Ford Explorer 2020–presentCommon problems, reliability & repair costs

Symptoms: Clunk from the rear, loss of drive power while moving, or the vehicle rolling away when parked if the parking brake isn't set. Caused by the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt fracturing.

Fix: Recall repair is free: dealers replace the rear axle bolt and subframe bushing and inspect the axle cover for damage. Ford's first two recalls (April 2022, March 2023) only added software that auto-applies the electronic parking brake — the ~238,000-vehicle recall that followed a NHTSA investigation finally replaces the hardware. Ford logged 396 bolt-failure reports. The dollar range above is what a broken bolt plus collateral driveline damage costs if you're somehow outside the recall net.

Sources: NHTSA — 2022 Ford Explorer recalls, CarComplaints news — rear axle bolt fracture recall, CBS News — Ford recalls 238,000+ Explorers

Symptoms: Vibration or clunk under load; in a full failure, loss of drive or rollaway in Park. A deformed driveshaft can also contact the fuel tank.

Fix: Recall 20V-693 (Ford 20S65, December 2020): dealers inspect the driveshaft and replace it free if the weld seam is suspect. Applies to certain 2020 Explorers with the 10-speed and AWD. Confirm by VIN that it was done; a driveshaft out of pocket runs high hundreds to low thousands at an independent shop.

Sources: Ford Safety Recall 20S65 — driveshaft weld seam, NHTSA — 2020 Ford Explorer recalls

Symptoms: Hard or erratic shifts, jerking between gears, a distinct bang on the 7-6 downshift, rumble-strip shudder at 35–60 mph steady cruise (torque converter clutch), delayed engagement from Park, and occasional full transmission failure. Roughly a third of 2020 NHTSA complaints are transmission-related.

Fix: Depends on the failure. The harsh 7-6 downshift on early 2.3L cars is a dislodged A-clutch snap ring — Ford TSB 22-2411 fixes it with a redesigned front support. Shudder sometimes responds to a fluid service with the correct Mercon ULV; internal failures mean a rebuild or replacement at $4,500+. Many early cars were repaired under powertrain warranty — get records. The same 10-speed carries into the refreshed 2025–2026 cars; early NHTSA complaints on the 2025 include uncommanded shifts to neutral at speed, but the volume so far is a small fraction of what the 2020 generated.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2020 Explorer transmission, Transmission Digest — 10R60 harsh 7-6 downshift (TSB 22-2411), NHTSA — 2025 Ford Explorer complaints

Symptoms: Blank, distorted, flipped, or inverted image on the center screen when in reverse. Some failures are the camera hardware; the 2020–2024 Explorer recall population is a software defect that can invert the image. On the refreshed 2025, the image-processing module can reset and drop the camera feed along with driver-assist features.

Fix: Recall fixes are free — 2020–2024 Explorers were included in an ~890,000-vehicle software recall (OTA or dealer update), and 2020 cars were also swept into Ford's larger 1.45-million-vehicle camera hardware recall covering 2015–2020 models. The problem followed the generation into the refresh: recall 26V-165 (March 2026, 254,640 Ford/Lincoln vehicles including the 2025 Explorer) covers image-processing software that can reset unexpectedly, killing the rearview camera plus pre-collision assist, lane keeping, and blind-spot monitoring until it recovers — fixed by a free OTA or dealer update. A failed camera outside recall coverage runs a few hundred dollars installed.

Sources: Fox Business — Ford recalls 1.74M vehicles over camera software, Top Class Actions — Ford rearview camera recalls, CBS News — recall 26V-165, camera/ADAS software reset (254,640 vehicles), WardsAuto — image processing module recall detail

Symptoms: Flickering or blank digital gauge cluster, wavy lines, unreadable speedometer, plus scattered reports of dead 12V batteries and infotainment glitches. Electrical is a top complaint category for 2021 and 2022 on CarComplaints.

Fix: Software updates cure some of it; a failed digital cluster is a module replacement at four figures with programming. A weak 12V battery causes a surprising share of the electronic weirdness — test it first before chasing modules.

Sources: CarComplaints — 2021 Ford Explorer problems, Lemberg Law — 2021 Explorer complaint summary

Symptoms: Easy-entry second-row seat switch can bind, letting the seat unlatch, fold, or slide while driving (300,000+ vehicles recalled). Separately, second-row seat belt anchor and buckle bolts were recalled for being improperly secured on 2020–2021 cars, then again on 2025–2026 cars (recall 26V-159).

Fix: All recall repairs are free — dealers inspect the seat switch and replace the bezel, and inspect/re-secure the seat belt anchor bolts. The seat-switch fix itself had to be re-done: Ford's July 2026 recall 26V-451 (387,911 Explorers and Aviators, model years 2020–2026) supersedes the earlier campaign after 14 reports of seats moving while driving — six of them on vehicles that had already received the first fix. The new higher-retention bezel and housing wasn't scheduled to reach dealers until January 2027, so check for the open campaign on any car you shop. The range above covers a switch or bezel out of pocket.

Sources: Consumer Reports — Explorer/Aviator back seat recall, WardsAuto — 240K SUVs recalled for loose seat belt bolts, Carscoops — recall 26V-451 re-fixes the seat switch (387,911 vehicles, 2020–2026), CarComplaints news — Explorer/Aviator recalled again for seat problems

Symptoms: Loss of drive power or an outright stall from a failed EGR valve on 2025 cars; ticking or tapping noises preceding engine failure on small batches of 2025–2026 2.3L engines; the 13.2-inch Ford Digital Experience screen going black mid-drive; windshields with visible air bubbles or improper bonding; loose trailer-hitch bolts; false forward-collision alerts and parking-brake glitches in early NHTSA complaints.

Fix: Everything listed is recall-covered and free — the catch is open campaigns and remedy timing. Recall 26V-122 (March 2026, 47,804 Ford/Lincoln vehicles including 2025 Explorers) covers EGR valves whose poppet head can detach from a bad laser weld and stall the engine at speed; the final remedy wasn't due until September 2026. Recall 26V-343 (May 2026) covers dislodged camshaft roller finger followers on 895 2025–2026 Explorers — the fix is a full engine long-block replacement, scheduled from November 2026. Recall 26V-205 covers mis-installed piston circlips on 2026 Explorers from a late-February 2026 build window, with engine inspection and replacement as needed. Screen blackouts show up in NHTSA complaints and owner forums; the fixes so far have been software updates. Buy a 2025–2026 only after confirming every campaign on the VIN is closed or booked.

Sources: Ford Authority — recall 26V-122, EGR valve failures (47,804 vehicles), Ford Authority — recall 26V-343, 2.3L engine failures (long-block replacement), Ford Authority — recall 26V-205, piston circlips (2026 Explorer/Mustang), Cars.com — 2025 Ford Explorer recall list

Tools: Screwdriver or small socket (airbox clips/screws)

1. Open the glovebox, release the side stops, and drop it down to expose the cabin filter door.
2. Slide out the old cabin filter and insert the new one with the airflow arrow pointing the correct direction (marked on the housing).
3. Under the hood, release the airbox clips, lift the lid, and swap the engine air filter.
4. Re-seat the lid so the seal sits flat, then re-clip and reinstall the glovebox.

Tools: Floor jack + jack stands, Socket set + breaker bar, Caliper piston compressor or large C-clamp, Torque wrench, Brake cleaner + caliper grease

1. Loosen the lug nuts, jack the front, support on stands, and remove the wheels.
2. Remove the caliper bolts, hang the caliper with wire (never by the hose), and slide off the pads.
3. Remove the caliper bracket, pull the old rotor, and clean the hub face thoroughly.
4. Install the new rotor and bracket, compress the caliper piston, and fit the new pads with grease on the contact points.
5. Reassemble, torque everything to spec, then pump the brake pedal until firm BEFORE moving the vehicle.
6. Bed the pads: several moderate stops from 35 mph, cooling between runs.

Tools: 10mm socket + extension, Memory saver (optional but recommended), OBD2 scanner capable of BMS reset (or FORScan)

1. With the vehicle off, disconnect the negative terminal first, then the positive, then the hold-down bracket.
2. Swap in the correct-spec AGM battery (match group size and CCA to the original).
3. Reconnect positive first, then negative, and refit the hold-down.
4. Perform a battery monitoring system (BMS) reset with a scan tool so the charging system treats the new battery correctly — skipping this shortens the new battery's life.