This article supersedes TSB 25-2373 to update a print error on publication. Some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) C00A6 and/or C0631. This may be due to the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2020 Ford Explorer cruise control problems
moderate Owners of the 2020 Ford Explorer have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the cruise control at roughly $600 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See cruise control across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
| Model year | cruise control complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Explorer | 46 |
| 2017 Explorer | 6 |
| 2018 Explorer | 4 |
| 2020 Explorer (this page) | 11 |
| 2021 Explorer | 7 |
| 2022 Explorer | 4 |
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering cruise control on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
This article supersedes TSB 23-2174 to update the Service Procedure, Part List and adding an additional labor operation. Some vehicles listed in the model statement above may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) C00A6 and/or C0631. This may be due to the front axle disconnect actuator/intermediate shaft.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of the 2020 Ford Explorer describe a cluster of cruise and throttle malfunctions. The most common complaint involves cruise control unintentionally accelerating to 85 mph unpredictably, with at least three separate owners reporting this exact behavior. One owner in Ohio documented the speed sign recognition feature misreading a 65 mph sign as 85 mph in the same location on two different occasions, causing dangerous acceleration on the interstate.
A second pattern involves the vehicle stalling or refusing to respond when the accelerator pedal is pressed, particularly during merging or acceleration into traffic. One owner reported the accelerator pedal physically separating from its plastic mounting bracket, leaving the pedal loose and obstructing foot access.
A third issue is that the brake pedal reportedly does not disable cruise control as designed—owners must use the steering wheel button instead. Additionally, one owner reported the vehicle moving forward when reverse was selected, then jerking and slamming backward.
Multiple owners took vehicles to Ford dealers multiple times without getting a diagnosis or repair. Ford corporate referred owners to the NHTSA hotline and suggested cleaning sensors, but no recalls or technical service bulletins were mentioned by any owner.
Failure modes owners describe
Speed Sign Recognition (SSR) misreads speed limits
Adaptive cruise control with speed sign recognition feature reads posted speed limit signs incorrectly, instructing the vehicle to accelerate to wrong speeds. In reported cases, a 65 mph sign was read as 85 mph, causing unwanted acceleration.
When: At approximately 65k-72k miles; incidents occurred on specific highway locations (I-670 near Columbus, Ohio on Feb 23 and March 16)
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard SSR icon displays incorrect speed (e.g., 85 mph when actual limit is 65 mph); Vehicle accelerates unintentionally when ACC is set and misread speed is higher than current speed; Incorrect speed reading persists for multiple miles before correcting itself; No warning lights illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Service department suggested cleaning exterior sensors; no confirmed repair documented
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Ford corporate instructed owner to contact service department; no resolution provided
Unintended acceleration from complete stop with brake engaged
Vehicle accelerates unexpectedly while driver is depressing brake pedal from a complete stop, accompanied by grinding sound. Brake pedal fails to respond or responds only after continuous depression.
When: At approximately 20,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Abnormal grinding sound when braking from stop; Vehicle accelerates despite brake pedal being depressed; Brake pedal fails to respond initially; requires continuous depression to stop vehicle; Intermittent recurrence of failure; Failure occurred while driving downhill and while reversing in parking lot; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer multiple times; cause of failure could not be determined; not repaired
Accelerator pedal mechanical separation
Accelerator pedal attachment point separates due to thin plastic mounting piece deteriorating over time. Pedal moves freely and rises up, blocking foot access and interfering with braking/acceleration.
When: Timing unclear; no symptoms prior to separation
Symptoms owners cite: Pedal separates and moves freely; Accelerator pedal rises up while foot is on brakes; Pedal blocks foot from returning to accelerator when attempting to accelerate; No warning lights or symptoms prior to separation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer advised replacement of pedal assembly; part not under recall
Engine stall during acceleration
Engine sputters and stalls when accelerator pedal is depressed, particularly during acceleration into traffic. Message appears on screen but is too quick to read. Issue recurs intermittently.
When: At least January 30, 2021; mileage not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Engine sputters when accelerator pedal is depressed; Engine stalls during acceleration attempt; Quick message appears on screen (content unclear); Failure occurs intermittently; No warning lights reported
Accelerator pedal unresponsive
Accelerator pedal does not respond when depressed, resulting in no engine response or acceleration. Multiple warning lights illuminate but cause unclear.
When: At approximately 10,200 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal depressed but vehicle fails to respond; Multiple unknown warning lights illuminated; Vehicle travelling at 35 mph when failure occurred
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not taken for diagnosis or repair
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified but provided no assistance
Cruise control unintended acceleration to 85 mph
While cruise control is engaged and set to lower speed, vehicle occasionally accelerates independently to 85 mph. Issue recurs at owner's discretion; described as dangerous and unresolved after multiple dealer visits.
When: At approximately 72,000 miles for one complaint; issue persists across multiple owner reports with no clear mileage pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Cruise control resets to 85 mph unpredictably; Vehicle accelerates to 85 mph while cruise is engaged at lower setting; Independent acceleration occurs occasionally; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer visited 4+ times with no resolution; vehicle not repaired
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer referred owner to NHTSA Hotline; no fix provided
Cruise control unintended deceleration
Vehicle unintentionally decelerates while cruise control is activated and accelerator pedal is being depressed, causing loss of power when acceleration is needed.
When: At approximately 26,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle decelerates unintentionally while cruise control is active; Deceleration occurs despite accelerator pedal being depressed; No warning light illuminated
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer was not contacted for repair; vehicle not diagnosed
Brake pedal does not disable cruise control
Brake pedal press fails to disengage cruise control; only steering wheel button can turn off cruise control. This is a control design or malfunction issue.
When: Timing not specified
Symptoms owners cite: Pressing brake pedal does not disable cruise control as expected; Requires steering wheel button press to disengage cruise control; Pre-collision assist not available message appears on every start
Transmission shift malfunction in reverse
Vehicle moves forward 3 feet when placed in reverse, jerks, then slams into reverse. Unexpected behavior with delayed driver reaction, nearly causing collision with pole.
When: Timing not specified; occurred in parking lot
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle moves forward when reverse is selected; Vehicle jerks before shifting to reverse; Vehicle slams into reverse; Unexpected behavior creates collision hazard
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had cruise control trouble with your 2020 Ford Explorer?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2020 Ford Explorer?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Based on the 11 complaints filed, cruise control issues most often appear around 22,309 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2020/Ford/Explorer.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.