2020 Ford Explorer vs 2021 Ford Explorer
Complaints, recalls, TSBs, investigations and safety ratings side by side, from official federal data. Last verified Sep 21, 2026. Raw complaint counts are not adjusted for sales volume.
| Metric | 2020 Ford Explorer | 2021 Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| NHTSA complaints | 1,212 | 423 |
| Recall campaigns | 33 | 26 |
| Service bulletins (TSBs) | 360 | 292 |
| Investigations | 3 | 2 |
| Crash reports | 35 | 14 |
| Fire reports | 10 | 5 |
| NCAP overall rating | 5/5 | 5/5 |
| EPA MPG (combined) | 19–28 | 19–27 |
| Median reported incident mileage | 27,000 mi | 43,500 mi |
Reported problems side by side
| Component | Ford Explorer | Ford Explorer |
|---|---|---|
| Power Train | 484 | 120 |
| Electrical System | 185 | 42 |
| Engine | 113 | 48 |
| Back Over Prevention | 104 | 36 |
| Service Brakes | 80 | 19 |
| Forward Collision Avoidance | 70 | 19 |
| Visibility/wiper | 55 | 23 |
| Structure | 44 | 23 |
Symptoms owners describe
| Stalling | 62 | 32 |
| Shifting problems | 60 | 0 |
| Loss of power | 43 | 16 |
| Hesitation / surging | 39 | 14 |
| Vibration / shaking | 36 | 14 |
| Clunking / rattling | 33 | 9 |
| Check engine light | 28 | 11 |
| Electrical failures | 11 | 0 |
2020 Ford Explorer
2021 Ford Explorer
Compare all Ford Explorer vs Ford Explorer years →
Method. Complaints are unique NHTSA reports. A vehicle that sold more units will naturally accumulate more complaints — use shares and read the underlying reports before drawing conclusions.