CarTold

2019 vs. 2020 Ford Explorer: What Changed

The 2020 Ford Explorer has several substantial changes in the specifications and ratings we track compared with 2019.

A hybrid appears in the 2020 listing for the first time in this range.

EPA lists a 3.0-litre six-cylinder and a 3.3-litre six-cylinder for 2020 that do not appear in the 2019 listing.

The 3.5-litre six-cylinder is listed for 2019 but not for 2020.

Part-time 4-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive are listed for 2020 and not for 2019.

One campaign covers both years. Five campaigns (equipment, structure and suspension) cover the 2019 and not the 2020, while 32 campaigns (air bags, back over prevention, electrical system and others) cover the 2020 and not the 2019.

Fewer campaigns do not establish better reliability. Confirm each car's coverage and repair status by VIN.

The campaigns that separate them

Imported NHTSA recall campaigns that name one of these two model years but not the other, with their component labels. Campaigns covering both years are left out of this list.

Only the 2019

  • 21V316000 structure
  • 24V031000 structure
  • 26V012000 equipment
  • 26V101000 suspension
  • 26V448000 structure

Only the 2020

  • 19V575000 power train
  • 19V687000 electrical system
  • 19V859000 fuel system
  • 20V497000 air bags
  • 20V549000 seat belts
  • 20V575000 back over prevention
  • 20V693000 power train
  • 20V730000 fuel system
  • 20V788000 engine
  • 21V154000 suspension
  • 21V735000 back over prevention
  • 23V022000 back over prevention
  • 23V069000 power train
  • 23V199000 power train
  • 23V305000 back over prevention
  • 23V342000 back over prevention
  • 23V626000 electrical system
  • 23V675000 power train
  • 24V188000 back over prevention
  • 24V598000 engine
  • 24V852000 equipment
  • 25V093000 seat belts
  • 25V159000 back over prevention
  • 25V166000 power train
  • 25V393000 seats
  • 25V442000 back over prevention
  • 25V685000 equipment
  • 26V117000 visibility
  • 26V123000 back over prevention
  • 26V159000 seat belts
  • 26V402000 power train
  • 26V451000 seats
A campaign may cover only part of a model year's production. Use the campaign number to ask an authorized dealer whether the car's VIN is included and what work remains. Our recall tool finds model-year campaigns; this guide explains the vehicle-specific check.

Side by side

2019 2020
Engines listed 2.3L 4-cyl, 3.5L V6 2.3L 4-cyl, 3.0L V6, 3.3L V6
Drive types Front-Wheel Drive, All-Wheel Drive Part-time 4-Wheel Drive, Rear-Wheel Drive
Fuel types Regular Gasoline Regular Gasoline
Combined MPG 18–22 19–28
Recall campaigns 6 33
Complaints on file 294 1207
Investigations 1 3
Complaint totals reflect different time on the road, sales and reporting. They cannot rank these years for reliability. The categories below identify symptoms to read about, not failure odds. How reporting time affects the comparison.

What owners reported, by system

2019

Other 203 (69%)
Drivetrain 33 (11%)
Engine 20 (7%)

2020

Drivetrain 473 (39%)
Other 334 (28%)
Electrical 140 (12%)

Full reports

Open each year's report to read the recall, investigation, manufacturer communication and EPA variant records on file:

2019 Explorer full report 2020 Explorer full report Every Explorer year compared

Sources and methodology