2020 Ford Explorer · symptom sheet
Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard
- 190owner reports
- 48,000median miles
- $6,700median quote
- 1involved a crash
Newest report Sep 29, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
491 of the 1,223 complaints on this car are about the transmission and drivetrain. 190 of those describe transmission shudder, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2020 Explorer.
Narrower sheets: Transmission jerks, lurches or bangs into gear (132 reports)
Tick what matches of 190 reports
Transmission shudder 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: 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
This is the biggest drivetrain group on the site: a transmission that shudders, slips, hesitates or bangs into gear. It's the everyday version of transmission trouble, where the car still drives but doesn't drive right, and it has three narrower sheets of its own for jerking, hesitation and slipping.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the transmission (16 reports), the clutch (14 reports) and the valve body (5 reports).
Recalls and investigations
7 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 rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
The rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture and cause the driveshaft to disconnect.
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 drive shaft may fracture along the weld seam.
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
Rear axle bolt failure. Closed feb 15, 2024, led to recall 23V-675.
Vehicle rollaway allegations. Closed feb 12, 2013.
Accelerator pedal. Closed mar 9, 2000.
Vehicle hesitation/stalling. Closed feb 22, 2000.
Parking pawl. Closed apr 1, 1999, led to recall 91V-189.
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
14 of the 190 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $4,400 to $8,529.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 10,000 and 79,000 miles, from the 107 reports that gave a mileage.
Is this a known problem?
The manufacturer has sent NHTSA 24 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 of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: Harsh engagement Delayed engagement Harsh shift Delayed shift Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes ...
Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit all of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * Illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) ...
This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2474 for 3 Part List corrections. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * ...
This bulletin supersedes TSB 25-2429 for a labor operation correction. Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit at least one of the following conditions: * Harsh engagement * Delayed engagement * Harsh shift * Delayed shift * ...
20 more on the 2020 Ford Explorer page.
What owners wrote
“My 2020 Ford Explorer has 63,853 miles on it. My power train started to hard shift up and down out of nowhere on Wednesday June 18, 2025. It was fine in the morning before work and on my way home after work it started to hard shift.”
Filed Jun 21, 2025 · 63,853 miles
“Transmission harsh shifting and sometimes going into limp mode where vehicle will not accelerate even on the highway and at highway speeds- according to ford dealer their is no recall for this- vehicle has 64k miles but itâs a 2024 and apparently out of warranty- sometimes it will shift down to 1st gear at 55mph. No help from ford- dealership wants $180 just to diagnose problem.”
Filed Jun 9, 2025 · 64,000 miles
“I have 68,000 miles on car and car suddenly started making a thumping sound and jerking when braking. Slip also when driving at low speeds. The Dealership says it needs a new Transmission. I have searched online and found this is a common problem for this year and model.”
Filed Apr 21, 2025 · 68,000 miles
“Transmission jerked in and out of low gears, causing very harsh shifting and lack of acceleration. Service shop at dealership found metal shaving in the transmission and replaced the whole thing. Vehicle only had 50k miles on it.”
Filed Feb 7, 2025 · 50,000 miles
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 1 of 190 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
- 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
- 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