NHTSA // CRASH-TESTED
2020 Ford Explorer Safety Ratings
The 2020 Ford Explorer scores 76 out of 100 on the NHTSA Safety Index (Average), with a 5-star overall NHTSA crash rating, 33 recalls, and 1,142 owner complaints on file.
Updated Oct 1, 2026 from NHTSA data · Reviewed by Ivanna Verstliar
The 2020 Ford Explorer demonstrates a significant decline in overall safety performance compared to its predecessor, primarily due to an exceptional recall volume. While crash-test results published by NHTSA are robust, the vehicle’s defect record score stands at 0 out of 20, stemming from 32 separate recall campaigns. This record pulls the Explorer's NHTSA Safety Index to 76 out of 100, placing it in the Average safety band.
The 2020 Ford Explorer received a NHTSA Safety Index of 76/100 and a 5-star overall crash-test rating from NHTSA.
MotorCaliber Safety Desk // NHTSA data, verified Oct 1, 2026
Among the 107 SUVs from 2020 that NHTSA has crash-tested, the 2020 Ford Explorer ranks 91 for overall NHTSA Safety Index.
- new and teen drivers who want standard crash-avoidance tech
- urban drivers exposed to side-impact risk
| NHTSA Safety Index | 76 / 100 (Average) |
|---|---|
| Overall crash rating | 5 of 5 stars |
| Frontal / Side / Rollover | 5 / 5 / 4 stars |
| Rollover risk | 15.1% |
| Recalls on file | 33 |
| Owner complaints | 1,142 (unverified allegations) |
| Class rank | 91 of 107 SUVs tested for 2020 |
| Data verified | Oct 1, 2026 |
ANALYSISHow safe is the 2020 Ford Explorer?
The 2020 model year marks a notable safety inflection point for the Explorer. The NHTSA Safety Index dropped 9 points from the 2019 model year's 85/100 Strong rating to 76/100 Average, a meaningful decline driven entirely by the defect record component, which scores 0 out of a possible 20 points. That collapse reflects 32 recall campaigns, a figure that is unusually high for a single model year and one that continues to grow as recent campaigns issued in 2025 and 2026 still name this year. The crash protection story is genuinely strong: 66 out of 70 points, anchored by 5-star overall, frontal, and side NHTSA ratings, with a 4-star rollover result and a clean dynamic tip test. All three crash-avoidance features are standard, earning the full 10-out-of-10 avoidance tech score. The tension in this year's profile is therefore stark: the vehicle performs well in controlled crash scenarios but carries a documented defect history that spans the powertrain, occupant restraints, visibility systems, and back-over prevention software. Any safety assessment of this specific model year must weigh both sides of that ledger honestly.
NCAP // CRASH TESTHow did the 2020 Ford Explorer perform in crash tests?
The 2020 Ford Explorer earns an overall 5 out of 5 stars from NHTSA. This includes 5-star ratings in both frontal and side impact crash tests. The rollover assessment is comparatively weaker at 4 out of 5 stars, with a 15 percent rollover risk. The dynamic tip test, however, resulted in "No Tip." All three crash-avoidance technologies evaluated are standard on the vehicle.
Source: NHTSA NCAP, VehicleId 14932
Index breakdown
NCAP // CRASH IMAGESCrash-test images
Crash-test images are US federal government works (NHTSA / NCAP), public domain.
NHTSA // RECALLSDoes the 2020 Ford Explorer have any recalls?
Yes. The 2020 Ford Explorer carries 32 recall campaigns. Active campaigns cover serious safety systems: automatic transmission concerns, second-row seat belt anchor bolts, windshield wiper motor failure, rearview camera software affecting back-over prevention, and engine block heater wiring. The seat belt and transmission campaigns in particular warrant immediate VIN verification before driving.
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY26V451000
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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 notif
Reported 2026-07-14
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION26V402000
Risk: Park system damage may result in a vehicle rollaway, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 th
Reported 2026-06-24
SEAT BELTS26V159000
Risk: A loose seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2026-03-17
VISIBILITY:WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER:MOTOR26V117000
Risk: Windshield wipers that fail to operate properly can reduce visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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 October 2026. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 26S14. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs
Reported 2026-03-03
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE26V123000
Risk: An incorrectly displayed rearview image can reduce the driver’s view behind the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2026-03-03
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER25V685000
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Remedy: 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
Reported 2025-10-10
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE25V442000
Risk: 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: 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.
Reported 2025-06-27
SEATS:MID/REAR ASSEMBLY25V393000
Risk: A seat that moves unexpectedly may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy: 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.
Reported 2025-06-13
BACK OVER PREVENTION:SOFTWARE25V159000
Risk: Loss of the rearview camera image can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the Image Processing Module software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S27.
Reported 2025-03-14
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT25V166000
Risk: A disconnected driveshaft can result in vehicle rollaway when the vehicle is placed in park without the parking brake applied. A disconnected driveshaft can also result in a loss of drive power. Either of these scenarios can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Dealers will update the powertrain control module (PCM) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2025. Owners may contact Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 25S22.
Reported 2025-03-14
SEAT BELTS25V093000
Risk: A loose seat belt or seat belt buckle may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect seat belt buckle anchor bolts in all seating positions. Additionally, dealers will inspect the seat belt retractor anchor bolt and seat belt anchor bolt at the second-row center seating position, if equipped. If loose anchor bolts are found, the affected seat components will be replaced. Repairs will be performed free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 5
Reported 2025-02-14
EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS24V852000
Risk: Without a label that shows the proper restraint usage guidelines, the occupants may have an increased risk of injury in the event of a crash.
Remedy: Ford will mail owners the warning labels, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2024. Owners may call Ford customer service at 1-866-436-7332. Ford's number for this recall is 24C39.
Reported 2024-11-08
NHTSA // COMPLAINTSWhat do owners report about the 2020 Ford Explorer?
Owners have filed 1,142 unverified allegations with NHTSA. The most frequently alleged problem area is the powertrain at 441 reports, followed by unspecified or other issues at 194, electrical system at 177, engine at 110, back-over prevention at 104, and service brakes at 80. Reported allegations include 33 crashes, 10 fires, and 36 injuries. These are unverified consumer claims, not established findings.
1,142 owner complaints on file. These are unverified allegations reported to NHTSA.
USED BUYERWhat should used buyers know about the 2020 Ford Explorer?
The 2020 Ford Explorer stands out for its unprecedented 32 recall campaigns, a figure that demands careful attention from prospective buyers. Among these, issues with seat belt anchor bolts and the automatic transmission are particularly notable as recent campaigns. Shoppers must verify the completion of all recall remedies via NHTSA's VIN lookup tool.
- The Safety Index fell 9 points from the 2019 Explorer's 85/100 Strong rating to 76/100 Average, entirely because the defect record component scores 0 out of 20 due to 32 recall campaigns.
- A 2026 recall campaign specifically names the 2020 Explorer for second-row seat belt anchor bolt concerns, making restraint system verification a priority for any current owner or prospective buyer.
- A separate 2026 campaign addresses automatic transmission issues on this model year, adding to an already extensive recall history that spans powertrain, electrical, visibility, and back-over prevention systems.
- Despite the heavy recall burden, NHTSA crash-test results for this year are strong across frontal and side categories at 5 stars, with a 4-star rollover rating and a 15 percent measured rollover risk.
RANKINGSWhere the 2020 Ford Explorer places
The 2020 Ford Explorer qualifies for these MotorCaliber safety rankings:
FAQ2020 Ford Explorer safety questions
Was the 2020 Ford Explorer crash-tested by NHTSA?
Yes. NHTSA crash-tested the 2020 Ford Explorer, and it earns a NHTSA Safety Index of 76 out of 100, placing it in the Average band. The index combines federal crash-test stars, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the recall record.
What are the 2020 Ford Explorer crash-test star ratings?
In NHTSA testing the 2020 Ford Explorer earned 5 out of 5 stars for overall, 5 out of 5 stars for frontal, 5 out of 5 stars for side, and 4 out of 5 stars for rollover. Its measured rollover risk is 15.1%. Categories NHTSA did not test show as not rated.
How many recalls does the 2020 Ford Explorer have?
According to NHTSA recall data, 33 vehicle recalls are on file for the 2020 Ford Explorer. Confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov to see which apply to your car.
How many complaints have owners filed about the 2020 Ford Explorer?
According to NHTSA's complaint database, 1,142 owner complaints are on file for the 2020 Ford Explorer. These are unverified allegations submitted by owners, not confirmed defects, and include reports involving a crash or a fire.
Cross-check this record against independent expert reviews and the live NHTSA database before you buy.
Other Explorer years
Rivals in SUV (2020)
| Vehicle | NHTSA Safety Index | Overall stars | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 Infiniti Qx50 | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 2 |
| 2020 Mazda CX-3 | 94/100 | 5 of 5 | 1 |
| 2020 Mazda CX-30 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 3 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T5 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T6 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
| 2020 Volvo Xc90 T8 | 93/100 | 5 of 5 | 0 |
- DATA Pulled directly from NHTSA: New Car Assessment Program crash tests (VehicleId 14932), the recallsByVehicle and complaintsByVehicle records for the Ford Explorer 2020.
- SCORE The NHTSA Safety Index (0-100) weights crash protection, standard crash-avoidance tech, and the defect record. Full formula on the methodology page. It ranks 91 of 107 in the SUV class for 2020.
- EDITED Written by the MotorCaliber Safety Desk and reviewed for accuracy and plain-language clarity by Ivanna Verstliar, Editor, against the source figures on this page.
- VERIFIED Data last synced Oct 1, 2026. Recalls change; confirm your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. See our corrections policy and disclosure.