2020 Ford Explorer recalls: 33 NHTSA safety recall campaigns
As of : NHTSA lists 33 safety recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford Explorer; the most recent was reported on Jul 14, 2026 (campaign 26V451000). This list is by model year, so check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Components named include Back Over Prevention and Power Train.
Check your VIN. This page lists recall campaigns by make, model and model year. It cannot tell you whether your own vehicle is affected or whether its recall repair is done. Enter your 17-character VIN in the official NHTSA recall lookup (nhtsa.gov/recalls).
Last checked against the source: . Campaign texts are NHTSA's published data, quoted unchanged. Counts, groupings and links between pages are calculated by this site.
Extended data
All campaigns for the 2020 Ford Explorer
NHTSA campaign
Reported to NHTSA
Component (NHTSA)
Manufacturer
Units potentially affected (whole campaign, all models)
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL)
Ford Motor Company
13,896
By component area
Component area
Campaigns
Back Over Prevention
9
Power Train
7
Seats
3
Seat Belts
3
Equipment
2
Engine
2
Electrical System
2
Fuel System, Gasoline
2
Visibility
1
Suspension
1
Air Bags
1
By year reported
Year reported
Campaigns
2019
4
2020
6
2021
2
2023
7
2024
3
2025
6
2026
5
How the figures are counted: each NHTSA campaign number is counted once for this exact make, model and model year as returned by the NHTSA recalls API; a campaign that covers several models is counted once on each model's page. “Units potentially affected” is the manufacturer-reported figure for the whole campaign, not for this model year alone.
Worked example: 2020 Ford Explorer: 33 campaigns = 26V451000, 26V402000, 26V159000 and 30 more.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2027 Aviator and 2020-2026 Explorer vehicles. The switch for the easy-entry second-row outer seats may bind or stick, resulting in the seats unlatching, tipping, or sliding unexpectedly.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will inspect and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. This will be a phased campaign, with the remedy becoming available in different phases based on model and model years. Interim letters explaining the safety risk were mailed August 19, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in January 2027. Lincoln Aviator owner notification letters were mailed August 21, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S52. This recall expands Recall 25V393. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on July 16, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Navigator, Expedition, 2020-2021 Explorer, Lincoln Aviator, and 2021 F-150 vehicles. The transmission park pawl may engage while the vehicle is in motion, resulting in park system damage.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will update the powertrain control module software, and inspect and replace any damaged transmission components as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed July 10, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the remedy is available, anticipated in April 2027. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S48. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on June 26, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2026 Explorer and Lincoln Aviator vehicles. The seat belt anchor bolts at the second-row outer seating positions may be improperly secured.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will inspect the second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts and replace or repair them as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 30, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C18. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 19, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Escape, Lincoln Corsair, 2020-2024 Lincoln Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. The image on the center display may flip or invert, resulting in an incorrectly displayed rearview image when the vehicle is placed in reverse. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 111, "Rear Visibility."
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will update the accessory protocol interface module (APIM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 23, 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26C11. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 5, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Aviator, and Lincoln Corsair vehicles. The windshield wiper motor may fail and prevent the windshield wipers from operating properly.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will inspect and replace the front wiper motors as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed April 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in November 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on March 4, 2026.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Lincoln MKC, 2016-2023 Explorer, 2019-2020 Fusion, 2019-2024 Ranger, 2020-2022 Lincoln Corsair, Escape, 2021-2024 Bronco, Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Owners are advised not to plug in their block heater until the vehicle is remedied. Dealers will replace the block heater, free of charge. Owners will also have a alternative option to replace engine block heater element with a threaded blanking plug, and remove the block heater electrical cord. Interim letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed December 3, 2025. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated December 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25SA4. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall became searchable on NHTSA.gov on October 15, 2025.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Transit Connect, 2019-2020 MKZ, MKX, Edge, Continental, F-150, Nautilus, Fusion, 2019-2023 Ranger, Mustang, 2020-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator, 2020-2022 Escape, F-250 SD, Corsair, 2020-2023 Aviator, Transit, 2020-2024 Explorer, 2021-2024 Bronco Sport, and 2022-2024 Maverick vehicles. 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.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
A rearview camera that displays a blank image can reduce the driver's view behind the vehicle. A rearview image that continues to be displayed after the vehicle is shifted out of reverse may distract the driver. Both of these situations can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will update the rearview camera software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 4, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S72.
Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2025 Aviator, and Explorer vehicles. 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.
Consequence — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy — NHTSA text, quoted verbatim
Dealers will inspect the second-row seat switch, and replace the bezel around the switch as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 7, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S67.
Showing NHTSA's text for the 8 most recent of 33 campaigns. All 33 are in the table above; read any of them in full at NHTSA.
Frequently asked questions
How many safety recalls does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
NHTSA's recall data lists 33 recall campaigns for the 2020 Ford Explorer. The most recent was reported on Jul 14, 2026 (campaign 26V451000); the earliest listed was reported on Aug 5, 2019 (campaign 19V575000). The full list with NHTSA's own summaries is on this page.
What was the most recent recall for the 2020 Ford Explorer?
Campaign 26V451000, reported to NHTSA on Jul 14, 2026 by Ford Motor Company, component: SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY. NHTSA's summary, consequence and remedy text for it is quoted unchanged on this page.
Does this list tell me whether my 2020 Ford Explorer has an open recall?
No. This page lists recall campaigns by make, model and model year only. Whether a specific vehicle is affected, and whether its repair has been done, depends on its VIN. Enter your 17-character VIN in the official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Which parts of the 2020 Ford Explorer are named in its recalls?
The component areas in NHTSA's data are: Back Over Prevention (9 campaigns); Power Train (7 campaigns); Seats (3 campaigns); Seat Belts (3 campaigns); Equipment (2 campaigns); Engine (2 campaigns); Electrical System (2 campaigns); Fuel System, Gasoline (2 campaigns); Visibility (1 campaign); Suspension (1 campaign); Air Bags (1 campaign).
Where does the information on this page come from?
From the public NHTSA recalls API (api.nhtsa.gov), which publishes the manufacturers' recall reports. Summary, consequence and remedy texts are shown exactly as NHTSA provides them; counts and groupings are calculated by this page and explained under Extended data.