2020-2026 Ford Explorer in CA? Three rear-axle recalls, transmission failures, and six camera recalls may qualify you for a buyback. Free case review.
The 2020-2026 Ford Explorer (sixth generation, U625 platform) arrived as a completely redesigned midsize SUV with rear-wheel-drive architecture, a new 10-speed automatic, and a lineup stretching from the base XLT to the 400-horsepower Explorer ST. It also arrived with one of the most chaotic reliability records in its class. Consumer Reports rated every model year from 2020 through 2023 below average for reliability. Motor Illustrated counted 30 recalls in the Explorer's very first year on sale. By mid-2026, the platform had accumulated seven active or recently closed recalls, with a single defect, the rear axle mounting bolt, requiring three separate recall campaigns because earlier repairs kept failing. If you bought or leased a 2020-2026 Explorer in California and it has been back to the dealer more than once for the same issue, you may have more options than you think.
The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.
Sudden loss of drive power while driving; engine failure, in reported cases discovered as complete engine failure during testing; check engine light or cluster warnings may accompany the failure.
Loud grinding or clunking noise from rear of vehicle; sudden loss of drive power; vehicle rolls when in Park without parking brake engaged; rear-end vibration
Temporary loss of motive power while driving; loud or harsh grinding noise from transmission; vehicle rolls when shifted to Park (Electronic Parking Brake applies automatically as fallback); Park gear will not hold
Harsh or jerky gear changes; transmission stuck in low gear on cold start; vehicle hesitates when accelerating; defaults to 4th gear on continued driving; check engine light with codes P062C, P2243, or P270X series
Sudden loss of engine power while driving; engine misfires or runs rough; engine noise (knocking or clattering); potential check engine light; in severe cases engine will not restart
Second-row seat moves, folds, or slides unexpectedly while vehicle is in motion; seat release switch button sticks or binds in pressed position; passengers seated in second row may be displaced
A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.
Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.
Loud grinding or clunking noise from rear of vehicle; sudden loss of drive power; vehicle rolls when in Park without parking brake engaged; rear-end vibration
Three separate recalls (2022, 2023, 2025) for the same defect — prior repairs repeatedly failed, with 25V166 targeting vehicles incorrectly repaired under prior recalls. Repeat-repair pattern is strong lemon-law indicator. 396 documented bolt failures; ~238K units plus follow-up batches affected.
Replace rear axle bolt and subframe bushing; inspect rear axle cover and replace if damaged near bolt hole; PCM software update (later recalls) to auto-engage Electronic Parking Brake when shifted to Park
Temporary loss of motive power while driving; loud or harsh grinding noise from transmission; vehicle rolls when shifted to Park (Electronic Parking Brake applies automatically as fallback); Park gear will not hold
70 warranty reports of park system damage as of Dec 2022; 1 allegation of 2 injuries in suspect population. Rollaway while in Park is a catastrophic safety defect. Overlaps with driveshaft rollaway issue, compounding rollaway risk for affected 2020-2022 owners.
Inspect park system for damage; repair or replace transmission park components as necessary; PCM software update
Harsh or jerky gear changes; transmission stuck in low gear on cold start; vehicle hesitates when accelerating; defaults to 4th gear on continued driving; check engine light with codes P062C, P2243, or P270X series
Transmission complaints account for roughly one-third of all 2020 Explorer NHTSA complaints (~1,849 total for 2020-2025 MY). Multiple TSBs and a CSP indicate Ford acknowledged the defect. Persistent harsh shifting after multiple repair attempts supports substantial impairment argument.
PCM software reprogram (CSP 20B19 / TSB 20-2403); rapid solenoid cycling to free sticky valves; clutch pack replacement if valves or snap ring failed; valve body replacement in severe cases
Sudden loss of engine power while driving; engine misfires or runs rough; engine noise (knocking or clattering); potential check engine light; in severe cases engine will not restart
811 warranty claims worldwide plus 267 field reports and 233 consumer complaints at time of recall filing. Remedy may require full engine replacement — a major repair qualifying as substantial impairment. Explorer ST owners with repeat engine symptoms post-repair have strong lemon-law standing.
Engine cycle test; replace engine assembly if intake valve failure confirmed; Ford offered 10-year extended warranty coverage on affected engines
Second-row seat moves, folds, or slides unexpectedly while vehicle is in motion; seat release switch button sticks or binds in pressed position; passengers seated in second row may be displaced
304,662 units affected (2020-2025 MY). A seat that unlatches during driving can expose occupants to crash injury risk — qualifies as substantial safety impairment. Broad model-year span suggests systemic assembly defect. Ford's second recall attempt for this same defect (26V451 expanding 25V393) means owners repaired under the first campaign already have a documented failed repair attempt — directly relevant to the repair-opportunity element of a California lemon law claim. No full remedy exists until January 2027.
Original 2025 remedy (bezel inspection and replacement under 25V393) proved insufficient. Under expanding recall 26V451, dealers replace the switch bezel and housing with a revised, higher-retention design as an interim measure; the full parts remedy is expected January 2027. Free of charge.
Backup camera shows blank black screen when shifting to Reverse; rearview image remains frozen or displayed after driver exits Reverse; image flips or inverts during backing maneuver; camera works intermittently
At least six camera-related recalls on this generation (21V735, 23V022, 23V305, 23V342, 25V159, 25V442) covering 700K+ vehicles combined. Failure to comply with FMVSS 111 Rear Visibility is a federal safety standard violation. Repeat software repairs for camera on same vehicle over multiple visits is a strong repeat-repair lemon-law indicator.
Software update to camera module or APIM (dealer or OTA); camera module replacement in some cases
Second-row outer seat belt buckle may feel loose or move excessively; seat belt may not properly restrain occupant in crash; no outward pre-crash symptom in many cases
Small population (561 units) but spans the entire 2020-2026 model-year range. Seat belt failure in a crash is catastrophic. Vehicles with this recall plus seat latch recall (25V393) have multiple occupant-restraint deficiencies.
Inspect second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts; replace or re-torque as necessary
driver seatback reclines fully rearward on its own after remote unlock, remote start, keyless approach, or a memory seat button press; seat does not return to the stored driving position; second-row occupant pinned or pressed by the reclining seatback
A seatback that reclines on its own can trap a second-row occupant, which is a substantial safety impairment rather than a convenience defect. The interim fix disables the feature instead of repairing it, so owners who reported unexpected seat movement before the recall was announced hold the strongest documented repair history; the permanent motor replacement is not expected until October 2026.
Full remedy not yet available. Dealers disable the driver seat module (DSM) feature as an interim measure so the seat cannot recline on its own; once parts are available the recline motor is replaced. Interim letters expected August 31, 2026; permanent remedy anticipated October 2026. Free of charge.
Sudden loss of drive power while driving; engine failure, in reported cases discovered as complete engine failure during testing; check engine light or cluster warnings may accompany the failure.
A defect that can cause total engine failure and loss of drive power is a substantial safety defect under California lemon law, and the fix, a full engine long block replacement, is among the most significant repairs a new vehicle can need. With no remedy available until approximately December 2026, owners experiencing symptoms should document every repair attempt now: 4-5 documented repair attempts, dealer visits, and remedy-status communications build the record that supports a Song-Beverly claim. A first-attempt fix completed within about 30 days generally does not support a claim, so the repair history is what matters.
No fix available yet. Under recall 26V548, dealers will inspect the engine pistons and replace the engine long block as necessary, free of charge; remedy anticipated December 2026. Interim letters were mailed September 3, 2026.
interim
The engine piston domes may have been manufactured incorrectly due to a bond failure between the piston's nickel-resistant (Ni-Ring) insert and the aluminum piston body, traced to a machining collision on a supplier production line. Piston dome failure can cause engine failure and a sudden loss of drive power while driving.
interim
A recline motor introduced by a new supplier in late 2025 can misread the driver seat's stored position during a memory seat recall event and drive the seatback fully rearward instead of returning it to the preset driving posture. The seat can recline while unoccupied, triggered by remote unlock, remote start, keyless approach, or a memory seat button press.
interim
The easy entry seat tip and slide switch on second-row outboard seats may intermittently bind or become stuck in the down position, causing the seat to tip or slide unexpectedly, potentially while driving. Bezels may become misaligned or unseated during customer usage, including broken bezel tabs. Expands 25V393; vehicles repaired under the earlier campaign are included.
open
Second-row outer seat belt lower anchor bolts may be improperly secured (undertorqued or missing), potentially preventing the seat belt from properly restraining occupants in a crash.
open
A software error in the rearview camera system may cause the camera to display a blank image when the vehicle is shifted into Reverse, or may cause the image to remain displayed after the backing event has ended. Vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS No. 111 Rear Visibility.
superseded by 26V451
Misaligned trim bezel surrounding the second-row seat release switch may cause the switch to bind or stick in the down position, inadvertently actuating the seat release and allowing the seat to unlatch, fold, or slide unexpectedly while the vehicle is in motion.
open
On vehicles previously repaired under recalls 23V-199 or 22V-255 (PCM-only software remedies), the rear axle bolt may still fracture and cause the driveshaft or half-shafts to disconnect, as prior repairs did not address the physical bolt defect.
open
Engine intake valves in 2.7L and 3.0L EcoBoost engines manufactured May–October 2021 may have over-specification hardness and grinding burn at the third keeper groove, causing valves to crack and fracture under normal operation.
closed
Rear axle horizontal mounting bolt may fracture due to insufficient bearing area for peak joint loads and manufacturing variability, causing the driveshaft to disconnect from the rear axle.
closed
An unintentional PCM reset triggered by a Connected Vehicle Data request while the vehicle is in motion may damage the park mechanism of the 10R60 automatic transmission. A damaged park system may not engage when the shifter is placed in Park.
Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.
California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act — commonly called the lemon law — applies to new and used vehicles still under the manufacturer's original warranty. If Ford has been unable to repair a defect that substantially impairs your vehicle's use, value, or safety after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a full buyback (refund of your purchase price, minus a mileage offset), a replacement vehicle, or a negotiated cash settlement.
Key points to know:
This is general legal information, not legal advice. Every case depends on its specific facts. Contact Margarian Law for a free, no-obligation case review.
“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.
Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.
Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.
Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.
Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.
Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.
Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.
The most frustrating reply from any dealer service department is 'we couldn't reproduce the problem.' It happens constantly with intermittent issues like the rearview camera blackout, the transmission hesitation, and the fuel pump stall.
Here is what to do before and during every dealer visit:
1. Write down the exact date, mileage, weather, and road conditions each time a symptom occurs. Screenshots of warning lights on your instrument cluster are time-stamped evidence.
2. Ask the service writer to note your description of symptoms verbatim on the repair order — not just a shorthand like 'customer states transmission problem.' The repair order language matters for a lemon law claim.
3. Request a printout of all stored and historical diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) at every visit, even if the technician clears them. Cleared codes still appear in freeze frame data.
4. For recall-related issues (especially the axle bolt and camera), ask whether your vehicle's VIN is in the recall population and request written confirmation that the recall remedy was or was not performed.
5. If the dealer says 'no problem found' after two or more visits, call Margarian Law before your third appointment. Under California's Song-Beverly Act, two or more unsuccessful repair attempts for a safety defect may be enough to support a claim.
The sixth-generation Explorer's recall history is not the result of one manufacturing misstep — it reflects a platform that was rushed to market and then required repeated government-mandated interventions across its entire lineup. The rear axle bolt alone triggered three separate recall campaigns, the last of which specifically targeted vehicles that had already been 'repaired' under earlier campaigns. That pattern — prior repairs failing, leading to new recalls — is exactly the kind of evidence that makes a California lemon law claim strong.
If your Explorer has spent multiple days at the dealership and still doesn't drive the way it should, you are not alone and you are not stuck. California law exists precisely for situations like this.
— The Margarian Law team
If your 2020–2026 Ford Explorer has been to the dealer multiple times for the same problem — or if you were affected by the rear axle recall, the transmission issues, or any of the camera recalls — call Margarian Law for a free case review. We have handled thousands of California lemon law cases. If your case qualifies, Ford pays our fees. You pay nothing.
Not automatically — but it is a strong starting point. Ford issued three separate recall campaigns for the same rear axle mounting bolt defect (23V-675 in 2023 and 25V-166 in 2025, which specifically covered vehicles whose prior recall repairs had failed). Under California's Song-Beverly Act, each dealer visit for a recall repair counts as a repair attempt. If your Explorer required more than one visit for the axle bolt — or if you also experienced rollaway, loss of drive power, or other related driveline symptoms — those attempts may be enough to support a claim. The fact that Ford's own fix failed and required a third recall is exactly the kind of documented pattern that California lemon law was designed to address.
Ford issued a Customer Satisfaction Program (20B19) and multiple Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs 20-2403 and later 23-2352) specifically acknowledging that the 10-speed automatic in 2020–2023 Explorers can exhibit harsh engagement, delayed shifts, and low-gear hesitation on cold starts. That means Ford knew about the problem. If your vehicle has been back to the dealer two or more times without a lasting fix, ask the service writer to print out all stored diagnostic trouble codes and the APIM software version at each visit. Keep every repair order. A pattern of repeated transmission visits — even if the dealer claims the car is 'normal' — can support a California lemon law claim for substantial impairment of use. Transmission complaints account for roughly one-third of all NHTSA filings for the 2020 Explorer.
Yes. Ford has issued at least six camera-related recalls for the 2020–2024 Explorer, covering more than 700,000 vehicles combined. The two largest — 23V-022 (January 2023) and 23V-342 (June 2023) — covered the 360-degree camera system going blank or showing a blue/black screen when shifting into Reverse. The most recent, 25V-442 (June 2025), covers a rearview camera software error causing a blank image or a persistent image after backing. A non-functioning rearview camera violates federal safety standard FMVSS 111. If your Explorer has been to the dealer more than once for camera issues, each visit counts as a repair attempt under California law. Two failed attempts on a safety defect may be sufficient to qualify for a lemon law claim.
Under California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act, if your vehicle qualifies, you may be entitled to one of three outcomes: (1) a full buyback — Ford repurchases the vehicle at the original purchase price, minus a usage offset for miles driven before the first repair attempt; (2) a replacement vehicle of comparable value; or (3) a negotiated cash settlement if you prefer to keep the vehicle. In all qualifying cases, Ford is required to pay your attorney's fees separately from your recovery. You pay Margarian Law nothing out of pocket. This is general information, not legal advice; outcomes depend on the facts of your individual case.
Possibly. Recall 24V-635 (August 2024) covers 2021–2022 Explorer ST models with the 3.0L EcoBoost V6 engine built between May and October 2021. The defect — intake valves with over-specification hardness that can fracture under normal operation — caused sudden total loss of engine power while driving, sometimes with no prior warning light. Ford documented 811 worldwide warranty claims before the recall was filed, and the remedy may require full engine replacement. If your ST experienced sudden power loss and your build date falls in that production window, contact your dealer to check your VIN against recall 24V-635. If you have already had engine work done and the problem has returned, that repeat repair history may support a California lemon law claim.
California law does not set a fixed magic number, but it does create a rebuttable presumption that a vehicle is a lemon if: (a) the manufacturer or its dealers have made two or more repair attempts for a defect that is likely to cause serious injury or death, or (b) four or more repair attempts have been made for the same defect, or (c) the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period. For a safety defect — like the Explorer's driveshaft rollaway risk or a non-functioning rearview camera — two failed repair attempts may be enough. Recall repairs count. Keep every repair order and the dates your vehicle was out of service. If you are approaching any of those thresholds, call Margarian Law for a free case evaluation before your next dealer visit.
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