2020 Ford Explorer Brakes Problems
NHTSA lists 88 brake complaints for the 2020 Ford Explorer, 7% of its 1,218 total complaints for the year, with 4 crashes and 6 injuries reported. Median mileage at failure was 6,800 miles. Two related recalls exist, though neither is specifically a brake-hydraulic recall for this exact defect pattern.
- Brakes complaints
- 88
- 7% of 1,218
- Crashes reported
- 4
- Fires reported
- 0
- Injuries reported
- 6
- Median mileage
- 6,800 mi
- Related recalls
- 2
Typical brake symptoms owners report
- Owners report sudden brake failure or inability to stop while slowing from highway or city speeds, in some cases resulting in low-speed collisions.
- Some describe the vehicle unexpectedly braking hard on its own with no obstacle present, often while in reverse or in parking lots.
- Several owners report the vehicle jerking or shifting unexpectedly between drive and reverse right after the brake pedal is released.
- Multiple complaints mention the ABS warning light illuminating at low mileage, with dealers citing a faulty ground connection at a module connector.
- Owners describe an 'auto hold' feature repeatedly showing a fault message despite repeated dealer visits, raising concern about unexpected stops.
When 2020 Ford Explorer brake complaints were filed
First complaint Dec 10, 2019, latest Aug 5, 2026.
Brakes recalls for the 2020 Ford Explorer
- NHTSA 23V199000Mar 24, 2023Brakes674 vehicles
Parking brake:electrical
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L RWD, 3.3L GAS, 3.3L FHEV, or 3.0L ST powertrain. The previous powertrain control module (PCM) update completed under recall 22V-255 did not include the automatic electronic parking brake feature when the vehicle is shifted to park, as intended. In addition, the rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
Risk: Without the electronic parking brake applied, the vehicle could rollaway if the driveshaft disconnects. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the PCM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 31, 2023. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 23S16.
- NHTSA 19V575000Aug 5, 2019Brakes13,896 vehicles
Parking brake
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The Manual Park Release (MPR) cover may not be installed. In addition, the vehicles may be in Factory Mode, which disables warning alerts and does not display the transmission gear selected. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) numbers 114, "Theft Prevention" and 102, "Trans Shift Lever Seq/Starter Interlock/Trans Braking Effect."
Risk: Without the cover, the MPR lever may be unintentionally moved, allowing the vehicle to roll away. Being in Factory Mode, the vehicle will not display warnings and/or gear selection on the instrument cluster. Both conditions increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, install a MPR cover. Dealers will verify the instrument cluster is not in Factory Mode and clear any fault codes, free of charge. The recall began August 23, 2019. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 19C06.
Brakes complaints by Explorer model year
Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.
Frequently asked questions
- How many brake complaints does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
- NHTSA lists 88 brake-related complaints for the 2020 Ford Explorer, which is 7% of all 1,218 complaints filed for that model year.
- Is there a brake recall for the 2020 Ford Explorer?
- NHTSA lists two related recalls: campaign 19V575000, covering a possible missing Manual Park Release cover and Factory Mode issue, and campaign 23V199000, a powertrain control module software update for 2020-2022 Explorer models.
- At what mileage do brake problems typically show up?
- NHTSA complaint data shows a median mileage at failure of 6,800 miles for brake-related issues on the 2020 Explorer.
- Have brake issues caused crashes or injuries?
- NHTSA data tied to these brake complaints shows 4 crashes and 6 injuries reported, with no fires.