2020 Ford Explorer defect investigations

Investigations by NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation that name the 2020 Ford Explorer. An investigation is how complaints can become a recall: complaints → investigation → (sometimes) TSB → recall.

• Underbody shields detachment
  Defect Petition DP25001 · opened Sep 5, 2025 · closed Apr 9, 2026

  The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) received a petition on August 22, 2025, requesting a defect investigation into an alleged defect of the “underbody shields” on model year (MY) 2020 Ford Explorer vehicles. The petition alleges premature degradation and detachment of the plastic underbody shields, potentially le…

• Rear Axle Bolt Failure
  Recall Query RQ23002 · opened Jun 20, 2023 · closed Feb 15, 2024 · led to recall 23V675

  On July 17, 2023, the Office of Defect Investigation (ODI) opened this Recall Query (RQ) after receiving 2 consumer complaints alleging loss of vehicle forward power and/or loss of transmission torque of the rear wheels in model year (MY) 2020-2022 Ford Explorer vehicles (subject vehicles). The RQ was opened to focus o…

• Rearview Camera FMVSS 111 Noncompliance
  Recall Query RQ21002 · opened Aug 3, 2021 · still open

  On September 23, 2020, Ford Motor Company (Ford) filed a noncompliance recall report under 49 CFR Part 573 (NHTSA Recall No. 20V-575), recalling 620,246 Model Year (MY) 2020 Ford F-150, F-250, F-350, F-450, F-550, Explorer, Mustang, Transit, Expedition, Escape, Ranger and Edge, and Lincoln Nautilus and Corsair vehicles…