2020 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Brakes grind, pulse or wear early
- 82owner reports
- 7,393median miles
- 4involved a crash
Newest report Jul 30, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
82 of the 1,223 complaints on this car describe brake wear.
Tick what matches of 82 reports
Brake wear on other Explorer years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Brake reports cover a wide spread of symptoms. Grinding or squealing is common, and so is a pulsing pedal or a shake through the car when stopping. Others describe pads and rotors worn out long before they expected, a brake warning light, or a pedal that goes soft or sinks toward the floor. The most serious ones say the car didn't stop in time.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the ABS module (12 reports) and the booster (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the brakes covers the 2020 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the brakes on the Explorer
Front brake hose failure. Closed nov 2, 2018.
Front brake hose failure. Closed sep 28, 2015.
Front brake hose failure. Closed feb 3, 2015.
Brake system malfunction. Closed oct 29, 1999.
Wheel lockup with antilock brake system. Closed jul 24, 1996.
Separation of master cylinder. Closed apr 2, 1996, led to recall 96V-024.
Brake master cylinder/booster separation. Closed jun 19, 1995.
Vacuum boostr valve fails. Closed aug 17, 1992.
Vacuum boostr valve fails. Closed oct 3, 1991.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 2,800 and 19,624 miles, from the 39 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 6 service bulletins or notices for the 2020 Ford Explorer that deal with this problem. Newest first.
Federal rules make a manufacturer send NHTSA a copy of any notice about a defect that goes to more than one dealer or owner. Most of these are service bulletins, the repair instructions manufacturers send to dealers. NHTSA generally leaves safety recall bulletins out of this file, and recalls are listed separately.
Some Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
Some 2021-2022 Bronco vehicles equipped with the 2.3L engine may exhibit a red brake warning lamp and/or brake system warning message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC) with a diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P050F in the anti-lock brake system (ABS) module ...
Some 2013-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit noise when the brakes are applied. When diagnosing and repairing brake noise conditions, use the Workshop Manual (WSM) and the appropriate pinpoint test in section 206-00.
Some 2020 Explorer/Aviator vehicles built on or before 13-Dec-2019 may exhibit a hard brake pedal or reduced pedal travel when the transmission is initially placed in gear with no diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) stored in the anti-lock brake system (ABS) ...
2 more on the 2020 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“Electronic brake booster has failed. Ford has issued a customer service bulletin to address however ended the program in 2022. This needs to be turned into a recall as it could easily lead to a fatality if not addressed and replaced. Speaking with ford they have done numerous replacements of these.”
Filed May 29, 2025
“We had an issue where the abs light came on going down the road. If you applied the brakes the dash would say release parking brakes and then the vehicle did not want to stop when I actually needed too.”
Filed Apr 10, 2025
“The vehicle is equipped with electric power brakes which will intermittently stop working resulting in no power brakes. It doesn't warn you that the pump has stopped working just a very hard brake pedal and no braking effort, failure to slow down.”
Filed Oct 21, 2024
“When slowing down around 27mph car downshifts so hard it jerks. If someone would have been behind me they would have probably hit me.”
Filed Aug 19, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 4 of 82 reports involved a crash and 6 people were hurt. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.
File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 190 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 177 reports
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 95 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 75 reports
- Seat belt or seat problems 56 reports
- Driveshaft, axle or transfer case problems 52 reports
- Headlights too dim or fail 47 reports
- Suspension noise, struts or alignment 35 reports
- Forward collision warning goes off or the camera drops out 35 reports
- Multiple warning lights come on at once 29 reports
- "Service Transmission" message or wrench light comes on 28 reports