2020 Ford Explorer Power Train

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

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.

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

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 contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 15 MPH, the vehicle jolted and failed to shift into gear as intended while the gear lever was used. No warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed with a transmission failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 78,000.

Hard Downshifting and Jerking. Valve body replaced 10/2024 for the same issue. Complaint filed at that time as well.

2020 Explorer ST transfer case and transfer case module failed. Safety was a high risk factor for myself and anyone around me because when trying to make turns the vehicle slow way down like the brakes were being applied and the vehicle would violently shake. The vehicle has been inspected by a dealer and confirmed to be the transfer case and transfer case module. When this occurred there were several warnings, advancetrac fault, hill start assist fault, 4WD fault, ABS fault, and traction control fault.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Ford has released a technical service bulletin for this issue , however they are not being held accountable for the issue at hand that I believe poses a safety issue while driving and could cause other drivers to run into the back of your car. The TSB was posted for a part inside the transmission which is a snap ring that comes dislodged from its groove and causes harsh down shifts between gears. This has happened to thousands of owners of these vehicles with a simple internet search. To say a harsh downshift is the issue is putting it mildly. When you are decelerating and the transmission downshifts as it does, It feels as if you slammed on your brakes, however the cars behind you see no brake lights light up to tell them you just slowed down considerably which could cause a pile up accident, especially in rush hour traffic. I feel this is the same type of recall that Ford was made to put out on all the 2011-2014 F150's where the transmission would randomly down shift to first gear on the highway. Ford has major transmission issues that cause safety concerns and I do not feel they are being held accountable on these newer vehicles. Theyve created a TSB on a known issue, yet let people drive around and pose risk of harm to themself or other drivers. Its only a matter of time until the downshift causes a major accident or pile up and people are seriously injured due to Fords negligence. They are aware of the issue and should be held to fix it for the drivers as well as everyone elses safety.

The contact owns a 2020 Ford Explorer. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle briefly jerked and jolted before returning to normal functionality. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who diagnosed a failure with the transmission control module. The contact was informed that the TCM needed to be updated. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and was diagnosed with transmission failure. The contact was informed that the transmission needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, a case was opened, and the contact was referred to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 108,000.

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 NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The approximate failure mileage was 46,894.

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.

Transmission jerked in and out of low gears, causing very harsh shifting and lack of acceleration. Service shop at dealership found metal shaving in the transmission and replaced the whole thing. Vehicle only had 50k miles on it.