2020 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails
- 177owner reports
- 17,000median miles
- $2,500median quote
- 9involved a crash
Newest report Sep 15, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
490 of the 1,223 complaints on this car are about the electrical system. 177 of those describe infotainment. Only transmission shudder is reported more often on this car.
Narrower sheets: Backup camera goes black or freezes (77 reports)
Tick what matches of 177 reports
Infotainment 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, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Screen complaints read like a list of small betrayals. The display goes black or freezes, the backup camera shows nothing when you shift into reverse, CarPlay or Android Auto keeps dropping, or the radio changes volume on its own. Many owners had a software update that didn't fix it. A narrower sheet covers backup camera failures on their own, and another covers screens that freeze.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the camera (137 reports), the head unit or screen (100 reports), the software (27 reports) and the module (12 reports).
Recalls and investigations
13 recalls on the electrical system cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse.
The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
A software error may cause the rearview camera to display a blank image, or the image may remain on the display after the backing event has ended.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
When the Display On/Off Button is used to turn the display to "Off" prior to placing the vehicle in reverse, the backup camera rearview image will not appear on the display.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
The video output may fail, preventing the rearview camera image from displaying.
Due to a poor electrical connection, the rearview camera may intermittently display a blank or distorted image.
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.
All 33 recalls on the 2020 Ford Explorer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the electrical system on the Explorer
Rearview camera fmvss 111 noncompliance. Open.
Fleet vehicle recall completion audit. Closed dec 28, 2015.
Engine compartment fires. Closed aug 2, 2006, led to recall 05V-388.
Windshield wiper malfunction. Closed apr 24, 2000, led to recall 00V-072.
Blower assembly fires. Closed apr 18, 2000.
Heater blower assembly fire. Closed sep 11, 1998.
Blower assembly fires. Closed jan 15, 1999.
Electrical fire in center console. Closed sep 4, 1997.
Driver door electrical fire. Closed may 15, 1997, led to recall 97V-083.
What owners paid
14 of the 177 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $828 to $8,500.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 6,659 and 52,000 miles, from the 64 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 38 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.
Various 2020-2026 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Some 2020-2025 various Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with blind spot information system (BLIS) may experience an inoperative blind spot monitoring with a "Blind Spot System Fault" message displayed in the instrument panel cluster (IPC).
Various 2019-2024 Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with SYNC 3 may experience a partially or fully black center display screen at start-up using Apple CarPlay or Android Auto. This does not affect rear camera operation.
Some 2020-2024 Escape/Explorer, 2021-2024 F-150, 2022-2024 Maverick and 2024 Nautilus vehicles equipped with a full hybrid electric vehicle (FHEV) powertrain may exhibit a cable connection error screen from the Midtronics xRC-3363 High Voltage Battery Rescue ...
34 more on the 2020 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“Transmission does a hard downshift from gear 7 to gear 6. There is a TSB bulletin for it but no recall. Car is under 100k miles but out of warranty and estimated to cost $3500 to repair. Also, the screen and backup camera frequently freeze or go black”
Filed Aug 19, 2024 · 100,000 miles
“My backup camera hasnât been reliable for over 2 years. Also my audio and GPS do not work. If I put my phone in the car I cannot even answer it due to no audio. I believe it needs a download update. I have tried and tried but have not succeeded. In getting an oil change the mechanic told me it can only be done on a ford computer. This is wrong! I only have 36000 miles on it”
Filed Mar 7, 2024 · 36,000 miles
“Reverse camera turns blue on many occasions and other times it gets dark, the engine in the mornings the engine sounds like a Diesel car in the dealer indicate it is normal but new vehicles do not sound that way.”
Filed Aug 30, 2021
“Back up camera not functioning properly. Back up camera will intermittently show distorted image while backing up and then it turns to black screen with warning stating "Camera is unavailable. Please contact your dealership."”
Filed Aug 20, 2021
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 9 of 177 reports involved a crash. 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 95 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