2020 Ford Explorer Seats Problems
- Complaints
- 41about this part
- Share
- 3%of 1,246 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 35,000miles
- Trend
- RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 41 complaints about the seats of the 2020 Ford Explorer, 3% of the 1,246 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 35,000 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers. 3 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.
“Driver's seat will not go all the way back or all the way down. Limited range of motion and will not power back to a safe driving position. Coming up on 6 weeks at the dealership and Ford techs and engineering cannot figure it out. They just keep changing parts. I have concerns about other Explorer st's .”
NHTSA complaint #11388367, filed 2021-01, 3,528 miles“Multiple warnings lights from advanced drivers assistance 4x4 went accelerate and could not error code u0102 also rattling from right second row seat.”
NHTSA complaint #11620894, filed 2024-10, 126,299 miles“Middle captain seats free sliding during operation without warning to driver. Caused child in booster to be slid from rear most position to contacting back of passenger seat during a hard stop. Finding was that the electronic seat folding button on the tops of bucket seat were physically sticking causing the seat to be lose on tracks but not folding because of car seat. Dealer explained root cause as bad installation from factory on plastic housing which caused a tab to be broken and opening not centered with button therefore causing friction and sticking. …”
NHTSA complaint #11352397, filed 2020-08, 3,500 miles“Passenger middle row captain chair was not locked in place resulting in child occupant to be propelled from seat in rear most position all the way to front most position while abruptly braking causing child to strike rear of passenger front seat. Upon dealership inspection we were informed that there is a TSB that stated if the battery is disconnected or dead for a period of time reprogramming of the door control module would be required to reset. Previous to incident dealer had disconnected battery for replacing door window switch and returned vehicle to us with this problem. …”
NHTSA complaint #11327825, filed 2020-06, 4,000 miles“Drivers seat appeared to shift when turning. This has resulted in the plastic trim at bottom of seat to break and come loose from seat while moving. This has occured twice. Additionally we have received error messages on the 4wd while on an extended trip. It dropped us out of cruise controlled an told us to service transmission. Also reverse assist was inactivated as well as cruise . Back up view on screen turned blue. Brakes have also become inactive when starting to back up. (november 15, 2020) these problems are continuing to occur and the dealer has not tried to fix the issue.”
NHTSA complaint #11384050, filed 2020-12, 7,500 milesRelated recalls
- 26V451000Jul 14, 2026Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may…Covers: Ford Explorer 2020–2026, Lincoln Aviator 2020–2027
- 25V393000Jun 13, 2025Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or…Covers: Ford Explorer 2020–2025, Lincoln Aviator 2020–2025
- 19V633000Aug 28, 2019Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2020 F-150 and 2019-2020 F-250, F-350, F-450, and F-550 Super Duty pickup trucks, and 2018-2019 Ford…Covers: Ford Explorer 2018–2020, F-150 2018–2020, F-450 2019–2020 +6 more
Related service bulletins
- 11036530Aug 22, 2026For Various Ford and Lincoln vehicles, if diagnostics lead to the replacement of the front seat cushion cover J-clips, lower-level service parts are now available. Use service…
- 11006458Aug 2, 2024Some 2020-2025 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may have a concern where the second row outboard manual/power seats do not fold, exhibit excess effort to fold, or do not slide…
- 10237972Jun 16, 2023Some 2020-2023 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may have a concern where the second row outboard manual/power seats do not fold, exhibit excess effort to fold, or do not slide…
- 10214496Jun 20, 2022Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a second row folding seat that is inoperative or requires excessive effort to fold. This may be due to tension built up…
- 10212961May 30, 2022Some 2020-2021 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit inoperative third row power seat folding. This may be due to the software in the power fold seat module (SCMJ). To correct…
Seats: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 7 | 17% |
| 2025 | 3 | 3% |
| 2024 | 2 | 10% |
| 2023 | 1 | 1% |
| 2022 | 5 | 2% |
| 2021 | 17 | 4% |
| 2020 | 41 | 3% |
| 2019 | 3 | 1% |
| 2018 | 7 | 1% |
| 2017 | 16 | 1% |
| 2016 | 32 | 1% |
| 2015 | 16 | 1% |
| 2014 | 7 | 0% |
| 2013 | 10 | 0% |
| 2012 | 2 | 0% |
| 2011 | 7 | 1% |
| 2010 | 20 | 17% |
| 2009 | 3 | 9% |
| 2008 | 27 | 18% |
| 2007 | 24 | 12% |
| 2006 | 11 | 2% |
| 2005 | 3 | 1% |
| 2004 | 6 | 0% |
| 2003 | 12 | 1% |
| 2002 | 30 | 1% |
| 2001 | 24 | 6% |
| 2000 | 39 | 4% |
| 1999 | 68 | 5% |
| 1998 | 70 | 4% |
| 1997 | 38 | 2% |
| 1996 | 29 | 2% |
| 1995 | 19 | 2% |
| 1994 | 20 | 2% |
| 1993 | 30 | 3% |
| 1992 | 20 | 3% |
| 1991 | 16 | 3% |
Other parts of the 2020 Ford Explorer
502 complaintsOther or unknown
213 complaintsElectrical system
188 complaintsEngine
117 complaintsBack-over prevention (rear camera)
104 complaintsBrakes
88 complaintsForward collision avoidance
72 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
70 complaintsExterior lighting
56 complaintsBody and structure
46 complaintsFuel system
42 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 28, 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