2020 Ford Explorer Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 188about this part
- Share
- 15%of 1,244 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 9,900miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 188 complaints about the electrical system of the 2020 Ford Explorer, 15% of the 1,244 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 9,900 miles. 3 of these say a crash was involved and 4 a fire, according to the filers. 4 recall campaigns on record are filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“This has happened over and over . . The car will not start. Sometimes it will just stop and will not start again. Sometimes it will happen in a parking lot. Sometimes it happens in the garage. I have had it towed to the dealership at least 4 times. They cannot find anything wrong with it. I can't be the only person this is happening to!”
NHTSA complaint #11376253, filed 2020-11, 2,172 miles“Since we have purchased the SUV it has on multiple occasions flashed cross traffic system fault, blind spot system fault, AC shuts off, and the windows will not roll down. Have taken to the dealership twice, once they charged the battery, the last time they reset a module. It did it again today so we will have to take it back. We have had the problem happen while moving but today we were stationary when it happened.”
NHTSA complaint #11324599, filed 2020-05, 1,210 miles“On occasion when starting our 2020 Explorer st, the brakes do not work... Resulting in the vehicle driving away. The only way to stop the vehicle, is to throw it back into park or neutral. This has occurred 1-2 times a month, and Ford has been reluctant to fix the issue. The vehicle was almost involved in a low-speed crash, due to fords inability to fix the problem. We have attempted to get a buyback, but they have not resolved it as of now.”
NHTSA complaint #11340565, filed 2020-07, 6,680 miles“I have numerous fault messages, pre collision assist fault, 4wd temp disabled, 4wd system fault service required, service required, drive mode unavailable fault,auto hold system fault,service advancetrac, vehicle will not swtich into park or neutral. I was in motion at the state speed limit of 70 on the ohio turnpike when out of the bule the warning cluster lit up like a christmas tree with mutiple faults and system errors. Vehicle has limited braking.”
NHTSA complaint #11340124, filed 2020-07, 4,500 miles“I just pulled out from a parking lot into traffic and there was a loud clunk and warning lights appeared on the dash. One said service advancetrac and the other said 4wd fault service required. The vehicle would not shift out of low gear and would not accelerate over 25mph. Then, several other warning lights came on, such as pre-collision assist not available. I took the vehicle to the dealership the next day and they were unable to repair/resolve the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11338570, filed 2020-07, 832 milesRelated recalls
- 25V685000Oct 10, 2025Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair…Covers: Ford Explorer 2016–2018, 2020–2023, Ranger 2019–2024, Lincoln MKC 2016–2019 +6 more
- 23V626000Sep 8, 2023Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 3.0L PHEV engines. A manufacturing defect in…Covers: Ford Explorer 2020–2022, Lincoln Aviator 2020–2022
- 23V199000Mar 24, 2023Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous…Covers: Ford Explorer 2020–2022
- 19V687000Sep 30, 2019Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles equipped with 2.3L or 3.3L engines. The wiring harness may not have been properly…Covers: Ford Explorer 2020
Related service bulletins
- 11036595Aug 26, 2026This article supersedes 26-2287. Reason for update: update the labor operation numbers to add MT to operations C, F, G, H, J, K, L and M, and correct the part number LIMZ-4A015-B…
- 11036103Aug 5, 2026Some 2020-2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a power roof opening panel may exhibit a sunshield with localized bunching or binding/inoperative. This may be due to a broken or…
- 11035556Aug 3, 2026Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine, 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine, and 2020-2023 Lincoln Aviator vehicles…
- 11032565May 4, 2026Some 2021-2023 F-150 vehicles equipped with a 3.5L PowerBoost engine and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 3.3L hybrid engine may exhibit an illuminated powertrain…
- 11031780Apr 8, 2026Customer Satisfaction Program 23B64 Certain 2020-2024 Model Year Multiple Vehicle Lines Equipped with High Voltage Batteries Battery Energy Control Module (BECM) Software Update
- 11031263Apr 2, 2026Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System…
- 11029052Feb 24, 2026Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing…
- 11029595Feb 17, 2026Some 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC3 may experience various connectivity concerns with The Ford App Lincoln App including but not limited to: missing…
- 11025611Nov 12, 2025Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022…
- 11024526Oct 21, 2025Some 2020-2025 various Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System…
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 9 | 21% |
| 2025 | 23 | 22% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 14 | 13% |
| 2022 | 39 | 14% |
| 2021 | 48 | 11% |
| 2020 | 188 | 15% |
| 2019 | 20 | 7% |
| 2018 | 58 | 8% |
| 2017 | 94 | 6% |
| 2016 | 129 | 5% |
| 2015 | 93 | 5% |
| 2014 | 100 | 6% |
| 2013 | 163 | 7% |
| 2012 | 64 | 8% |
| 2011 | 95 | 8% |
| 2010 | 12 | 10% |
| 2009 | 2 | 6% |
| 2008 | 38 | 26% |
| 2007 | 25 | 12% |
| 2006 | 39 | 6% |
| 2005 | 36 | 7% |
| 2004 | 55 | 4% |
| 2003 | 54 | 5% |
| 2002 | 148 | 4% |
| 2001 | 29 | 8% |
| 2000 | 78 | 8% |
| 1999 | 92 | 7% |
| 1998 | 114 | 6% |
| 1997 | 80 | 5% |
| 1996 | 47 | 3% |
| 1995 | 55 | 7% |
| 1994 | 75 | 6% |
| 1993 | 45 | 5% |
| 1992 | 45 | 7% |
| 1991 | 52 | 9% |
Other parts of the 2020 Ford Explorer
502 complaintsOther or unknown
212 complaintsEngine
117 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
104 complaintsBrakes
88 complaintsForward collision avoidance
72 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
69 complaintsExterior lighting
56 complaintsBody and structure
45 complaintsFuel system
42 complaintsSeats
41 complaintsSuspension
36 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2020 Ford Explorer
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology