2020 Ford Explorer brake problems
83 of the 1,228 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Explorer name the brakes (NHTSA’s “Service Brakes” heading — the hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist). Filed under the same heading: 17 manufacturer bulletins. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the brakes
Source: NHTSA complaint database4 of the 83 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 6 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2019: 1 · 2020: 26 · 2021: 12 · 2022: 11 · 2023: 11 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 7 · 2026: 5
Half of the 37 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the brake problem between 3,000 and 17,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
1,228 complaints in all about the 2020 Ford Explorer, 5 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Service Brakes” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Ford Explorer brake problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the brakes. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
While I was driving on the interstate, in the left most lane, there was road on the side of the road sighted ahead that was extending into the left lane I was traveling in. To avoid the upcoming lane infringement, I needed to accelerate to change lanes to the right of me.
Periodically, after starting the vehicle, and selecting a gear (either drive or reverse), I experience a "hard brake" where I cannot press down the break pedal but the vehicle will begin to roll. The vehicle will continue to roll and I cannot use the brake pedal (therefore I cannot stop).
Auto hold feature continues to display fault. I've taken it to the dealership 3 times and each time they say it's fixed. Im concerned that it will fault when im stopped and cause a collision. Ford customer care can barely understand english let alone listen to me describe the issue. For a vehicle with 700 miles this is ridiculous
ABS brake light came on at aprox. 3,000 miles. Took to dealer told bad ground at module connector. Dealer said would have to order 2 nuts and bolts would call when parts arrived. Two weeks later no call. Called dealer & got voice mail, lefft message no call back after 2 hours.
Cruise control can not be disabled by pressing brake pedal. Requires passing steering wheel button to turn off. Also "pre-collision assist not available" message comes on dash every time vehicle is started
What is on file about the brakes
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communications17 manufacturer bulletins filed under this heading
The 0 newest are listed; every one is on the model year’s page. Quote the document number at a service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
Other systems with a record on the 2020 Ford Explorer
Source: the same files- transmission and drivetrain problems 499 complaints
- electrical problems 186 complaints
- engine problems 137 complaints
- backup camera and parking sensor problems 112 complaints
- visibility and wiper problems 69 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre brake problems common on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 83 owner complaints naming the brakes on this model year (7% of everything owners filed about it), and 17 manufacturer bulletins are filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the brakes on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
No recall campaign is filed under this heading for this model year (there are 35 filed under other headings). A bulletin is not a recall: it carries no federal duty to repair for free.
When do brake problems show up on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 7,393 miles; half of them between 3,000 and 17,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Service Brakes" heading cover?
The hydraulic brakes, ABS and brake assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.