What 1,163 owners told NHTSA about the 2020 Ford Explorer Police Intercept

WHILE MAKING A TURN AROUND UNDER THE FREEWAY, I SAW AN UPCOMING SUV STOPPED FOR CROSS TRAFFIC. BY THE TIME I WAS WHERE THE SUV WAS I SAW THE SUV ACCELERATE TO MERGE. I CHECKED OVER MY SHOULDER FOR THE CROSS TRAFFIC UNAWARE THE SUV HAD STOPPED AGAIN IN FRONT OF ME. MY SUV'S COLLISION WARNING AND BRAKING SYSTEM NEVER ENGAGED OR ALERTED ME. I ENDED UP REAR ENDING THE SUV IN FRONT OF ME CAUSING A FENDED BENDER.

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SAME FAILURE AS OTHER DRIVERS HAVE REPORTED. VERY OCCASIONALLY, IMMEDIATELY AFTER ENGAGING DRIVE/REVERSE FROM A FRESH START, PARKED POSITION, BRAKES DO NOT WORK CORRECTLY. VERY HARD WALL ON BREAK PRESS WITH VERY LITTLE TO NO BREAKING AS A RESULT. VEHICLE CONTINUES TO SLOWLY ROLL IN SELECTED DIRECTION REGARDLESS OF BREAK PEDAL PRESSURE UNTIL HOLDING THE BREAK AND TRANSFERRING BACK INTO PARK. NO ERROR IS DISPLAYED DURING THIS EVENT. SO FAR, 100% OF THE TIME, TRANSFERRING THE VEHICLE BACK INTO DRIVE/REVERSE AFTER HAVING EXPERIENCED THIS ISSUE, IT DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY REPRODUCE. ISSUE HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES IN 17,000 MILES.

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INTERIOR FLOODING, IN SPARE TIRE WELL AND ALL FLOORING AREAS. SIX GALLONS OF WATER REMOVED. WAITING FOR FORD DEALERSHIP TO INSPECT. THEY BELIEVE A WELD HAS GONE BAD.

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WHEN SHIFTING INTO DRIVE, VEHICLE WILL RANDOMLY HAVE A HARD BRAKE PEDAL AND VEHICLE WILL LURCH FORWARD WITH INCREASED RPM. USE OF E-BRAKE OR PUTTING TRANSMISSION IN PARK REQUIRED TO STOP MOVEMENT. PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART OF ENGINE AND PROBLEM GONE UNTIL NEXT TIME. USE OF REVERSE, VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY STOP AND SOUND AS IF YOU HIT SOMETHING. BRAKE PEDAL VERY HARD. HAVE TO PLACE TRANS IN PARK AND RESTART ENGINE. THE ISSUE OCCURS FROM A STATIONARY CONDITION, IN DRIVEWAY OR PUBLIC PARKING AREAS, SO THIS CAUSES CONCERN THAT THIS MAY ULTIMATELY RESULT IN ACCIDENT OR COLLISION WITH A STRUCTURE, ANOTHER VEHICLE, OR A PEDESTRIAN! ISSUE CANNOT BE REPEATED ON DEMAND. IT IS ENTIRELY RANDOM AND EVERY DRIVE HAS TO BE APPROACHED WITH THE EXPECTANCY THAT THE VEHICLE WILL MOVE WITHOUT NORMAL BRAKES TO STOP. THERE ARE NO ALERTS TO TELL US WHY (OR WHICH SYSTEM) IS THE ISSUE. THIS HAS OCCURRED RANDOMLY SINCE BUYING THIS EXPLORER ST. FORD SERVICE SEEMS SURPRISED AND UNAWARE OF THIS ISSUE (AND MORE).

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TRANSMISSION IS CATCHING WHICH SWITCHING GEARS. CAR HAS UNDER 6,000 MILES. TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SWITCH GEARS AND CATCH. CAR WILL JOLT FORWARD AND IT FEELS LIKE I AM BEING REAR ENDED

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I WAS BACKING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE AND I TAPPED THE BRAKE. THE CAR KEPT GOING BACKWARDS SO I PRESSED IT HARDER. IT FELT LIKE THE BRAKE BECAME CONCRETE AND WOULD NOT GO DOWN ANY FURTHER. I PRESSED HARDER AND IT FINALLY WENT DOWN. I DID NOT RECEIVE ANY ERROR MESSAGES.

NHTSA ODI 11400339

VEHICLE STICKS, JERKS OR LUNGES WHILE SHIFTING IN LOW GEARS

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STEERING WHEEL SHAKES AND ENGINE SOUNDS AS IT IS GOING TO STALL AT SPEEDS BETWEEN, 35 AND 45 MPH. FORD HAD VEHICLE FOR TWO WEEKS TOTAL AND CONFIRMED ISSUES. THEY DID NOT KNOW HOW TP FIX. THEY SAID VEHICLE IS WITHIN SPECIFICATIONS'

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THE BRAKES LOCKED UP, STEERING WHEEL LOCKED, GAS LOCKED, ALL SENSORS WENT HAYWIRE AND I SLID OFF MY DRIVEWAY AND INTO THE WOODS THANKFULLY AVOIDING COLLISION ON MY PROPERTY. DEALERSHIP COULD NOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. I WAS LEAVING MY HOUSE ON MY DRIVEWAY WHEN IT HAPPENED.*DT*JB

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THE MOST RECENT AND SEVERE INCIDENT OCCURRED FEBRUARY 27 2021. I'VE STARTED MY 2020 FORD EXPLORER ST VIA REMOTE AND ENTERED IT TO MOVE IT IN ORDER TO LOAD THE VEHICLE. THE LOADING THE VEHICLE ALL IN ALL TOOK ABOUT 15 MINUTES, THE WHOLE TIME, IT WAS IDLING. I'VE PUT THE VEHICLE IN REVERSE, BACKED OUT OF A SPOT AND STARTED DRIVING FORWARD IN THE LOT I WAS IN AT ABOUT 10MPH. I'VE ATTEMPTED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, BUT THEN IT WAS NOT SLOWING DOWN PROPERLY. I HAD TO USE THE E-BRAKE BUTTON TO STOP IT. IT CAME TO AN IMMEDIATE STOP. THE DASH WAS CYCLING THROUGH NUMEROUS WARNINGS; 1. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 2. ANTI LOCK BRAKE FAULT 3. PRE COLLISION ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE 4. HILL START ASSIST WARNING 5. HILL DESCENT CONTROL FAULT 6. SERVICE ADVANCE TRACK SYSTEM 7. CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM 8. PARK BRAKE FAULT SERVICE NOW I TRIED TESTING THE BRAKES, WHILE GOING FORWARD AND BACKWARDS, THE WERE WEAK AND INCONSISTENT. LIKE THEY WERE PULSING WITH FULL POWER AND THEN NOTHING. RESTARTING THE VEHICLE MADE ALL THOSE WARNINGS DISAPPEAR. TOOK IT TO THE DEALERSHIP, WHICH IS THE 2ND TIME THAT IS IT GOING IN FOR BRAKE AND POWER TRAIN RELATED ISSUES. FEW TIMES A MONTHS SINCE I'VE BOUGHT IT, THE ONLY ISSUE I WOULD HAVE, IS ON STARTUP AND IMMEDIATE MOVEMENT, THE BRAKES WOULD SOMETIMES BOTTOM OUT AND NOT BE ABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN IN GEAR UNLESS I PUT IT IN NEUTRAL OR PUMP THE BRAKES. WAS TOLD THAT THEY DO NOT SEE ANY CODES, AND MIGHT BE JUST A WEIRD TIMING WITH MY START UPS. THE MOST RECENT EVENT ON THE 27TH, WAS WHAT PROMPTED ME TO REPORT THIS. VEHICLE WAS IDLING FOR A WHILE AND MOVING WITH WEAK OR NO BRAKES TO STOP. THAT COULD HAVE RESULTED IN AN INCIDENT.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT UPON PURCHASE OF THE VEHICLE, THE REARVIEW CAMERA WOULD LOSE STREAM UPON USE AS THE REVERSE BRAKE ASSIST NOT AVAILABLE; SEE MANUAL WARNING MESSAGE WOULD ILLUMINATE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE CONTACT SPOKE WITH TOMBALL FORD (22702 TX-249, TOMBALL, TX 77375) WHERE HE WAS INFORMED THAT THEY WERE UNAWARE OF ANY ISSUES WITH THE REARVIEW CAMERA HOWEVER, UPON INVESTIGATION, THE CONTACT DISCOVERED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 20V575000 (VISIBILITY) WHICH HE LINKED TO THE FAILURE. THE DEALER OFFERED TO REPAIR THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DECLINED TO REPAIR THE PART FOR FREE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND OFFERED NO ASSISTANCE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 20.

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VERY HARD JERKY SHIFTING. WHEN ACCELERATING AND BRAKING. 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AND 2ND TO 3RD. HAS GOTTEN WORSE OVER TIME. HAPPENING FOR MONTHS

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CAR WAS THUMPING AT LEFT REAR AFTER RECALL (FOR TRANSMISSION OIL COOLER) WAS JUST COMPLETED. I HADN'T LEFT THE PARKING LOT. FORD MECHANIC SAID IT WAS THE SHOCK. I WAS TOLD THAT THE CAR WAS SAFE TO DRIVE AND TO BRING IT BACK AFTER 3 DAYS. I'M HAVING MY DOUBTS AS TO WHETHER IT'S SAFE OR NOT. THEY SAID THEY'D CHANGE ONLY THAT ABSORBER. IF ONE IS BAD AFTER 3 MONTHS, WHY WOULDN'T THE OTHERS? I BOUGHT THE CAR NEW IN NOVEMBER 2020.

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WHEN PARKING VEHICLE OR BACKING OUT OF GARAGE SLOWLY, YOU HEAR FUEL SLOSHING UNDER THE FRONT SEATS LIKE THERE IS NO BAFFLE IN THE TANK. VERY VERY NOTICEABLE AND ALSO MENTIONED ON THIS SITE FROM OTHER FORD OWNERS. A TSB SHOULD BE ISSUED BY FORD IMMEDIATELY AS THEY DID FOR THE SAME ISSUE WITH TSB 18-2378. THIS IS NOT A NORMAL CONDITION AND IT'S A COP OUT FOR FORD NOT TO ADDRESS THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY HAVE HAD IN OTHER FORD PRODUCTS AND THIS ONE NOW AS WELL!!

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THE VEHICLE WILL JUST SHUT OFF AT ANYTIME. IT'S NOT THE AUTO START FEATURE, ALL POWER WILL TURN OFF AT ANYTIME. IT HAS HAPPENED NUMEROUS TIMES WHILE DRIVING WAITING AT A RED LIGHT OR TO MAKE A TURN. IT ALWAYS HAPPENS WHILE DRIVING IN THE CITY.

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THE TRANSMISSION ON THE VEHICLE STARTED GOING OUT AS WE WERE DRIVING BACK FROM AN OUT OF TOWN TRIP ON A HIGHWAY. MY HUSBAND MADE A STOP AT A LIGHT AND UPON ACCELERATING AFTER THE STOP, THE VEHICLE MADE A GRINDING SOUND AND BEGAN HAVING ENGINE ISSUES. WE MADE AN APPOINTMENT AT THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP WHERE MY HUSBAND DROVE THE VEHICLE ON CITY STREETS DUE TO HIGH RPMS DESPITE LOW SPEED. THE VEHICLE IS AT THE DEALERSHIP AS OF MONDAY FEBRUARY 8TH AND WE HAVE BEEN TOLD PARTS ARE ON BACK ORDER WITH NO ETA. THE VEHICLE DOES HAVE A RECALL FOR A TRANSMISSION INTERCOOLER. WE HAVE READ ABOUT THIS ISSUE IN NUMEROUS 2020 FORD EXPLORERS.

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DRIVERS DOOR LOCKS AND WILL NOT LET YOU ENTER AND/OR EXIT VEHICLE AT ITS DISCRETION . I AM HANDICAPPED AND CANNOT CLIMB OVER SEATS TO EXIT VEHICLE. ONLY HAPPENS TO DRIVER'S DOOR. WOULD BE SAFETY ISSUE IF IN AN ACCIDENT AND/OR FIRE.

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REAR HATCH ERRATIC BEHAVIOR. HATCH CLOSES BY ITSELF, WHILE LOADING ITEMS INTO TRUNK AREA. CLOSE BUTTON ON HATCH DOES NOT WORK. HATCH OPENED BY ITSELF.

NHTSA ODI 11395377

ALL CAMERAS INTERMITTENTLY NOT FUNCTIONING. DEALER REPLACED CAMERA MODULE. REAR CAMERA STILL NOT FUNCTIONING. SAID CURRENT RECALL FOR REAR CAMERA DOES NOT APPLY BECAUSE MY VEHICLE MANUFACTURER DATE IS OUT OF RANGE FOR RECALL. DEALER BLAMING REAR CAMERA NOT WORKING ON FORD ACCESSORY DASH CAMERA.

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I HAVE RECEIVED A AUTO HOLD SYSTEM FAULT MESSAGE ON MY CLUSTER. THE DEALER IS UNABLE TO REPLICATE OR PRODUCE ANY FAULT CODES. THIS IS PART OF THE BRAKING SYSTEM.

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TRANSMISSION SHIFTS ERRATICALLY, HARD SHIFTS, AND TWICE PRESS THE ACCELERATE AND VEHICLE DOES NOT MOVE.

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CHROME ON WINDOWS SWITCHES PEELS CUTTING USER.

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AT 6700 MILES TRANSMISSION BEGAN HARSH , JOLTING SHIFTING MOSTLY IN LOW GEARS , DOWNSHIFTING . SO BAD AS TO BE UNDRIVEABLE, BEEN AT THE DEALERS SERVICE DEPT. FOR 8 DAYS NOW. THIS PROBLEM TOTALLY ECLIPSES THE DEAD BATTERY - DEEP SLEEP MODE THAT THE CAR EXPERIENCES ABOUT ONCE A MONTH. HAD IT TOWED TO FORD THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED , THEY SAY NOTHING WRONG , THAT WE PROBABLY LEAVE OUR LIGHTS ON . WE DON'T GO ANYWHERE WITHOUT JUMPER CABLES.

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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2020 FORD EXPLORER. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS AT A STAND STILL, SHE SHIFTED THE GEAR SHIFTER TO REVERSE AND WAS UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE IN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME WHILE DEPRESSING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO THE FLOOR TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED SHE HAD EXPERIENCE THE FAILURE THREE TIMES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE LOCAL DEALER AUTONATION FORD SANFORD (4911 WAYSIDE DR, SANFORD, FL 32771, (407)680-0781) WHERE THE DEALER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

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WHEN SWITCHED TO REVERSE, THE SCREEN TURNS BLUE AND SAYS REAR PARKING ASSIST DISABLED.

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