2020 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Engine stalls or loses power while driving
- 95owner reports
- 34,412median miles
- $5,400median quote
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 17, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
738 of the 1,223 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 95 of those describe stalling.
Tick what matches of 95 reports
Stalling 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: 2019, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Stalling reports are some of the most alarming on the site. The engine quits while the car is moving, sometimes on a highway and sometimes at a stop. Many owners say it restarted right away and the dealer found no stored code, which is part of why these complaints pile up before anything gets fixed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the battery (7 reports).
Recalls and investigations
14 recalls on the transmission and drivetrain cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine compartment and accumulate near ignition sources such as hot engine or exhaust components, possibly resulting in an engine compartment fire.
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
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.
An unintentional powertrain control module (PCM) reset may occur while the vehicle is in motion and result in park system damage.
The right hand motor mount fasteners may have been incorrectly tightened, and may loosen over time.
The fuel tank inlet check valve may not be fully welded to the fuel tank shell.
The drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
Over time, the protective sleeve on the vapor fuel line may chafe through the plastic liquid fuel line and cause a fuel leak.
The wiring harness may not have been properly secured and may contact the air conditioner compressor (A/C) pulley, potentially damaging the harness or the A/C belt.
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.
All 33 recalls on the 2020 Ford Explorer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the transmission and drivetrain on the Explorer
Loss of motive power. Closed oct 31, 2024, led to recall 24V-635.
Rear axle bolt failure. Closed feb 15, 2024, led to recall 23V-675.
Exhaust odor in passenger cab. Closed jan 17, 2023.
Ford explorer exhaust odor. Closed sep 12, 2017.
Vehicle rollaway allegations. Closed feb 12, 2013.
Spark plug ejection from cylinder head. Closed jan 4, 2006.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Accelerator pedal. Closed mar 9, 2000.
Vehicle hesitation/stalling. Closed feb 22, 2000.
Fuel line damage from jump starting. Closed nov 15, 2000, led to recall 98V-060.
Parking pawl. Closed apr 1, 1999, led to recall 91V-189.
Electrical fire in center console. Closed sep 4, 1997.
Driver door electrical fire. Closed may 15, 1997, led to recall 97V-083.
Engine cooling fan cracks. Closed aug 31, 1994.
Auto trans prndl misalign. Closed jul 29, 1994.
Auto trans.prndl misalign. Closed jan 29, 1993.
Park pawl bending. Closed nov 8, 1991, led to recall 91V-189.
What owners paid
13 of the 95 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $1,091 to $9,000.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 8,000 and 85,000 miles, from the 49 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 4 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 2017-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A after a repair was made that required the removal of the fuel line that connects ...
Some 2020 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost/3.3L Duratec engine and a rotary gear shift knob built on or before 14-Jul-2020 may exhibit slow fuel fill, premature fuel nozzle shut off, and/or spit back during refueling with no diagnostic trouble ...
Some 2017-2020 Model year vehicles equipped with 3.3L, 3.5L EcoBoost, or 5.0L engines may exhibit stalling, lack of power, low fuel rail pressure and/or DTCs P0087 or P008A after a repair was made that required the removal of the fuel line that connects the ...
Some 2020 Escape/Aviator/Explorer Hybrid vehicles and 2020 Explorer/Aviator vehicles equipped with a 3.0L EcoBoost engine may exhibit slow fuel fill, premature shut off, and/or spit back during refueling.
What owners wrote
“Vehicle with 42k miles and regular dealer maintenance suddenly stalled out in traffic, creating dangerous situation for driver and children passengers. Towed to dealership from which it was purchased. Told it was a catastrophic engine failure and had coolant and oil mixed. Dealer unwilling to explore exact cause. Vehicle 11 months past 5 year power train warranty but well under mileage.”
Filed May 6, 2026 · 42,000 miles
“Electrical shorting caused the transmission to improperly shift stalling the vehicle on a highway”
Filed Feb 18, 2025
“Vehicle is giving a code C0631 and C0632 also has a wrench light indicator on it has something to do with the AWD the vehicle will become hard to turn stall completely will not move and a loss of power occurs”
Filed Aug 30, 2024
“Driving 55 mph in a costuction zone lost power and 2020 explorer stated bucking violently with no place to pullover. Power came back and took to dealer. Drove it while waiting for parts when the tansmission went completely out. This happened on June 21 2023. Only 19500 miles. They replaced the trasmission.”
Filed Oct 20, 2023 · 19,500 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 95 reports involved a crash and 1 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 Paid for this repair before a recall covered it? How recall reimbursement works
Other problems on this car
- Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard 190 reports
- Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails 177 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 82 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