details In January 2024, I took my vehicle to Coconut Point Ford in Estero, FL, for a recall repair related to the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt, which was at risk of fracturing. The recall required the replacement of the subframe bushing and rear axle bolt to prevent driveshaft disconnection. Incident Description Recently, while driving under normal conditions, the bolt fractured, causing the differential to nearly detach from the vehicle. This failure could have resulted in a catastrophic accident. I am now facing a $6,000 repair bill for an issue that should have been resolved under the recall. Safety Risk The failure of the bolt and the near detachment of the differential posed a severe safety risk, as it could have led to a loss of control of the vehicle, especially at highway speeds. Dealership Response When I brought this to the attention of Coconut Point Ford, they stated that "bolts are not covered under the extended warranty." However, since this is a recall-related issue, I believe Ford is obligated to cover the repair costs. The service writer, Steve, has been helpful, but the resolution has been delayed. Additional Context I am aware of class action lawsuits against Ford regarding this defect, which allege that the recall fix does not fully address the issue and that the design is inherently flawed. Request I request that the federal safety agency investigate this matter to ensure that Ford is held accountable for properly addressing this safety recall and to prevent similar incidents from occurring to other vehicle owners. Thank you for your attention to this serious safety concern.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact had received notification of the federal safety agency Campaign Number: 23V675000 (Power Train) and the vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the recall was repair was performed; however, several months later while driving 50 MPH, the rear axle bolt split in half. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where the vehicle was diagnosed, and the contact was informed that the rear axle bolt was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that the vehicle was no longer under warranty. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 118,000.
Front axle boot defective and leaks grease causing steering instability and possible powertrain failure. Dealer charged $475 to fix/replace the part. Upon further research on-line, it is apparent that thousands of 2020 Ford Explorers exhibit the same problem and the manufacturer should be fixing this problem free of charge.
While slowing, between 30-25mph the transmission downshifts hard and the vehicle jerks. This just began happening. No alarms or errors present on the vehicle. Regularly serviced with no issues.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while reversing out of the driveway and making a right turn, the vehicle felt like the front axle was locked in 4WD Mode. The contact stated that the failure recurred several times while reversing out of the driveway. The power train warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the failure was confirmed, and the dealer diagnosed that the front axle and the front axle boots needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the federal safety agency Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 78,950.
Vehicle accelerates rapidly at low speeds when attempting to slightly accelerate in slow speed area such as in parking lots. Transmission chugs shifts hard when trying to maintain speeds below 50 MPH. Transmission was rebuilt by dealer under warranty but same problem still exists. Dangerous and happens often.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving at various speeds the transmission unexpected downshifted from a high gear to a low gear, and the vehicle lurched forward while attempting to decelerate. The TPMS warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the transmission had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
On May 14, 2025, at approximately 72,000 miles, the vehicle began making a loud rumbling noise when put into gear and proceeding in forward or reverse. The rumbling\shaking would happen to a lesser degree if torque was maintained in the system and all turns were made while accelerating. The vehicle was immediately taken to the Ford Dealership. The transmission tech began to back up the vehicle, at which point the rumbling\shaking occurred and the tech stated that the rear differential (RDU) had failed. The vehicle was left at the Ford Dealership awaiting complete diagnosis. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealership on October 8, 2024, October 14, 2024, October 24, 2024, November 19, 2024, and December 16, 2024 to have the rumbling\jerking\slipping issues fixed and the complete drivetrain evaluated. On May 30, 3025, the owner was advised that the diagnosis was a failed rear differential and a failed transmission. As documented in the federal safety agency Safety Issue ID# 11655556, both front axles were just fully replaced replaced three times on October 2, 2024 (65,221 miles), October 16, 2024 (65,301 miles), and October 28, 2024 (65,597 miles) September to address issues with severe vibrations and rumbling which occurred when making turns and driving around curves. These severe vibrations and rumblings coupled with rough shifting and a hop\slip of the transmission when approaching 0 mph caused alarm and deep concern to the passengers in the car, so much so that they expressed fear for their safety as the vehicle shook and jerked. The axle replacement on October 28, 2024 included performing TSB 23-2174 to swap axle types completely by removing the Front Axle Disconnect Assembly. The rumbling\clunking\hopping\slipping persisted off and on after the replacement of the axles and transmission (TCM\PCM) reprogramming by the Ford Dealership. There were no warning lights or messages. The passengers were scared to ride in the car and the driver was nervous. Vehicle can be inspected.
When entering a roundabout, the vehicle failed to accelerate for a few moments. The vehicle then suddenly accelerated agressviely putting the occupants at risk for a collision with the oncoming traffic amd vehciles ahead of us, already in the roundabout.
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.
Transmission harsh shifting and sometimes going into limp mode where vehicle will not accelerate even on the highway and at highway speeds- according to ford dealer their is no recall for this- vehicle has 64k miles but it’s a 2024 and apparently out of warranty- sometimes it will shift down to 1st gear at 55mph. No help from ford- dealership wants $180 just to diagnose problem.
The hill assist malfunction warning followed by multiple malfunction warning failures started about a two weeks ago since being inspected at the dealer. Other warnings include pre-collision malfunction warning and advance track malfunction warning occurs then a wrench appears on the top left of display screen
The vehicle’s transmission system has been malfunctioning exhi jerky, delayed, and unpredictable shifting behaviors, especially noticeable at speeds between approximately 27 an 30 mph and higher. At lower speeds, the jerking is less frequent, but as speed increases, the jerks become more severe and abrupt. These issues manifest during various driving conditions, including accelerating, decelerating, coming to a stop, and lane changes on highways and city roads. When the problem first occurred, the vehicle suddenly jolted in a manner that felt as if I had been rear-ended, causing a sharp, uncomfortable sensation akin to whiplash. The unexpected jerks cause the vehicle to surge or hesitate unpredictably, significantly affecting my ability to maintain smooth control. On multiple occasions, this behavior happened while I was slowing down at stop signs, red lights, or in traffic, with vehicles close behind me, increasing the risk of rear-end collisions. In one hazardous incident, while attempting to merge from the right lane to the outermost left lane in order to cross an intersection, the vehicle jerked suddenly and unexpectedly, nearly causing me to collide with multiple vehicles behind me. This loss of control was alarming and made it unsafe to continue driving in this condition. At the time of these transmission malfunctions, my children were passengers in the vehicle, which made the situation even more alarming due to the increased risk of injury to my family. To date, this transmission issue has been consistently reproducible during everyday driving but has not been formally inspected, diagnosed, or repaired by any dealership or independent mechanic. There have been no warning lights, messages, or dashboard indicators that signaled this problem prior to or during these events. The transmission system and related components are available for inspection upon request. Because of these unpredictable and unsafe transmission malfunctions, I am currently u
Vehicle continuously shows a fault for Hill Start Assist, AWD Mode disabled, AdvanceTrac fault, Park Sensor, AWD Module Failure, ABS disabled. These faults started showing 13/04/25. While in traffic, driver was giving the throttle gas. While giving gas, driver lost power, and noticed a ticking noise as car was losing power in normal drive mode. Driver could have potentially been rear ended, pushed into traffic, and fear that the vehicle will eventually have a brake failure; or have the brakes lock up on the car while driving that could also lead to fatality, or bodily injuries of driver, or civilians. After making it to destination, driver parked for the night. The next day driver started car all faults were gone. Driver then trashed car to dealership to see what malfunction the car had and everything was fine. Fault later appeared, and driver lost power again. Driver then proceeds to a nearby Auto store where driver had a diagnostic of the car. The store associate then tells driver that the car had a faulty PCM. Driver also notes that the car was Purchased used with mileage reported at 29,000 miles. Driver now has 57k miles. Though car isn’t new. It isn’t old. Being that it is used, car is and was practically new. Driver feels a car with low mileage should not be malfunctioning given the status of its components.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated while driving 75 MPH and depressing the accelerator pedal, the vehicle failed to accelerate as needed and decelerated significantly while the RPMs increased. The contact stated that the incident was frightening for both the contact and her children who were also inside the vehicle. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated, and the message "Power Train Malfunction - Reduced Power" was displayed. The contact was able to pull over to the side of the road in a construction zone. The contact stated that upon turning the gear shifter knob to park(P), the vehicle failed to shift to park(P), and the parking brake automatically engaged. The vehicle was towed to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with transmission failure. The dealer determined that the transmission needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 93,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various highway speeds, the transmission experienced harsh downshifting from seventh to sixth gear. During the failure, the vehicle was shaking and vibrating abnormally, and decelerated unintendedly. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the transmission was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 35,000.
As I was driving down the road I heard a pop and a loud grinding sound. I pulled over to check and was immediately stuck in park (in a turning lane on rt1 with a 4yr old and a 8 month old) even though the car was still in drive. The gear shifter would not come out of park no matter what you shifted to, they just flashed. I got the vehicle towed to a shop because I couldn't get ahold of anyone at the dealer. After describing to them what happened and a little research on their end, they discovered that this matched a recall that ford had already released in 2023 for the plant and year model that my car is. The recal number is 23S05. The warning light states that "park not available" even though it's stuck in park. Unsure why it didn't include my vehicle in the recall but being that im having the same problem as this recall, it should be included. Everything in the recall letter matched what had happened to my vehicle.
The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle started jerking while depressing the accelerator pedal, with the check engine warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the lights on the electronic gear shifter were flashing, causing the contact to pull over and restart the vehicle. The contact stated that during the most recent failure, the vehicle failed to accelerate, and the contact was left stranded on the road. Due to failure, the vehicle was towed to a dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, and the contact was referred to the federal safety agency Hotline to report the failure. The vehicle was not repaired and remained with the dealer. The failure mileage was approximately 75,000.
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