2020 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Seat belt or seat problems
- 56owner reports
- 38,000median miles
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Aug 19, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
56 of the 1,223 complaints on this car describe seat belt.
Tick what matches of 56 reports
Seat belt 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: 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This group covers the belt and the seat it's bolted to: buckles that won't latch or won't let go, belts that lock up and won't pull out, and seats that shift or rock in their tracks. It's a wide bucket, with over 9,000 complaints across the vehicles on this site, and a quarter of them mention a recall.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the buckle (3 reports).
Recalls and investigations
6 recalls on the seats cover the 2020 model year. A recall on the same system isn't always the same failure, so read the defect text.
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, folding, or sliding unexpectedly while driving.
The seat belt buckle anchor bolts at one or more seating positions may be improperly secured.
The affected vehicles are equipped with second row center seat belt buckles that may not be properly secured to the seat.
Also included are certain 2020 Ford Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles equipped with rear outboard seats and manual seat back recliner mechanisms.
All 33 recalls on the 2020 Ford Explorer, with the owner complaints on each recalled system
NHTSA investigations into the seats on the Explorer
Front seat back recliner attachment. Closed sep 5, 2003, led to recall 03V-281.
Safety belt assembly failure. Closed may 21, 2003.
Safety belt assembly. Closed jul 2, 2002.
Seat belt webbing. Closed apr 25, 2002.
Seat belt webbing. Closed feb 26, 2001.
Front seat track failure. Closed feb 26, 1993.
None of these investigations covers the 2020 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 12,000 and 64,000 miles, from the 24 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 7 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 2020-2025 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may have a concern where the second row outboard manual/power seats do not fold, exhibit excess effort to fold, or do not slide forward/backward easily.
Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit a second row folding seat that is inoperative or requires excessive effort to fold.
Some 2020-2021 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit inoperative third row power seat folding. This may be due to the software in the power fold seat module (SCMJ).
Some 2017-2018 Focus/MKX/C-MAX, 2017-2019 MKC/Taurus/Flex/MKT, 2017-2020 Fusion/MKZ/Continental, 2017-2022 Mustang/Edge/Explorer/Police Interceptor Utility/Escape/F-150/F-Super Duty, 2018-2022 Expedition/Navigator, 2019-2022 Ranger/Nautilus, 2020-2022 ...
3 more on the 2020 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“At 45,000 miles the third row driver side headrest broke and the seat will not fold and is a safety hazard for the seat since the head rest does not work as intended. The third row passenger side head rest broke while under bumper to bumper warranty. Given both have broken with minimal use and others having the same exact issue, the part is made inferior and causes a safety issue.”
Filed Sep 26, 2025 · 45,000 miles
“Passenger side seatbelt reactor is broken. Now I am unable to have a passenger safely due to faulty ford seatbelt. When I attempted to purchase seatbelt, ford had it on back order.”
Filed Nov 5, 2024
“Multiple warnings lights from advanced drivers assistance 4x4 went accelerate and could not error code u0102 also rattling from right second row seat.”
Filed Oct 20, 2024 · 126,299 miles
“When drivers side seat automatically goes back it will eventually break off the seat control cover with the adjustment controls on the left side of seat.”
Filed Aug 19, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 56 reports involved a crash and 3 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
- Engine stalls or loses power while driving 95 reports
- Brakes grind, pulse or wear early 82 reports
- Transmission fails or needs replacement 75 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