Perhaps nothing is more disappointing than buying a vehicle with major powertrain issues. Thankfully, you can reduce your chance of ending up with a problematic vehicle with just a little bit of research. Through that process, you’ll find models, like the 2020 Ford Explorer, that prove reliable mile after mile.
Does the 2020 Ford Explorer have transmission problems?
Although the Explorer had transmission problems in the past, the 2020 model seems to be free of major maladies. Only time will tell, however, if issues will occur. For now, the 10-speed automatic gearbox seems quite strong.
The story doesn’t stop there. There’s still a lot more to know about the Ford Explorer’s transmission and its quirks. With that information, you can make the absolute best buying decision for you and truly enjoy whatever vehicle you buy.
The Evolution of Ford Explorer Transmissions
When the first-generation Ford Explorer arrived in the showroom in 1991, it came with two gearbox options. You could either get the five-speed M5OD-R1 manual or the A4LD automatic transmission.
Ford continued refining their manual gearbox for the second and third gens. Then, as interest in manual gearboxes decreased, they dropped it as an option in 2006 right at the start of the fourth generation.
The automatic transmissions won out from that moment forward, coming in either five- or six-speed configurations at first. In 2011, the automatics were upgraded to the SelectShift design that they still use today. With this design, you can choose between letting the gearbox handle all the shifting or moving through the gears on your own.
As Ford dreamed up their all-new Lincoln Aviator, they just knew they had to grace the Explorer with some of its finest features. With that, they elected to give the 2020 Ford Explorer the same 10-speed automatic transmission with SelectShift. Every trim comes with this gearbox from the 2.3L four-cylinder base model to the powerful ST that comes with the 3.0L (183 ci) EcoBoost V6.
Overview of the 2020 Ford Explorer Transmission
The way the SelectShift works makes many people think it’s malfunctioning despite its smooth operation. It’s designed to intelligently select the gears rather than rowing through each one sequentially.
That means the gearbox will abruptly downshift from 8th to 3rd to aid in acceleration as you aim to pass on the left. It may also assist the brakes in slowing down the vehicle by quickly shifting into a lower gear. These seemingly erratic shift patterns could leave you thinking there’s a problem when everything is working as intended.
Beyond that concern, no 2020 Ford Explorer transmission problems have been noted to date. In the past, the problems only seem to come to light months to years after the vehicles landed on the showroom floor. So, it might be somewhat of a wait to see if any issues will arise.
For the 2019 model year, the only major transmission issue linked back to the gear selector. On both the Lincoln Aviator and Ford Explorer of that year, the Manual Park Release cover was missing.
Without that cover, there was a serious rollaway risk. Fortunately, Ford resolved that issued through a recall and made sure to install the right covers in the 2020 model.
Search for a Ford Explorer to Buy? Keep Vehicle History by Your Side
Are you looking to buy a 2020 Ford Explorer? If so, make sure to take as many test drives as it takes to confirm that it’s the right SUV for you.
Don’t forget to perform a full inspection and run each SUV’s VIN or license plate number through Vehicle History. The results of that check will reveal any accidents or other issues lurking in their past. You will then have all the info you need to make the best purchase decision possible.
